Arlan had not slept the entire night, relishing the feeling of having his wife in his arms. He continued to play with her soft hair, inhaling her sweet scent while his gaze was fixed on her sleeping form.
She was undoubtedly beautiful, but there were more things about her that intrigued him. She was headstrong, stubborn, willful, bold, kind, righteous, and so on. She was a perfect woman with many flaws, and he loved her flaws more than her perfections.
He remembered the darkness in her eyes, which she herself was not aware of, whenever the demoness inside her started to show her presence.
’I wonder how long it will be until her demoness form becomes prominent and takes over. I hope I won’t lose her, even after her other sides become stronger, and she will still be my Oriana and not some Esmeray.’
Unbeknownst to him, time passed by while he was lost in his thoughts. After a few hours of sleep, Oriana stirred in her sleep. As she turned to her side, there was a frown on her forehead.
’It seems like it’s because she is hurt,’ he thought, soothing those frown lines with his fingers and continuing to caress her cheek gently, his eyes full of warmth and love.
In his eyes, Oriana was like a fragile doll, so delicate that he feared even the slightest harm might break her. Yet, it was his own actions that had caused her pain – a necessary hurt for their union. ’Next time, I must be gentler,’ he vowed internally. ’I cannot bear to be the cause of her pain, again and again. I refuse to be a beast that wounds the one I cherish most.’
As dawn broke, Oriana stirred awake, her sleepy eyes fluttering open to the sight of her handsome husband gazing affectionately at her. It felt surreal, like a dream, and she took a moment to study his features—his face, his neck, and the expanse of his bare chest, partially veiled by the sheets.
Arlan didn’t say a word, amusingly observing her reaction quietly, curious to know how she would react at their situation now.
She glanced down at herself and realized the sheets had slipped, leaving her exposed. A wave of realization washed over her as she remembered the intimacy they had shared, the moment she had surrendered herself to him. Hastily, she clutched the sheets, drawing them up to shield her bare chest.
Arlan’s smirk broadened at her charmingly bashful reaction. "Good morning, my love," he greeted warmly.
Hearing those words, Oriana felt a mix of emotions. The previous night, amidst passion, those words had seemed perfect, but now, in the calm light of day, they struck her as unfamiliar, even awkward.
She managed a timid "G-Good morning" in response, her shyness evident in her voice.
Arlan chuckled at her awkwardness and shyness and spoke, "You could sleep a bit longer."
Oriana glanced around and realized the sun hadn’t risen yet. In doing so, her gaze fell upon the sky, where the dome shaped energy barrier Arlan had created using his powers, still shimmered, snowflakes gently cascading down on it in a mesmerizing dance.
"It’s still there," she whispered, her voice a mix of wonder and awe.
"As long as you want it, it will stay there," he responded softly, his attention shifting to the enchanting scene above them.
Wanting to better view the spectacle, Oriana attempted to lie on her back, but a sharp twinge of discomfort made her groan.
Arlan, immediately attentive, gently helped her into a more comfortable position, his gaze filled with concern. "Does it hurt still?"
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