The golden morning sun filtered through the ornate glass windows of the Rotschy estate, illuminating the intricate carvings on the walls with a gentle amber glow. Inside the guest chamber reserved for Lady Rina Amberhart, silence reigned — soft and sacred.
Her golden eyes fluttered open, blinking against the sun-drenched ceiling. For a moment, she simply lay there, her mind hazy with sleep. The air in the room smelled faintly of lavender and obsidian stone, a strangely soothing mix. As her senses sharpened, she stared at the elegant ceiling moldings in quiet thought.
Then, without a word, she pushed the silk blankets aside and rose from bed, her bare feet touching the cool polished floor. Her crimson hair spilled over her shoulders in loose waves, and her silk nightgown clung to her form with lazy elegance.
Rena walked slowly, dreamily, across the room and entered the private bath.
She undid the clasps of her mana-adaptive training suit, letting the heavy fabric slip from her shoulders with a dull thud. The suit had always clung to her body with pressure, built for combat and mana compression — and now, released from its grip, she felt light. Free.
She inhaled sharply.
Her reflection in the mirror made her pause. Her body was subtly different now — not just from physical training, but from spiritual tension. Her breasts looked firmer, her skin glowed faintly, and there was a delicate prominence to her chest that hadn't been there months ago. The soft curves of her waist, the slope of her hips — it was a woman's body now, no longer a girl's.
She ran a hand over her stomach, pausing at her navel.
Am I... changing that much?
A faint blush crept across her cheeks. But she didn't look away. Instead, she stepped into the mana-infused bath, where the water shimmered with ethereal light, thick with crushed herbs and glowing minerals.
The warmth enveloped her instantly.
Rena sank into it with a quiet sigh, letting her head rest against the stone. The herbal steam curled around her skin, and the mana soaked into her pores. It was like being reborn — her body relaxing from the inside out.
This is nice... finally, peace.
She closed her eyes.
But peace was always fleeting.
His kiss invaded her memory like a sudden spark in still water.
That moment from the karaoke night — when Jin Rocchi had leaned in without warning and pressed his lips against hers.
Her eyes snapped open. She bit her bottom lip unconsciously, then licked it as if to confirm the sensation. It was warm. A little rough. Unexpectedly...
"...Good," she muttered under her breath.
Then scowled. "Idiot."
She rose from the bath, steam rising around her like mist around a mountain goddess. She wrapped a soft towel around her body, tucking it snugly beneath her arms. Her skin still glowed faintly from the herbs and mana, and her damp hair clung to her collarbones.
I'm not putting that suit back on, she thought defiantly. Not yet.
She walked barefoot across the corridor to her room again, humming softly to herself, the towel rustling against her legs.
As she entered—
She stopped.
There, lounging on her couch, legs crossed, arms folded behind his head like he owned the place, sat Jin Rotschy
He looked entirely at ease, his crimson eyes gleaming with amusement.
"Morning, Rina," he said lazily.
Rina blinked. Then blinked again. Her brain scrambled to catch up to reality.
"...Good morning," she said automatically, moving toward her vanity.
Then, as her golden eyes flicked to the mirror — and caught sight of him sitting casually in her room — reality hit.
Her face paled.
She whirled around. "W–wait! What the hell are you doing in here?!"
Her voice cracked from shock and embarrassment.
Jin tilted his head, smiling with that infuriating, lazy arrogance. "I just wanted to see you."
Her heart thudded. "See me?! Like this?!"
She clutched her towel tighter, stepping back. "Y–You're insane! You can't just—this is my room!"
Jin leaned forward, elbows on his knees, his red eyes dancing. "I was curious how you look in the morning. And I have to say... you did not disappoint."
Rina turned scarlet.
Her hands gripped the towel tighter, as if it were a fragile shield. "J–Jin! Get out! Right now! You're a pervert!"
He stood up slowly, walking toward her with that slow, confident stride.
Her heart skipped a beat.
"Don't worry," he said in a mock-soothing tone. "I'm not here to assault your innocence or anything."
She took a step back. "T–Then why are you coming closer?!"
He reached her.
She froze.
His hand came up, gently cupping her chin, lifting it so her eyes met his. His fingers were warm, calloused.
"You looked really cute," he murmured. "I couldn't resist."
Then, without waiting for permission, he kissed her.
It wasn't aggressive. Just a soft press of lips. A teasing brush. But it sent a shock through her system — a heat that started at her lips and shot straight through her core.
He pulled back.
"That's your morning kiss."
Her mind stuttered.
"W–What?!"
She stumbled backward—
—and the towel slipped.
For a split second, she didn't notice. But Jin did.
His eyes widened ever so slightly.
And then she felt it — the cold air against her now-bare skin.
Her heart stopped.
She looked down.
The towel lay at her feet.
Her chest was bare, her thighs exposed, every inch of her revealed under the soft light.
And he was staring.
Her body locked. Her breath caught.
She could feel the air brushing over her nipples, feel the heat climbing her neck.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Jin exhaled, and said, low and amused, "...Damn. You really are stunning."
Rena shrieked and dropped to the floor, grabbing the towel and wrapping it around herself like a lifeline. "Don't look, don't look, don't you dare—!"
Jin laughed, full of mischief. "Too late."
"You're a demon!" she yelled, now huddled behind the couch.
"I've been called worse."
"Get out!!"
But he didn't move. He just sat on the edge of her vanity chair, resting his cheek on his fist, watching her hide.
"You know," he said casually, "you should be proud. I've seen many things in my life. Very few make me speechless."
She hurled a pillow at his head.
He dodged.
And laughed again.
..............
Heat: Do you think what Jin did was right or not? In the end, Rena is his wife. So what do you think if you were in Jin's place, would you do the same thing?