“Kuuh…!”

Grimacing in pleasure, Aleph moaned as if in pain, sounding almost animalistic.

He was renowned on the battlefield for his merciless actions against enemies and monstrous creatures. That was the reputation his knights who had joined him in battle together and what the rumor said.

However, Jiwoo had only ever witnessed his composed demeanor and could barely imagine the contrast.

With just one hand, he effortlessly pinned Jiwoo down, and with his other hand, which had been caressing her waist and began to force its way under her thin clothing.

“A, Aleph…!”

Jiwoo cried out in shock. Her voice was small like a whisper, yet loud enough to stir a response.

Suddenly, Aleph’s actions stopped. The fog of drugs and pleasure that had clouded his gaze began to clear, and he focused intently on Jiwoo, who was pressed down beneath him.

“What is this…?”

He was startled and quickly separated himself from Jiwoo.

As Jiwoo fumbled with her wrists, which he had grasped, Aleph scanned her from top to bottom and checked his own state, quickly assessing the situation.

“I told you not to come in…! Ha!”

His voice had a tone of anger, but it was not directed at Jiwoo.

He aggressively brushed back his disheveled hair.

“It was a mistake. I shouldn’t have been here.”

“…Aleph.”

“Please leave.”

As soon as he regained clarity, having just kissed her and having his wounds greatly improved, he dismissed her without even looking at her.

When Jiwoo hesitated to move, Aleph forcefully lifted her up.

“Wait, wait…!”

He dragged her out of the bedroom somewhat coercively and then slammed the door shut behind her.

Jiwoo stood for a long time in front of the closed door.

She had entered uninvited, so she hadn’t expected gratitude, but she didn’t anticipate such rejection either.

He had said those things as he pleases, kissed her however he wanted, and now had driven her out.

He didn’t want to be disliked further so thinking it best to comply, she knew she should return to her own room.

Yet, her feet wouldn’t easily move away.

After Jiwoo stood there for a while, the door abruptly swung open again.

Aleph stood there, looking utterly disheveled. Not just his appearance, which was in disarray from the drugs and hallucinations, but also the expression on his face was a mess.

“I’m sorry. Don’t cry, please.”

“You made me cry.”

“I’m sorry… It’s all my fault.”

Aleph’s voice sounded even more tormented and strained than Jiwoo’s silent tears.

“Don’t cry, I’m sorry. It hurts me more to see you cry than anything else.”

Aleph hugged Jiwoo who couldn’t stop crying.

He, who usually maintained a pristine appearance. Usually, whenever Jiwoo passed by him, a strong enticing musky scent would emanate from him.

Jiwoo buried her face in his shoulder to wipe her tears. His sweaty body emitted a raw, masculine scent.

* * *

“Tears aren’t much different in composition from blood.”

Aleph guided Jiwoo back to the bed and sat her down.

It meant that if he disliked blood, he might as well drink her tears while she was at it, and Aleph seemed to understand that well.

Aleph sighed heavily, covering his face with his hands and looking troubled. He then brushed his face tiredly and leaned in cautiously to press his lips against Jiwoo’s.

But there was more than simple treating action in his touch. His lips and tongue that touched her tear-streaked cheeks were persistent, and his hand trembled as it caressed her cheek.

“So you mean to say you’ve always been crying for the sake of the empire?”

He pressed his lips to her forehead where no tears had fallen.

“I’ve ignored your crying for so long…”

Then he covered her lips with his.

“I wanted to protect you. You might not believe me.”

When Jiwoo remained still, Aleph paused briefly before licking her lower lip.

“Stop crying, okay?”

“I guess it’s because I want to heal you.”

“Alright, we’ll do it your way. Just stop crying.”

Despite his brusque tone, Jiwoo quietly accepted everything he did. This seemed to intensify Aleph’s breathing.

“Don’t cry.”

Each time his lips moved away from her face, his shallow, hot breaths brushed against her skin. At some point, the pretense of healing had faded, replaced by actions that seemed to seek affection.

Then their eyes met. Aleph’s enigmatic eyes, always shimmering mysteriously, gazed intently at Jiwoo.

Aleph approached slowly, allowing Jiwoo plenty of time to avoid him if she chose to.

With his warm breath drawing closer, their lips finally met. As Jiwoo closed her eyes, the pressure from Aleph’s lips deepened the kiss.

Despite the bitter taste of medicine that lingered just moments ago, the intertwining tongues were surprisingly sweet.

In the quiet of the northern bedroom, where only the sound of burning logs or falling snow could be heard, the sloppy sound of their mingling tongues filled the room.

“Ung…”

“Haa…”

Their breathing grew ragged, and though they briefly parted, Aleph quickly reclaimed Jiwoo’s lips with a thirsty movement. As if he had never avoided Hiwoo.

After several kisses, and noticing Jiwoo struggling for breath, he finally stopped, appearing more reluctant than she. What had started as Jiwoo’s attempt to heal him now seemed to leave Aleph longing for more.

Jiwoo thought by now Aleph would accept her kindness.

“Will you let me treat you now?”

“No, you…”

Aleph sighed as if chuckling.

“Are you really not going to concede on this no matter what I say?”

Jiwoo stubbornly nodded, and Aleph’s hand, which had been resting on her shoulder, moved.

The thick fabric of her garments easily came off. Removing the fluffy outer garment revealed her lean body, which had started to gain some weight after a few months of peace in the north.

“Why would you come into a man’s room alone, knowing something might happen?”

“It’s okay.”

Her voice was soft, yet Aleph looked intently at her.

“If it’s you…”

Even as Jiwoo remained quiet, Aleph sighed and pressed his lips to her trembling, delicate shoulders. His cold lips made her shudder.

With a reverent attitude, he kissed down towards her navel.

As his head moved lower, eventually, Aleph knelt before Jiwoo.

As Aleph was kissing her knees, pressing his lips there while kneading her calves and ankles, he tightened his grip on her legs and tried to move in deeper.

Jiwoo had been wondering how to retrieve the knife he had thrown away until he spread her legs and pressed his lips to her inner thigh, snapping her back to reality.

“Wait a moment, Your Highness…”

“That’s not how you should call me, right?”

His breath as he spoke was too hot.

“A, Aleph…”

“Yes, I’m not Your Highness to you, I can do this much.”

Before Jiwoo could respond, Aleph buried his face between her legs. Her hands, having nowhere else to go, clutched at the fabric of the clothes he had just removed.

“Hu, ah…”

The hot breath tickled between her legs. His head, having burrowed into her lower garments, had now reached the deepest part.

Just like kissing lips to lips, he gently pressed his mouth there and licked the hotter flesh.

__