Chapter 6

After confirming that the bedroom lights were off, Estelle took off her coat. The nightgown she wore underneath was designed to be provocative, intended for spending the night with a man, but in this situation, should she take it off?

Taking it off herself would be indecent and embarrassing. Not knowing what to do, she hesitated on the bed until Arcrain came over.

Arcrain’s nightwear clung to his skin, and even in the darkness, the rise of his collarbone and chest muscles could be seen. This was due to the faint moonlight seeping through the tightly drawn curtains.

If Arcrain could see his body so clearly, it meant that Estelle’s body was also visible to him. What should she do? Her body wasn’t as beautiful as Arcrain’s. Because the food at the palace was delicious and she couldn’t go out freely, she had recently gained some weight around her stomach, and no matter how much she dieted, her lower body remained plump, which was a source of insecurity for her.

“Are you scared?”

Estelle was in extreme tension, a mix of fear, anxiety, shame, and a little bit of curiosity about the unknown. Her body wouldn’t stop trembling. Arcrain seemed to interpret this as fear.

“It’s your first time, so...”

“I’ll try to be gentle. ...First, put this on.”

Arcrain touched Estelle’s left arm and fastened a bracelet with a magic stone on it.

“A magic device...?”

“It’s one of the ancient relics passed down in the royal family. It has the effect of suppressing reproduction.”

“Se...”

Estelle’s cheeks flushed, and she could sense Arcrain smiling.

“This was given to me by my father when I welcomed you to the palace. We can’t have children yet, so I want you to wear it at least until the ceremony. The royal wedding ceremony lasts a whole day and is physically demanding, and you won’t be able to wear the dress of your choice.”

Until the ceremony. The implication that this wouldn’t be a one-time thing made her feel so embarrassed that she thought her face was on fire.

Arcrain infused mana into the bracelet he had put on Estelle, then brought her left hand to his mouth and kissed her engagement ring on the ring finger.

It felt like a sacred knight’s vow. Sensing that Estelle’s tension had eased, Arcrain pulled her closer and kissed her lips.

◆ ◆ ◆

“I’m sorry, I couldn’t be as considerate at the end.”

After it was over, Estelle shook her head slightly at Arcrain’s whisper. During the act, Arcrain had been a bit mischievous, but he was also gentle. He treated her with the same courteous attitude as always, loving her tenderly.

There was pain, but it was probably inevitable for the first time. She couldn’t imagine it ever getting better, but...

“Being with you, Prince Arcrain, for my first time was a good thing.”

Embarrassed, she averted her eyes as she said this, and Arcrain’s mana suddenly brightened.

Surprised, she looked back to see Arcrain covering his mouth.

“Prince Arcrain?”

“...Estelle’s ability is troublesome. You can see, right?”

This time, his mana darkened. The emotions she could read from the change in the color of his mana and his attitude were—

(Could he be... blushing?)

She looked at Arcrain in disbelief, and he kissed her left arm. This was the place where she had a permanent scar from protecting Arcrain.

“Thanks to that attack, I met you. ...But”

Next, he took her left hand and kissed the bandage on her fingertips.

“You have such a beautiful body, but it’s covered in scars because of me. I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault, Prince Arcrain.”

The fault lay with the attackers and her own carelessness.

When he proposed, she was angry at his forcefulness, but now she could see that meeting Arcrain wasn’t a bad thing. They had only known each other for a little over three months, and she might have been too easily charmed by his courteous attitude and kindness—

She was gently embraced, and her heart melted in the warmth of his body. For those over 18 who are interested in the omitted parts, please look them up. This version is suitable for all ages, so any comments or feedback beyond this range should be directed elsewhere.