IYAMD 95

IYAMD 95

Marsilia washed his body in the large bathtub. Like Jaha, he too needed time to calm himself.

However, his mind refused to settle, and his body was no different.

Amid the rising steam mixed with a fragrant scent, Marsilia clearly saw his own state and covered his face with a wet hand.

“Damn it.”

Now that the moment had arrived, his mind went completely blank. What… was he supposed to do?

As a member of the imperial family, he had received separate sexual education from a young age. Marsilia had attended lessons periodically when he was the crown prince, but that was so long ago that his memory was hazy.

Moreover, everything had only been explained through pictures and words, so none of it had remained vividly imprinted in his mind. Could he really perform an act he had only learned as mere knowledge?

Marsilia, who had rubbed his face several times, let out a warm sigh into his palm.

Should he have a drink? But he never enjoyed alcohol in the first place, and he didn’t want to hold Jaha in his arms with a hazy mind.

He struggled to steady his heart and calm his aroused body, and by the time he was done, his hands and feet were so pruned from the water that he had lost track of time.

It had been so long that the attendants he had dismissed earlier knocked on the door to check if the emperor was still alive.

After what felt like an eternity, Marsilia finally finished his bath. As Ashton draped a nightgown over his shoulders, he asked,

“What about Jaha?”

“He requested alcohol, so I prepared it for him.”

“Alcohol?”

“I couldn’t find the specific drink he wanted, so I prepared wine instead.”

Hearing that, Marsilia let out a quiet chuckle. Was he that nervous? Well, the eastern continent did look down on relationships between men.

He barely recalled something Gerald had once mentioned and unauthorized copytook a deep breath before ordering Ashton,

“Clear everyone from around Jaha’s bedchamber. No knights standing guard, no attendants—no one comes near until I call. That includes you as well, Ashton.”

When Marsilia openly declared that he was about to spend the night with Jaha, Ashton looked troubled and tried to dissuade him.

“But, Your Majesty… The goddess has forbidden sharing a bed before the ritual. Surely, you’re aware of that.”

Marsilia tilted his head slightly and smiled.

“The goddess knows my circumstances well enough to understand.”

A full ten years. There had never been an emperor in history who took this long to find his soulmate. At most, it took about a year. If the goddess couldn’t tolerate even that, then she had every right to be angry.

But he had waited nearly ten times that.

Had he not endured countless times, suppressing the urge to pull the man who smiled at him into his arms?

Even so, he had held back because the circumstances were far too poor. He hadn’t reached out for Jaha simply ​unauthorized copy​because he wanted to hold him in a better situation.

He wanted Jaha to soak in a bath filled with fragrant oils, to touch his body on a soft and clean bed.

He wanted to dismiss everyone so that Jaha’s voice wouldn’t reach anyone else and share this moment in a securely locked room with just the two of them.

So, wouldn’t it be all right now? He had received Jaha’s proper permission, after all.

“Ashton, don’t stop me.”

Marsilia whispered softly, and Ashton let out a deep sigh before stepping back with a bow.

“I will prepare the oil for you.”

Marsilia suppressed his eagerness and forced himself to wait until Ashton brought the oil.

And a little while later, Ashton handed Marsilia a bottle of oil, cautioning him with a serious expression.

“A man’s body is not like a woman’s. It does Read onnot have a natural means of acceptance, Your Majesty. Please, take your time and do not rush.”

“I know.”

When Marsilia grumbled, Ashton’s gaze lingered on him.

“What?”

Annoyed by the suspicion in Ashton’s eyes, Marsilia clicked his tongue.

“I really do know.”

“…Yes.”

The way Ashton let out a long sigh before responding was irritating, making Marsilia narrow his eyes. But Ashton calmly met his gaze before escorting him to the door that connected to the sitting room.

“Then, have a pleasant night, Your Majesty.”

Marsilia took a deep breath and stepped through the sitting stolen contentroom, stopping before Jaha’s bedroom door.

He exhaled slowly, then opened the door before his breath completely faded.

Inside the dimly lit room, Jaha stood like a pale silhouette beside the bed.

A single candle flickered at the bedside, casting a golden glow over Jaha’s face, making his eyes gleam.

Marsilia slowly approached Jaha, who was staring at the wine bottle beside the bed. He placed the bottle of oil next to it, and only then did Jaha turn his golden eyes toward him.

Marsilia touched the corners of Jaha’s eyes, which drooped slightly in discomfort, and smiled.

“Nervous?”

“A little.”

Jaha admitted it calmly, and strangely, that answer reassured Marsilia. It was ridiculous that someone else’s tension could help ease his own, but so be it.

“What’s this?”

Jaha pointed at the bottle of oil, and Marsilia smiled with the same expression Jaha had shown earlier.

“Oil. It’s to coat your body.”

“Coat… my body?”

“Yes.”

Jaha tilted his head, seemingly unable to guess the purpose of the oil. Marsilia lowered his head and whispered against Jaha’s cheek.

“Shall I take off your clothes?”

“Wa… wait a moment.”

Jaha hurriedly stepped back, fumbling as he poured wine into a glass. He barely filled the bottom before turning around with an embarrassed expression.

“Let’s drink together.”

“This?”

The amount was too small to serve its purpose of easing tension. As Marsilia stared at him, Jaha lifted the glass to his lips and explained.

“We share… half each. That’s how it’s done in the Eastern Continent.”

“Is that so?”

Marsilia wasn’t sure if that was really a custom, but he respected Jaha’s traditions. With a deep sigh, Jaha downed the wine in one gulp, only to grimace.

“You said we’d share?”

“It was a mistake.”

Grumbling, Jaha poured a little more wine before handing the glass to Marsilia.

“You drink first and leave some for me.”

Marsilia accepted the glass with a deep smile.

“We could just drink together.”

As Jaha looked puzzled, Marsilia met his gaze and took a sip of the wine. Then, pulling Jaha close, he pressed his lips against his. Sliding the wine past Jaha’s lips, he heard a faint gulp as Jaha swallowed it.

Without parting, Marsilia tangled their tongues together, letting Jaha’s arm rest over his shoulder while pulling his waist closer. The scent of wine mixed with Jaha’s sweet breath, making Marsilia’s head spin.

Marsilia slid his hands under Jaha’s tunic, fingertips gliding over the smooth skin. As he stroked his bare back and lifted the tunic further, Jaha trembled.

Finally, Marsilia pulled away slightly, murmuring against Jaha’s lips.

“I’ll take it slow.”

As he slipped the tunic over Jaha’s head, their lips barely parted before meeting again. Marsilia caressed Jaha’s feverish body, his hands trembling just as much as Jaha’s did under his touch.

Hooking his arm under Jaha’s waist, he lifted him slightly. Feeling Jaha’s visit our sitefeet lightly kick against his shin, Marsilia chuckled against his lips, making Jaha frown.

Jaha shot him an exasperated glance, but his arms still clung around Marsilia’s neck for support.

How utterly endearing he was.

Marsilia couldn’t suppress his grin as he gazed at him with softened eyes.

“I want to tell you how much I adore you.”

How precious Jaha was, how much joy Marsilia felt simply holding him.

“But I’ll take my time saying it. I’m about to get quite busy.”

Marsilia laid him down on the bed. As Jaha’s arms loosened for a moment, they fumbled briefly in the air before finding a place again.

Leaning over him, Marsilia pressed a kiss to his cheek, nibbling gently before moving down to his chin. He trailed along Jaha’s temple and ear, feeling hesitant arms encircle his back. A soft chuckle escaped Marsilia.

“I love you, Jaha. You’re so precious.”

Marsilia murmured the words against his throat before trailing kisses downward, his hand tracing over Jaha’s side.

Jaha’s breath trembled as it spilled into the air. That single sound sent shivers down Marsilia’s spine. Letting out a deep sigh, he pressed his aching lower body against Jaha.

Lifting his gaze, Marsilia found Jaha staring at him with wide eyes, unable to hide his surprise.

Jaha bit his lip, unsure of what to say, but Marsilia simply took his right hand, pressing a kiss to the back of it before guiding it down to their lower parts.

A low sigh escaped him as a warmth coiled tightly within him.

As Jaha chewed his lip, Marsilia gazed at him and whispered.

“Even if I seem disgusting or overwhelming, please don’t push me away, Jaha. At least for tonight, I beg you.”

Marsilia kissed his palm, breathing unevenly. Even through the fabric, the pressure sent waves through his body, making his spine shudder.

“You don’t know how long I’ve waited for you. How much I’ve wanted this moment.”

Marsilia closed his eyes, pressing his teeth lightly against Jaha’s palm. As Jaha’s fingers reflexively curled, Marsilia let out a shaky breath, nuzzling his nose between them.

When trembling fingers tapped against his cheek, Marsilia slowly opened his eyes.

“I want to take my time satisfying this hunger. So Jaha, please… don’t push me away. I’m begging you.”

Something churned deep inside him—whether it was desire or something else, he couldn’t tell. The sensation felt like it was consuming him whole.

Holding back the rising heat clouding his vision, Marsilia took deep breaths, forcing himself to stay composed.

He was walking a fine line, one he had to be careful not to cross.

That’s why Jaha had to be careful not to provoke him.

Marsilia whispered that silent warning through his gaze.