“…….”
Of course, that kiss was going to last a bit longer than expected……
Riollem gently cupped Chernea’s cheek as their lips pressed together.
Chernea liked entwining their tongues tightly. Every time their tongues brushed and tangled, her lips twitched slightly, reacting sensitively.
The most provocative thing was that Chernea herself was completely unaware of this fact.
‘…Haa.’
Unable to resist, Riollem bit down on Chernea’s lower lip. The flesh beneath his teeth was astonishingly soft as it was pressed and ground.
Inevitably, his lower abdomen grew heavy with reflex.
Fortunately, restraining that feeling was not difficult for Riollem. It was something he had done his whole life.
What was harder was stopping the act midway.
Tracing the soft, smooth flesh with his tongue was exquisite. It took great effort to pull away from it.
If he lost focus, he would lose control and crave more beyond his limits.
So Riollem repeated the word “walk” in his mind.
‘That’s what Chernea wants. I have to kiss her and let go… just that much.’
It wasn’t entirely pointless, but it wasn’t very effective either.
Eventually, after a long while, Riollem released Chernea’s lips. Her soft lips glistened with the marks he left behind.
“…I’ll go get your shoes.”
Riollem reluctantly broke away from her. If he kept looking at her like that, he’d inevitably want to plant kisses elsewhere.
Much later than planned, the two finally managed to leave the house.
By then, the sunlight had settled on the Coastal Road. Perhaps thanks to the sea breeze, the lingering moisture was slowly drying up.
Still, Riollem found it hard to relax.
He focused all his attention on Chernea’s steps, so much that he couldn’t even feel the hot summer air.
Soon, a small stone caught his eye. Riollem quickly kicked it aside and led Chernea forward.
“I’m sorry. I hadn’t thought to clear this path as well.”
“Haha. Planning to tear up all the roads?”
Riollem didn’t answer.
Instead, he stepped slightly ahead of Chernea. There was a branch hanging over the path she was about to take.
Chernea watched him brush the branch away and suddenly spoke.
“It’s better to take after you, after all.”
Riollem stopped in his tracks at that.
Though it was an out-of-context remark, he immediately understood what she meant.
“That’s absolutely not allowed.”
“Why not?”
Instead of answering, Riollem snapped off all the sharp branches visible along the walkway.
He returned to Chernea and extended his arm to support her, but instead of leaning on his steady arm, she grasped his hand.
“…….”
Riollem looked down at their joined hands.
Then, very carefully, his hand covered the back of Chernea’s. His long fingers and palm completely enclosed her small hand, smooth without a single callus.
Suddenly, Chernea’s gaze settled on the side of Riollem’s face.
“No matter how you look at it, it’s better to take after you, isn’t it? Calm. Emotional.”
“Are those not words that can be used at the same time?”
“You’re so clever.”
Riollem tightened his grip on her hand.
“…Besides, if it’s after you, wouldn’t the child take after you? I still can’t even read a single letter.”
“Do you want our child to be bored like me and play with people out of sheer boredom?”
“That’s better than being toyed with by someone else.”
Riollem’s intention was clear.
He wanted the child to be the spitting image of Chernea. More precisely, without a single trait reminding him of himself—he wanted the child to be Chernea’s very reflection.
There was only one additional wish: that the child’s eyes would not be as radiant with Golden Eyes as Chernea’s.
He had painfully witnessed what kind of life a child born with the Royal Family’s golden eyes would lead over the past decades.
‘Though I’d rather they not take after my eyes either.’
The thought of a child born to this woman having the same blue eyes as him sent chills down his spine.
After all, wasn’t it wrong for a child born through her womb to resemble him?
But in all likelihood, Chernea desired what Riollem least wanted.
This time was no different.
“I want the child to have your eyes.”
“…That’s something that absolutely cannot happen.”
“Why not? They’re beautiful. A pretty color like the sea you might see only at the Resting Place.”
“…….”
Riollem remained silent but squeezed Chernea’s hand tightly.
Chernea smiled as if she understood everything.
“Are you going to say that again? That it’s not right for a noble womb to bear such a lowly seed, starting with that R word.”
“…….”
“It’s been months since we left all that behind, and you’re still saying those things, Riollem.”
“But……”
“I—”
Chernea cut him off.
“I want the child to have your pretty eyes. That way, everyone will know the child is yours.”
“…….”
“Since the child will resemble you anyway, I want them to take after your face and personality too. Oh, and I want them to grow as tall as you. Then I won’t have to wear high heels all the time like I do.”
Her voice was gentle, like a song.
Like she was soothing a child.
“…Haa.”
Riollem sighed softly.
Being entangled with this woman had brought him countless changes. He had lost count of how many turning points this was.
And now he had come to the place of overcoming his long-standing inferiority complex.
By mixing his blood with that noble lineage that had caused him so much inferiority, creating a complete mess.
The slow walk continued until they reached the middle of the Coastal Road.
During that time, Chernea’s relentless—not quite a demand but close—insistence continued endlessly.
Eventually, Riollem gave what was more an agreement in name only: “It would be better for the child not to inherit the Golden Eyes.”
Since then, he hadn’t argued with Chernea about the color of their child’s eyes.
Still, his heart remained uneasy.
“I don’t know if I can do it well.”
As they returned home, Riollem muttered to himself.
His low voice trembled with emotion—whether from fear or hope, it was hard to tell.
Chernea smiled and gripped his hand.
“No matter what, I can only think that you’ll do well. I’m the one who’s a little worried.”
“Are you worried I’ll be too overprotective?”
“So you know.”
Riollem stared at Chernea’s face.
She was smiling.
“I’m just asking in case. Do my actions make you uncomfortable?”
“To be honest, sometimes it’s a bit bothersome.”
At that, Riollem’s shoulders stiffened.
But Chernea’s words were not finished.
“But it’s not bad. Ah, maybe it’s closer to liking it. I often think I want to see how far you’re willing to go.”
“…….”
“Did that answer your question?”
Riollem lowered his eyes. The shadows of his eyelashes fell over his bright blue eyes.
“…If you don’t mind, I’ll do this for life. For you, and for the child.”
“Tearing up the Garden and the Walkway just because of one walk?”
“Yes.”
At his immediate answer, Chernea burst out laughing.
“Behave yourself, Riollem. At this rate, you’ll forget how to walk alone.”
Riollem found no suitable reply. He simply held Chernea’s hand tighter.
Chernea gazed at him quietly. Then she pulled his hand down and placed it on her lower abdomen.
Riollem’s shoulders twitched.
Still, he didn’t pull his hand away.
Chernea whispered with a smile in her voice.
“Don’t hold back here. Be even more extravagant, even more protective. It’s what you gave me, after all.”
“…….”
This time, it wasn’t that he didn’t answer, but that he couldn’t. He struggled to swallow back a surge of emotions threatening to burst forth.
Riollem recalled a memory from long ago.
The desire he had dared to nurture as a Slave.
The master who knew of that painful seed yet left it alone.
Under his master’s allowance, that seed had sprouted and now borne a small fruit.
Though it was still too tiny to know its color, if given shelter and sunlight, it would one day grow big enough to hold in his arms.
Thinking that, he was left speechless.
Fortunately, no words were needed between them.
The couple slowly made their way home, even more leisurely than before.
Though they had thoroughly cleared the path when they left, a few leaves soaked in summer sunlight had already fallen onto the walkway.
Riollem habitually cleared them away.
As if determined to leave no small threat on the path their Chernea and child would walk.