As I tried to regain my breath and composure, I felt Augustus shifting above me before he completely pulled back. I instantly missed the warmth and weight of his body above me. He slowly pulled himself out of me, a sigh leaving my lips involuntarily now that he wasn’t filling me to the brim anymore.

　　His silence was starting to worry me as I wondered if he had gotten over his rut yet. I pushed myself up, glancing over my shoulder to look at him. He had his hand over his eyes, as though he was in disbelief that he had just consummated with me. He slowly dropped his hand, those beautiful eyes of his caught my gaze and for the first time ever since I’ve met Augustus, he had such an expressive look on his face but sadly, it was one of remorse.

　　“I’m…” He started, but he seemed to be struggling to form his words.

　　I knew what he wanted to say just from the shift in his tonality and body language, he was regretting what just happened, he was blaming himself for losing control. His eyes flickered to my wrists, where there were red marks from where his powerful grip held me down earlier.

　　“Augustus,” I called out to him to get his attention.

　　“I am terribly sorry for how I acted.” He said, gaze still plastered on my wrists.

　　“N-No don’t be! You didn’t hurt me at all! You were just really, uh, passionate!” I quickly told him. I was not lying to him since he was rather intense but nothing, he did cause me any physical harm, it was just a bruise or two and thinking back, Isaiah and Cassian did as much. But I caught myself thinking back to the way Augustus kissed the back of my neck. the sensation alone, that tender and gentle feeling was enough to make me lose myself.

　　“You should not have come to me. If you just stayed away, then I—”

　　“You are not listening to me.” I frowned. “I’m fine, Augustus and do I dare say that I even enjoyed it.” I admitted. His eyes snapped back to mine.

　　“But I was…feral.”

　　I shook my head. “I know that you were trying your hardest to control yourself from actually hurting me or even marking me, and I appreciate that. Thank you for being so considerate.”

　　“You have lost your mind, Cordelia! I had my way with you!”

　　“I gave you my consent!” I fought back. “Do you dread the idea of us sleeping together so much that you would paint a false narrative, Augustus? Would it make you feel better if I agreed with you? If I said you did hurt me?”

　　“No that’s not—”

　　“I wanted to help you during your rut. I came to you on my own volition, I stayed on my own volition, I wanted you to touch me, I wanted to be one with you and yet you…” I bit my lip to stop myself from tearing up. I was not sure what was frustrating me to this point. Could it be that my view on affection was slowly changing, did I crave it now that I had a taste of it, now that I know it was possible with him, with them?

　　“I’m sorry…I was not myself for a moment and I truly thought that I hurt you.” He said, his hand hesitantly reaching out to rest on my own. His fingers slowly traced the red marks he had left on them. “I never enjoyed how I lost myself during my ruts and I desperately wanted to avoid being with you when it came because I knew that I would not be able to stop myself from wanting you. Even at that time, when your heat was induced, your scent alone…I could not stop thinking about it.”

　　My eyes widened at his sudden confession that it left me speechless. He told me before that omegas and alphas were always involved in forced bonds because they could not control their impulse to mate during their cycle but he was here telling me that he has been thinking of my scent for the longest time and yet he never once attempted to be intimate with me. No matter how much I tried to come up with a reasoning to that, I failed.

　　“I think I understand because you emitted such an intoxicating scent as well. I felt drawn to it as though in a trance.”

　　“Perhaps alphas and omegas are not that different after all.” He sighed.

　　“How are you feeling now…?” I asked hesitantly, hoping he would not brush me off as he usually did.

　　“Hm? Ah, I’ve calmed down now.” he said, pulling his hand away to adjust his clothing. “We should get cleaned and you should return to your chambers after.”

　　“I can’t stay?” I blurted.

　　He paused. “You want too?”

　　“Ah! O-Only if you don’t mind. It’s just rather hard for me to walk back to my chambers now…” My words trailed off, hoping that he understood what I was trying to insinuate.

　　“Of course. I apologise for that.”

　　“P-Please don’t!” I blushed.?

　　“I shall go prepare for the bath.” He said, about to get down from the bed but I reached out, grabbing his arm and stopping him. We both looked at each other in complete shock, Augustus had a proper reason to be surprised but I did not understand why I reached out for him in the first place.

　　“What’s wrong?” he asked.

　　I pulled away. “N-Nothing! I’m sorry!”

　　He furrowed his brows and leaned closer to me. “Cordelia? What’s wrong?” he repeated but the way he called out my name sent pleasant shivers down my spine. The back of my neck felt hot, the place where he kissed was starting to tingle.

　　“I…” I started but still unsure what I even wanted from him. My eyes drifted from his translucent orbs to his pale lips. I was not even attempting to hide the fact that I was staring at him. “Augustus, I…”

　　“Speak,”

　　I swallowed a strange lump in my throat and no matter how much I told myself to snap out of it, I found myself inching closer to him instead. I do not know who reached out first, was it me as my shaky hand went to grip onto his shirt or was it him whose hand came to caress my cheek but either way, we gravitated to each other, lips meeting for the first time ever since we met.

　　He tilted his hand to the side, deepening the kiss and my hand clung onto his shirt as though I was so desperately wanted to melt in his kiss. We parted away at the same time, both gasping in a deep breath. I felt his eyes on me before he backed away.

　　“I—the bath…” he stuttered as he hurriedly got off the bed and went to the bathroom. I sat on the bed, watching him walk away and for a moment, I questioned why my heart was beating so much.

　　*

　　I placed the vase of fresh flowers by Leonidas’ bedside, readjusting the stalks that were out of place, so they looked prim and proper. I took a step back to look at the bouquet, the colours of the flowers seemingly add some liveliness to the emperor’s room.

　　“You’re here.”

　　I turned to Empress Veronica who was by the door. She looked past me, eyes falling on the bouquet. “Good morning,” I said as I curtsied. “I hope you do not mind but, on the way here I saw a shop selling these lovely flowers and thought Emperor Leonidas would appreciate it when he wakes up.”

　　Her features softened. “They are lovely. He always did adore flowers even though they are rare in our kingdom. Thank you for coming back to visit, Princess Cordelia.”

　　“There’s no need to thank me, I’m only doing whatever I can.” I smiled.

　　“Did Augustus come as well?”

　　I paused, averting my gaze from hers as I did not want to see her saddened look. “No, he—”

　　Veronica stopped me before I could continue. “There’s no need for you to explain anything. I understand how he feels about us. Hence, I believe that I should stop trying to fix something that cannot be fixed.”

　　“Empress…”

　　“But it gives me some sense of relief to know that Augustus did grow up in a household where he was loved by Viggo and the rest. And now, I am glad that he has you by his side too, Princess Cordelia. Thank you for choosing him and I hope you can stay by his side and support him as I know that he will do the same for you.” She spoke candidly.

　　I was speechless for a moment and felt guilty that she did not know the true story behind Augustus and mine’s marriage. I opened my mouth to reassure her that everything will be alright when a knock on the door caught both our attention.

　　Rodrick stood by the open door with his head bowed. “I apologise for interrupting you, princess, Empress Veronica, but an urgent letter has arrived from the Southern Kingdom.”

　　“Who is it from?” I asked urgently.?

　　“Lord Gideon, Your Highness.”