Chapter 52. The Moment We Touch
In the quiet afternoon as the sunlight slanted, the sound of Aaron’s footsteps echoed through the silent palace corridor.
The shadows of the pillars lining the corridor quickly brushed past him.
Aaron, who had stepped out of the Queen’s reception room, was heading toward the conference room.
After a week of moving through the palace corridors, they had become familiar and almost meaningless background to him.
As he descended the stairs to the first floor, his mind was more absorbed in his thoughts than in the surroundings.
How dare someone think of abducting my princess…
Last night, while investigating the secret passages of the palace, he had discovered a messenger carrying a letter from the Queen.
The Queen’s elegant handwriting in the letter inquired about Boswell’s situation.
It even contained a request asking him to figure out a way for Delia to escape from Iorenti.
The moment Aaron discovered the letter, all the blood in his body seemed to evaporate.
Trying to steal what’s mine from my own territory…
But…
Did the princess know about this?
Did she agree with the plan to escape Iorenti?
As his thoughts reached that point, Aaron’s eyes sharpened with intensity.
A cold presence brushed against the back of his neck.
The sound of steel slicing through the air reached his ears.
An assassin.
And a very lovely one.
Aaron turned his body as he dodged the blade flying toward him.
There, standing before him, was his princess, attacking with her sword.
“Commander! Hello!”
After the first strike failed, Delia quickly withdrew her blade and attacked again.
There was no malice, but her strike was sharp and fast.
Even her greeting was deadly for Aaron’s adorable assassin.
Aaron smiled calmly, snatched Delia’s hand holding the sword, and pulled her slender waist into his embrace, hiding them in the shadows cast by the staircase.
In an instant, nothing remained on the stairs.
Only the sunlight streaming in and the gentle scent left by the swaying hem of her dress lingered softly.
“You claim to be a perfect lady… but isn’t your greeting a little rough?”
Aaron pressed Delia deeper into the darkness, holding her close.
Delia let out a small laugh in the hidden space he had created.
Her blue eyes sparkled with mischievous playfulness.
“You worked hard sitting still listening to explanations. That’s why I wanted to play with you, Commander.”
Delia placed her free hand on Aaron’s broad chest.
Her slender fingers slowly traced the collar of his uniform.
Aaron’s attention converged on the soft movement felt through his clothes.
“Then play properly if you want to play.”
Grumbling, Aaron buried his face into the nape of her neck.
His breath, suppressed by anxiety, escaped, traveling down her collarbone and into the space between their chests.
“Oh! Commander, what are you doing? You said you had to go to the council meeting today.”
“What does it matter? The conclusion is the same as long as you’re here with me.”
Aaron whispered, releasing Delia’s wrist holding the sword.
He followed the curves of her waist and grasped what he desired.
Delia gasped, feeling Aaron’s intimate touch.
“Commander…”
“Yes? Princess.”
Delia gripped the sword tightly, afraid that dropping it would alert someone.
With her other hand, she pressed firmly against Aaron’s shoulder and whispered softly,
“We can’t do this here. Mother will come looking soon.”
“When, if not now? You never separate from the Queen otherwise.”
“That’s to reassure her. She’s worried you might harm me.”
“Who harms whom? You left me alone despite promising to be mine.”
“Just be patient, Commander. I’ll try to persuade Mother. She’ll realize she has no choice but to accept.”
Aaron froze his hand stroking Delia.
No choice but to accept.
It wasn’t a voluntary choice.
If it weren’t unavoidable, what choice would she have made?
His hand, touching Delia, unconsciously gripped tighter.
“Also… you’re worried because there’s been no contact from my brother.”
Aaron’s eyes sparkled as he breathed into Delia’s nape.
“Yes. I’ll stay by your side. Until you feel safe.”
Delia blinked at his unexpectedly obedient words.
“My Commander… something feels off. You’re too obedient; you must have some scheme.”
“No scheme. I’m searching the Iorenti region. I’ll stay by your side until we find it.”
Delia tilted her head, sensing a rare seriousness in his voice.
He seemed anxious and tense.
Her always confident and composed commander… now uneasy.
“Alright.”
Feeling Aaron’s slight tremor, Delia answered as he wished.
I should do this.
“I’ll do that.”
“But now it’s my turn. Reassure me. I’m uneasy without my master.”
Aaron pulled her tightly, wandering with his other hand over her body, exploring to dispel his unease.
Delia let out a small moan and wrapped an arm around his neck.
“Why are you so anxious, Commander? You seemed so confident earlier.”
“I’m afraid the princess will run away again.”
“I won’t. Where else would I go but Iorenti?”
“What if the princess lied to me?”
“I would rather have made no promises than make false ones about Iorenti.”
“Yes. Stay right here. No matter what anyone says, don’t follow them.”
Delia blinked in disbelief.
“Am I a child? I won’t follow anyone just because they say so!”
Trying to joke, she lightly brushed it off, but Aaron grew impatient.
He whispered incessantly into her ear, pressing her for an answer.
“Promise me quickly.”
A smile bloomed on Delia’s flushed cheek.
The man holding her so possessively left a warm imprint on her skin.
“Alright. I promise. I’ll stay right here.”
“And don’t touch the flowers recklessly either.”
Delia felt his heated breath against her ear and gently relaxed her grip.
“Never touch them. Got it?”
“I got it. I won’t.”
Delia moved her hands over Aaron’s solid shoulders, carefully embracing him.
She soothed his anxiety, stroking his nape, calming him with her small, warm hands.
Aaron closed his eyes, feeling the comfort of her touch.
“I’ll stay here safely.”
Delia’s whisper brushed against his hair.
“I’ll wait for you here, Commander.”
Hearing her soft, melodic voice, Aaron’s anxiety slowly subsided.
The sharpness in his senses melted into her presence.
He surrendered to the small peace she created.
“So don’t worry and attend the council meeting properly.”
“Alright, got it.”
“They’ll also discuss the peace agreement between the two nations this time.”
“….”
“I prepared a draft with my father. Did you see it?”
“Not yet.”
“Go check if the empire’s stance is properly reflected. We can’t stay here all day.”
“Got it. I’ll go after a while.”
“It’s a meeting to get approval from the Regent. Our members might aggressively oppose… You’re listening, right?”
“I’m listening. Keep talking.”
“It might take time to persuade because I speak a lot. The council members are very stubborn.”
“Don’t worry. If needed, with force.”
“Commander, bringing weapons into the council room is prohibited…”
“Really?”
“It’s Iorenti tradition, representing democracy. Using force to suppress discussion is forbidden. Ah, Commander.”
“Understood. No weapons.”
“Also, you can’t bring soldiers. Only authorized participants can attend.”
“So many rules. Annoying.”
“We must prevent information leaks before the official announcement.”
“Got it. No soldiers either.”
Aaron repeated Delia’s instructions like a child following an adult.
Without understanding, almost mechanically.
“Ah, you can’t do that now. This is important.”
“….”
“Please, focus. Passing the council is necessary for official recognition.”
“I’m focusing.”
“If the vote after debate doesn’t get a majority, it’s invalid. Mother should be there with me.”
“I prefer alone. I can handle it.”
“Sir Afran will probably oppose the most. He’s aggressive and might resist.”
“Afran?”
Aaron’s voice sharpened.
Delia, focused on explaining quickly, didn’t notice his gaze.
His eyes burned with jealous passion.
Still, I’m second place.
He gripped her tighter, emotions rising.
“Don’t waste energy persuading Afran. Maybe Sir Juliano… Ow! Stop.”
Delia scrunched her nose and pushed him away.
Aaron grumbled at her resisting hands.
“Afran? Juliano? Aren’t you the one losing focus?”
“What do you mean? Let’s talk after you put this down.”
Aaron firmly held Delia, now without patience.
He tilted his head and pressed their lips together, sealing every gap.
The familiar, long-missed sensation made a low moan escape.
Aaron deepened the kiss, satisfying the hunger he had endured.
Soft membranes brushed, delicate skin wrapped.
The relentless, soul-consuming passion made Delia shiver.
Her eyes closed involuntarily, overwhelmed by his heat.
She surrendered to his strong embrace as if hiding something precious.
At that moment, no anxious or restless feelings could intrude.
The shadow of the stairs hid their secret kiss.
Everything else vanished; it felt as if only the two of them existed.
All the complexities of life drifted far away.
The intense heat melted and erased every trace.
