“What do you mean?”
Maybe you’ll fall in love with her again.
The words swirled in my mind but refused to leave my lips.
His eyelids moved slowly, as if waiting for my response. His deep golden eyes flickered in and out of view with each blink.
“And you?”
“…”
“Do you think you’ll regret it?”
Bitterness lingered on my tongue. Regret? Yes, I had regretted.
Writhing in pain that choked my breath and tore at my insides, I’d mocked my own foolishness.
In the despair of a shattered heart, I swore—again and again—never to regret.
To avoid ending my life in that abyss, I tried to sever every lingering attachment to him.
Yet I chose him again.
His large hand enveloped mine, still resting on his lips.
“Bee.”
He pressed my hand against his soft lips, the sensation spreading through my palm.
“I’ll never regret it.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“You asked me that before.”
Each movement of his lips tickled my palm.
“As you said, I might regret it someday. But Bee…”
He paused, gazing at me with tender eyes.
“With you, even regret would feel worthwhile.”
He gently guided my hand to his cheek.
“I love the sound of my name on your lips. I feel joy when you don’t push my hand away. Your smile makes my heart race.”
His quiet confession began to soothe my restless heart.
“If I can build a family with you, grow old by your side, I’d be happy even with regrets.”
His sweet gaze and warm embrace declared that I was wholly his.
“Her…”
“Her?”
I finally spoke, and he looked puzzled.
“Are you talking about Lady Daysha from earlier?”
I stared at him silently. He frowned, confused.
“Why her?”
“Isn’t she your ideal type?”
“What?”
He released my hand, leaning back in disbelief.
“My ideal type?”
“Yes.”
“Why would you think she’s my ideal type?”
“She’s beautiful, delicate, pure—doesn’t she stir your protective instincts? Don’t men usually prefer women like her? Didn’t you tell me so yourself?”
“I said that? When?”
He pointed at himself, eyes wide.
“Think carefully.”
His face twisted with indignation. I averted my gaze, turning my head.
I knew it was petty. He wasn’t the same man from back then—I knew that. Yet the simmering frustration wouldn’t subside.
Sirius.
She’d called him by name again. A name I could never utter, reserved solely for her.
Has he allowed her to call him that again?
Our eyes met as he rubbed his chin, lost in thought.
“No matter how much I think, I don’t recall saying that.”
“She called you by name. How do you explain that?”
“She did? My name?”
“Are you playing dumb?”
He stroked his chin again, sinking deeper into thought. His face grew sterner.
“Now that you mention it, she did call my name.”
“Didn’t you permit her to?”
“The only one I’ve allowed to use my name is you.”
“Then why…”
“Pfft.”
His displeased expression broke into a laugh as he pulled me into his arms.
“Well, I’ll be damned. So this is what it feels like.”
“What…!”
I tried to pull away, but he tightened his hold.
“How can you be this adorable even when you’re jealous?”
“Sys!”
“Even your jealousy is so lovely, I can’t escape you for a moment. How will you take responsibility for this?”
His honeyed voice whispered in my ear.
“My ideal type is you.”
“But…”
“No other woman catches my eye. Only you feel like a woman to me.”
He released me, pressing his forehead to mine.
“You’re the only one who sets me ablaze, my Bee.”
His slender fingers wove through my hair, and his pink tongue parted my lips. He kissed me fiercely, as if unwilling to miss a single breath. His tongue grazed my teeth, teasing the sensitive inner lining.
“Haa…”
Seizing a brief moment as his tongue retreated, I gasped for air. His force pressed me deeper into the bed, but I barely noticed.
“Mm…”
Allowing no pause, he kissed me again, his tongue coiling around mine like a snake, drawing it into his domain.
The wet sounds of our entwined tongues filled the room. I forgot how to breathe, my mind consumed by him alone.
“Ngh!”
His intense kisses softened, exploring every corner of my mouth. My body burned under his touch. Licking my lips like candy, he slowly lifted his head.
As he traced his tongue over his lips, the silver thread connecting us vanished.
“You’re beautiful, Bee.”
He loomed over me, now fully atop me on the bed. His weight pressed against me, grounding and heavy.
His large hands cradled my face as if holding something precious. His golden eyes curved into crescent moons.
“I want you.”
Before I could respond, his lips claimed mine again. His heated hands slid past my collarbone, moving downward.
“Haa!”
A satisfied sigh escaped him.
His touch—rough yet tender—made my mind reel.
Knock, knock.
“Your Highness, I’ve brought the physician.”
“…”
“Your Highness.”
The attendant’s voice and another knock halted his movements.
“Damn it!”
“Your Highness? I’ll enter—”
“Wait.”
At the sound of the attendant approaching, Sys cursed and pulled his hands away.
“Damn it!”
