"Oh, no! I'm super busy tomorrow..."
In four hours, Julia has to wake up and get ready, greet the ambassadors from each country in the morning, attend lunch, and then attend a banquet where she is greeted by the nobles in the evening!
Julia gasped, unable to breathe, and crossed her arms, covering her eyes.
"And there's a ball at night!"
After the urgent shout, a weightless silence flowed.
"..."
In the bed, only Julia's rapid breathing could be heard.
Huh? Julia tensed up and shrank, then when there was no sound, she slowly lowered her arms.
“Hic.”
And immediately their eyes met. Julia looked terrified, but the blue eyes that had been staring down at her opened gently as soon as their gazes met. The corners of his lips, which had been closed straight, rose in a gentle curve.
"I'm kidding."
Endymion, who had whispered, took his hand off the gown that seemed ready to be thrown off at any moment. Then, he brushed back Julia's long, blond hair, lightly grabbed the end, and kissed it. With his other hand, he cupped one of Julia's round cheeks with his large palm and slowly rubbed it with his thumb.
"I don't want to get beaten up by my wife again and go to sleep alone."
It felt like fire was burning wherever his strong thumb touched. Julia flinched, but her whole body felt tied up and she couldn't move.
Endymion gazed possessively at the blond hair flowing between his fingers, then slowly got off of her.
What, what... What just happened.
Julia, who had lost her mind, rolled her eyes and saw Endymion lying down next to her with a languid expression.
'Ouch! Aah! Aaaah!"
Only then did Julia realize that he had been joking, and she rolled over onto her other side in embarrassment. Her sunken face was so hot that she felt like she needed to take an ice-cold shower.
'I keep getting swayed!'
As Julia, who had become sad, buried her face in the pillow, she felt a slight vibration and then heard a laughing voice behind her.
"I'm not saying I don't want to do it."
"Endymion Semele!"
Finally, Julia screamed. Endymion, who had been watching with satisfaction as her back, rounded defensively, groaned and her exposed nape reddened, finally burst into laughter.
Julia was both angry and embarrassed by the small laughter she heard.
"You sleep alone!"
Finally, Julia sat up with her upper body raised, her face burning with anger. If she continued like this... she would definitely not be able to sleep properly due to the mischievous pranks!
"Don't go."
But then, she was pulled back into bed by a gentle hand. As Julia struggled, a laughter-filled voice came up behind her and whispered.
"Sleep next to me."
A low voice gently caressed her ear. At the same time, a strong arm wrapped around the waist of her thin silk pajamas pulled Julia into an embrace.
"No, no. I'm in the other room!"
"I won't touch you."
Julia, who was suddenly held from behind as if in a wide embrace, timidly resisted, but Endymion, who muttered a short word, simply pulled Julia closer and hugged her.
Huh...
Julia, who was suddenly hugged tightly by Endymion, took a deep breath without making a sound.
"Good night."
Endymion greeted her from behind the head as if he was the first to do so. They were hugging each other tightly, wearing only thin bedding under the same blanket, so that whenever he spoke, it felt like the deep cave was vibrating.
Before she knew it, the night light had gone out and the bed canopy had been lowered. In this secret space, completely sealed off from the outside world, Julia and Endymion were alone as usual.
As peaceful darkness fell, in the middle of the completely silent night, only Julia remained, her lips pursed silently.
'This, this is...'
Although she insisted on sleeping separately, she actually didn't hate it. Even though it was unfamiliar and awkward, Julia honestly didn't hate the feeling of her heart pounding and her whole body getting hot.
Endymion's strong arms that were affectionately wrapping around her waist made her feel embarrassed, ashamed, and a little resentful, but at the same time, she was trembling.
Yeah, I definitely don't hate it...
"Mi, Mion! Your body is so hot..."
The problem was this.
Julia tried to move forward, her voice trembling and pleading.
The outlines of the flesh, how it was torn apart and shaped like a carnivore that she had barely suppressed her memory of, came to mind clearly, and she got goosebumps in an instant.
The mere two layers of cloth that separated Julia and Endymion did nothing to prevent the scorching heat from spreading.
A low voice answered with a sigh.
"It's because of you."
It was a plain but very explicit statement. Julia bit her lower lip and shut her eyes tightly.
'I don't know!'
The hardness and heat felt completely behind her back and made her feel like she could suffocate. As Julia's soft body froze helplessly and gained strength, Endymion, who had been silent for a while, muttered in a hoarse voice.
"It's hard to move."
"..."
"So, just stay like this."
The breath tickling behind her ear made the hairs stand on end.
Julia's eyes widened, and at the same time, she realized it perfectly.
The fact that their relationship has completely changed, it is absolutely impossible for them to go back to the comfortable relationship they used to have. And...
'Oh, how did it grow!'
After that incident that crossed the line, she realized that it was very uncomfortable to sleep in the same bed with her husband of 12 years.
"Mi, Mion. I want to go to another room."
"No."
"Oh, or at least a separate bed..."
"...I told you not to move."
Julia finally shut her mouth with a growling sigh.
Finally, silence came to the bedroom of King Semele and his wife. However, Julia's heart, which was pretending to sleep quietly, was not like that.
Julia spent the rest of the night fussing over the quilt in her hands until the pale sun rose and the maids came to wake her.
'Please!'
Could we please share two beds?
***
5. Two Men
Julia Ametrine was a special girl.
"Hi?"
Chararang.
The leaves that touched her cute fingers made a faint sound as they greeted her. A faint golden aura flowed from her fingertips, blooming like mist and then seeping inside.
Julia crouched down, resting her chin on her hand, and whispered to the yellow-leafed baby tree.
"Nice to meet you."
It may look unappealing on the outside, but it was an apple tree that had been received as a gift of goodwill from a foreign country. When it fully grows and bears fruit, there is a one in hundreds of millions chance that it will bear golden apples.
Although it was a story that sounded like an absurd legend, it was a precious tree that was boldly recorded in the country's history books. However, It was very difficult to grow, so much care had to be put into it, but the fertilizer that the royal gardener had diligently provided was wrong, and it was drying up and dying.
"Don't worry, I'll take care of it."
Julia spoke gently and caressed the leaves. A slightly deeper golden aura leaked out from her small, delicate fingers and began to permeate the apple tree.
As if it were a lie, the yellow leaves with their tips dried up and withered began to get moist little by little, just a little.
An envoy was due to visit in a few days, and if he learned that the apple tree, a symbol of friendship, was dying, it would escalate into a serious diplomatic problem.
Ametrine had finally found a new export country to sell its crops at a good price, but if the relationship went wrong, Ametrine might falter. The difference in national power between a country that made a comfortable living by selling fruits and grains and a country that accumulated wealth through maritime trade was too great.
Julia's father was worried that they might think Ametrine was ignoring them.
"What is your name?"
Juliaz a five-year-old girl, did not know about such complicated circumstances. She had only overheard her father and his ministers fretting that the precious apple tree was dying and had come to visit them secretly.
The lovely Princess of Ametrine loved to befriend mute creatures.
"Dante? You're beautiful. I'm Julia."
To be exact, they liked being friends with her.
Julia burst into laughter when she saw that all the leaves that had once been yellow and dried had become vibrant and moist. The leaves, full of energy, were now shining golden.
"Ametrine, the sky is really clear after the rain. There's even a rainbow, and the seven colors are incredibly beautiful. You know, I think it's prettier than the jewels in Father's crown, but my nanny says no. Ugh, can Dante tell me which one is prettier?"
Julia whispered cheerfully, still hugging the thin tree trunk that was as thin as her forearm. The apple tree shook its leaves as if to say, "I understand", as if to thank her for saving its life.
"I'll come tomorrow too. I'll come the day after tomorrow too. Don't get sick, yes?"
Julia hugged the tree in her small arms and lightly kissed the topmost leaves. The leaves responded by caressing her round white cheeks.
Julia burst into laughter again, promising to come back again tomorrow and running off. Not even noticing the dirt on her cute dress, she was smiling brightly.
The apple tree, soaked in golden energy, greeted the innocent Julia with a look full of vitality.
"Huh, gasp! Your Majesty! The apple tree has come to life!"
"This is a miracle, Your Majesty! God must have answered my fervent prayers!"
"Oh, my God, Dunamis!"
***
The King of Ametrine was very pleased with the successful conclusion of the new deal. Julia's father, a simple but kind-hearted man, ordered that a bottle of wine be given to each of the commoners as well as the nobles.
The whole country was in a festive mood, and each household shared delicious food and enjoyed happiness together.
The small country kingdom did not have fancy jewels or expensive spices, but no one went hungry. Everyone loved the generous King, the innocent young Princess, and the small kingdom. Ametrine, with its simple and abundant harvests, was truly at peace.
"The harvest festival is in a few months. The Princess will be six years old now, so she must dance."
"But my feet hurt. Can I not dance?"
The nanny spoke soothingly, gently brushing the blonde hair of the little girl who was dangling her legs.
"You will get used to it. How can the Princess, who will become King, not be able to dance a single ballroom dance? The Princess can ride a pony, so you will learn quickly. Even His Majesty the King, who has difficulty riding horses is good at dancing."
"Father don't wear shoes. I'll think about it if he wears a shoe with pointed heels."
"Phew... Princess Julia!"
The nanny who was putting a headband on the beautiful blond hair hurriedly hid her smile and raised her voice.
Julia, who had been pouting her little lips, jumped down from the chair, stuck her tongue out, and ran away.
"I want to go play!"
"Princess! Oh my... it's time for the dance teacher to come! Come back!"
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