Chapter 92

"Because we are a married couple."

The wind blew through the open window.

The summer night breeze, dispelling the tropical night, was humid and gentle.

The chirping of insects echoed through the quiet air.

Aristine looked down at Tarkan, holding his hand.

The only woman who is special to me is you.

His golden eyes pleaded.

"You said there was something on the first night."

For some reason, her words came out as a pout.

This isn't right. I should just say, 'Oh, there's nothing,' and leave it at that.

It shouldn't matter whether he has a lover or not.

But why...

"There wasn't."

Why do these words pierce my heart so deeply?

"It's only you."

Tarkan squeezed her hand.

"Why did you say there was something back then?"

"That's..."

Tarkan looked awkward, uncharacteristically.

"I thought saying that would prevent unnecessary emotions from arising in advance."

Unnecessary emotions.

Aristine felt a knot in her stomach at his words.

'You did this because you were afraid I might fall in love with you?'

Aristine pressed her lips together.

Even though she thought it didn't matter whether he had a lover or not, she was angrier to learn he had lied for such a reason.

'No, I also wanted to exclude all romantic feelings from this marriage.'

That's why she suggested becoming business partners in this political marriage from the beginning.

After all, what she wanted was freedom, and she could never love Tarkan.

Tarkan, observing her expression, said anxiously,

"Just because I didn't know you well enough."

He didn't know what kind of person Aristine was.

He thought she was unusual, but he didn't realize how quirky, stubborn, and uncooperative she could be, or how prone to misunderstandings, or how—

How incredibly lovable.

'Lovable?'

Tarkan was amazed by the thought that had popped into his head.

Lovable?

Was he looking at Aristine with such eyes?

'I am...'

His trembling golden eyes, filled with confusion, looked at Aristine.

Her face, illuminated by the candlelight and shadows, was subtly colored.

Her smooth cheeks formed a gentle curve, and her lips, slightly pouting in dissatisfaction, were fuller than usual.

Her long silver hair, tinged with amber and yellow, rustled in the wind.

Most of all, her eyes, which met his directly.

Her violet eyes, like the dawn sky, shone like stars in the dim room.

Lovable.

His heart beat.

Tarkan stared at Aristine, entranced.

She was lovable.

Her appearance.

He didn't know when it started, but the moment he realized it, he couldn't bear how lovable she was.

He didn't know what to do with this realization.

Before he could fully accept his feelings, Aristine spoke.

"Then why are you telling me the truth now?"

If even her grumbling seemed cute, was there something stuck in his eyes?

"To a woman who annoys me."

At Tarkan's added words, he flinched and gently pulled her arm.

Their bodies, which had been slightly apart while holding hands, drew closer.

The hem of Aristine's nightgown brushed against Tarkan's firm thighs.

The semi-transparent lace curtain swept over their shadows in the breeze.

"Aristine."

Tarkan's voice was low and hoarse.

"You annoy me."

At his words, Aristine's mouth tightened.

Why do these words hurt so much?

She had heard much worse before.

Was it because she thought Tarkan was a decent partner, only to realize he wasn't?

Because of that?

"I get annoyed when you don't rely on me."

Tarkan said quietly.

Aristine opened her mouth slightly, then closed it.

Tarkan, frowning, looked at her seriously and intently.

"If you tell someone else something important before me, I get annoyed."

"Tarkan."

"I get anxious when you come home late, and angry when you're sick."

"......"

"When you draw a clear line and tell me not to cross it—"

As he spoke, Tarkan's hand, which had been holding Aristine's, moved up her arm.

His large hand, moving up her pale arm, reached her neck and touched her face.

"You really annoy me."

Holding her cheek, he whispered in her ear.

His warm breath caressed her skin, making Aristine shiver.

She turned her head slightly to look at Tarkan.

His prominent nose brushed against her cheek, and their eyes met.

Her breath warmed his skin, and his breath covered hers.

Aristine felt her breathing quicken.

Or was it his breathing that quickened?

She couldn't tell.

Her head was too hot to think clearly.

"I don't have a lover. I'm not cheating."

Tarkan whispered.

"Even if it's a political marriage, it's still a marriage."

Looking at Aristine, his long eyelashes cast shadows over his downcast eyes.

"So we are a real married couple."

Aristine realized what he was saying.

"Well, we're not really a real married couple."

That was what she had told him.

"Even if it's a political marriage, we are a real married couple. But—"

"You have a lover who you can't live without."

I told him that to make him rely on me more as his husband.

Tarkan, growing anxious at her silence, whispered,

"Aristine, you are my real wife."

His thumb brushed her chin, barely touching her lips.

"The only one."

It sounded more like a plea for permission than a declaration, and Aristine nodded involuntarily.

"Okay."

Tarkan didn't smile.

But Aristine thought his face was more beautiful than any expression she had ever seen on him.

"I am your only real husband."

Aristine nodded.

A voice in the back of her mind told her to think about divorce, to push him away, but it sounded muffled, like shouting from underwater, and didn't fully register.

She just wanted to keep looking into Tarkan's eyes.

His sparkling golden eyes were like sunlight.

They held her, refusing to let her go, in the dark, damp palace where she had huddled alone.

* * *

The next morning.

"Did you sleep well?"

Aristine blinked, lying in bed.

Tarkan, lying on his side and propping his head on his arm, smiled at her.

His voice, slightly hoarse from the morning, was sexy.

'No, it's not sexy.'

Aristine thought, shaking her head inwardly.

'It's just a result of vocal cord tension due to lack of moisture.'

She decided to think that, though she wasn't sure if it was true.

The morning sunlight, filtered through the semi-transparent lace canopy, gently illuminated Tarkan.

His messy black hair and disheveled nightgown added to the languid atmosphere.

His shirt, already open, gaped even wider, revealing his firm pectorals in the sunlight.

Something prominent was visible through the slightly slipped collar, and Aristine quickly averted her eyes.

'Wow......'

Aristine was genuinely impressed.

A husband who, upon waking in the morning, asks if you slept well, looking as lazy and sexy as a predator.

It would make mornings enjoyable.

She felt a surge of energy.

Aristine thought, without realizing it, that this was why people got married.

She always woke up with Tarkan, but today his beauty seemed especially striking.

'Why is this happening?'

As she tilted her head, Tarkan's firm arm wrapped around her waist.

"Sleep more. You're still recovering from overwork, right?"

At his touch, Aristine easily found herself drawn to his side.

Tarkan's bare chest pressed against her back.

'Wow...'

Aristine blinked.

The warmth and softness of his chest, firm and defined, were palpable.

She clutched and released the blanket, unsure of what to do.

The bed was narrow, so some part of their bodies always touched, but usually just their arms.

This was the first time they were so intimately close.

'So this is what being a married couple feels like.'

She learned something new.

The sunlight, softened by the lace curtains, was just right.

Wrapped in his warm body, she felt drowsy, and her eyes naturally closed.

'Tarkan said to sleep more...'

Just as she was about to drift back to sleep, her eyes snapped open.

'What am I doing?'

This wasn't the time to lie around with Tarkan.

"Why are you doing that?"

As Aristine fidgeted, Tarkan lifted his upper body slightly and asked.

His face, half-asleep, was relaxed.

'Ugh......'

Aristine stifled a groan and sat up abruptly.

'So this is what they mean by a honey trap. It was dangerous.'

She wiped her cold sweat.

It was just a normal morning, yet she didn't know why she was so affected.

"Are you not going to sleep more?"

"I don't have time. I have to work."

Tarkan's eyes twitched.

He looked at Aristine, who was bustling out of bed, with a displeased expression.

Unaware of how her husband was looking at her, Aristine left the bedroom, leaving a cold remark, "You should go to work too."

Alone on the bed, Tarkan clicked his tongue.

'It didn't work.'

Knowing Aristine had a strange fixation on his chest, he had deliberately opened his collar wider.

She was a tough woman.

* * *

It was closer to noon than morning, so Aristine skipped breakfast and went straight to the forge.

The mages who were to set up the magical equipment were already there working.

Aristine greeted the representative.

"Thank you for working so quickly."

"It's a job commissioned by the Highness, so of course we prioritize it."

"We are honored to assist the Lady of Peace!"

"I will dedicate my soul to this task!"

The mages, who had been in a meeting with the blacksmiths, shouted.

'No... I don't need your souls.'

That would be problematic.

Aristine thought with a frown.

"Everyone is very dedicated. While I'm glad to have help from the Highness, creating something new is always exciting for us mages."

The representative smiled, as if asking for understanding.

"Using magical energy for heat and pressure to replace the furnace... I was truly impressed."

"No, it's nothing special..."

Aristine felt embarrassed, as it wasn't a method she had come up with on her own.

"Using magical stones as an energy source to generate heat and pressure is a common technique. But no one had thought to apply it to the smelting process. If that's not special, what is?"

"Um... Thank you."

If she denied it, he would likely go on at length, so Aristine just thanked him.

'While it's new to apply it here, I just brought it from Earth...'

Her conscience pricked her.

At that moment,

"The magical stones have arrived!"

At the blacksmith's shout, Aristine's eyes widened.

"Already?"

It was a welcome message, but she was surprised.

Even with the portal, she thought it would take longer.

But they were here already?

"These are the magical stones previously brought to the palace."

A significant portion of the mined magical stones had been transported to the palace.

They were bringing some of those.

"Knowing the urgency, His Majesty must have taken care of it."

At Aristine's words, the official who brought the stones had a strange expression.

He watched silently as the mages took the stones, then approached Aristine.

"Highness."

"Yes?"

"Forgive my presumption, but I want to clear up a misunderstanding..."

"It's fine. What is it?"

"Such distribution is usually handled by the practical staff, isn't it?"

The official's words made Aristine's eyes widen.

Practical staff.

So...

"Prince Hamir sent them, didn't he?"

"Yes, Highness. The Prince took care of it."

It was unbelievable.

She never thought Hamir would go to such lengths to get the magical stones so quickly.

'I thought it would be a relief if he didn't sabotage it.'

Aristine rubbed her forehead.

'What's going on?'

Forget being a husband, he's just trying to make money.