Lila's voice was soft as she asked, her gaze steady yet tentative. "What do you love about me"
He looked at her, a faint smile tracing his lips, a warmth in his eyes that even he had not fully understood until this moment. "You…breathing," he began, his voice low, reverent, as if each word held the weight of something sacred. "The simple, quiet act of you being here, alive and real. I love every breath that reminds me I haven't lost you to this world."
He paused, his fingers grazing her cheek. "I love the way your presence fills the room—unspoken, yet felt so deeply. I love the strength in you that you often hide, and the softness you reveal only to me." His gaze lingered on her as though committing every part of her to memory.
Lila felt the weight of his words sink into her heart, an ache blooming in her chest that was somehow both painful and beautiful. She searched his eyes, finding depths there she hadn't yet understood. Axel continued, his voice nearly a whisper now, as though confessing to her his most intimate truth.
"I never thought I'd crave anything more than power. Yet here I am, Lila, finding strength not in victory but in vulnerability. You've made me a fool who finds solace in listening to your heartbeat in the stillness of night, as if it's the only sound that keeps me anchored. Because you, breathing here beside me, are all the meaning I need."
Lila's heart fluttered at his admission, a soft blush creeping across her cheeks as she processed his words. There was something undeniably intimate about the idea that the sound of her heartbeat could bring him solace. It was a reminder that despite the tumultuous world they navigated, in this moment, they were safe together.
"Is hearing my heartbeat all you need?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, as if speaking any louder might shatter the fragile bubble of peace they had created.
"Yes," Axel replied, his tone steady yet infused with a depth of emotion that sent shivers down her spine. He shifted slightly, his gaze locking onto hers, searching for the sincerity of her own feelings. "It reminds me that you're alive, that you're here with me."
With a tentative hand, Lila guided his head down, resting it against her chest, where the steady rhythm of her heart thumped softly beneath her skin. She could feel his warm breath against her, each exhale a gentle caress that sent warmth radiating through her.
"Can you hear it?" she asked, her voice trembling with a mix of vulnerability and excitement.
Axel nodded, closing his eyes for a moment as he tuned into the sound. The beat of her heart was like a lullaby, rhythmic and soothing, wrapping around him like a warm embrace.
As Axel lay there, listening to the steady rhythm of Lila's heartbeat beneath his ear, a playful smirk crept onto his face. He lifted his head slightly, his eyes glimmering with mischief. "Wow, Lila, your chest is really big. All that teasing must come from a well of confidence," he remarked, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
Lila's eyes widened, and she pushed him away playfully, a feigned look of shock crossing her face. "You're such a pervert!"
Axel chuckled, leaning back with his hands behind his head, relishing the moment. "What? I'm just appreciating the view. Can you blame me? It's hard not to notice when you're practically shoving it in my face."
"Ugh, you're impossible!" Lila huffed, crossing her arms in mock indignation, though a smile tugged at her lips.
The air between Lila and Axel stilled when a quiet cough interrupted them, breaking the warmth of their intimate moment. A servant entered and bowed low, his voice gentle but precise. "Your Majesties, the carriage is prepared and waiting. You may depart for the Northern Empire at your earliest convenience."
Axel nodded, but his hand lingered on Lila's. She could feel the unspoken promise in his touch, a reminder of the future they were about to step into together. The weight of the decision and the significance of their union settled over them as they exchanged glances, each understanding the depth of what lay ahead.
As they rose, Lila adjusted the gown she'd changed into, the soft fabric a marked contrast to the turmoil she felt inside. Though her heart raced with anticipation, a strange quiet confidence filled her as she took Axel's hand. With their marriage now publicly recognized, her past entanglements were officially dissolved. She was no longer bound to any other ties—only to Axel, her rightful husband.
She looked at him, catching the glint of amusement in his eyes as he noticed her subtle smile. "Are you ready, Your Majesty?" he teased, his voice low and warm. There was a spark of playfulness in his tone, but it was also edged with genuine curiosity. This was her choice too, after all.
"Do I have a choice, truly?" Lila replied, a smirk tugging at her lips. Her voice softened. "Besides, I think you've proven that you won't let me go so easily."
Axel's eyes softened, a faint laugh escaping him. "Not a chance," he murmured, his gaze meeting hers. "You're not just my wife by title, Lila. You're my equal, and there is no one I would rather stand beside."
As they moved toward the carriage, a few attendants and servants quietly lined up to watch them leave, whispers passing among them like autumn leaves in the wind. The news of their restored marriage had spread quickly, leaving an undeniable sense of awe and respect in its wake. Lila caught bits and pieces of the murmured words— ","The Mighty Empress of the North and South"—and each passing remark stirred a deeper sense of her own identity. She was no longer just a pawn in the empire's political games.
Once seated in the carriage, the velvet interior and gentle sway of the journey provided a calm in which she could gather her thoughts. Axel reached over, covering her hand with his, his expression tender. "What are you thinking?" he asked quietly, breaking the comfortable silence.
She hesitated, then met his gaze. "It's surreal, I'm free and living." She was no longer simply a pawn or a symbol. She was Lila, Empress of the North, with a future she could help shape beside a man who valued her not just as his queen, but as his partner.