Nicolaus asked Estelle to sit on the bench in the garden. He laid down with his head on her lap after he got permission from her.
"I hope this is not a dream"
Nicolaus said while admiring the beauty of Estelle. To hide her embarassment, she pinched his nose and lower her face a little.
"If you felt pain that means the Estelle in front of you is real"
She replied but she got even more embarassed because of the reply of Nicolaus and how close their faces are.
"Then, I am so blessed that you are here with me. I might not be able to make you the happiest woman in my Empire, but I promise that I will protect you and love no other woman than you"
Nicolaus replied and stealthily gave a peck of Estelle's nose before he got up. She covered her nose to hide that she is blushing too much.
"What's with you..? It's like a wedding vow..."
She whispered and he heard it that made him smiled.
"Just tell me when and I will happily prepare our wedding", he said to tease her.
"Will you marry--", he stopped because a soft hand covered his mouth.
"Y-You!", she exclaimed.
"At least make it romantic", she added looking so fierce.
Nicolaus gently removed her hand and kissed her wrist that send chills to her whole body.
"As you wish", he replied.
The next day, Nicolaus waited for Estelle in the underground where they always meet for the combat training of Estelle. This is the first time that he got earlier than her, so she sprinted as she got worried that he waited for her for too long.
"Sorry, Your Majesty. Did you wait too long?", she asked while slightly panting.
"You do not need to run like that", he said smiling and gently flicked her forehead.
"Here"
He said reaching out a three pieces of white peonies.
"Oh... thank you. They are so beautiful"
She replied and smiled as she received the freshly picked flowers.
"I'm glad you like it"
He said, looking satisfied.
Estelle stared at the white peonies and gasped.
"What's the problem?", Nicolaus asked.
"Don't tell me... you asked to plant this flower because of me?"
She asked and he did not reply rather he looked away to hide his embarassed expression but she already had a glimpse of it.
When she first came in the Eastern Empire, the royal garden has red roses but now it is full of white peonies. Estelle realized it too late because Nicolaus has already fallen in love with her three years ago when she take good care of him after he got injured in the war. It is not severe nor a life threatening injury but she got so worried.
"W-What's important is that you like it", he nervously said.
"The undefeatable and fearless man of the Eastern Empire got nervous because of my question. What a history I've made!"
Estelle happily said, teasing her lover.
"Let's start your training"
Nicolaus said to change the topic.
"Your Majesty!"
She shouted that eventually echoed in the whole underground.
"What is it?"
He said as he turn around but he was caught off guard when Estelle gave him a peck on his cheek.
"I love you"
She confidently whispered to Nicolaus' ear that made him speechless and stunned.
"I am going to practice, Teacher"
She said and left him frozen for a second.
Nicolaus sighed and turn around to look at Estelle who is nonchalantly choosing on her weapon. He stood behind her and put his hand on her shoulders.
"Next time, be careful. This Teacher might pin you down even in this cold ground. I do not want to be rough on my Student"
He whispered to her ear and seductively blow her ear that give shivers on her whole body. She turn around and wrapped her arms on his neck.
"Can that next time be now, Teacher?"
She asked and passionately kissed him.
"Do not complain nor regret this later"
He said after the long kiss. The training in the underground is different from usual. It starts at day and ends on the next day, at dawn.
"Can we... take a break...? My limbs are going to fall off at any moment... Teacher...", Estelle said as she heavily pants.
Nicolaus strictly trained Estelle in fist fighting that she started to feel numbness on her arms and legs. He taught her this because he does not want her to always rely on his powers just like she has been doing for the last five years. There might be a time that she might need it since he knew that she has been secretly joining his knights of in few wars dealing with the Northern Empire.
"Stop whining. Again!"
He seriously said and in the speed of light he launched an attack wherein she safely defended herself using her arms and with the right breathing technique that Nicolaus taught her.
"Good"
He complimented Estelle when she perfectly defended it. It is his first compliment since the training has started, so she got happy and at the same time reached her limits.
"You are a sadist"
She said before she lost her consciousness. Fortunately, Nicolaus was able to catch her.
"Who knows. Maybe I am"
He replied and smiled looking at the sleeping face of his lover but his smile faded when he touched her face and sighed.
"You are quite a sadist too"
He said as he put the silver mask and robe on her then carried her outside the underground.
Many servants saw the great Nicolaus bridal carrying a person into his chamber. He immediately asked the Royal Physician to bring all medicines in half an hour or he will behead him. After he received the medicines, he locked his chambers and no one, not even his most trusted men, could make him go out of his room for two days.
After Estelle's visit in the palace, she immediately went to her business with slight fever and cold. She checked the rehearsals of her artists. She got fever and cold after their training in the underground but she got better now after the extreme care of Nicolaus.
"I am so lucky to witness how cool and sexy Nicolaus is... grinding and mixing those herbal medicines with his arms that has popping veins and--"
Her beautiful and lovely memories were interrupted when Karina loudly called out her name.
"Estelle! Your nose is bleeding!"
She worriedly said and she gave her handkerchief.
"It seems like you are not yet well", Karina said.
Seconds later, there is a commotion outside the practice room that made the two ladies curious.
"I will look into it first"
Karina said and went out of the room but it took her so long to come back, so Estelle went out too although she is still trying to stop her bleeding nose.
"What is going on here?"
She curiously asked when she saw a crowd. The crowd looked at her and at the center is red-haired man. It was the Great Emperor of the East, the reason of the commotion.
"We are so blessed to see the Emperor"
One of the female artists said and was seconded by all the female artists and staffs.
"If only you are not the Emperor, you will surely be my most famous artist right now"
Estelle thought while smiling awkwardly because she feels jealous.
"Why is the Emperor here? Does he have business with you, Estelle?", Karina asked.
"Who knows"
She replied shortly because she is focusing on stopping her nose bleed.
When Nicolaus saw in his vision that she is looking at him, he immediately turn around and went through the crowd to meet her. He stopped for awhile when he saw her stopping her nose bleed.
"Seriously"
He whispered to himself and run towards her.
"I told you to rest more. Why did you leave my chambers without telling me?"
He asked while smiling but his eyes are not happy.
Everyone was shocked at the announcement of Nicolaus. Many ladies' hearts were broken after they knew that their beautiful, talented, and kind boss is the Emperor's lover.
"Oh my gosh! Are you dating the Emperor, Boss?!", Karina teasingly asked.
Estelle looked at the expecting crowd and then to Nicolaus.
"Shall I?"
Nicolaus asked Estelle but she shook her head. He was quite hurt but understand her reasons. He thought she does not want to reveal their relationship, but she stepped forward and faced the small crowd.
"This guy is mine!"
She said to confirm that they are in an intimate relationship. This made everyone dumbfounded, especially the Emperor.
Nicolaus cannot stop himself and hugged Estelle from her back and put his forehead on her shoulder.
"What should I do? I want to devour you right here, right now"
He whispered. To hide Estelle's blushing face, she pulled Nicolaus inside the practice room and locked it. She just silently sat on the chair and held her head high, still trying to stop her nose bleed.
"Do you feel dizzy?"
He worriedly asked while checking her tempearture.
"Not at all", she replied.
"Really?", he asked.
"Hm... I feel a little cold than usual", she replied.
Nicolaus removed his outer garment and put it to Estelle. Since the East has tropical climate, they rarely experience the cold season. During this time, they are having a hot weather but when he touched her, she is cold.
"Are you sure, you're fine? Your body is cold again"
He said and activated a red flame in his palm to warm his lover.
"Oh! You can also make fire. Amazing!"
She excitedly said and put her hands near the flame.
"Don't tell me, you can also build ice?"
She jokingly said while enjoying the warmth.
"I do but I won't show it off since you are unwell"
He replied and she got proud of how strong and reliable her lover is.
"I am so blessed!"
She exclaimed while looking at him and smiling.
Nicolaus understood what she said and smiled at her.
"You can always count on me", he replied.