TRETTHD 87

#87. The First Night

The night after their wedding—their very first night together.

Strictly speaking, it wasn’t wrong to call it that.

“Kalid.”

“Yes.”

When he answered her softly, Belia smiled faintly.

Then, without a trace of hesitation, she placed her hand over his, which was holding onto her, and firmly pushed his hand away.

“Don’t try anything funny.”

Her pretty smile paired with her sharp words made Kalid burst into laughter before pulling her tightly into his arms. From where her face rested against his chest, she could hear his heart pounding fast.

“Haha, really…”

Resting his chin on her head, Kalid murmured,

“But, Belia—you should say it right.”

His low, amused voice reverberated against her ear.

“This isn’t me trying something…”

He lowered his head slightly, nipped gently at her ear, and whispered,

“…this is me tempting you.”

The sensuality in his tone made her whole body shiver.

Belia bit her lip and closed her eyes.

“Let’s go in.”

Kalid released her just enough to take her hand.

“But…”

“Shh.”

Striding ahead, he added,

“Tradition says the bride and groom excuse themselves early. No one will think it strange if we disappear.”

Though his reasoning was sound, Belia couldn’t help but feel uneasy about leaving the banquet behind.

Sensing her mind wandering, Kalid paused, looked back, and said,

“Right now, pay attention to me, not them.”

Impatience quickened his steps.

The imperial palace wasn’t far from the hall.

‘Damn it…’

The composure on Kalid’s face was slipping away.

For a moment, he considered slipping into one of the empty rooms nearby, but he knew Belia would hate that. He erased the thought.

Until now, he had lived each day as if time were frozen. But after meeting Belia, the world regained its colors. From the moment he took the hand she had chosen to give him, everything—even this barren palace—had felt alive again.

All thanks to Belia.

“I’ve been waiting for tonight.”

He wanted to be rewarded for the patience he had endured—for the chance to finally make her completely his.

And tonight, he would claim it.

“Mm…”

The moment they entered the room, Kalid urgently sought her lips.

Belia barely had time to catch her breath.

“W–wait…”

She tried to push him back, but he didn’t budge.

Even as he kissed her, one hand gripped the nape of her neck while the other skillfully undid the buttons down her back.

Thankfully, since she’d worn a reception gown and not her heavy wedding dress, there weren’t as many layers beneath. Still, the fabric was plentiful.

‘Tch. I can’t just tear it off…’

That was exactly what he wanted to do.

“Haa…”

Kalid forced himself to breathe deeply.

Gently. Gently…

He repeated the word in his head as his hands continued moving.

Plop.

Her outer garment fell to the floor.

The sound seemed unusually loud in the silence.

Belia wanted to pause, to slow things down. Heat had already flooded her body, her cheeks burning red. She feared she wouldn’t be able to keep hold of her reason much longer.

But behind her was a wall, and before her, Kalid—unyielding and immovable.

She rose on tiptoe to meet his kiss, but her legs were trembling. Normally, Kalid would support her waist, but now both his hands were busy.

“Is it too hard?”

Noticing, Kalid stopped fumbling with her buttons.

Belia gave a small nod.

With a quick kiss, he lifted her easily into his arms.

He carried her to the bed and laid her down gently, his touch tender.

His hand brushed from her forehead down her cheek, lingering on her flushed lips.

“In Ronica, couples read vows at their wedding, don’t they?”

Startled by the sudden topic, Belia blinked.

Why bring that up now?

As she blinked at him in confusion, Kalid lowered his face again, peppering soft kisses along her eyes.

“It must’ve disappointed you, that our customs are different.”

“…It’s fine—ah…”

He didn’t let her finish. His mouth pressed against her neck, leaving red marks in its wake.

It was possessive, as if claiming territory.

Satisfied with the marks he’d made, Kalid smirked. In the meantime, he’d undone yet another layer of her clothes.

“Belia.”

At the sound of her name, she opened her eyes to meet his.

“After tonight… there’s no going back.”

Not that she’d ever intended to.

But hearing him say it settled something deep in her heart.

She wanted him to be greedy for her. To tell her outright, without asking, that there was no turning back.

‘…Coward, Belia.’

It was laughable, really.

She’d deliberately left him anxious all this time, never showing him her heart completely, even while reassuring him.

She knew better than anyone that he wasn’t like Raul.

Yet that tiny sliver of doubt—what if he betrayed her, too?—still haunted her.

The memory of broken trust clung too long and too painfully.

Staring into his anxious gaze, Belia thought,

‘Now it’s my turn to reach for him.’

Because she was the one who couldn’t survive without him.

He was her light. Her salvation.

Her expression softened, and a faint smile touched her lips.

“If I said I wanted to forget this ever happened, what would you do then?”

Kalid’s jaw clenched.

“…Don’t you dare say that.”

“Then why ask me?”

He had no intention of giving her that choice.

Belia’s eyes narrowed as she teased him, and his reply came heavy.

“So you’ll remember.”

Remember what?

As confusion flickered in her gaze, Kalid said,

“That it’s me who’s by your side.”

His possessive answer filled her with satisfaction.

Yes. Be greedy like this.

So that she’d never have reason to fear his heart wavering.

“You won’t be able to turn back either. Is that alright?”

Belia tried to sound casual, but Kalid’s eyes darkened as they trailed to the marks he’d left on her neck. His hand stroked them slowly, proudly.

He looked back at her like a beast content after its hunt.

“When I said there’s no going back…”

His lips curled into a sharp smile.

“…I meant, forget ever saying you’d leave me if I found another woman.”

Belia’s eyes widened.

She had said that once—on the very first day they met.

‘…No.’

She couldn’t lose him.

Not now.

At first, she might have believed she could. But not anymore.

Her mind snapped awake as if doused with cold water.

Seeing her startled expression, Kalid spoke gently,

“Do you remember when I mentioned the vows of Ronica?”

Though the question was sudden, she nodded.

Of course she remembered—it had only been moments ago.

“Those vows are always a promise of eternal love between the couple.”

Yes. In Ronica, before the priest’s blessing, couples pledged their eternal love aloud.

It was mostly symbolic, meaningless among nobles in arranged marriages—especially royalty.

“Belia.”

Kalid called her name again, his voice thick with tenderness.

It was so sweet it almost melted.

“I swear before God to spend my life with you.”

It was a cliché line, the same one always spoken in Ronica weddings. Yet to Belia, it had always sounded romantic, the very essence of marriage.

She had given up hope of ever hearing it the day she agreed to marry an imperial prince.

‘And yet…’

As Kalid spoke the vow, tears welled in her eyes.

“Kalid…”

She barely managed to whisper his name when he kissed her, silencing her words.

Then, he said something she never expected.

“I love you.”

The world seemed to stop.

Belia froze, stunned.

Had she heard him right?

“…W–what did you just say…?”

Kalid met her trembling gaze and repeated clearly,

“I love you, Belia.”

Drip.

Tears spilled down her cheeks.

Her nose stung. She wanted to sob aloud.

But all she could do was let the tears fall silently.

“I love you,” Kalid whispered again, kissing the corners of her wet eyes. With gentle hands, he brushed her tears away.

Her glistening eyes met his.

“…Hold me,” she said, forcing a smile through her tear-streaked face.

“It’s our first night, after all.”

Kalid’s eyes softened, his lips curving in a smile.

“Yes. Our first night. Then let’s do what’s meant to be done.”

At his teasing words, Belia gave a shy laugh and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him close.

Then she lifted her body to kiss him deeply.

It was the beginning—the kiss melted with every raw, unspoken emotion.

“Kalid…”

She murmured his name in a tone unusually delicate.

His gaze sharpened instantly, feral and intense.

“Belia… you asked for this, remember?”

With nothing left to hold him back, Kalid devoured her lips again, swallowing her breath whole.

Her warmth and sweetness burned against him.