Eva lay on the bed as Kyel leaned down closer to her. Their lips touched—soft at first.
Eva twitched a little, but then slowly closed her eyes, pulling Kyel closer with trembling hands.
Kyel cupped her face with one hand, his fingers warm against her skin, and deepened the kiss. Their tongues brushed, hesitant and seeking—both of them breathing each other in.
His other hand slid down, moving gently to her thighs.
But the moment he touched her—
She flinched. Her whole body trembled.
Kyel immediately pulled back, concern flooding his eyes.
"Princess… are you alright?" he asked softly.
Eva opened her eyes, blinking fast. "I'm fine… let's continue."
But Kyel didn't move.
"Eva," he said gently, "you're not fine. I already told you—I'll wait until you're ready."
Her lips quivered. The words caught in her throat before they spilled out.
"But… it's been so long since we got married," she whispered, tears brimming in her eyes.
"I should be able to do the duty of a wife… I'm sorry, but… I still can't."
Kyel pulled her into a hug, holding her close as he wiped her tears away with the pad of his thumb.
"You don't have to apologize," he said softly. "It's not your fault."
He kissed the side of her head, his voice steady and full of warmth.
"I'll wait. Even if it takes years, I'll wait."
"So don't worry about me, alright?"
Eva buried her face in his chest, her tears silent now.
"Don't think too much," he whispered, running his fingers through her hair. "Just sleep."
Kyel gently laid her down, pulling her close to his heart, where she could feel the calm rhythm of his heartbeat. He kissed her forehead.
And there, in his arms—
They both finally fell asleep.
---
The scent of something sweet drifted into Eva's room, curling into her senses like a soft embrace.
Her eyes fluttered open.
Is that… pancakes?
With a sudden burst of energy, she threw off the blanket and hurried downstairs. The moment her feet touched the final step, she saw him—Kyel—standing by the stove, flipping golden brown pancakes onto a plate.
"Good morning, honey," Eva greeted with a sleepy smile.
Kyel turned, his expression lighting up at the sight of her. "Good morning, princess," he replied gently. "Did you sleep well?"
Eva gave a small nod, rubbing her eyes.
"I made pancakes for you," he said, motioning toward the table. "Go take a bath and come back for breakfast."
"Okay…" she mumbled, still half-dreaming, and headed off.
When she returned—clean, refreshed, and with her damp hair falling over her shoulders—Kyel was already placing the last pancake on a plate.
"Here. Eat," he said, sliding the plate toward her.
Eva took a bite and blinked. "It's delicious."
Kyel leaned back in his chair, satisfied. "I'm glad."
"How do you make everything taste so good?" she asked, wide-eyed.
"That's a secret," he said with a playful smirk.
"Tell me! I want to make pancakes like this too."
"Why do you need to learn?" he said, reaching over to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. "Just tell me what you want, and I'll make it for you."
Eva looked down, cheeks warming. "Then… how about a cake? My birthday is in three days. Will you make one for me?"
He smiled, that rare, gentle smile that always made her heart skip. "Of course. I'll make the best cake you've ever had."
"Thank you…" she whispered.
Kyel glanced at the wall clock and stood up, brushing crumbs off his hands. "Princess, I should go. I'm already late."
"Oh, right—you should," Eva said, watching him walk toward the door.
But then, he paused, hand on the doorknob. He turned around.
"Princess…" he called.
Eva blinked. "What?"
Kyel's lips curved into a teasing smile.
"Thank you for the kiss last night."
Her heart froze. Her cheeks flushed instantly. "Wh-what…?"
Kyel grinned, clearly enjoying her reaction. "Bye. Take care of yourself."
"Y-you too…" she managed to say, her voice barely audible.
As the door closed behind him, Eva sat down, burying her face in her hands.
"Why did he say that…" she whispered to herself, her face burning red.
---