(Tana's POV)
One of my first tasks is documenting all the secret knowledge I carry, so it can be shared with the public. I hoped to finish quickly, but every time I feel like I'm almost done, I remember something else that needs to be written.
"Hey there… what are you up to, my queen?" Insinz asked, stepping into the room.
"I'm doing my job. What about you?" I teased. He chuckled and pulled the tablet from my hands.
"Hey!"
He skimmed a few pages, saved the file, and shut it off.
"It's time for bed," he said, yawning as he walked off.
"I'm not tired yet! I can keep writing," I argued.
"My wife has been working for three days straight without rest. You haven't even eaten or showered…" I shrank a little at his words and followed him without protest.
A few of the concubine rooms had been remodeled and redecorated into bedrooms for us. Naturally, all the old beds had been destroyed—either by us or by Vetro. We even had our own personal bathroom now.
"Go wash up first," Insinz said.
He usually speaks so gently… I must've really worried him. I'll make it up to him tomorrow.
I drew a perfect bath and sank into the water, letting myself relax—until Insinz walked in.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, failing miserably to keep my eyes off him.
"I need a bath too," he said, undressing without shame. I slid lower under the bubbles, mesmerized as he rinsed off with the shower before joining me in the tub.
"If I knew you were coming, I would've dressed for the occasion," I joked.
He laughed, satisfying me deeply.
The tub was large enough for us both to have space… but I almost wished it were smaller.
"After all this is over, where do you want to live? Want to buy a house on an island? Back on Earth?" he asked.
Just imagining the three of us—me, Insinz, and our daughter—living alone on a quiet island, far away from all this… made me warm.
"Yeah… I'd love to see the ocean every day, catch fish, grow fruit. And when she's old enough, she can decide if she wants to return here or not."
His foot brushed mine playfully, then he crossed over to my side of the tub.
"Sounds fair," he murmured, then leaned in and kissed me, his hand stroking between my legs.
"You… I thought you told me to rest," I said, catching my breath between kisses.
"I'm just helping you get clean."
"Were you always this naughty?" I teased.
He blew a raspberry on my neck, making me giggle and splash water onto the floor.
"Yes. I was born this way."
Then, without warning, he grew serious. He began washing me thoroughly—carefully. Gently. It made my chest ache.
"…Why are you doing this?" I whispered, thinking he wouldn't hear me.
But he did.
"Because I missed you… I need to quiet my Tana withdrawals."
I bit my lip and let him continue.
Afterward, he let the water drain, dried me off, brushed my hair, and carried me to bed. He laid me down gently, and I thanked him with a kiss.
"You're ridiculous."
His only answer was to kiss my neck before lying beside me.
"What… did you do today?"
"Hm… thought about you."
I scoffed.
"Stop it, I'm serious!"
He rolled his eyes, then pulled me into his arms.
"I met with the leaders of Infaniya we haven't spoken to yet. They're still unsure about the treaty—lots of old prejudice to work through. I also helped Zai and Raijian choose new representatives in the faraway cities. We sorted through hundreds of applicants… most of them had bad intentions. But we made progress. I'm glad, because I'm in a hurry to move away with you."
He tucked some hair behind my ear. "I even looked into real estate with Valin. He set up something called the internet. Now I can see houses on Earth without leaving this planet."
My eyes lit up. "They have that kind of tech now?! That's amazing!"
He nodded, then kissed me again.
"I was getting stressed about not being able to house-hunt for us… but now I can."
Everything's changing. If this planet weren't so full of dark memories… maybe I'd want to stay and see how it grows.
Insinz stroked my arm and looked into my eyes—melting me completely. But just then, our daughter cried from the next room.
I threw on a robe and rushed over. After feeding her, one of the servants offered to rock her to sleep. I hesitated, but then remembered Insinz was waiting.
I returned to our room… and burst into laughter.
Insinz was sprawled out, fast asleep, still naked. I stared for a while, then pulled the blanket over him and slipped in beside him, cuddling close.
(Snowe's POV)
Zai wasn't exaggerating—he spent the entire night entangled in pleasure with me.
It wasn't until one of the staff knocked on the door, requesting his presence, that he finally paused. Even then, he was still inside me.
"I'll be there momentarily!" he shouted, just loud enough for the attendant to leave.
Then he lifted my left leg onto his shoulder and continued until he reached his climax. Afterward, he leaned down, kissed me softly, and whispered goodbye before finally pulling away and heading into the shower.
It took me a little longer to recover, but by the time he was finished, I asked quietly,
"Would it be okay… if I joined you today?"
Zai and Rai had been tasked with appointing the most trustworthy officials to govern Afaria—an incredibly important role, considering their supernatural ability to discern truth and intent. While Insinz travelled from city to city, making sure that even voting for the interviewees was done fairly before they arrived at the palace, people from all over the world had traveled to be interviewed, hoping to be granted governance over various territories.
"… I thought I was the clingy one," he teased.
I blushed and pouted. "Just forget it, then!"
He laughed. "Why are you mad? I'm happy… I want you to cling to me," he said earnestly.
I turned to him, and his silver eyes sparkled, lighting up the entire room.
"Well… okay. I'll come to the meeting room once I'm dressed and cleaned up."
He tapped his chin. "Yes, my queen. I'll eagerly await your company."
I glanced away to hide my blushing.
"I mean it, Snowe… Cling to me more. I want to feel like you couldn't live without me. That you're addicted to my presence. That you'd die without my touch… because that's how I feel about you."
Before I could respond, he left.
… I used to be afraid that my love would become obsessive or dangerous—like my mother's. But it seems like Zai would welcome that… even if I lost my mind over him completely.
Valin has been working nonstop to improve technology so he can manage his duties remotely and return to Earth as soon as possible. He might leave before we do. I already needed to ask for an extra month off from my career, so Zai and I have been rushing to complete our tasks too.
I dressed in a long gown, matching my red jewelry to my wedding ring and the custom crown Zai had ordered for me. Then I made my way to the meeting room.
"How dare you! The people of my city love me! I've done so much for my community!" an unfamiliar man was yelling as I entered. The interviews had been going on all day—Zai handled this room, while Rai took applicants in another. Dozens had already been rejected by the time I arrived.
"Those people are idiots you've won over with cheap gifts and lies," Zai replied coldly. "We don't need someone like you gaining any more power. You're dismissed… and I'll overlook your tone this once, but if you raise your voice at me again, I'll—oh. Welcome, my queen."
Everyone turned to look as I walked to Zai's side and sat on the arm of his chair.
"You're making a mistake," the man tried again. "I don't know what kind of false evidence you found to make you think I'm insincere or unfit to rule, but—"
"I don't need evidence," Zai said, his voice sharp and unsettling.
His silver eyes gleamed, and he gave a crooked smile.
"I know you, Faldosh. I know you've told ten lies today alone. I know you had people killed on your command and then justified it by framing them for crimes. I know you plan to continue human-sacrificing rituals, even though I've clearly outlawed them. I know you think I'm a fool—like your followers. You think a clean record, a smile, and a charity front will be enough to fool me. But I bet you've been pocketing most of those charity funds while using just enough to maintain appearances."
Faldosh began to sweat.
"O-of course not…" he stammered.
"What a shame. You just confirmed everything I already knew," Zai said calmly. "If you had simply left when I told you, I wouldn't have to kill you."
The man scrambled to his feet. "Please forgive me, Your Excellence… I was wrong for raising my voice. I'll leave now!"
He bolted from the room. One of the ten guards glanced at Zai, silently requesting permission to pursue. Zai nodded, and a second later, the guard followed.
Zai sighed and turned to kiss my shoulder, his smile returning.
"I'm glad you're here."
I smiled back as he faced the rest of the room—twenty more men waiting anxiously.
"Who's next to state their case?"
The remaining applicants sat stiffly in their chairs, silent and wide-eyed, as if breathing too loudly might cost them their lives. Two of them got up and left, but one stepped forward.
"My name is Cari… I've lived in Zarosa—a city near the southern border—for 50 years. My fellow citizens voted for me. They said they'd be happy if I became their leader. I've never held a leadership position before… but I care deeply for them, and I promise to give it my all. I want Zarosa to prosper under your reign, sire."
Zai stared him down for several seconds before speaking.
"What about Muertario? Are you willing to abolish it?"
Muertario—the human-sacrifice festival—was still common in many regions across Afaria.
Cari lowered his head.
"I never liked it myself, sire… I expect backlash when I enforce the ban, but I'll do it. I'll imprison anyone who continues the tradition. It never should have become a holiday."
A heavy silence followed… Zai laughed, the tension in his shoulders easing just slightly."I like you. You pass. Bring me your paperwork so I can seal it."
Cari blushed as he stepped forward. Zai stamped and signed his documents.
"Your people chose well. I believe you'll make a fantastic ruler."
"Thank you, King Zaikel. That means so much to me."
"My soon-to-be sister-in-law is human," Zai added. "It would be pretty insensitive to maintain a holiday that kills her kind for sport."
Cari nodded. "You're right. I believe she'd find that… unsettling."
Zai sorted the documents and touched a rune etched into the table, teleporting the relevant documents to his office.
"What's your last name?" he asked.
"It… it's Hyderion."
Zai smiled.
"You are now Grand Duke Hyderion. Your territories include Zarosa, Tila, and Yunvic. Feel free to appoint trusted officials to help manage them. But if any of them turn out to be corrupt or abusive… bring them straight to me."
A nearby applicant whispered, stunned, "Grand Duke? That's the highest official rank…"
Cari's breath hitched. For a moment, he looked like he might cry, but he swallowed it down and bowed deeply. He was too nervous to speak, but the honor he felt was etched on his face. He remained bowed, and several seconds later, he was escorted out to begin the next steps of his appointment.
"Who's next?" Zai asked.