<CHAPTER 03>
“You’re staring a bit too intensely, Amelia. You’ll wear it out at this rate.”
“H-hot? Not at all. I was just looking, that’s all.”
As I turned my flushed face away, he leaned his body closer toward me.
His scent brushed close against the tip of my nose, making my face feel even hotter for some reason.
“Really? Then that’s a relief. It doesn’t seem like your tastes have changed.”
“My tastes?”
When I turned back, his face was far too close.
The moment I saw his red, neatly shaped lips, I clamped my mouth shut.
Bad thoughts came bubbling up in my head.
No, this is a carriage. Think good thoughts. Good thoughts.
“Yes. I thought you might have grown tired of this face by now, seeing how much you enjoyed dancing with that oaf.”
“By oaf… ah, Prince Parminio?”
Vincent answered without a word.
Still unable to take my eyes off his lips, I replied haltingly.
“Well, I did think he was handsome, but… that doesn’t mean he compares to Your Highness.”
All I could see was the corner of his mouth lifting at an angle.
Then my vision suddenly darkened as our lips overlapped.
At the soft, hot sensation, my eyes slowly closed.
He gently held my lips several times, tasting them before pulling back slightly to look at my face.
Even then, I fumbled around for something to say.
“I didn’t realize you cared about your looks, Your Highness.”
“I never did, until I learned that you like this face.”
“Y-you knew?”
“Yes. I knew you were stealing glances at my face, even in moments when you weren’t in love with me yet.”
“Uh…”
It’s true that I am weak to handsome faces.
Still, hearing him say it himself was embarrassing in its own way.
When I averted my gaze, he lightly hooked a finger under my chin and pulled it back.
“It’s fine. I like your face too. Of course, not just your face…”
He trailed off, his gaze dropping downward before quickly returning.
“Y-Your Highness!”
With my face burning red, I lightly thumped his shoulder.
Vincent laughed cheerfully and leaned back a little.
“Right now, the distance is a bit too short.”
While I was trying to interpret what he meant, the carriage came to a stop.
The door opened, and Vincent stepped down first.
As I reached for his hand out of habit to step down, he suddenly tugged me toward him.
“Kya, Your Highness!”
“Shh, it’s fine.”
Vincent lifted me into his arms and strode straight into the Crown Prince’s Palace.
After flailing for a moment, I quietly wrapped my arms around his neck.
My heart pounded wildly at the tremor in his low laughter.
I could hear the servants’ footsteps growing hurried as they noticed us.
In particular, I heard Vivian’s startled voice echo down the corridor.
“Y-Your Highness?”
Vincent brushed past Vivian and entered a room.
It was the shared bedroom used by the Crown Prince and Princess Consort.
The moment we entered, he nudged the door shut with his foot.
As I quietly swallowed my breath in his arms, he whispered in a low voice.
“You’re very stiff. It’s okay. Relax.”
Then he carefully set me down at the edge of the neatly made bed.
Even after I was released from his embrace, Vincent’s gaze remained fixed on my face.
Lightly brushing the back of his hand across my hair, he murmured softly.
“Amelia, did you know? I’ve been waiting all day.”
“…For what?”
When I avoided his eyes and pretended not to know, Vincent let out a small chuckle and lowered his body.
Then, very slowly, he pressed his lips to mine again.
It was quiet, deep, and gentle.
His hand slid from my cheek down to the nape of my neck.
As soon as our lips parted, another kiss followed, slower and far more intense than before.
The brief brush of his tongue stole my breath, and my heart felt like it was melting rather than just racing.
Just as I was beginning to feel breathless from the long kiss, he gave me a small opening.
“Hah… Your Highness.”
“Call me by my name right now.”
“Vin… cent?”
At the softly spoken name, the corner of his lips lifted.
He kissed my forehead, trailed his lips down my neck, then returned to whisper near my ear.
“Even your voice is heated.”
Who was saying that to whom?
His hand slid past my neck and moved toward the ties at my back.
Suddenly, my mind went completely blank.
“…Um, um.”
Vincent stopped moving and looked into my eyes.
“Could I… go wash up first?”
After saying it, my face burned red again with embarrassment.
Still, I forced myself to finish what I wanted to say.
“I was outside all day, so I’m sweaty, and, um… well…”
Honestly, he would probably be fine even without washing.
Despite his exhaustion, he still smelled pleasant and looked radiant.
But the problem was me.
I didn’t want to face our first night together like this.
Vincent blinked once at my words, then finally let out a low laugh.
“You’re right. I was lacking consideration.”
He slowly released the arm that had been pressing me down and straightened up.
“I was too hasty. I’ve been holding back for quite a long time.”
“What?”
For a long time?
Holding back what, exactly?
As I replayed the meaning of his words, my face flared up, and I hurriedly stood up to hide it.
Before my foot even reached the floor beside the bed, I felt his gaze trail up along my ankle, making my shoulders twitch for no reason.
Still seated on the bed, he propped his chin on his hand and said while watching me.
“Don’t take too long.”
“…Yes.”
With my face burning hotter than ever, I left the room and headed toward my own chamber.
The moment I closed the door and leaned my back against it, a sigh escaped as the reality of what was coming next sank in.
“I must be insane…”
My heart thudded loudly in my chest.
The corners of my mouth lifted on their own, and my face refused to cool down.
We’re married now, after all.
It’s natural, but still.
Knock, knock, knock.
“Your Highness! It’s Vivian. I’ll help you!”
Steadying myself, I stepped aside and opened the door slightly.
Vivian rushed in with an expression full of determination.
“All right, Your Highness. Just trust me. I’ll make you absolutely radiant!”
“Huh? It’s fine. I just need to rinse off the sweat…”
“Absolutely not. What are you saying? Everyone, get moving!”
At Vivian’s shout, the maids waiting outside suddenly poured into the room.
They grabbed my arms and began guiding me toward the bathroom.
“W-wait, just a moment…”
“Your Highness, don’t worry. Leave everything to us. We’ll finish as quickly as possible.”
Vivian rolled up her sleeves and followed us into the bathroom.
The moment we entered, fragrant lavender and rose scents filled the air along with the steam, making my head spin.
The bathtub was already filled with warm water, petals, and pearlescent bath additives half dissolved into shimmering bubbles.
“This bath additive was specially prepared for today. It’s calming and will leave your skin silky smooth.”
Vivian’s proud explanation somehow made me feel embarrassed.
“You didn’t have to go that far…”
“All right, everyone, hurry up!”
In no time, the maids deftly loosened and removed my dress.
“Please step in, Your Highness.”
I had no choice.
As I carefully lowered myself into the tub, the warm water gently wrapped around my skin.
My tension melted away, and it felt as though my fatigue was dissolving with it.
One maid carefully let down my hair and began brushing it, while another softly massaged my neck and shoulders.
My stiff body gradually relaxed.
Lukewarm oil lightly touched my scalp, and the massage flowing through their fingertips sent subtle shivers through me.
My eyes closed on their own.
How much time passed like that?
“Your Highness, Princess Consort.”
At the cautious call, I opened my eyes to find myself already dried, wrapped in a robe.
“You must have been very tired.”
“Ah… mm.”
“You should go now. It took longer than expected.”
“Y-yes.”
Seeing the younger Vivian’s eyes sparkle only made things more embarrassing.
Why was she acting so unfazed about all this?
I stood up and walked toward the mirror.
My slightly damp violet hair flowed softly over my shoulders, and my freshly bathed skin looked smooth, as if it held moonlight within it.
My cheeks carried a faint rosy tint from the warm water, and there was a lively glow around my eyes.
It was a far clearer, brighter face than usual.
But when my gaze drifted downward, the faintly visible undergarments beneath my robe caught my eye.
