“Addie!”
It was a name no one had ever called her—except for Hirsie.
“What’s wrong?”
Lukas turned Adrienne’s face toward him, puzzled by her crimson-red cheeks.
In the small, inescapable space between them, she felt trapped in the depths of his dark eyes. They snared her like a snare closing in.
“Don’t tell me—are you unwell?”
[No.]
Adrienne shook her head urgently.
It wasn’t that she felt unwell—it was that she felt embarrassed.
‘How could I think that… right in front of Lukas?’
Like a woman lacking all modesty, she couldn’t make sense of herself.
It felt like he could see every single thought running through her mind—like she had been caught thinking something completely improper.
“Really?”
Nod, nod.
“Truly?”
Nod, nod.
As Lukas slowly moved closer, Adrienne instinctively leaned back little by little, but she still nodded eagerly at each of his questions.
One of Lukas’s thick eyebrows arched with curiosity. Then, he smiled—just slightly, tugging one corner of his lips.
Adrienne could only blink, stunned.
“Well, that’s a relief.”
Their gazes dropped at the same moment.
The instant Adrienne’s eyes caught his lips, Lukas’s own gaze landed on hers.
Through her slightly parted lips, a faint breath escaped.
No way he can hear that…
And yet, it felt as though she could feel his breath pressing against her skin. Adrienne froze, holding her breath instinctively.
From the very moment she stopped breathing…
She knew this would happen.
She knew Lukas’s lips would touch hers.
“……”
Just before they touched, he seemed to say something—but she couldn’t read his lips this time. Her heart was pounding uncontrollably, and she had no way to stop it. All she could do was clutch his arm with trembling fingers.
Their lips met.
The heart that had been thundering wildly—like the rattling carriage wheels—suddenly crashed to the ground.
Adrienne instinctively shut her eyes.
She only noticed Lukas’s hand trembling lightly around the back of her neck moments later.
Something’s… off.
The sensation of her brain melting like warm honey—no, it wasn’t just a trick of the mind.
Each time his tongue moved within her mouth, Adrienne felt like her entire body might dissolve.
He was just kissing her—just her lips.
But to her, it felt like Lukas was consuming her whole, from head to toe.
How long had she hung from his lips like that?
Suddenly, Lukas pulled away.
[…]
Adrienne bit her lower lip, dazed and breathless.
“The Weill territory is in sight, Your Highness.”
It was Keaton. He had approached the carriage and leaned in through the window, bowing respectfully as he spoke.
At that moment, Adrienne felt warmth wrap around her left hand.
“We’ll stop at the nearest inn. We need to rest if we’re going to continue the journey.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Even as Keaton walked away from the carriage, Lucas continued to grip Adrienne’s hand tightly behind her back.
Finally—they had reached Weill territory.
It was the first land that appeared after exiting the Forest of Darkness, which stretched from the central to outer edge of the stone mountains.
Unlike barren Rantschka, this land was flat, livable, and fertile.
It had taken them a full day to reach it.
When Adrienne had first passed through this place on her way to Rantschka, it had taken her two whole days.
Part of it was due to her slow pace compared to the combat-trained escorts, but they had also taken a longer, safer route around the forest.
Still, pushing through non-stop had saved them time. Of course, it had drained them physically as well.
Constant vigilance and battle had become routine—but rest was necessary if they were to move forward smoothly.
Bang, bang, bang!
Once off the horse, Keaton knocked on the inn’s worn wooden door.
Bang! Bang, bang!
— Who’s there?!
Creaaak.
With a mutter and a squeaky hinge, the door creaked open.
“Do you have any rooms?”
“How many do you need?”
The innkeeper, a stout man, looked past Keaton at the party behind him before replying.
“Two should be enough.”
“Come in, then.”
As the innkeeper turned, Keaton stepped inside. Lukas, Adrienne, Joe, and the coachman followed in order.
“We’ll need food first.”
“At this hour?”
“We’ve barely eaten on the road.”
Keaton glanced around the inn’s dim main hall, then dropped a hefty coin pouch onto the table with a loud clink.
The silver coins spilling from the pouch made the innkeeper’s expression shift instantly.
“I’ve only got simple soup this late—but if that’ll do…”
Two meals. That was all they’d had in twenty-four hours—and both had been nothing more than boiled potatoes and water.
Soup sounded more than welcome.
“That’s fine.”
“Anything’s fine.”
Keaton nodded, and Joe chimed in cheerfully.
“Then head to your rooms and unpack. I’ll call you when the food’s ready. Oh—and the rooms are at the far end of the second floor. The one on the right’s perfect for newlyweds.”
“What?”
Lukas’s brow furrowed sharply at the innkeeper’s last words.
“You two look exactly like a married couple—aren’t you?”
Lukas’s sharp gaze made the innkeeper tilt his head, clearly confused by the pushback.
“Ahem. Just get the food ready quickly, please.”
“Yes, yes. Got it.”
Clearing his throat awkwardly, Keaton diverted the innkeeper’s attention.
As the man retreated from the hall, Lukas finally turned away.
“Let’s head up, Your Highness.”
“Yes, sir. Please rest and unpack in your rooms.”
“Alright. Let’s all take a short break for now.”
Lukas shrugged casually at Keaton , watching the innkeeper disappear.
“I’ll go check on the horses and the carriage.”
“You should’ve checked before arrival. It’s late.”
“Better to do it now while we’re still paused here.”
“Fair enough.”
The coachman bowed and stepped outside.
“I’m starving, but I think my eyelids weigh more than my armor.”
“Eat first. Then you can sleep.”
“Hehe, yes, sir!”
Keaton shook his head with a sigh at Joe’s joking tone.
“Let’s rest while they prepare the food.”
Lukas rolled his shoulder and turned to Adrienne. Her eyes widened.
“We’re heading to our room.”
When she looked up at him in surprise, he stared down at her and clarified.
Oh…
Adrienne finally moved her feet. Lukas and she climbed the stairs, followed closely by Keaton and Joe.
The room was shabby but clean.
Lukas stepped inside first, scanning the space carefully.
There was a bed with fresh linens, a wide table, and a fireplace.
Whoosh.
Lukas opened the curtain to glance outside. Unlike when they’d arrived, the sky was already beginning to lighten.
“Sit here for a moment.”
He helped Adrienne onto the bed, then lit a fire in the hearth. With a few practiced movements, the logs inside crackled to life.
“Keep your coat on until it warms up.”
Lukas pulled a chair backward and sat on it, facing her.
“Want to lie down?”
[No, I’m alright.]
“It’s okay. You’ve been crammed into that carriage for over a day.”
[It’s really fine!]
Startled, Adrienne flailed her hands toward him.
“All while bruising that backside of yours countless times.”
[…]
A mischievous spark lit up Lukas’s face. Adrienne’s wide eyes began to shimmer with curiosity.
That playful look—does it mean he’s starting to accept me?
“What?”
Suddenly, Lukas leaned forward. Out of habit, Adrienne leaned back, her hands barely keeping balance on the bed.
Lukas’s gaze dropped.
Adrinne’s eyes followed—right to his lips.
Not again…
Her face must’ve turned bright red.
And then—
“Stretch your legs out on the bed. I need to clean my sword.”
Lukas slumped against the chair, rubbing his eyes as he spoke.
Adrienne sighed quietly, her breath shaky.
I can’t breathe…
This wasn’t just about being overwhelmed.
The real issue… was how intensely aware she was of her husband.
Every time she looked at his lips to read them, she remembered the moment they’d touched hers. It was unbearable.
Especially now—when they were on their way to the Crown Palace for the Emperor Xerses’s funeral.
After the funeral, there would be a coronation. Prince Agmund would officially become Emperor of Rodia.
The Emperor held absolute power over all territories within the empire. Jackson had said no one could predict what Agmund might do to Lukas.
It wasn’t just Jackson—Lukas himself had said he might not survive once they reached the Crown Palace.
Agmund was a terrifying figure in his life.
If something truly dangerous happens to him… what am I supposed to do?
