Chapter 1: Sleeping with the Enemy
Delia awoke in the late afternoon, groggy and sluggish. As she slowly lifted her heavy eyelids, her glassy blue eyes were revealed. A haze of light streamed through her blurry, unfocused vision.
“Am I dreaming?”
Her mind felt melted, empty of thought. Her body didn’t feel like her own—every sensation seemed detached, as if her senses were no longer under her control.
“I feel like I had a really intense dream…”
Drowsy and dazed, Delia let her eyes close again. With sight gone, her other senses began to awaken. The coarse texture of a blanket prickled against her skin. The faint smell of earth and gunpowder, mixed with a damp, warm air, entered her lungs with each breath. This was clearly not her usual bedroom.
“Then… where am I?”
With great effort, Delia opened her eyes again and slowly scanned her surroundings. Her long lashes trembled as her eyelids fluttered. As her vision cleared, the room around her came into focus. Overturned dishes and scattered fruits sat on a table bathed in light. A white shirt lay on the floor, trailing up to the bed she was on. Her body lay limp on a rough military cot. And behind her, she felt a warm presence.
That’s when her eyes flew open in shock.
Gasp! She inhaled sharply. The fog in her head instantly cleared, and everything came back to her in vivid detail.
You’re insane. What have you done?
A tidal wave of regret crashed over her. How could she have gone along with such a ridiculous bet? If only she hadn’t been tempted by that soft, mist-like voice telling her to taste it. If only she hadn’t been provoked by talks of betrayal and challenges.
Now back in reality, Delia bit her lip hard to keep from screaming. She managed to hold back the sound, but her body was covered in unfamiliar aches that surged stronger by the second.
“Awake?”
A deep voice behind her made Delia flinch and curl in on herself.
“No. I’m still asleep.”
“Pretty sure you’re awake.”
“I said I’m still asleep.”
The man behind her let out a low chuckle, amused by her defiant answer. Talking back while claiming to be asleep—Delia realized her slip-up and clamped her lips shut. It was clear the man had noticed her panic.
“You’re unusually tense, for a prisoner.”
His large hand gently stroked her back as if to soothe her. The touch was so soft against her bare skin it made it hard to breathe.
“Who? Who says I’m tense?”
Trying to sound nonchalant, Delia shifted to the edge of the bed, trying to escape his touch. She was on the verge of falling off.
“Then why are you running away?”
Seeing this, the man wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her back toward him.
“Kyaah!”
The more she squirmed, the tighter his grip became. Holding her close, Aaron whispered softly.
“Shhh. Don’t be afraid.”
He gently brushed her soft golden hair back from her face. As the strands fell into place, her rose-pink cheeks were revealed. Stroking them gently, he whispered:
“I won’t force you, unless you allow it.”
His soothing voice, like a caress, and the careful touch of his hand made Delia’s stiff body slowly relax. The steady rhythm of his heartbeat against her back, his warmth—it was disarming.
But that only made her more anxious.
The man holding her was Aaron, Supreme Commander of the Stilleitz Empire—the very enemy who had invaded her country, Iorenti.
And she… was in his arms.
No. I can’t just give myself up to the enemy like this.
Delia pushed at him, trying to resist.
“But you captured me. You locked me up.”
“Come on, prisoner. That was a military operation. Completely different from this.”
“Oh, how noble. So good at separating business from pleasure.”
“As a proud soldier of the Empire, it’s only natural.”
“Right. The oh-so-noble Empire, attacking Iorenti…”
Delia pouted and turned her back to him, biting her lip again. Aaron brought his thumb to her mouth.
“Tsk tsk, doing it again. I told you not to. You’ll hurt your lips.”
His finger brushed softly over her lips, trying to erase the bite marks, spreading them gently.
“Then bite my finger instead.”
Like earlier. His whisper was low and suggestive. Her ears turned red.
“That’s none of your business, Commander. Whether my lips get hurt or not.”
“Isn’t it my business now?”
“No. We’re nothing to each other.”
“Do you really believe that?”
Trying to ignore his hand on her lips, Delia stared off at the table, where wild raspberries rolled, remnants of their earlier passion. Clothes lay strewn across the floor, physical proof of what had happened. Her eyes shut tight.
The feel of his chest on her back, his breath on her neck—it all felt too real.
Sleeping with the enemy… There’s no way to deny what happened.
If she couldn’t escape, she might as well pretend to be unfazed.
“Fine. It was worth trying once. Not bad.”
Aaron’s brows twitched.
“That’s it?”
“What more do you want?”
“Say that again. That’s not what you said earlier.”
He pulled her closer again, hand trailing toward her chest.
“You were a bit… aggressive before. I said what I had to just to survive. It was coerced testimony.”
Aaron stared at her unbothered, gradually applying pressure with his hand.
“Can you swear on your heart that’s true?”
The weight over her chest made her breath catch. As she struggled, he held her tighter.
“I just told you, didn’t I? Why ask again?”
Aaron’s gaze softened.
“Alright. I’ll believe you.”
“I’m serious!”
“Sure. I’ll believe what you said, prisoner. So tell me—who are you really?”
The softness vanished. Delia stopped breathing. Her body froze.
She was acutely aware of who he was—and what she had to hide.
He was the enemy commander. She must never let him know her true identity.
That she was a princess of Iorenti.
Delia raised her guard.
“Why do you want to know? Trying to use me just because we slept together? Keep dreaming. I’m not that easy.”
Aaron brushed her earlobe gently.
“I don’t use people like that. And sorry, but you’re no longer of any value to use.”
“Then why ask?”
“Because when the war ends, I’m going to send a marriage proposal.”
“…What?”
Delia shot up, clutching the blanket around her bare, bruised body. Her golden hair shimmered in the light.
Her eyes were wide with shock.
“Commander. You’ve lost your mind.”
Aaron, still lying on the bed, smiled lazily. His silver hair sparkled like his grin.
“I’ll make sure our troops avoid your family’s lands.”
My family’s lands? The whole of Iorenti is my family’s land.
She swallowed the words.
“I’ll make sure your family receives titles from the Stilleitz Empire.”
A royal of one nation being titled by the enemy? I’d rather die from shame.
“I’ll give you more than you ever had in Iorenti.”
I don’t want any of it!
Delia gritted her teeth and pulled the blanket tighter.
She had to set things straight.
“Commander. In case you forgot—we’re enemies. One night in bed doesn’t mean anything.”
“Just one night?”
“We’re at war. How can you talk about marriage?”
Delia turned away coldly. One mistake was enough.
But as she tried to leave the bed, she was suddenly flipped onto her back. Aaron loomed over her, his signature silver-gray eyes glowing.
“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that nonsense. Now let go of me.”
His powerful presence made her voice tremble. A soldier’s body—strong arms, broad shoulders—had held her steady as she collapsed.
The memory of that strength still lingered in her heart.
“You already heard it. I said I’ll propose.”
Delia, trying to hide her shaken heart, replied firmly.
“That makes no sense. We’re enemies. And during war?”
“I’ll make it possible.”
“I don’t want it. Aren’t you one of those proud imperial soldiers? You said you wouldn’t force me. Marriage is personal. If I refuse, that’s it.”
“You’re right. I won’t force you. I’ll wait—until you say yes.”
His lips curled into that gentle, beautiful smile again. His voice was soft as ever.
But Delia shivered.
“I’ll never say yes. Especially not to marriage.”
“We’ll see.”
“Commander. Keep your lines clear. We’re enemies. If I take one step outside, we’ll be fighting to the death.”
“Then I’ll make sure you never take that step. As commander, I’ll keep my prisoner from escaping. That’s official business.”
His large hand caressed her cheek and the back of her neck.
“Until you give me permission—I’ll keep you.”
“Commander!!!”
Delia’s horrified scream echoed through the headquarters of the Stilleitz Imperial Army.
