It was late autumn and winter would soon arrive. The wind that blew had brought a bone-chilling chill.

Suddenly, Emmelyn was shivering, and her teeth began chattering. She was just about to open her mouth and suggest that they return to the castle when suddenly two strong arms hugged her from behind.

"Eh ...?" Startled, Emmelyn immediately turned around and found Mars hugging her from behind. "What are you doing?"

"The mother of my future children must not be cold," the man said firmly.

Emmelyn was stunned to hear that.

Somehow, her heart suddenly felt warm.

Uff ... this bastard looked like he'd make a really good father. He was very concerned about his children even though they were not born yet.

Slowly, Emmelyn looked down and see her still flat stomach.

Ahh .. they had done the deed several times. Would she get pregnant soon?

She bit her lip and imagined what her life would be like for the next few years in this place. She was determined to do her part of bearing children for the crown prince, to comply with their agreement, but she would not stay.

Therefore ... she had made up her mind not to love them. The children she would bear were the children of her enemy. She must not be weak and let her feelings grow for them.

"Let's go in," Mars whispered in Emmelyn's ear before lifting the girl with his strong arms and carrying her into the castle, princess style.

Emmelyn spontaneously wrapped her arms around Mars's neck.

"Uff ... you should have warned me if you want to pick me up," the girl scolded him, but her voice didn't sound angry.

"Why? You don't have a weak heart," said Mars indifferently.

"Ugh ... you."

Emmelyn was speechless. Somehow her heart was pounding. As they walked past several castle guards, Emmelyn spontaneously hid her face on Mars's shoulder. She was still ashamed of showing her face to outsiders.

The girl still remembered all the sounds she made every time they had sex in the crown prince's chamber. She thought these people would judge her when they saw her in person. They must remember her moans and coyish screams every time Mars satisfied her in bed.

Mars carried Emmelyn all the way in and only put her down when they had arrived in his chamber. In the middle of the room, as usual, there was warm water for bathing in the bathtub, which was prepared by the servants who followed the prince's daily schedule.

"Do you want to come and bathe with me before bed?" asked Mars bluntly. He was already used to cleaning himself and relaxing his body in warm water after a day of strenuous activities, so that he could sleep well.

Emmelyn swallowed. Usually, she didn't need to shower before bed. However, today, they both did strenuous activities before dinner. Only now did she realize that her body felt sticky.

Finally, the girl nodded hesitantly.

"Hmm .." Mars then took off his clothes and got into the bathtub. Emmelyn, who saw that the man looking so nonchalant when he stripped off his clothes, spontaneously turned around so she wouldn't see the man naked.

The lanterns on the table and in the corners of the room were still lit and she could still see her surroundings clearly. Mars, who was already sitting in the bathtub with his body soaked in hot water all the way to his chest, frowned at Emmelyn's reaction.

"You've seen my body, and I've seen yours ... There's nothing to hide anymore," the man said in puzzlement.

"You pervert," Emmelyn grumbled.

Indeed she had seen this man's naked body several times. The clearest was this evening before dinner. Mars had mischievously taken his clothes off one by one in front of Emmelyn, who couldn't take her eyes off his broad and muscular chest, then his strong arms, and then ...

...his bulge down there.

GULP.

"Get in," said Mars in a commanding tone. "Tomorrow, I will have a lot of work to do, and tonight I have to sleep early."

Finally, Emmelyn turned and looked at the man with pursed lips.

"The sooner we finish bathing, the faster we will go to sleep," said Mars again.

Emmelyn agreed with his words. It would be best if she immediately washed up and then went to sleep. Tomorrow they would start another day.

Finally, the girl obeyed and began to take off her clothes. Mars deliberately closed his eyes so that Emmelyn would not feel awkward undressing in front of him. The man pretended to enjoy soaking in a bath of warm, relaxing water,

It was only after he heard the sound of water splashing as the girl's feet stepped into the tub, did he open his eyes and stare at the girl who was sitting at the end of the bath opposite him.

"Taking a bath before bed has been a habit of mine for a long time. It's the only thing that helps me to sleep apart from the sleeping potion from the royal physician. You don't have to follow my habit, but if you get used to taking a bath with me before bed, I'll be very happy," Mars said with a smile.

Emmelyn just rolled her eyes and looked away. Her expression showed as if she thought the idea of taking a bath before bed was repulsive.

[Gosh, everyone should soak in warm water like this before going to sleep! This feels so relaxing and pleasant.]

[Aahhhh.. so nice!]

[So warm!]

[But I won't tell him that I like this ritual.]

[He would be big-headed.]