* * *
“Ugh…”
How long had he been asleep?
The last thing Eren remembered before blacking out was the sun hanging high in the sky.
But now, it was growing dark outside.
He groaned as he clutched his sore waist and slowly sat up from the bed.
He had no idea how many times they’d done it last night, but not a single part of his body was free from pain.
Just moving a little made him groan involuntarily—it was hard to even sit properly.
“Nnnh…”
Barely managing to lift himself and perch at the edge of the bed, Eren soon had no choice but to lie back down.
His body was one thing, but the place that had taken in Ashard so thoroughly throbbed with a pain that made it nearly unbearable.
“Did His Grace… clean me up?”
The sticky fluids that had covered his body—enough to make it unclear whose they even were—had been completely wiped away.
The soaked bedding had also been changed with fresh sheets.
The only evidence of what had happened last night was Eren himself.
Red marks left by Ashard stained his pale body.
He’d said he would try to go slow.
Try, my ass—he pounced on him like he meant to devour him whole.
As Eren stared at the red marks all over his skin, his cheeks flared red with embarrassment.
He tried not to recall last night, but the memories kept flooding back against his will.
Shaking his head as if to physically drive the images away, Eren reached out to touch the space beside him.
The bedding was cold.
There were two pillows, meaning Ashard had slept beside him—but there was no trace of his warmth left.
Even though Eren knew Ashard was likely busy with work, he still couldn’t help the childish sting of disappointment.
Knock, knock—
A sound came from the door.
A maid, perhaps?
Eren looked toward the door, then realized he was completely naked.
He hurriedly burrowed under the blanket.
No reply came from him, so the door remained closed.
Wrapping himself tightly in the blanket and dragging himself toward the door with some effort, Eren was startled when the door suddenly swung open.
“I thought you were still asleep since you didn’t answer.”
“Your Grace…?”
It wasn’t a maid—it was Ashard himself.
Perhaps he hadn’t expected Eren to be up so soon after passing out the way he had.
He looked a bit flustered.
“I meant to come back before you woke up. Sorry I was late.”
With those words, the disappointment from earlier melted away like snow in spring.
When Eren gave a small nod, Ashard leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to his cheek before easily scooping him up.
His touch was careful, almost reverent.
“You must be sore. Why did you get up?”
His tone was gentle.
Eren leaned against him completely, as if entrusting his entire body.
Ashard sat on the bed and placed Eren sideways on his lap.
Eren rested his head against his broad chest.
“If it’s hard to sit, you can lie down.”
“…I want to stay like this.”
It wasn’t exactly comfortable to sit either, not with how sore he was down there—but he still preferred this.
The faint scent of Ashard surrounding him, and most of all, the sound of his heartbeat pounding right in Eren’s ear… it was comforting.
“I was worried, but you look fine. Maybe I should’ve held you a bit longer.”
“D-Don’t joke about that…! I-I just… like being like this, that’s all!”
Eren shook his head quickly, as if to say that was absolutely out of the question.
If Ashard had pushed him any further than he already had, Eren really wouldn’t have been able to take it.
“Still, why are you bundled up like that? I prefer you without all this.”
Ashard tugged lightly at the blanket wrapped around Eren’s body, and Eren shot him a weak glare.
“No more of that… ugh…”
He hadn’t realized when speaking softly, but trying to raise his voice sent a searing pain through his throat.
The sharp, stinging ache made him shut his mouth before he could finish his sentence.
“Not surprising, considering how much you were crying last night.”
T-That mouth of his…!
Eren desperately wanted to cover Ashard’s mouth, which casually spewed such indecent words.
How could he say things like that so easily?
Ashard smiled at Eren’s flustered glare and pulled out a potion from his coat.
“It’s a stamina recovery potion. You should take it.”
…A stamina potion?
Eren studied him carefully.
Dressed as if he’d just returned from somewhere, holding a magical potion.
As far as Eren knew, the only mage who could supply Ashard with this kind of potion was Melody.
‘Did he… go all the way to the palace to get this?’
Eren’s sharp eyes softened instantly.
When had he even found time to think about this?
Realizing it was something Ashard had prepared for his sake, Eren pursed his lips to hide the smile that crept up.
“Seriously…”
Ashard, seeing that expression and mistaking it for sulking over his earlier remark, muttered quietly.
He opened the potion and brought it to Eren’s lips, gently cupping his chin.
“Hngh…!”
Their lips met in an instant.
As Ashard poured the potion into his mouth, Eren instinctively swallowed the liquid held between their mouths.
Only after making sure Eren had taken all of it did Ashard finally pull away, as if checking for himself.
He wiped the potion that had dribbled down Eren’s chin with his hand and gave a satisfied smile.
For Ashard, it was merely a method of helping Eren take his medicine, but to Eren—still reeling from the night before—it felt like nothing but seduction.
Looking down affectionately at Eren’s flushed neck, Ashard noticed something damp and glanced downward.
Perhaps the artifact from last night hadn’t fully worn off—the fluid leaking from Eren was soaking into the sheets.
“T-That’s from the artifact you used last night…!”
As Ashard silently stared down at him, Eren stumbled to explain.
His voice carried a hint of both embarrassment and a touch of blame.
“I don’t think that’s the only reason.”
The artifact was specially made for intercourse.
So even if it was used, the magic wouldn’t activate just anytime.
It required certain conditions—specifically, the user’s state.
In other words, it only activated because of Eren.
“You must’ve really been lacking.”
Ashard, who was slowly stroking the damp part of the blanket, gave Eren’s butt a light pat.
His touch, which showed no signs of letting go, was sticky with heat.
“It’s not like that…!”
Whether it was the potion starting to work or not, Eren felt a little better, but his throat still ached, and he cried out in a small voice.
However, Ashard didn’t look like he believed him one bit, and Eren squirmed in protest.
“I’m telling you, it’s really not like that!”
“If you say so, I guess I have to believe you.”
“…”
Eren pouted, lips jutting out slightly, and Ashard lightly brushed them with a large finger.
“I’m actually the one more lacking than you, but unfortunately, I don’t think I can do anything right now.”
“Ashard-nim!”
Eren called his name in protest, as if telling him to stop his teasing.
The way Ashard touched him so openly was tinged with regret.
Seeing Eren like that made Ashard close his mouth again.
He had to say something, but the desire not to overwhelmed him.
* * *
