Clearly, the two were the same person, but the atmosphere between them had changed dramatically over the past few days.

And in this thrilling moment, Serena’s cheeks quickly flushed red as she shyly waved her hands and hit his shoulder.

“Oh my, really.”

Her voice was shy, but the impact on Lucas’s shoulder was no joke. He let his guard down and received the heavy attack, nearly coughing, but managed to hold it back with his manly pride.

“That just now… It was intimate, right?”

When Lucas playfully asked, Serena glared at him and jabbed his side with her elbow. This time, Lucas couldn’t help but let out a cough.

“You’re exaggerating too much.”

No, this wasn’t an exaggeration. However, Serena believed so. It wasn’t that she intended to hit him hard right now, but rather the shy heart of a girl who wanted to lightly protest.

“Well, then.”

Lucas quickly took a deep breath. No matter how strong a warrior was, getting unexpectedly jabbed in the side hurt.

However, unlike when she kicked his shin before, Serena’s pure playfulness, without any intention to attack, still packed an undeniable force.

“I’m just worried about your delicate hands getting hurt.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I’m a man who has led battlefields, so my whole body is as hard as a rock.”

“Oh my, you’re quite the jokester too.”

When Serena innocently laughed and slapped his back, Lucas tried his best to maintain a smile. It seemed his training wasn’t sufficient after all.

But he didn’t know why it felt so good to be together even while getting jabbed in the side from time to time. Someone once said that love is also a disease, and it seemed he was already in a severe stage.

“It’s not a joke.”

Lucas’s large hand enveloped Serena’s hand that was resting on the desk. Her white, slender fingers could boast a great force like a weapon if suddenly swung, but they were no match for a man’s calloused hands.

“I can prove it right now.”

Lucas’s breath rang right next to her. Serena glared at him slightly, but she only realized that his eyes resembled a beast.

“No, there’s no need for that.”

Serena smoothly pulled her hand out and deliberately kept her distance from him. Now that they were even married, dating felt a bit awkward, but she couldn’t be with him as naturally as before after having that conversation.

“Hmm… If you say so.”

Lucas clicked his tongue regretfully and stuck close to Serena again.

It was burdensome yet not entirely unpleasant to be so close in this spacious room. If she had to describe it, it felt like having a beast constantly following her.

“Ah, I had some news that would make you happy.”

“What is it?”

“With just words?”

“What… Do I need to give you a bribe or something?”

As the two started their non-dating relationship, Lucas revealed an even more persistent nature. He would use any means necessary if it meant he could have Serena, so there was always a sense of tension.

“Just let me hold your hand.”

Before Serena could answer, Lucas held her hand tightly again. Fortunately, he seemed satisfied with just this for now. Of course, that was only Serena’s thought.

“There’s a territory near Astel that will serve as a test run. That’s also why it was selected.”

Serena’s blue eyes were filled with curiosity.

“Let’s go to Astel together soon.”

Now her eyes widened.

“Really? Is that okay?”

Lucas nodded, looking at Serena who was purely expressing her joy. In fact, the emperor opposed the crown princess’s accompaniment, but Lucas, driven by his determination to see her smile, pushed through and won.

“The official reason is an inspection for the new policy, but for us… Is it a honeymoon?”

Lucas’s dark eyes sparkled languidly and sweetly. Astel was where the two first met and the most comfortable place for Serena.

Moreover, if they left this vast imperial palace and traveled together, he might seize the opportunity he had been eagerly waiting for.

“When? When can we go?”

“That’s undecided, but I won’t make you wait long.”

The presence of Lucas standing by her side felt immense anew. The days when he was a boy could no longer be overlapped.

And ever since the word ‘dating’ came up, he approached her even more like an unfamiliar man, so the human heart was truly mysterious.

“Anytime is fine with me.”

“I know. That you miss Astel.”

“…I’ll say thank you in advance.”

Marriage meant separation from family in this era. Even noble ladies who married and left for distant territories or the capital couldn’t guarantee when they would see their parents again.

So she could tell that Lucas must have put in a lot of effort to make this trip happen.

“You know Astel better than anyone else.”

Lucas hid his sinister intentions and gave a splendid smile.

“I’d appreciate it if you think of it as a small gift.”

“It’s not small at all.”

The imperial palace was overflowing with rare items, so it was really difficult to find a special gift. But looking at Serena’s expression now, it seemed Lucas had found the right answer.

“I should prepare for the trip so we can leave anytime.”

“I only need you.”

Serena, who pushed away Lucas’s shoulder as he subtly closed the distance, still had a happy smile on her face.

At this point, shouldn’t he kiss her cheek…? Just as Lucas was timing it, the chief attendant’s knocking sound unfortunately rang out.

“I humbly apologize.”

Lucas’s eyes explicitly revealed his dissatisfaction upon seeing the chief attendant. Serena naturally distanced herself from him as the chief attendant entered. Naturally, her faint scent also moved away.

“His Majesty the Emperor is looking for Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

“Now? Really?”

The chief attendant lowered his head with a perplexed expression.

“That is correct.”

Lucas’s eyes, which had been gazing warmly at Serena a moment ago, cooled as if it were a lie.

On top of already being impatient because he had little time by Serena’s side due to fulfilling his role as the crown prince, he thought the chance to sneakily kiss her was taken away, so he couldn’t help but be angry.

“There’s no council meeting today and it’s still daytime…”

“But His Majesty is looking for you. You should go.”

At Serena’s words, Lucas gave a disappointed look. In fact, Serena also secretly wanted to talk more about the plan to go to Astel, but she couldn’t ignore his duties either.

“Hurry.”

When Serena pushed Lucas’s large back, his heavy feet finally moved reluctantly.

“I’ll come back in the evening. At least treat me to a meal.”

Instead of answering, Serena only smiled. Lucas drew her hand with longing, lightly kissed the back of it, and withdrew.

Serena was frozen in place, not even realizing how naturally he performed that series of actions.

“…What was that just now?”

Serena muttered blankly, left alone. Lucas definitely did something, but it was so nonchalant and brazen that she was even late to notice it.

“No, how can it be so natural?”

Belatedly, Serena stomped her foot. She felt resentful and flustered as if she had fallen for Lucas’s trick. She particularly disliked that she couldn’t react at all and sent him off because she was swayed by his matter-of-fact attitude.

“Does this mean it’s nothing to him? No… Even in the future?”

Kissing the back of the hand was a greeting towards noble ladies, and Serena knew that fact, but at least it hadn’t happened between the two of them.

“It was so instant.”

It couldn’t be, but it felt like the back of her hand where his lips touched was still burning. Instead, her cheeks were actually flushed.

“It feels like… I was tricked, but I can’t point it out.”

The person to confront had already gracefully disappeared. She couldn’t kick his shin or scold him for what he did.

Of course, even if he were here, he might have innocently asked what happened.

“Anyway, he’s really shameless.”

Serena also thought she wouldn’t lose in shamelessness anywhere, but recently, she kept losing confidence. She was realizing that she underestimated Lucas every time, so now she couldn’t even tell how many faces he had.

“Whew… Seriously.”

But Serena didn’t know why she was getting angry alone and muttering just for letting him kiss the back of her hand.

Every time, she realized she had underestimated the power the word ‘dating’ held.

The emperor said he would meet Lucas in his quarters, not the audience chamber.

“Your Highness, shall I prepare a carriage?”

“Let’s walk a bit.”

“Yes.”

Right now, Lucas wanted to reflect on the lingering sensation left on his lips. Even the cold winter wind couldn’t disturb his pleasant walk.

“It’s a bit unfortunate though…”

“Pardon?”

“No, just talking to myself.”

Although his sweet time was interrupted, he felt quite good since he didn’t miss the chance to kiss the back of her hand before smoothly leaving at the end.

Serena didn’t even know, but the sight of her face widening in surprise the moment he kissed her lingered, making him smile.

“But why is Father looking for me?”

“This humble one was only ordered to bring Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

At the chief attendant’s words, Lucas lightly nodded. As Serena said, there must be a reason the emperor sought him out.

It had been a long time since he entered the emperor’s quarters instead of the audience chamber. The relationship between father and son wasn’t bad, but when the two actually faced each other, they had nothing to say, which was also why.

“Is Mother there too? Or the princess?”

“No. His Majesty said he wanted to meet with only Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

Lucas quickened his pace and prepared himself as best he could. Instead of seeing Luana, whom he cherished dearly, there had to be a reason for seeking out his rebellious son, who had only grown as big as a mountain.