The wedding banquet had ended hours ago, and the palace had settled into a calm silence. Most of the staff had retired for the night, the halls dimly lit by flickering torches. Yet in his office, the emperor remained, hunched over documents, quill in hand.
Hans entered quietly, bowing slightly. "Your Majesty, you are still working at this hour."
Eyan rubbed the bridge of his nose. "It's important, Hans. I need to take care of it right now."
Hans shook his head, his tone gentle but firm. "Your Majesty… it's your wedding night, and here you are, still working. Let me handle it. You should go."
Eyan hesitated, unwilling to leave unfinished business. "But—"
"No," Hans interrupted softly. "Your Majesty, go."
Eyan sighed, finally relenting. "Ok, fine." He pushed the papers aside, stood, and left the room, his thoughts still restless despite Hans' insistence.
He walked down the corridor to his bedchamber and opened the door. The sight that greeted him made his chest tighten.
Eva sat on the couch, her night gown softly draped around her, her hands folded in her lap.
"Your Majesty… you are back," she said, her voice a mixture of relief and curiosity.
Eyan paused, taking in the sight of his bride. "Eva… you are still awake?"
"I was waiting for you, Your Majesty."
Eyan offered a small smile, running a hand through his hair. "I was a little busy with some work."
"Oh…" Eva's voice trailed, a hint of disappointment in her tone.
Eyan approached, concern lacing his words. "Eva, it's late. You are tired, right? You should get some rest."
"And what about you, Your Majesty?" she asked softly, her eyes searching his.
"I'm not tired," he replied, voice low, almost a whisper. "I'll sleep after some time. You should sleep first."
Eva nodded, rising gracefully from the couch and laying herself down on the bed.
"Good night, Your Majesty," she said quietly.
Eyan smiled and replied, "Good night," before settling on the couch with a book in hand, though his mind barely followed the words on the pages.
Time passed, the quiet of the room settling around them. Eva lay on the bed, wide awake, her gaze occasionally drifting to Eyan. The sight of him, so absorbed in the book, made her sigh softly.
It's our wedding night… and he's sitting there reading? she thought, a mix of frustration and longing twisting in her chest.
She couldn't hold back any longer. "Your Majesty," she called softly.
Eyan looked up, startled by the sound of her voice. "You are still awake?"
"I can't fall asleep," Eva admitted, sitting up slightly on the bed.
"Why is that?" Eyan asked, genuinely curious.
"There is something I want to tell you…" Eva's voice trembled.
"You can tell me tomorrow," he replied gently, turning back to his book.
"No… it's important. I think you deserve to know the truth," she insisted.
Confused, Eyan set the book aside and watched her carefully. Eva stood and walked over to the couch, sitting beside him, her fingers brushing his lightly.
"Your Majesty… I lied to you," she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper.
"What lie? What lie?" Eyan asked, alarmed.
Eva met his eyes. "Your Majesty… on your birthday night… nothing happened between us."
Eyan's eyes widened. "What?"
"Yes," she said softly. "That night, you were simply drunk and fell asleep. You didn't do anything."
So please… do something tonight, her inner thoughts urged.
Eyan's brow furrowed. "Wait… if nothing happened between us, then why did you lie to me?"
"Because I wanted to marry you," Eva admitted, looking down briefly before meeting his gaze again.
Eyan stared, stunned. "What?"
"Yes, Your Majesty," she said, her cheeks flushed. "To tell you the truth… I fell in love with you after our first meeting."
His voice was low, incredulous. "What…"
"Yes...I love you, Your Majesty," she said boldly. "That's why I did everything I could to marry you."
Eyan exhaled slowly, then laughed, a deep, relieved sound.
"Why are you laughing?" Eva asked, a mixture of curiosity and caution in her tone.
"I'm laughing because I feel… relieved," Eyan admitted. "Eva… when you told me that we spent the night together… do you know how frustrated I was? I couldn't remember a thing. I thought I had done something I shouldn't have… and the guilt was unbearable."
Eva shook her head, remorseful. "Your Majesty, I apologize for lying to you."
"You don't need to apologize," Eyan said, taking her hand. "What's done is done. It's not like we can do anything about it now. We are already married."
Eva's lips trembled. "Even so… I don't feel right about lying to you."
"Eva, I told you… it's okay," he said softly.
"No, Your Majesty," she said, a playful determination in her voice. "How about you give me a punishment for my mistake?"
Eyan blinked, startled. "What?"
"Yes… punish me. I'm ready to take any kind of punishment you give."
"Are you serious?" he asked, his eyes searching hers.
"Yes. I am. Give me whatever punishment you want"
Eyan chuckled, "Are you sure?"
"Yes," she whispered.
"Then… if you insist, fine." His gaze softened. "Close your eyes."
"Wait… what?" she asked, confused.
"I'm giving you your punishment… so close your eyes," he said, voice low.
"Oh… for punishment?" she murmured, nodding. "Okay."
Eva closed her eyes, her breath shallow with anticipation.
"Don't cheat, okay? Just keep your eyes closed," Eyan warned softly, his hand brushing her cheek as he leaned closer.
She nodded.
Eyan set the book aside, rising from the couch and moving closer to her. He smiled, a slow, intoxicating curve of his lips, and studied her face with quiet intensity.
Without another word, he captured her lips in a searing kiss. Soft at first, testing, teasing… then deeper, fiercer, urgent.
Eva's eyes flew open in shock, but she did not pull away. Instead, she met him halfway, returning the kiss with equal urgency.
They parted only briefly, breaths ragged, hearts pounding. Eva's cheeks were flushed pink, her lips swollen from the intensity of his kiss.
"Your Majesty… what was that?" she whispered, voice trembling.
Eyan's eyes gleamed, a slow smile curving his lips. "Your punishment for lying to me."
Eva's lips twitched into a sly, guilty smile. "Then… Your Majesty, I have something else to confess."
Eyan's brows knitted. "What?"
"That night… you weren't drunk," she admitted, her voice barely audible. "I had put a sleeping potion in your wine…"
Eyan froze, stunned. "What?"
Eva's cheeks flushed deeper, but she met his gaze squarely. "It was all planned… from the start… to force you to marry me."
Eyan blinked, speechless for a moment, his mind racing.
"Don't you think I deserve to be punished for that also?" she asked softly, a teasing curve to her lips. "You can't just let me go off the hook, right?"
Eyan's lips curved into a slow, dark smile. Without a word, he grabbed her waist, pulling her close, their bodies pressing together.
"You are right," he murmured, his forehead touching hers. "I can't just let you go off the hook like that."
He leaned closer, their lips inches apart, his warm breath fanning across her face.
"You deserve to be punished."