Delia tightly grasped his arms that wrapped around her waist and cautiously asked, “Commander, what happened?”

The trembling sensation from Aaron, who had embraced her anxiously in the corridor a while ago, revived in the palm of her hand.

What could be happening that I’m unaware of?

Delia gently stroked Aaron’s strong arms.

“Did something happen with the council members of the Elder Council?”

“No.”

Aaron’s voice, answering with a nibble on her earlobe, sounded distorted.

“There seems to be something wrong. Did you have a conflict with Afran Kyung?”

Though the youngest among the Council of Eleven, Afran was the most stubborn and had strong convictions.

If there were any council members that would trouble Aaron, Afran would be the most likely.

“Afran Kyung tends to speak recklessly, but he means no harm. Maybe his passion is a bit excessive?”

Due to Aaron’s nibbling on her earlobe, Delia’s response was abruptly cut short.

“Ouch.”

Like a wild animal marking its territory, Aaron bit her earlobe fiercely.

Aaron’s faint marks were left on Delia’s damp ear, soaked with his breath.

“What are you doing exactly?”

Even with Delia’s sharp question, Aaron, with his damp breath, only made nonsensical sounds.

“Don’t meet him. Nothing happened.”

“But why? Why weren’t you well?”

It was a sensitive time for both sides as the war had ended not long ago. Lingering resentments could lead to friction, big or small.

Anxiously concerned about Aaron, Delia, forgetting the pain transmitted through his breath, asked again.

“Did people from Valsang make you uncomfortable?”

“No. They treated me well.”

Like true Valsang people, quick in understanding situations, they recognized how crucial the Chief Commander, pushing forward the peace agreement, was.

And how threatening the Imperial Army was.

The people of Valsang, released from captivity, spared no effort to honor the Chief Commander.

If there was one discomfort, it was that he couldn’t have the princess as much as he desired.

“But why?”

“I found it difficult to hold back what I wanted to say to the princess.”

“What did you want to say?”

“I got approval for our marriage at the Elder Council meeting.”

His lips moved from behind her ear to her neck.

Aaron whispered into her ear, leaving his mark on Delia’s skin.

“Oh, I already heard about that. Father told me.”

“But you need to hear about the process, not just the result.”

“Yes.”

Under the heat, Delia’s words became brief.

“I did exactly as the princess instructed.”

Aaron’s lips traveled down the back of her ear to her neck.

He murmured to her, marking her skin vividly.

“I entered the meeting room without any weapons and left my subordinates behind.”

“Even when the council members opposed, I didn’t kill anyone; I patiently listened.”

“Oh, I see.”

“No, it’s not just ‘I see.'”
A rich resentment was mixed in the low-pitched voice.

“So, what should I do?”

“Well done. I should praise you and give you a reward. Add the time you’ve been waiting, and it should be a significant reward.”

Aaron whispered lowly, inserting a veiled warning into his desire-filled voice.

“That way, you’ll listen well next time.”

In response to Aaron’s alluring words, Delia detached her body, which had been leaning against his chest.

Twisting her body slightly, she turned around to look at him.

Aaron’s ashen eyes, filled with the desire to tame Delia, were fiercely sparkling.

His touch that enveloped her waist was incredibly gentle, but his gaze was rough, as if it could scrape through her soul.

The fatal gap was thrilling to the point that shivers ran down her entire body.

Delia reached out and gently caressed his head.

“Well done.”

Silvery strands of hair entwined around Delia’s hand.

As if her hand melted, it flowed through the strands of hair.

“Thank you for listening to my request.”

“You should give me a reward.”

To hide her blushing face, Delia leaned her forehead against his shoulder and closed her eyes.

“What kind of reward should I give?”

“What I want.”

As if the faint, thin answer flowing out like a whimper was a signal, Aaron moved his hand to untie the ribbon of her cape.

The sound of fabric brushing against each other echoed as the cloth gently fell to the ground in the quiet workshop.

When the cape was removed, her neck and shoulders were fully exposed along the neckline of her dress.

As the layer of clothing peeled away, her body shivered in anticipation of the heat that would envelop her in the future.

Even though her back involuntarily stiffened, as if prey facing a beast, there was nowhere else to rely on but Aaron.

Delia reached out, instinctively wanting to cling to him, even knowing he might treat her harshly.

Aaron’s inky eyes were fiercely roving between her lips and her neck.

Delia’s hand extended to gently caress his head.

When Delia’s warm breath brushed through the gap between her lips, Aaron’s movements became bolder.

From his broad forehead to the bridge of his nose, his thick breath settled.

The lips that brushed against each other and descended along the jawline were hot like embers.