Falling To Paradise

The prominent Adam’s apple bobbed up and down with an audible gulp. This was the “romantic moment” Aiden had been waiting for. Now, he could finally give her the ring he had delayed offering and perhaps he could tell her about the feelings he had for her without making her feel burdened.

 

“…I didn’t even prepare a ring for the bride at the wedding.”

 

“Oh, come on, it was spring. I know now just how busy farmers are during spring, right?”

 

Her attempt to speak like a seasoned farmer was so cute that Aiden’s lips twitched slightly. But he couldn’t let his guard down. He needed to maintain a serious atmosphere.

 

“Though it’s quite late, I’ve prepared one now.”

 

“What… Ah!”

 

Anje’s eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected object he pulled from his jacket pocket. As she stood frozen in shock, he slid the ring onto her fourth finger.

 

“You might not like it…”

 

He lowered his head, recalling the countless ornaments he had seen in the palace, especially the jewelry worn by the imperial family. Compared to the dazzling rubies that might seem blinding, this peridot ring was beautiful but simple.

 

“It’s a ring made from a gemstone that holds great meaning to me… I thought it would suit you well, too…”

 

As he began to explain the ring, he felt a bit awkward and stopped, taking a deep breath. Instead of staring at the ground like a fool, he decided to look straight ahead. If she didn’t like the ring, he would figure out a solution.

 

He managed to lift his gaze from the floor only to be startled and immediately grabbed her cheeks.

 

“Anje? A-Are you okay?”

 

“I’m fine.”

 

“No, you’re crying… If you don’t like it, we can get something else from the capital—”

 

“Are you an idiot? Of course not.”

 

With tears still clinging to her eyes, she smiled, and it was a smile without any pretense.

 

“I’m happy. I love this color. It reminds me of spring.”

 

Her dress today, even her eye color, matched the ring. That’s why it felt like the most perfect ring she had ever worn—one made just for her.

 

“I like it too.”

 

Her ears and cheeks burned. He was gently wiping her tears and had been gazing directly into her eyes the entire time. Hearing him say he liked it in that moment made her heart race, as if he was saying he liked her.

 

TL/N: FOR YOU REFERENCE, AIDEN HERE SAID “저도, 좋아합니다.” WHICH ACC TO THE CONTEXT MEANS “I ALSO LIKE IT” OR “I LIKE IT TOO” BUT IT COULD ALSO BE REFERRED AS A CONFESS AS IF SOMEONE WANTS TO CONFESS THEIR CRUSH ON SOMEONE THEY WOULD LIKELY SAY ” 좋아합니다.” (FORMAL FORM) OR “좋아해요.” (LESS FORMAL FORM). SO THAT’S WHY ANJE THOUGHT HE WAS CONFESSING.

 

‘He’s just saying he likes green, you fool.’

 

Although a silly worry crossed her mind—what if he could hear her heart pounding?—she had no intention of pulling away or distancing herself from him. Like she was hypnotized, she stood still, unable to look away from his eyes, which were fixed on her.

 

“I’m glad I gave it to you, even if it’s late. It’s been bothering me that I didn’t put a ring on your finger at our wedding.”

 

Was it her imagination, or did his face seem even closer than before?

 

“There’s something else you skipped, too.”

 

TL/N:

 

How strange. Was my voice always this soft and timid?

 

Though she wondered about it, she didn’t back away or avert her gaze from him.

 

“You’re right. There was something else I skipped, besides the ring.”

 

Anje swallowed dryly, her eyes locked with his, which were now right in front of her. They were as red as poppies in full bloom.

 

‘I thought they looked like rubies when we first met.’

 

Now she realized. It was a color entirely different from cold, hard gemstones.

 

Something hot and soft touched her lips briefly and then pulled away. Anje realized she had been holding her breath in nervousness, and only now did she exhale deeply.

 

TL/N:

 

Aiden misinterpreted her gasp and furrowed his brows slightly.

 

“Did you… not like it?”

 

Could it be that I did something inappropriate to someone who has no intention of it? He asked, anxiously examining every corner of her face.

 

“No… that’s not it.”

 

His lips curved into a grin that stretched all the way to his ears. She didn’t dislike it! His dimple appeared on one side of his face, something that only happened when he smiled brightly.

 

“Don’t…Don’t smile like that.”

 

“I won’t. Just tell me honestly, how was it?”

 

Her tiny face flushed as red as it could go, her lips looking more vividly red than usual, and Aiden had to exercise every ounce of patience.

 

“I… I’m not sure.”

 

“Not sure about what?”

 

He pulled her closer to him. Through their touching bodies, they could feel the quickened heartbeat, though neither could tell whose it was.

 

“…With just one kiss, How can I be su—”.

 

Before she could finish her sentence, he urgently kissed her again. This time, it was deeper, more intense.

 

Throughout their long kiss, there were moments when they both had to catch their breath. But he didn’t stop, only pausing to give her light, fluttering kisses before diving back in.

 

Finally, Aiden pulled back slightly and asked,

 

“How about now?”

 

Though he wanted to kiss her a little longer, he was curious about her expression. Did she feel the same sense of bliss and fulfillment, yet also a strange sense of wanting more?

 

Anje lowered her heels to the ground and looked away, her face and ears an even brighter red than before.

 

“I’m still not sure.”

 

TL/N: ANJE!! WE KNOW WHAT YOU’RE TRYING TO DO!!!

 

Unable to say that outright that this wasn’t enough for her, he chuckled softly and lowered his head. Then he kissed her on the crown of her head, her forehead, and finally, the bridge of her nose.

 

“Your neck must hurt, right? Because of our height difference.”

 

She tried to say she was fine, but instead of a proper sentence, a faint groan escaped her lips. Before she could react, he had started kissing her again.

 

He lifted her off the ground so she could be at a similar height to him. With trembling hands, she reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck.

 

Before they knew it, the music outside the window and the noise of the crowd had stopped, but neither of them paid any attention to it.

 

In the still night air, the sound of the two of them falling onto the bed echoed unusually loud.

 

TL/N: KYAAAAH!!!

 

* * *

 

‘It’s so quiet…’

 

Anje was puzzled by the absence of the familiar sound of the rooster crowing, but she couldn’t bring herself to open her eyes.

 

‘Hurricane too…is sleeping in because the festival is over…’

 

Despite her fatigue, she felt something heavy pressing down on her body. It was the same kind of exhaustion she would feel the day after returning from a ball where she danced until dawn…

 

‘That’s right, I danced with Aiden yesterday… danced!’

 

Her eyes flew open, and she barely managed to stifle a scream.

 

The familiar face right in front of her belonged to none other than her husband, Aiden Fitzroy, who was lying beside her, holding her tightly in his arms as he slept.

 

Anje frantically checked her clothing. Aside from being slightly disheveled from sleep, she was fully dressed. Aiden was also dressed, just like her.

 

‘So, we must’ve fallen asleep while kissing last night.’

 

As she carefully retraced her memories, she realized they must have found a comfortable position together, which somehow ended with them lying in bed.

 

TL/N: THAT’S IT?!

 

‘Thank goodness nothing too big happened. Well, it’s not like nothing happened, but still…’

 

Her face flushed, and she buried her cheeks into the white sheets. Thinking about last night made her feel embarrassed all over again.

 

Even if she tried not to think about it, it was impossible with the person she had passionately kissed right in front of her.

 

She squeezed her eyes shut again, only to open them a few seconds later.

 

In the morning sunlight, she could clearly see the sharp features of the man sleeping in front of her. He pulled her a little closer and mumbled something under his breath, smiling peacefully like a child.

 

‘I like him.’

 

The thought popped up like a soap bubble. It was the first time she had felt such a clear emotion.

 

And then, a strong desire followed.

 

‘I hope Aiden likes me too.’

 

She moved one hand carefully, trying not to wake Aiden. She brought it up to her eyes. The gemstone, kissed by sunlight, sparkled brilliantly.

 

He had given her a ring yesterday and kissed her. Did that mean he liked her too? A faint hope began to bloom within her.

 

“But the kiss… I think I was the one who signaled for it first…”

 

As she carefully reviewed the conversation from the night before, that was the case. The faint hope began to fade as well.

 

‘Besides, men kiss easily without deep feelings… and do even more…’

 

Unfortunately, the men she had been close to before were her father and her former fiancé, both of whom held very liberal views on physical intimacy.

 

Whether due to alcohol, nighttime, or simply the atmosphere, they would easily reach out to women, mostly those of a status or situation where touching wouldn’t cause a scandal—not high-born, unmarried ladies like Anje.

 

She had once expressed her frustration with her fiancé’s excessive promiscuity.

 

 

She didn’t like how he emphasized purity and chastity to his fiancée while spending time with other women day after day.

 

‘No matter how much of a political engagement this is, isn’t this just disrespectful?’

 

But her father and the chaperone brushed it off, saying, “That’s just how men are.”

 

And growing up in such an environment, Anje couldn’t help but develop deep-rooted prejudices.

 

‘What if Aiden kissed me not because he likes me, but because of a fleeting desire… He doesn’t seem like that kind of person, but what if he is?’

 

Feeling like she was about to cry, she squeezed her eyes shut again.

 

She wanted to ask him directly about the true intentions behind his actions the previous night, but at the same time, she was scared to hear his true feelings.

 

TL/N: NOOO! NOT A MISUNDERSTANDING!!

 

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