Their lips met and intertwined.

Callid’s hands hastily unbuttoned Bellia’s clothes.

Even after spending many nights together, he always becomes impatient at this moment.

His hands moved very busily, but his kisses were infinitely soft and leisurely.

“Do you still have the mind to send a reply?”

Callid asked, licking his saliva-coated lips.

Bellia exhaled a heated breath and looked at Callid with a hazy gaze.

Thinking of sending a reply in this situation?

Her clothes were already unbuttoned and completely disheveled.

“… Are you joking right now?”

Bellia stretched out her long, slender arms and wrapped them around Callid’s neck.

Then, before kissing his lips again, she whispered softly.

“Stop talking and continue.”

This time, Bellia pressed her lips against his first.

Callid matched her movements and pulled down the clothes draped over her shoulders.

He carefully kissed every part of her exposed skin.

He always acted as if every part of Bellia was lovable like this.

Bellia slipped her fingers into Callid’s hair as he moved lower and lower.

The silky black hair swayed between her fingers.

‘… This is maddening.’

This simple gesture of Bellia’s was always stimulating to him.

So the desire to leave his marks all over her body by biting kept creeping up.

‘… But that would scare her.’

Because Bellia is easily frightened.

Callid suppressed his desire with extreme patience.

More than his own pleasure, Bellia’s satisfaction was more important.

“Callid…”

So.

That delicate voice calling out his name, stretching the end.

Callid gritted his teeth.

“Please don’t call me like that. Unless you’re testing my patience.”

“… There’s no need for that.”

Bellia whispered in a very small voice, but Callid wasn’t one to miss those words.

“… Ha.”

Callid pulled Bellia in deeper.

“Don’t regret it later, since you brought this upon yourself.”

Bellia met Callid’s eyes.

Regret? If that were the case, she wouldn’t have started in the first place.

“You…”

She reached out and grasped Callid’s shirt.

“You treat me like some fragile glass…”

Bellia’s voice grew lower.

“Does that mean you lack confidence even in bed?”

Callid’s gaze sharpened.

Bellia pulled him roughly while lifting the corners of her mouth.

“Let’s see if you can make me regret this provocation.”

I’ll gladly accept it.

“Ha…!”

Callid ran his hand through his hair.

If she knew how much he was holding back, she wouldn’t dare to provoke him like this.

But since she provoked him, he had to respond.

“Can you handle it?”

Bellia grinned and unbuttoned Callid’s shirt one by one, pop, pop.

At that action, Callid felt as if he heard the sound of his patience snapping.

As Bellia undid the last button of his shirt, Callid supported himself with his arms on either side of her and climbed on top of her.

“You can look forward to it.”

Callid smiled darkly as he roughly took off his shirt.

“Tonight will be much longer than usual, Bellia.”

I won’t show mercy even if you cry and beg me to stop.

Callid’s eyes flashed dangerously for a moment as he looked down at Bellia lying disheveled on the crumpled sheets.

“… That’s what I’m hoping for.”

Bellia, not backing down one bit, smiled seductively.

Soon, Bellia surrendered herself to the waves of pleasure Callid gave her.

And so continued a night of ecstasy that seemed like it would never end.

[This is the timeline separator]

It felt like she hadn’t slept for even a few hours, but the whole world was already bright.

Bellia woke up, frowning at the bright sunlight pouring in through the window, and covered her face with the blanket.

‘I don’t want to get up…’

There’s no schedule today, so wouldn’t it be okay to lie down a bit more leisurely?

How many hours did she spend with him last night?

Bellia pressed her cheeks that were starting to heat up again, then turned her body to look at Callid lying next to her. His peaceful expression with eyes closed and one arm raised above his head somehow looked childlike.

“Cute.”

Bellia, startled at unconsciously voicing her inner thoughts, quickly covered her mouth.

However, Callid seemed to be in a deep sleep, breathing softly without any movement.

Relieved, Bellia continued admiring Callid and carefully extended her finger to stroke from his forehead down to the bridge of his nose.

She had always thought he was handsome, but the more time they spent together, the more attractive he seemed.

Looking at him sleeping with such a gentle expression, he didn’t look at all like the person who had been driving her relentlessly all night. Last night, Callid had ignored all of Bellia’s pleas to stop and continued to embrace her.

‘I should be careful not to provoke him recklessly next time.’

Bellia reflected on her words and actions for a moment.

Of course, she couldn’t guarantee she wouldn’t do it again next time.

When she was with Callid, aspects of herself she didn’t even know kept emerging.

“But it was good…”

“What was?”

“Eek!”

Bellia screamed in surprise at the sudden voice.

Callid, who had woken up at some point, was smiling with his eyes still closed and a sleepy expression.

“What was good?”

Could it be, he heard everything?

Bellia’s face turned red.

“Hmm?”

Callid kept pressing for an answer.

But Bellia couldn’t say anything.

“Hehe.”

Hearing the laughter that was clearly teasing her, Bellia gritted her teeth in frustration.

Callid slightly opened his eyes.

Then, in that same position, he just reached out and embraced Bellia’s waist.

“It seems you definitely like it rough.”

“… If you’re going to talk nonsense, go back to sleep.”

“No, but that’s…”

Bellia quickly covered Callid’s mouth with both hands and pressed down firmly.

“If you say anything more, I won’t let you off easy.”

Callid nodded as if he understood.

At that, Bellia slowly removed her hands.

But Callid didn’t stop.

“So, was it good?”

Bellia finally couldn’t hold back and threw a pillow at Callid.

[This is the timeline separator]

The Second Prince’s Palace had never been this noisy before.

Even when Bellia first arrived at the Imperial Palace and caused a huge commotion with Callid, it wasn’t this loud. But now there were many people coming and going, and the whole palace felt bustling.

“Put that over there.”

Bellia gave instructions one by one to the people bringing tables and chairs.

The flowers blooming beautifully around the garden were a spectacular sight.

She decided to finally hold the postponed event, thinking it would be nice to have a tea party here.

It was time to keep the promise she had made earlier to invite the ladies to the Imperial Palace.

It felt a bit late, but she couldn’t help it since she had been so busy until now.

“Ah! That should go there, not here.”

The flowers to decorate the tables also arrived one by one.

The maids brought the tableware and arranged them in their places.

“How far along are the dessert preparations?”

Bellia asked, stopping a maid who was about to head back to the kitchen.

“When I asked the chef earlier, he said there would be no issues with the progress. Everything you additionally requested was being completed well, Princess.”

Bellia smiled with relief at those words.

Soon, those who received invitations would start arriving one by one.

As this was the first party she was hosting since arriving in the Empire, she wanted to make it as perfect as possible.

“Are the preparations going well?”

Callid, having finished preparing to go out, came out and spoke to Bellia upon seeing her in the garden.

“Yes. It’s going well.”

Bellia answered without a moment’s hesitation.

Callid’s eyes gleamed with curiosity at how unusual that was.

She tended to be cautious about everything, but somehow today she didn’t seem very worried.

“Aren’t you worried? Should I help out a bit if needed?”

“No. It’s fine.”

Bellia firmly rejected his offer.

Callid felt somewhat hurt by that.

“Is there really nothing I can help with?”

“No, there isn’t. Besides, didn’t you say you were busy today?”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

Callid kept feeling strange. It was as if he had become completely useless.

So he started clinging to Bellia, postponing his need to leave.

“If you want, I can stay with you.”

“It’s really fine, so please go.”

“…”

Bellia knew why Callid was being annoying.

He was probably worried in his own way after hearing about what happened with the Princess of Canterif at the previous tea party. But it really was fine.

“I’ve done this many times. Don’t worry, Callid.”

No matter how much she had been abandoned by the Emperor in her previous life, Bellia was still the Empress after all.

How many parties had she hosted as the Crown Princess and Empress?

Because she lacked the Emperor’s affection, she had been even more careful to prepare without the slightest mishap whenever she personally hosted events.

‘I didn’t spend that time idly.’

That’s why Bellia could confidently say that the current preparations were perfect.

It wasn’t like preparing as a routine, but she had really devoted all her efforts.

Seeing Bellia’s confident appearance, Callid was about to say something but closed his mouth.

Then he smiled kindly and said:

“I see. You’ll do well. So I won’t worry.”

Judging by the urgent expression of the aide nearby, time was really running short now.

“Tell me how it went in the evening.”

“Of course.”

Callid gently kissed Bellia goodbye.

“Then I’ll be going.”

“Have a safe trip.”

Bellia saw Callid off and then did a final overall check.

“Good.”

It seemed there would be no problems.

Bellia entered the interior with a satisfied expression.

She needed to prepare to welcome the guests as well.

‘Since it’s a tea party at the Imperial Palace, I need to make a clear impression.’

As the Princess of Canterif hadn’t entered the Imperial Palace yet, this was the first tea party being held at the Second Prince’s Palace by Bellia. So there was a need to take the initiative in advance.

“Princess. It’s all done.”

The maid said as she finished the light makeup.

Bellia approached the mirror closely to examine her face.

She was very pleased.

“Thank you.”

Then she got up and put on the dress she had prepared in advance.

Today, she needed to show dignity while also creating a friendly atmosphere, so she chose a voluminous dress in light apricot color.

The dress made by layering two apricot-colored fabrics with different saturations was lovely and pretty.

The skirt of the dress was studded with tiny jewels that would shimmer softly when hit by sunlight in the garden. Plus the necklace and earrings Callid had gifted her. It was perfect.

“The carriages are entering, Your Highness.”

“I see. I’ll go out now.”

Bellia’s gaze hardened.

From now on, where she was headed was not just a mere tea party, but no different from a battlefield.