“No one can hurt you. Celia.”

Dietrich murmured in a soft voice.

Having carefully lathered soap all over Celia’s body, Dietrich rinsed off the foam with warm water.

After washing Celia’s body, Dietrich spread hyacinth-scented oil on his hands and gently stroked Celia’s hair.

“You said we’d bathe together, but now only I’m being washed?”

At Celia’s words, Dietrich casually replied.

“The Princess should remain at ease. I, the Princess’s personal attendant, will serve her bath.”

Celia laughed out loud.

Each delicate touch brushing against her hair and skin overflowed with affection toward Celia.

Whenever Celia was with Dietrich, she felt completely alive.

Until now, people had always sought to exploit her whenever they got the chance.

The Brillion family had done so, countless suitors who had pursued her had done so, and even the elderly Emperor of Abelon and the Crown Prince were no different.

Born with powerful innate abilities, she had used them merely to sustain her own failing body, turning herself into a terminal case.

If she hadn’t met Dietrich, what would have become of her?

She might have died without ever discovering that Ileon was the one who had destroyed her kingdom.

Celia felt both deep affection and profound gratitude toward Dietrich.

He had healed her dying body and stood beside her as the strongest ally who would help her bring about the fall of Abelon.

Realizing this, the worries inside her vanished as if washed away by magic.

“…Thank you, Dietrich.”

Dietrich’s hand, in the midst of spreading oil, paused briefly.

“Celia.”

Dietrich called her name in a calm voice and added,

“It should be me saying that.”

Lowering his head, Dietrich kissed Celia’s forehead.

A soft, wet sound came from Celia’s damp forehead.

After finishing rinsing Celia’s hair with warm water, Dietrich gently dried her dripping silver strands with a towel.

Her water-soaked silver hair shimmered like a mirror.

As Celia stepped out of the bathtub, droplets fell from her skin, splattering heavily onto the floor and soaking it.

The floor was so slippery that Celia nearly twisted her ankle.

“Ah!”

Her body tilted forward.

Dietrich swiftly caught the falling Celia in a tight embrace.

In that motion, their chests pressed together without a single gap.

Trapped against Dietrich’s firm chest, Celia saw his worried face within her field of vision.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“No. Thanks to you.”

Hearing Celia’s words, Dietrich let out a sigh of relief.

But only for a moment.

“Still, there might be some injury we haven’t noticed.”

Dietrich pressed his lips against Celia’s.

A soft breath slipped through their slightly parted lips.

A sweet scent blending hyacinth and rosemary wafted strongly from Celia.

Dietrich pressed his lips firmly against hers.

At times, he acted impatiently, as if nothing could ever be enough, yet whenever Celia seemed overwhelmed, he turned infinitely gentle—repeating this cycle again and again.

Dietrich’s lips slid slowly down to the hollow beneath Celia’s collarbone.

A strange, tingling sensation shot down her spine, causing Celia to clutch Dietrich’s hair tightly.

“I told you I’m not hurt… You’re being too overprotective.”

Celia gasped between breaths.

Dietrich suddenly lifted Celia into his arms.

Carrying her out of the bathroom, Dietrich carefully laid Celia down on the bed and said,

“Your body hasn’t fully recovered yet. Even if your blood has been purified, your damaged organs can’t heal from just one session with me.”

Celia wanted to argue against Dietrich’s words.

When she first fell into Dietrich’s arms, he hadn’t stopped after just one time.

He had been so incredibly intense that she couldn’t even remember how many times they had intertwined—so passionately that she eventually lost consciousness.

“Of course, I won’t do anything if you don’t want to.”

Dietrich, despite the burning desire in his eyes, still respected her will.

Smiling at Dietrich, Celia replied,

“How could I possibly say no?”

Celia placed her hands on Dietrich’s strong forearms.

Her lips were instantly devoured by Dietrich’s.

In the bedroom, their breaths entangled together.

Dietrich’s large hands gently caressed Celia’s most sensitive areas.

Overcome by a sensation as if her entire body were melting, Celia dug her nails into Dietrich’s forearms.

Pressed tightly together, she could feel his love for her radiating through every inch of their touching skin.

Dietrich pulled Celia close.

He plunged deeply into her.

Dietrich’s lips, which had been exploring Celia’s mouth, slid slowly down to the hollow beneath her collarbone.

Everywhere Dietrich’s hands touched, a searing heat seemed to consume her body.

Celia unraveled completely in Dietrich’s embrace.

Swept away by waves of pleasure, Celia’s consciousness drifted far, far away.

Celia gazed up at Dietrich with dazed eyes.

Soft moonlight filtering through the window settled upon Dietrich’s black hair.

Beneath his straight eyebrows, his crimson eyes burned like flames, holding only Celia within them.

Celia reached her hands to Dietrich’s back.

It was a night when all worries and anxieties were cast aside.

As if only the two of them remained in the world, they made love.

Morning came.

Birds chirped outside the window.

Celia slowly opened her eyes, having been worn out all night by Dietrich.

Surprisingly, her body felt much lighter than before, unlike someone who had nearly lost consciousness the previous night.

Celia sat up on the bed.

She had gone to sleep completely naked, but someone—likely Dietrich—had dressed her in a white negligee during the night.

Dietrich was already gone, having apparently risen earlier.

Knock, knock.

Hearing the knock on the door, Celia turned her gaze toward it.

“Celia.”

At the sound of Dietrich’s voice, Celia spoke.

“Come in.”

Dietrich entered, pushing a tray laden with food.

Juicy beef steak, thick sausages with slits cut into them, stew filled with various vegetables and meats, desserts including macarons…

Seeing the spread, Celia’s eyes widened. Dietrich smiled gently and said,

“I thought you might be hungry.”

“That’s too much. And meat for breakfast?”

“You don’t have to finish it. But the more you eat, the better. Anderson cooked it.”

Dietrich elegantly sliced a piece of beef and brought it to Celia’s lips.

Celia opened her mouth and accepted the meat from Dietrich.

As she tasted it, she savored the flavor.

“Maybe because it’s meat, but it tastes delicious even for breakfast.”

“Glad to hear it.”

“Won’t I gain weight eating like this?”

“Celia. You need to eat much more.”

Dietrich gently wiped a trace of steak sauce from the corner of Celia’s mouth with his index finger.

After Celia swallowed, Dietrich brought a neatly cut piece of sausage to her lips.

Celia accepted it. It was delicious, just as expected.

Only after ensuring Celia had tasted every dish did Dietrich finally set the fork down.

“I found out news from Ileon’s side this morning.”

“!”

“He escaped from prison and gathered private soldiers from each of the ducal houses. In the process, he seems to have freed the remaining Brillion family members too. Now I understand why he was so hard to locate—he’s been staying at a boutique.”

“A boutique?”

“Yes. Eclairean, the most famous boutique in the capital, used exclusively by high-society women. Who would’ve thought he’d kill the shop owner and hide there—alongside Duke Portman.”

Dietrich paused briefly, then gently tucked Celia’s tangled hair behind her ear before continuing.

“Ileon will come to the palace soon to kill me. He’ll incite rebellion and try to have me executed.”

Celia thought deeply before speaking.

“I’ll act as bait. If Ileon walks into the palace himself, I can use my ability to kill him.”

Dietrich firmly shook his head from side to side.

“Celia. There’s no way I’d let you take such a dangerous risk. It’d be better to take you somewhere safe and have me eliminate them alone.”

Celia had always been protected by Dietrich in moments of crisis.

This time, she refused to yield.

Now, she wanted to protect him.

“He’s a snake-like man—we don’t even know how many troops he’ll bring. And you expect me to stay behind while you fight alone? No.”

Seeing Celia’s firm stance, Dietrich looked troubled.

“Celia. That man is targeting you more than he is me.”

“I know.”

“You know, and still you insist on being bait?”

“Yes.”

Celia’s eyes sparkled like stars.

Dietrich knew then that Celia would never back down from her determination.

“…Then, let’s do it this way.”