The expansive imperial bathhouse.
In a bath that could almost be called a swimming pool, Sena submerged his head halfway.
Bubbles rose to the surface.
‘How long were we kissing earlier? An hour?’
It was the first time he had kissed for such a long duration.
…And his first kiss was also with Astria.
‘It’s strange. She thinks that holding hands and sleeping together is enough to make a baby, but she’s such a good kisser.’
Who in the world taught Astria about s*x? Was there really no one to tell her?
More than anything.
‘We’re not even in a relationship yet, so we shouldn’t be kissing like this.’
A kiss was a gesture of affection between people who liked each other. Sena and Astria were nothing to each other yet.
But they kissed all the time, slept in each other’s arms at night. Honestly, weren’t they doing everything together except ‘that’?
The sequence was a bit… no, very out of order.
The Confucian culture ingrained in his soul screamed, ‘This is not okay!’
“Puh.”
Sena got out of the bath and shook his head.
This was definitely not okay.
He decided to go back and talk properly.
Kissing was something for people who were in a relationship.
Sena finished his bath and hid himself in front of the passage. He sneakily peeked his head out.
“Sena-nim!”
Of course, Serilda was there. Today, Luna was with her.
Sena spoke as he always did.
“Can you just leave the clothes and go?”
“Why do you never grant us the honor of drying your body? You even bathe alone. I’m honestly a bit hurt.”
“…”
In medieval times, nobles would have maids attend to them even during baths. It was common sense here, but to Sena, it was anything but.
“Sorry, it’s not that I don’t trust you… I’m just used to it.”
“…Understood. We’ll wait outside.”
A sullen voice. Only after the sound of their footsteps faded did Sena carefully examine the interior.
Seeing that no one was there, Sena went in and looked at the clothes Serilda had left.
It was a cute pink pajama set.
Realizing it was Serilda’s subtle revenge, Sena’s lips twitched.
But since there was nothing else to wear, he couldn’t help but put it on.
“Your Majesty?”
Sena carefully opened the door and entered.
“…”
Astria, who always welcomed him, was lying on the bed reading something.
It was the first time she’d brought work to the bedroom. She must be quite busy lately.
‘Well, the monsters we saw in the recent subjugation were unusual.’
Sena, dressed in pajamas, gently lay down beside her.
Rustle.
Astria turned a page. Sena watched her closely. She was so focused that her tightly closed lips somehow looked cute.
What is she reading? Sena’s gaze turned to the book Astria was reading.
‘The Duke’s Affairs?’
A report on the affairs of the duke’s household?
Sena leaned closer to read along with Astria.
-Lady Rosaria’s mouth was filled with the Duke’s white…
Wait.
Did he read that wrong?
Sena smiled awkwardly and scratched his head.
‘It’s an erotic novel!’
Who gave such a thing to a child!
Of all people, Astria should never be reading something like this.
“Y-Your Majesty, you shouldn’t be reading this.”
When Sena hurriedly covered the contents of the book with his hand, Astria blinked in surprise.
“When did you get here?”
“A while ago…”
“Sometimes I miss your presence due to your lack of magic power.”
Astria sat up. Sena also got up, hiding the book behind him.
But while he hid the book, he didn’t maintain a safe distance. They were so close that he could feel her breath. Astria came so close she almost kissed him. Sena closed his eyes.
‘Give what you must.’
This was Sena’s judgment. Give her the lips, but protect the important things!
But fortunately, Astria wasn’t trying to kiss him.
“Why are you hiding the book?”
“What are you talking about? I don’t understand.”
“Give it to me. It was just getting to an important part.”
Astria held out her hand. Sena turned his head away, pretending not to notice.
Twitch. Astria’s eyebrows moved. She moved to retrieve what Sena was hiding behind him.
Sena resisted desperately.
‘If she reads all of this, my life is over!’
Already, Sena’s body was reaching its limit just from kissing. If they went further than that?
He would truly be conquered then.
He decided to protect the book with his life.
“Don’t make me annoyed.”
Astria moved more assertively.
A yellow cat and a white cat entangled messily. But the yellow cat was faster and stronger. The white cat was quickly overpowered.
“This is the one thing I can’t let happen…!”
Sena clutched the book to his chest and curled up.
“If you keep this up, I’ll ravage you.”
Astria’s tone was slightly irritated. But Sena didn’t budge.
Smooch.
Astria bit and sucked on Sena’s neck. The strange sensation he felt for the first time made Sena’s blood rush. He barely managed to hold back a moan as his whole body trembled.
Even so, he didn’t let go of the book.
After a while, Astria licked her lips.
“Do as you wish.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
‘It was still in the early chapters. The important scenes wouldn’t have come up yet.’
While Sena was spinning his happy delusion, Astria examined Sena’s pajamas. Today’s outfit had a fluffy, overall feeling. He looked like a cute little rabbit, but…
“From now on, you’re banned from wearing pants.”
“…Yes?”
“Unless it’s a skirt or a dress, you can’t wear it.”
“I’m a man… and why…?”
Astria blinked.
“So that you can put it in whenever I want. Starting today, I’ll only wear dresses too.”
“…!”
Sena’s hair stood on end. What did he just hear?
‘You, put in what? Where?’
The white furball was confused. His head was spinning, and he didn’t know what to do.
“Your Majesty, just to be clear…”
“Yes.”
“How much of this book have you read?”
“I read it all and I’m reading it again.”
“Oh my god.”
“Why that reaction?”
Astria tilted her head.
And then she smiled a strange smile.
“It’s different from the common knowledge I had.”
“…”
“At first, I didn’t believe it. I dismissed it as Betty’s joke. But the book said the same thing.”
Sena couldn’t believe it.
Astria delivered the final blow.
“Physician, did you know? To create a child, you have to have s*x.”
Astria smiled deeply, looking at Sena’s stiff hair.
“You’ve mocked me well, furball.”
He must have laughed so much, thinking she believed that holding hands and sleeping together was enough to make a baby.
The thought of being seen as more insignificant than a furball made her grit her teeth.
“It’s not like that…!”
Growling, Astria climbed on top of Sena in an instant.
She looked down at him arrogantly.
She began unbuttoning her blouse one by one. She was already only in her underwear below.
“I’m fertile today.”
But Astria was pleased.
She finally understood why she couldn’t get pregnant.
It wasn’t because of any other problem. They just didn’t know the right method.
Now that she knew the method, it was only a matter of time. She would be able to bear Sena’s child.
“To maximize the probability, we’ll start with just ten times today.”
That wouldn’t be the end.
They would do it all the time.
As soon as they woke up in the morning. During breaks from work. After meals. While bathing.
She would fill her belly with Sena’s seed.
All the buttons on her blouse were undone.
Astria lowered Sena’s pants, leaving them halfway down.
Her hand searched for a position. There it was—something that existed on a man’s body but not on hers.
But…
‘Is it supposed to be this big?’
Astria felt a bit tense.
Would this really fit inside?
It didn’t seem like it would.
She froze for a moment. Her mind was strangely blank.
Mmph.
At that moment, Astria was snapped back to reality by the sound of sniffling.
“…”
Sena was sobbing, covering his eyes with his arms.
“Are you crying?”
“No.”
Sena turned his head away.
“Just get it over with. I can’t resist anyway. My feelings don’t matter to you at all.”
“…You don’t want to have a child with me?”
“That’s not the issue.”
“Then what is?”
It was only then that Sena realized that Astria truly knew “absolutely nothing”.
“Your Majesty, this kind of thing.”
“It’s something you do with someone you love.”
“You can’t force it.”
“…”
Astria couldn’t do anything.
Sena’s expression was too sad as he said that.
“…My excitement has waned.”
When Astria moved off him, Sena turned his back to her.
His small shoulders shook.
He looked more desolate than anything.
For some reason, Astria felt an inexplicable guilt.
After some time had passed, Astria asked.
“…What is love?”
“You’re trying to reach the final stage without even knowing that?”
“…That’s.”
Astria’s lips moved.
“I understand.”
“…Let’s put it off until I understand what this love is.”
Astria’s eyes lowered.
“So don’t turn your back on me.”
Sena hesitated for a moment, then rolled back toward Astria.
She cautiously stepped closer and wrapped her arms around him.
Feeling his warm body against hers, Astria felt a bit reassured.
She gently stroked Sena’s hair.
“Then, can we not kiss either?”
“…Kissing is okay.”
“I see.”
“Even though it’s not supposed to be.”
“Then why allow it?”
“If I say no to everything, Your Majesty would do it all anyway.”
Astria chuckled softly.
“You know me well.”
Astria held Sena’s chin and kissed him.
Sena didn’t resist at all. Instead, he wrapped his arms around Astria’s neck.
After the short kiss, Sena looked at Astria with a slightly flushed face.
Astria felt her heart pounding. She spoke impulsively, but it was undoubtedly the truth.
“But I can’t wait too long.”
Sena lowered his eyes. He spoke in a small voice.
“…Two months.”
“Hmm?”
“In two months, I’ll allow it. Whatever it is.”
It’s a secret that he had less than two months to live.
