Nestled in a lush valley surrounded by towering mountains, Velaris is a beautiful ancient city renowned for its beauty, luxury and hidden charm. Often referred to as the City of Starlight, Velaris is a favorite destination for nobles seeking privacy and tranquility. The city is situated on the shores of a crystal-clear lake, which reflects the majestic mountain ranges that surround it, with the water sparkling in the light of the sun and moon.

The city itself is a blend of old-world elegance and refined luxury. Cobblestone streets wind through districts lined with grand villas, comfortable inns and elegant bathhouses. Velaris is renowned for its hot springs, which are said to have healing properties, making it a popular destination for vacationing couples. Warm steam hangs in the air in certain parts of the city, giving it a misty and ethereal feel.

At the heart of Velaris is Velmont Palace, a sprawling estate reserved for visiting nobles. The palace is a stunning architectural marvel, with towering marble columns, expansive gardens filled with exotic flowers, and terraces overlooking a sparkling lake. Each room is lavishly decorated with beautiful tapestries, gold accents, and intricate frescoes depicting tales of love and passion from ancient times. This palace is where Alistair and Emilia stayed during their "honeymoon."

In addition to its natural beauty, Velaris is known for its craft culture. Skilled craftsmen and artists live in the city, producing intricate jewelry, beautifully crafted clothing, and sensual perfumes. There is an air of luxury and opulence, but beneath it all, there is also a sense of mystery. The city is home to several wise matchmakers and intimacy experts, including the infamous Countess Evelyn Marlowe, who was known for rekindling romance between distant couples.

While the city thrives on its peace and beauty, it is also home to a network of spies and underworld politicians. Narrow cobblestone alleys hide dark secrets, with whispers of rebellion and spies echoing in the shadows. This makes it the perfect location for Emilia and Alistair to continue their investigation into the traitor in the palace. 

By day, the town is peaceful, with bustling markets, soft harp music floating in the air, and locals basking in the sun near the lake. At night, the atmosphere changes, lanterns light up the streets, casting a golden glow over the winding roads, and distant mountains seem to watch over the town as stars blanket the sky. It is in this town that Emilia and Alistair agree to play the roles of a loving couple, navigating their hidden feelings and the secrets of the kingdom.

Emilia and Alistair had just arrived at the luxurious Velmont Palace, where their room was lavishly appointed with a private balcony overlooking the lake and a marble bathing area fed by Velaris's famous hot springs. The mineral-rich waters were known for their healing and rejuvenating properties, and the palace staff had prepared a bath for them to enjoy after their long journey. 

Moonlight poured softly into the area, and a thin curtain of white cloth separated the bath from the area where the countess would observe and direct the couple. This was all part of the royal family's plan when they sent them off on their honeymoon, as word had reached the palace that their relationship was still strained even after a year of marriage. In response, Countess Evelyn Marlowe, a renowned matchmaker, had been appointed by the king and queen with clear instructions to help revive their relationship. 

After Emilia and Alistair changed their clothes and came to the pool, they were greeted by Countess Evelyn, who was slightly overweight with a chubby face, but not overly tall. However, when Emilia looked into the eyes of the woman who was in her early fifties, she could see that Countess Evelyn had a sharp intuition that could read a person's character with just a single observation, that is what the woman was doing to Emilia and Alistair right now. 

Countess Evelyn possesses a unique gift that sets her apart from others, unlike Emilia who was given the power to read minds for a specific purpose, to capture a fugitive who had fled their world to this kingdom. However, despite her mind-reading ability, she still struggled with reading people's thoughts effortlessly. For some individuals, she needed to touch them to access their thoughts, meaning her ability relied on the psychic and emotional strength of the person she was communicating with.

Luckily for Countess Evelyn, Emilia could hear her thoughts without needing direct contact. This made it easier for Emilia to meet the woman's expectations and those of Alistair as well. After all, this woman held a crucial role in Emilia's future, since gaining the trust of the King and Queen was vital. 

While Emilia could easily read the thoughts of most people she met, Alistair was an enigma. Even when she physically touched him, she could only gather brief snippets of his thoughts, leaving her feeling frustrated and intrigued by the man. After some deliberation, Emilia decided to reveal her mind-reading ability to Alistair, hoping he would support her ambitions of living a luxurious lifestyle as a crown princess despite her humble origins. 

While the truth is Emilia must maintain her role as Crown Princess in order to successfully carry out her mission of capturing the fugitive hiding within the palace walls. Because, when she took on this body a month ago and met the royal family, they seemed hesitant about her suitability as the future Queen. To complicate matters, the real Emilia had a tumultuous relationship with Prince Alistair, and there are whispers of his infidelity with Emilia's lady-in-waiting.

As she cannot be dethroned from her position as crown princess, Emilia must strike a deal with Alistair. She will give her consent to the marriage between the man and Emilia's lady-in-waiting, but only if they fulfill their duty as a royal couple and mend their relationship. Surprisingly, Alistair agrees, but he adds one caveat, Emilia must assist him in uncovering and capturing spies from foreign nations who have infiltrated their kingdom.

With both parties content, they are now standing before Countess Evelyn, who calmly informs them that the king and queen have requested their presence, for an exercise to strengthen the couple's physical and emotional bond.

"This transparent white curtain will obscure my direct vision, in order to see enough to guide the Crown Prince and Crown Princess step by step."

Countess Evelyn's words somehow bring a mixture of embarrassment and disbelief to Emilia. The same goes for Alistair who initially looks as resistant as Emilia, but realizes that this is not just an intimate encounter, it is a duty they must fulfill under royal orders. Both feel the weight of the situation, but neither can back out now.

Countess Evelyn then slowly walked back and hid behind the curtain, leaving Emilia and Alistair in the pool area. "Now, please take off your clothes and step into the steaming pool."

The articulation and pronunciation of Countess Evelyn's were very clear despite their distance. Even from her position, Emilia could see the silhouette of the woman standing behind the curtain with an intense and focused arc directed towards them. 

Following the instruction, the couple began to remove their nightgowns, leaving not a single thread covering their bodies now, then slowly entered the pool in their most physically vulnerable state. The hot water immediately enveloped their bodies, relieving some of the tension, but the tension between them grew as they stood close together, naked, under the moonlight.

"Begin by caressing your wife, my lord." Countess Evelyn's calm and soothing voice behind the curtain, instructed Alistair to make Emilia feel relaxed.

His touch is tentative at first, but the smoothness of her skin beneath his fingers and the heat of the water begin to stir his desire. Slowly, his hands glide down her arms and over her back, their bodies moving closer with each gentle stroke. Alistair reaches out and brushes a wet strand of hair from her face, his fingers lingering on her skin.

Emilia feels the familiar surge of desire and conflict, but she doesn't pull away. The warmth of his touch, combined with the heady atmosphere, begins to dissolve the barriers she's carefully built. Emilia's breathing deepens, the intimacy of the moment making her heart race, making her body betray her as warmth spreads through her limbs.

"Kiss your wife, my lord." The countess's voice continues.

Without saying anything, Alistair leans in, his lips hovering just inches from hers, waiting for a sign. The moment stretches, heavy with anticipation. Emilia's breath hitches, her body betraying her as she feels the pull between them. Finally, unable to resist, she closes the gap, her lips meeting his in a tentative but passionate kiss.

The kiss quickly deepens, the hunger between them impossible to ignore. The water sloshes around them as they move closer, their bodies pressed together. Hands roam over wet skin, the tension that has been built between them over the year finally breaking in this charged moment. Steam rises around them as the heat of their desire matches the warmth of the bath.

Though they've been keeping their distance emotionally, their bodies speak the truth they've both been denying. As they continue, the scene is intense but still hesitant, each touch and movement filled with the weight of their complicated feelings.

"Explore your wife, my lord. Help her understand that this is not a duty but a pleasure." The countess's voice when speaking again, soft but firm.

Alistair, following the countess's words, moves his hands down Emilia's waist, feeling the curve of her hips beneath the water. He brings his lips to her neck, trailing kisses along her wet skin. Emilia closes her eyes, surrendering to the sensation, her body softening against his as she leans into his touch.

The countess then shifts her focus to Emilia. "Now, my lady, it is your turn. Let him feel your desire. Show him that you are not afraid to touch him in return."

With trembling hands, Emilia reaches up and runs her fingers over Alistair's chest, feeling the strength beneath his smooth, wet skin. Her touch is hesitant at first, but as her hands explore the hard lines of his body, she finds herself growing bolder. Her fingertips trace the ridges of his muscles, moving lower until she cups him in her hands. Alistair groans softly, his body responding instantly to her touch, and for a brief moment, the tension between them is replaced by raw, undeniable lust.

Behind the thin curtain, Countess Evelyn smiles, sensing their growing connection. "Now, sit together in the water, and face each other. Let your bodies do the speaking now. It is time for you to truly bond."

Alistair sits first, his back against the smooth stone of the pool's edge. He pulls Emilia gently onto his lap, positioning her so that they are face-to-face, their bodies barely touching beneath the water. The steam rises around them, creating an intimate haze, and the moonlight bathes them in a soft, silver glow.

Emilia straddles him, her knees on either side of his hips, their chests brushing with each breath. The heat between them is almost unbearable now, but they maintain eye contact, as if daring one another to break first. The countess's voice, though still soothing, has a slight edge of command. "Now, my lord, take your wife. But do so slowly. Feel each movement. Let her feel how much you want her."

Alistair moves, lifting his hips slightly to position himself at her entrance, but he waits for her permission. His hands grip her waist, holding her steady as they stare into each other's eyes. Emilia's breath hitches, but instead of pulling away, she lowers herself onto him, their bodies finally joining.

They both let out a soft gasp at the contact, their faces inches apart, the connection between them electric. The water ripples softly around them as they begin to move in sync, slowly at first, the sensation almost overwhelming. Each thrust is deliberate, guided by the countess's quiet commands: "Look into each other's eyes. Feel each other's breath. This is not just an act of duty, but a merging of souls."

The intensity of their gaze heightens the moment. Emilia's hands grip his shoulders as she rocks against him, her breath mingling with his. The feeling of him inside her, combined with the warmth of the water and the vulnerability of the moment, sends waves of pleasure coursing through her body. Alistair groans, his hands tightening on her waist as their movements become more fluid, more urgent.

The countess's voice fades into the background as the couple becomes lost in each other. The world beyond the pool no longer exists. There's no kingdom, no duty, no mission, just the two of them, finally connected in a way neither had expected.

As they reach the peak of their passion, the steam rises higher, their bodies trembling with release. When they are finally still, breathless and spent, they remain seated in the water, still holding each other, the weight of what they've done slowly settling in.

The countess speaks once more, her voice soft and satisfied. "You have taken the first step. Tomorrow, we shall continue."

***