Morning light slipped quietly through the curtains, casting a pale gold glow across the room.
Reina stirred first.
A faint ache ran through her body as she shifted slightly, the memories of the night before returning in fragments—heat, closeness, his voice, his touch. Her fingers tightened unconsciously against the bedsheet.
Then she realized—
She wasn't alone.
Rui was still there, his arm draped over her waist, his presence heavy and warm behind her. His breathing was slow, steady… asleep.
Reina blinked in surprise.
He usually wasn't.
Carefully, she turned her head just enough to look at him. His face, now relaxed in sleep, looked different—less intense, almost younger. The sharpness he carried while awake had softened into something quieter.
For a moment, she just watched him.
Studying him.
As if trying to understand a person she had only just begun to truly meet.
Her gaze dropped slightly, noticing the way his hand rested against her, fingers loosely curled—as if even in sleep, he wasn't willing to let her go completely.
Reina hesitated… then slowly placed her hand over his.
A small, tentative gesture.
Rui stirred.
His brows shifted faintly before his grip tightened almost instantly, pulling her a little closer without even opening his eyes.
"…Don't move," he murmured, voice thick with sleep.
Reina froze.
"…I wasn't," she whispered.
He didn't respond, but his hold remained firm.
Possessive.
Even like this.
Reina lowered her gaze again, her thoughts quietly turning.
Last night… his words hadn't left her.
You're mine.
You will love me.
She wasn't sure what to make of them yet.
But—
For the first time, she hadn't felt like pulling away.
A soft knock at the door suddenly broke the stillness.
"Sir? Madam? Breakfast is ready."
Reina stiffened slightly.
Rui didn't.
Instead, his arm tightened again, his face pressing closer into her hair with a faint frown.
"…Go away," he said, not even raising his voice.
There was a brief pause outside.
"…Yes, sir."
Footsteps retreated.
Reina blinked.
"You're not getting up?" she asked quietly.
"No."
Simple. Immediate.
She hesitated. "…But breakfast—"
"I said no."
This time his voice was clearer, though still calm. Not angry—just absolute.
Reina fell silent.
A few seconds passed before he finally opened his eyes.
Slowly.
His gaze went straight to her.
There it was again—that intensity. Not as sharp as last night, but still there, steady and unyielding.
"Stay," he said.
Not a request.
Reina held his gaze.
Something in her chest fluttered—not fear, not exactly.
Something else.
"…Okay," she answered softly.
Rui's expression eased, just slightly.
He lifted his hand, brushing his thumb gently along her cheek as if confirming she was really there.
Then, without another word, he pulled her closer again—closing his eyes as if the rest of the world could wait.
And just like that—
Reina let herself stay.