The lounge had no windows. The sheets were dishevelled, the air warm-sweet and strange, carrying a delicate flush that made one's cheeks burn.
Lucian held Natasha's body in his arms, half-reclined against the headboard, his expression deeply contemplative as he turned his thoughts inward.
That blissful sensation of bodies and minds entwining as one, beyond awakening a ravenous appetite, had suddenly matured him in ways he hadn't expected. As though in the span of just a few hours he had psychologically become a true man—someone with a weighty sense of responsibility settling onto his shoulders. From this day forward, he was no longer alone. A life partner who would walk beside him to the very end now shared his existence, and perhaps a few small, adorable new lives as well.
With that realization, Lucian began examining the path of his life, setting goals, revising and adjusting his plans, and contemplating how he and Natasha might walk together openly and aboveboard—strategizing the steps that would make it possible.
"According to the psychology texts in the library, this really is the 'Sage Time' that follows for men afterward," Lucian thought to himself, amused by the wry observation. It was a depth of solemnity he had never experienced before.
His gaze drifted to the lounge's carpet and to the doorway where he could just make out the trail beyond. Through the darkness his eyes caught the scattered clothing strewn everywhere. That black dress, through their joint efforts, had been torn into who-knew-how-many pieces, draped warm across the floor. Along with the various suspicious stains, they painted a deeply embarrassing tableau.
Taking in the scene, feeling the supple, springy skin beneath his right hand and the firm warmth pressed against his side, breathing in wave after wave of sweet fragrance mingled with strange, intoxicating notes, Lucian felt a sudden surge of heat through his entire body. Desire rose again, and his right hand tightened involuntarily without him even noticing.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The great bell of the Cathedral of Radiance sounded, marking the arrival of the twenty-sixth.
A fragrant breeze swept over his lips. Once again Natasha's soft pink mouth sealed his own, her bold, sweet tongue gently parting his teeth to entwine with his.
This kiss was not fierce—rather, it carried a gentle warmth as they savoured each other, exploring every last corner.
After a long while, their lips parted. Natasha's silver-purple eyes glowed with dreamlike brilliance as she said softly: "Happy birthday, my knight."
Lucian pulled her into his embrace and gave her a lingering kiss, then laughed: "You weren't asleep?"
Natasha let her body go limp, leaning against Lucian with an expression of deep solemnity: "Mm, I was thinking about the path of my life—trying to work through the crisis of faith I'd had after seeing the 'Dawn,' and also considering what I should do, how I should change the Holm Kingdom, so that we can be together openly."
"It's a long and winding road, but I won't give up."
Lucian couldn't help but laugh. Had Natasha entered "Sage State" too? Truly befitting Her Majesty the Queen.
At that thought, Lucian shifted his gaze toward Natasha, only to see that the thin white velvet blanket had slipped down in her earlier movements, revealing one perfectly shaped, full and firm half. That tiny crimson tip sent blood surging through him in an instant, his breathing turning scorching-hot before he instinctively turned his gaze forward, averting it from the exquisite view.
"You don't like it?" Natasha had noticed his reaction immediately, giggling at his bashfulness and inexperience. At the same time, her gaze drifted past his body to the tattered remains on the carpet. "You weren't like this before—you were fierce as a wild beast. You tore my dress to shreds."
Lucian fought to control himself while reflexively retorting: "You were the one who ripped it open yourself."
"Was I?" Natasha pressed her cheek against his, her face brimming with amusement. "Let me think—I recall someone who couldn't manage to undo the dress, grew so flustered he forgot to use Arcane Magic, and out of sympathy and tenderness I tore it open myself. So, Lucian—which explanation do you prefer: the one where I helped you out of compassion, or the one where you were fierce as a wild beast?"
On this particular front, Lucian was thoroughly outmatched for the time being. He could only mutter in a muffled voice: "I prefer the first explanation."
Natasha smiled smugly, then praised him: "Still, you really did perform wonderfully. At the beginning you were a little green, but by the second time you seemed to have suddenly acquired vast experience—caught me so off guard I ended up pinned underneath. Heh heh, occasionally letting someone else take the lead feels quite pleasant."
"Besides, combining all those various magical enhancements with your Great Knight physique—and being able to transform into a Heavenly Knight at the crucial moment—you gave me a level of ecstasy I'd never experienced before. It's the first time I've been this exhausted outside of actual combat."
"Even though my whole body is languid to the point where I can't lift a single finger, I feel wonderfully refreshed and happier than I've ever been. Especially that feeling when we merged together—it was as though our very souls had become intertwined. I suppose that's what love is."
She was openly discussing their performance without a shred of self-consciousness, expressing her satisfaction without reservation.
Lucian quietly wiped the sweat from his left hand. The atmosphere between himself and Natasha was truly bizarre—probably unique among all couples in existence.
"I'm the same. Unprecedented happiness. And I think your impression that I had experience is simply instinct talking." He certainly wasn't going to admit how well-read he was or that his back ached so badly he'd probably need a Rejuvenation Spell just to walk properly. "But was this really your first time too?"
The moment the words left his mouth, Lucian cursed himself inwardly—that would inevitably remind Natasha of Sylvia.