Chapter : 13
“…It was… okay.”
Elfreda quietly spoke up, unable to endure the silence any longer. Her words drew Ainar’s attention.
As he slowly let go of her, she somehow looked disappointed.
What expression would she make if I just left like this? Would she be disappointed because she couldn’t have my child?
Ainar suddenly became curious and silently released her hand.
Elfreda looked at him, clearly flustered. She seemed like she was waiting for him to say something—like a puppy waiting for its owner.
The moment he realized that, his mood strangely soured. Ainar gave up teasing her further. He already felt like he knew the answer anyway. If he really left, she looked like she might cry.
“If you’re busy, you can just—”
“….”
“You can go.”
Ainar let out a quiet laugh. Who would believe her words when she looked like that?
Or is this some kind of strategy?
His expression turned slightly cold.
Elfreda shrank a little, as if sensing his mood.
She didn’t even get a chance to wonder what she said wrong.
“Ah—!”
Ainar suddenly lifted Elfreda into his arms and walked toward the bed.
She was placed down on the bed in an instant and looked up at him, still confused about what was happening.
Ainar smirked and began removing his jacket.
“Were you expecting me to undress you?”
Only then did Elfreda understand. Hesitantly, she began unbuttoning her nightdress, which was fastened all the way to her neck.
But her nerves made her fingers stiff, and the buttons wouldn’t come undone easily.
Clicking his tongue, Ainar leaned over her.
“Ah…”
His shadow fell over her as he hovered above her on the bed. At first, he unbuttoned her slowly—but soon it looked like he might rip them off entirely.
The tension in Elfreda’s body grew sharper.
By the end, Ainar was almost tearing the buttons off.
Elfreda glanced at the scattered buttons, and Ainar spoke dryly.
“You have time to worry about buttons when your husband is right above you?”
“Ah— I… mm!”
In that moment, Ainar buried his face at her neck.
His lips pressed against her skin, sucking in deeply.
A sweet scent filled his senses again—just like last night. Expensive perfume. If the goal was to seduce him, it was certainly effective.
“Ahh… Your Majesty…”
Elfreda let out a trembling sound as sensitive spots were teased by his lips and teeth.
Ainar gritted his teeth without realizing it.
Who taught her to make such sounds?
How long had she practiced to sound like this?
His movements became more intense.
Elfreda squirmed and clutched the bedsheets tightly. She instinctively tried to hold onto him but forced herself to stop, thinking he might not like it.
“Ah…!”
The moment he entered her, her mind went completely blank.
She couldn’t think at all—only moved with him.
Her hands clutched the sheets as if they were her only lifeline.
As things grew more intense, her body was pressed deeper into the bed.
Ainar moved as if he intended to sink her into the mattress completely.
Her voice grew louder.
“Ugh…!”
Tears gathered in Elfreda’s eyes as the sensation became overwhelming.
Ainar lowered his head and gently licked away her tears, as if he had finally found water after walking through a desert.
The soft, wet touch made her flinch.
It was the first gentle gesture she had received during this act.
Elfreda unknowingly smiled faintly.
But it quickly disappeared as Ainar increased his pace again.
Still, because of that brief kindness, she felt even stronger pleasure than before.
“…Ah…”
Finally, he filled her completely.
It was already the second time, but it still felt unfamiliar.
And yet—it didn’t feel bad.
If a child between them were to exist… what would that feel like?
Elfreda’s heart beat faster at the thought of something that hadn’t even happened.
“Child…”
At that moment, she remembered what Serina had said last night.
When she opened her eyes, she met Ainar’s gaze—sharp and intense.
In that moment, she made a decision.
‘I won’t follow my father’s wishes.’
Even if she had a child with him, that child would never be used for Makaeri’s benefit.
She would raise the child as purely Machi’s.
At least for that reason, she could ease some of her guilt toward him.
After a while, Ainar slowly got up, just like last night, as if he planned to leave immediately.
Elfreda instinctively tried to reach for him but stopped herself.
However, Ainar noticed her hand frozen in mid-air and looked at it.
After thinking for a moment, Elfreda finally spoke.
“Would you… like to rest a little longer?”
“….”
“You must be… tired.”
It was her awkward way of saying she wanted him to stay.
She tried to look calm, but her true feelings slipped through anyway, and she turned her gaze away.
Ainar watched her quietly, then spoke.
“If I’m not tired?”
“Pardon?”
“Then you’ll just tell me to leave?”
“Ah…”
Her face turned flustered.
Ainar chuckled softly.
“Maybe I am tired. Maybe I’m not.”
“Ah… if it’s uncomfortable, I can leave instead…”
“You’d go out looking like that?”
Elfreda looked down without thinking—and immediately turned bright red.
Ainar laughed and lay down beside her without saying anything.
The bed was large, and they weren’t too close—but Elfreda felt her heart drop anyway.
For the first time, just lying still made her extremely aware of everything—her breathing, her hands, even her toes.
But still…
It felt good.
Unconsciously, a small smile appeared on her face.
Ainar looked at her quietly for a moment, then asked what he had been holding back.
“Have you met Princess Serina?”
“…Yes, well.”
Elfreda answered vaguely, slightly flustered.
Ainar continued calmly.
“She leaves in three days. Seems Machi is not very interesting to her.”
“That can’t be true. She probably just doesn’t want to be a burden by staying too long.”
“Probably. But tell me—”
His voice turned sharp.
“Do you also speak formally to your younger sister?”
“…Ah.”
Elfreda’s face briefly turned pale, then she smiled calmly.
“I’m still not used to Machi’s language yet.”
“If it’s difficult, you don’t have to use formal speech at all.”
Ainar said firmly.
“You are the queen of Machi. Your actions are my actions.”
In other words, she had to act carefully.
Elfreda nodded.
“I will keep that in mind.”
She felt relieved that he didn’t dig deeper.
Ainar looked at her for a moment, then turned his gaze forward again.
For some reason, his chest felt slightly tight.
But since there was no reason for it, he pushed the feeling away.
