Year five of their life in the Imperial Capital.
As spring quietly departed with the accident that had befallen Flamme—
The blazing summer of Eiseberg arrived, accompanied by morning sunlight spilling freely through the window.
Bathed in that light, Flamme furrowed her brow.
Soft rays filtered through the lace curtains above and kissed the corner of her eye.
She instinctively curled toward the warmth, feeling a slight tug at her hair.
"You're lying on my hair…"
Still half-asleep, Flamme murmured in a honeyed tone tinged with drowsiness.
She groped for the strands of rose-colored hair trapped beneath her husband—
Her fingertip traced the silver band on his ring finger—
That made Agusheed's arm around her waist stiffen for a moment.
Sensing her movement—
He shifted slightly, letting a few strands of her hair slip free from the crook of his arm.
Feeling those freed strands—
The half-asleep Flamme instinctively turned over.
Agusheed loosened his hold in sync with her movement—
Only to pull her back in the moment she tried to pull away.
As a result, when she turned, her back pressed naturally against his chest.
His body wasn't particularly warm, but in this season, it gave off a gentle heat.
As the morning sun grew stronger, the room began to heat with summer's breath.
Flamme started to clearly feel the warmth of Agusheed's body through her thin nightgown.
She wriggled a little and nudged him with her elbow.
"You're hot… move away."
She muttered, but her voice carried no real protest—more like a sleepy cat being fussy.
Agusheed let out a sleepy grunt, but instead of letting go, he held her tighter.
Then, gently, he pulled her fully back into his arms.
Resting his chin on top of Flamme's head, even his soft breathing lulled her into drowsiness again.
She could hear his steady heartbeat from behind.
Knowing she couldn't escape, she turned over once more.
His collar was slightly open, and Flamme's nose nearly touched his collarbone.
Nestling forward in her sleepy haze, she curled back into his chest.
That drowsy whisper finally made his brow twitch.
He wrapped both arms around her waist, pulling her fully into an embrace.
The gesture was surprisingly gentle—completely unlike his usual manner.
Flamme took the opportunity to bury her face in the crook of his neck, breathing in the scent of parchment and cedar ink.
Five years ago, when they first married, Agusheed had hugged her like he was handling a fragile artifact.
Now, his palm rested calmly on her waist, unmoving.
His warmth seeped through the linen nightdress, gently warming her.
She scrunched her shoulders, her hair brushing against his jaw.
Agusheed immediately moved his hand, instead slipping his fingers into her tousled hair.
Feeling his steady pulse, Flamme burrowed even deeper—
And planted a light kiss on his neck.
Her soft kisses traced his neckline, gradually waking Agusheed.
He let out a low sigh from his throat and tightened his hold.
"It's not even dawn yet."
Still with his eyes closed, he traced her cheekbone with his thumb, voice raspy against her ear.
Then he reached for the fallen blanket and draped it back over them.
Only much later, when the morning breeze lifted the sheer curtain—
Did Flamme finally awaken under Agusheed's gaze.
"When did you wake up…"
Her voice was hoarse with sleep.
She rubbed her eyes and poked at his chest with her fingertip.
"Just a little before you."
She clearly didn't quite believe him.
But with eyes still half-closed—
She gazed at Agusheed's ever-unreadable face for a while—
And, as usual, nestled closer to him.
Her tone had that familiar blend of sincerity and softness that was uniquely hers.
That familiar, helpless sigh of his.
Seeing he hadn't moved, Flamme prodded again in a low voice.
So Agusheed slowly lowered his head—
He kissed her lightly and precisely, like completing a morning routine.
Just a soft touch. Nothing more.
But Flamme wasn't satisfied.
She leaned in again, her fingers threading through his dark hair—
As Agusheed yielded, his palm gently found the back of her neck.
He let her lead, but at the sweetness of the kiss, he briefly hesitated.
His hand slid down her back, pulling her closer—
The moment was both long and brief.
And when they finally parted, both were slightly out of breath.
Flamme leaned into his chest again, her rose-colored hair brushing his jaw.
Agusheed placed his hand on her arm wrapped tightly around him and whispered.
But Flamme shook her head and buried her face back in his neck.
"Let's sleep a bit more—"
Her muffled voice carried the spoiled stubbornness of someone who just woke up but wanted to return to sleep.
Agusheed didn't reply. He simply held her tighter.
As sunlight slowly climbed the bed canopy, casting mottled shadows over their entwined forms—
Flamme's breathing settled again, as though drifting back into dreams.
Recalling the dreams that had lately become clearer and more frequent—
Agusheed lowered his gaze in silent contemplation.
He looked at his sleeping wife and gently combed her hair with his fingers.
Just like always. Just like every moment before…