I woke up feeling a delicate finger tracing my jaw. The touch was so light and filled with quiet curiosity that I thought I might be dreaming. I kept my eyes closed, enjoying her warmth beside me, and the scent of her hair, which reminded me of moonlight and fresh rain. In all my memories, from both lives, I had never experienced a morning so deeply serene.
"I know you're awake," a soft voice whispered near my ear, with a hint of playfulness.
I opened my eyes. Meira lay propped on one elbow, gazing down at me. Morning sunlight streamed through the latticed window, creating a golden halo around her. It illuminated her dark hair and the joyful smile on her face. The weariness and sorrow that had often shadowed her eyes in my memories were gone. In their place was pure joy that made her more beautiful than any fairy in the ancient texts.
She looked at me with a gaze that was both loving and observant, as if trying to memorize every detail of my face.
A self-conscious thought popped into my head, one that the practical version of me would have dismissed. "What?" I asked, my voice husky from sleep. "Do I look good?"
Her smile grew into a bright grin, and she laughed, a sound of pure happiness I had never heard from the reserved Meira of my memories. It was a sound I instantly knew I would do anything to hear again.
"You look… acceptable," she teased, mischief sparkling in her eyes. She leaned in and kissed my lips softly. "For a man who kept me awake all night."
I laughed, the sound genuine and strange yet wonderful coming from me. I reached up, my fingers tangling in her silky hair, and pulled her down for a proper morning kiss. It was filled with the easy intimacy of a couple who had shared many mornings together, not just one night.
We lingered like that for a long time, lost in our own world, tangled in the soft sheets, rediscovering each other in the gentle morning light. The fierce heroine and the calculating transmigrator were replaced by just a man and a woman hopelessly in love. Every touch reassured us, every kiss renewed the silent vow we had made.
"I could get used to this," I murmured against her hair, holding her tightly, wanting to never let go.
"Me too," she sighed, her voice content.
We lay in comfortable silence, simply enjoying being together. The morning was perfect. Of course, that was the exact moment reality chose to intrude.
A distant chime echoed from the main courtyard of the estate. The morning bell signaled the household to begin its daily routine. It meant the end of our stolen time.
Meira stirred in my arms, a reluctant sigh escaping her lips. She pushed herself up slightly, her expression shifting from sleepy contentment to practical concern.
"It's morning," she said, her voice soft but firm. "Everyone will be waking up. The servants will come to your courtyard to attend to you. If they find you aren't there…"
An almost childish growl rumbled in my chest. I tightened my grip, pulling her back down against me. "Let them look," I said, hiding my face in the crook of her neck. "I'm not going anywhere."
The thought of leaving this bed, of leaving her, felt impossible. The outside world, with its plans and schedules, could wait. It could wait forever, for all I cared.
She giggled, the sound warm against my chest. Gently, she pushed against me, her hands on my shoulders. "Arya, be serious. Think of the scandal. 'Genius Heir of Chen Family Spends Night in Fiancée's Chambers Before Wedding.' The elders would go wild. My father would probably challenge your father to a duel for our family's honor."
"Let them," I grumbled, my voice muffled by her hair. "We are betrothed. What's the issue?"
"The issue is tradition," she replied, her tone gentle, like she was speaking to a stubborn child. She tilted my head up to meet her gaze. "And the issue is we're not just Arya and Meira. We represent the Chen Family and the Su Family. Our every move is scrutinized. We've just shown an image of unity to the entire domain. We can't damage it with a moment of recklessness, no matter how tempting."
I knew she was right. Her logic was solid. The pragmatic part of my mind, which had been blissfully quiet all night, was now waking up and agreeing with her points. A scandal now would be a weak spot, an opening for our enemies. We had to be perfect. We had to be above reproach.
But my heart didn't want to listen to reason.
"What about what we talked about last night?" I countered, my voice low and slightly desperate. "You aren't leaving my sight. I promised to protect you."
Her expression softened, her eyes filled with warmth that melted my resolve. She leaned in and gave me a lingering kiss. "And I you," she whispered against my lips. "But think of it this way. It's just a few months. A few months of waiting, and then we have a long life ahead of us. An eternity, if our cultivation is successful. Can you be patient for a few short months, for the sake of our perfect beginning?"
She looked at me, her eyes pleading and reasonable. "Let's not get caught. Let's do this the right way. And then," she added, her voice dropping to a seductive whisper that made me shiver, "then, I am yours, forever."
She was an impossible woman. She was appealing to my strategic mind while promising something that made my soul ache for her. It was a flawless argument. I was completely defeated.
I sighed dramatically, as if making a great sacrifice. "Very well," I said, my voice filled with mock seriousness. "For the sake of our 'perfect beginning,' I will endure this unbearable separation."
Her laughing smile was worth the effort. "Thank you for your noble sacrifice," she said, her eyes sparkling.
We spent a few precious moments in each other's arms before I could no longer delay the inevitable. Reluctantly, I untangled myself from the warmth of the bed and began to gather my robes, which lay in a disorganized heap on the floor.
As I dressed, I felt her gaze on me. I turned to look at her. She was sitting up in bed, the silk sheets pooled around her waist, watching me with pure adoration.
I struck a mock-heroic pose, one hand on my hip, and raised an eyebrow. "Do I look good?"
She laughed again, that beautiful sound. "Of course," she said, her voice soft and sincere, making my heart swell. "You are the most handsome man in the entire Eternal Lotus Realm."
I walked over to the bed and leaned down, capturing her lips for one last kiss. "And you," I murmured against her mouth, "are the reason this realm is worth conquering.