It was a Political Marriage, But I’m Being Loved - Chapter 36

Charlize let out a quiet sigh and slowly opened her eyes.

Strong arms were wrapped around her, holding her close. After a night of overwhelming pleasure, she had fallen asleep nestled against Achilles’ chest. But now, she wasn’t naked. She was wearing a soft negligee, similar in style to the one she had worn the night before, just to show him.

Wait…

Her body had been kissed and touched all over, every part of her cherished until she had been soaked in sweat, love, and exhaustion. Her thighs had been slick with fluids, and yet now she was dry, clean, and dressed in delicate fabric. Even under the nightgown, she could feel the softness of fresh undergarments.

When did I fall asleep…?

Still in his arms, Charlize glanced around the room. The flower petals that had been scattered across the bed were gone, and the sheets, once damp and crumpled from their shared passion, looked fresh and smooth again.

Did Achilles clean everything?

She glanced at his face—peaceful, sleeping. Last night, Achilles had tested her sensitivity, exploring her reactions to see if her body was influenced by the mana within her. He hadn’t held back.

Unaware of his true intention, she had simply clung to him—above him, beneath him crying out, gasping, drowning in pleasure. It had been their first time, for both of them. She hadn’t expected it to feel so good.

The original purpose behind their intimacy had been completely forgotten. All she’d wanted was to be close to him, to be held. She remembered the brief moments of panic when her mind caught up with her body, her cheeks flushing in embarrassment… but those moments never lasted long.

She had quickly melted under his relentless rhythm and tender touch. Thinking back on it now, Charlize blushed bright red.

He said it was his first time… What a liar!

Even after his healing magic had soothed the sensitivity from her swollen, red nipples, they still reacted to the slightest touch. She remembered how he had noticed—and teased her all over again. She glanced sideways, flustered.

“Is this how you’d like to be touched?”

He had whispered in that low, soothing voice, holding her gently as her body trembled from the aftermath of release. Every touch had sent a new wave through her. She couldn’t hide how she felt, no matter how hard she tried.

She remembered the way he kissed her—softly, insistently—his eyes never leaving her face. And somehow, he always knew exactly where to touch, how to move, as if her pleasure were the only thing that mattered.

Each time she reached her peak and her body trembled in his arms, he would steal a kiss from her lips and begin again, deep inside her.

“Charlize… you’re so beautiful… You feel like you’re melting around me—I can’t stop…”

“Ah… ahhh…”

His voice, low and rough with arousal, made her want to hide under the sheets—and yet, her body responded again and again. She couldn’t count how many times she’d reached the peak with him.

Even now, the sensation of him inside her felt fresh in her memory hot, thick, filling her completely.

It startled her to realize she wanted him again.

No! I just… he looked so good when I reacted… and he was so… skilled…

The heat rushed to her face again. Last night had been a dream—sweet, intoxicating, unforgettable.

Even after she had collapsed, completely spent, Achilles remained gentle. He had whispered love against her skin, left lingering kisses, and traced affection over her with his hands.

Wait.

The kiss marks!

She hurriedly rolled up her sleeve, expecting to see the places where he had nibbled and kissed. But her skin was clear—smooth. Not a mark in sight.

He healed them with magic…

Thank goodness.

Still, she hadn’t checked everywhere. She made a mental note to examine herself in the bathroom later. Achilles had been… possessive, to say the least.

“……”

She listened to the soft rhythm of his breathing and stared at his sleeping face.

No matter how she looked at him, he didn’t seem like someone who would use her for some inhumane magical experiment.

But… you never know what someone’s really like, just by looking at them.

And just because she was falling for him didn’t mean he was a good person. Love clouded judgment. People in love missed the lies right in front of them. Wasn’t that something even scholars had studied?

…Wait, is he really asleep?

The maids hadn’t come in yet. If the spell Achilles cast the night before was still in effect, no one would be able to enter this room without his will.

Why isn’t he waking up?

She was fully awake. Judging by the light and the angle of the shadows, it was probably close to her usual wake-up time. If she didn’t wake him soon, the maids might come knocking.

She studied his face again—he was already handsome, but up close, he looked even more breathtaking.

He really is beautiful, Charlize thought, her eyes tracing the soft lines of Achilles’ sleeping face.

Drawn in by the golden light catching in his hair, she reached out and gently touched it. It looked cold in color, almost silvery in the morning light, but felt soft and warm beneath her fingers.

She ran her hand slowly through his hair, smoothing it, but Achilles didn’t stir. Taking advantage of the moment, Charlize reached out and lightly brushed his cheek, marveling at the smoothness of his skin.

I should touch his lips too…

Those were the same lips that had so sweetly and cruelly tormented her last night. Just thinking about what he had done with them made her blush furiously. She wasn’t sure she could look him in the eye now.

His lips are beautiful too…

“Charlize. My rose… I truly love you.”

She remembered those words, whispered softly into her ear as her body trembled in his arms. Her face burned again. His lips had been just as hot as her skin, and she was about to pull her hand away—

When his golden eyes suddenly opened.

Their eyes met, and in the morning sun, his gaze sparkled like polished amber.

“Achilles…”

Before she could finish speaking, her lips were captured by his.

Achilles pulled her into his arms, locking her in a delicate kiss. It was deep, soft, and full of emotion.

“Mmh… nn…”

As their tongues intertwined, heat swept through her again. The warmth between her thighs, which she thought had faded, was slowly beginning to return.

No, not again!

Panicking, she pressed her hands against his chest. Achilles, true to his nature, stopped the kiss without resistance. His golden eyes still glowed with warmth.

“The maids… they’ll be here soon,” she whispered between shallow breaths.

Achilles looked at her with clear reluctance. “Don’t worry. I’ve sealed the room with a spell. No one can enter.”

Of course he had. Her suspicions were confirmed.

“They’ll be confused if the door doesn’t open. You should go before someone notices.”

If the maids called for the guards or tried to force the door, it would raise alarms. And if the knights couldn’t open it themselves, they’d summon a mage—then it would be clear who had done this.

And then I’d be humiliated.

“I could just take you away right now,” he said quietly.

Though magic wards protected the central palace—the Emperor and Empress’s quarters, the Crown Prince’s wing—Charlize’s residence and the nearby annex were far less secure.

A mage of Achilles’ level could easily cast magic there.

I could take her to the Mage Tower and hide her away until the wedding…

There, no one could interfere. He could have her to himself, as much as he wanted. But he knew she wouldn’t agree. So instead, he offered something softer.

“…We could go to a hotel outside the capital. Spend the morning there, have a long, lazy breakfast in a private suite.”

His voice dropped into a tempting murmur, his eyes lingering on her face. Charlize’s heart skipped a beat.

But she couldn’t disappear like that—at least not without causing a massive uproar.

“L-later! Please, just go for now!”

Pressed by her growing urgency, Achilles looked at her with regret, then leaned in to place a gentle kiss on her lips.

Charlize blinked in surprise.

“You’re the most beautiful person in the world, Your Highness.”

What an absurd thing to say. But before she could even respond, Achilles offered her a subtle, secretive smile and disappeared.

Click.

The soft sound of the door unlocking made Charlize jolt. The timing was dangerously close.

“Oh—pardon me, Your Highness. There was no sound from inside, so I assumed you were still asleep.”

The maid bowed deeply in apology. Charlize opened her mouth to say it was fine, but caught a glimpse of the pillow beside her clearly showing signs that someone else had slept there.

She hastily pulled the blanket over it and glanced at the maid.

“How would you like to begin today? Shall I prepare your bath first?”

“I’m feeling a bit tired. I’d like to bathe slowly on my own this morning. I won’t need assistance just prepare the bath, please.”

“As you wish, Your Highness.”

As the maid exited, Charlize let out a quiet breath of relief and turned to glance at the empty space beside her.

She couldn’t stop thinking about what might have happened if someone had walked in earlier, when she and Achilles had still been tangled together in bed.

Support