Damian caressed the head of his son as he narrated the story, only stopping when he realized Roman had finally fallen asleep. Earlier, when the boy had apologized to him, Damian’s heart had melted within seconds.

"Eilika made you understand everything that I always found difficult to explain," he murmured softly. Leaning down, he planted a tender kiss on top of Roman’s head. He quietly slipped out of the small bed and placed the storybook onto the table before heading to his own chambers, where Eilika was waiting for him.

As he pushed the heavy doors open, he saw Eilika finishing her medicine. He locked the door from the inside and turned just as she lowered the empty glass onto the table.

"Roman is asleep," he said. "How did you manage to tell him what I was thinking? I truly thought such a young child wouldn’t be able to understand." Damian approached her, gently taking her hand to guide her to sit on the bed.

She then grabbed his hand, her touch comforting and warm. "For a mother, her baby is everything. Don’t blame anyone for that misfortune. Liliana was meant to live only for that span of time. That is the bitter truth. And you were at no fault at all. Roman is just a child, and when he sees other kids talking about their siblings, his curiosity grows too. It is nothing more than that," Eilika explained calmly, easing his deep-seated guilt.

"Yes, I know," Damian whispered. He looked down at her, his expression shifting to one of profound devotion. "And I also know that after some time, you will want us to conceive a child of our own. I promise I will be strong for you, Eilika. I will try my best to overcome my fears."

He then turned to her fully, pulling her close as his arms wrapped securely around her, holding her tightly against his chest in a tender embrace.

She pulled away first as he gently brushed aside the strands of hair that obscured his view of her face. Damian leaned down, his lips lingering in a soft, reverent kiss over her scar. Eilika gripped the edges of her dress, her heart racing as a warmth spread through her chest.

He took one of her hands in his, while his other moved to the nape of her neck, tilting her head slightly to meet his gaze. When their lips met, the kiss was slow and deep, a tender exploration that eventually drew them down onto the soft mattress. Her hands tangled in his smooth hair before moving to his back, pulling him closer to bridge any remaining distance between them.

Damian eventually withdrew his mouth from hers, trailing kisses down her chin to the sensitive line of her throat. His hand found the strap of her nightdress, pushing it down gently to reveal the curve of her shoulder. Soft gasps escaped her lips every time his skin met hers, igniting a slow-burning fire that left her breathless in his arms.

Eilika tensed as Damian’s hand slid slowly up her thigh, over her gown. His fingers traced over the soft fabric of her shift until they reached her waist, then continued upward to cup her breast.

A small shudder ran through her.

In the flickering light of the lamp, her eyes widened, her pulse quickening as she waited to see what he would do next.

He remained careful, almost reverent in his touch and firm enough to stir her heart, yet gentle enough that she could still breathe. When his teeth grazed the sensitive skin just above her collarbone, she finally found her voice, a breathless whisper against the quiet of the chamber.

"Don’t leave any marks... It is difficult for me to hide them."

Damian stopped at once. He lifted his head, met her gaze, and a slow smile curved his lips.

"Why? Shouldn’t you wear them openly?" he asked in a teasing tone. "One look at your neck and every rumor that we are not truly sharing a bed despite our union would vanish by morning."

Eilika’s cheeks burned. "It is embarrassing. The ladies will tease me." She hesitated, then added softly, "Anywhere else... but not on the neck."

She caught her lower lip between her teeth, hard enough that the skin nearly split. Damian’s eyes darkened.

"Don’t do that," he murmured. He licked the abused lip, then captured her mouth in a deeper kiss. His hand returned to her breast, kneading the soft flesh through the thin linen with more intent this time.

A low moan escaped her, muffled against his lips. Only when they were both breathless did he pull back. Then he bent his head again and began pressing a trail of warm, open-mouthed kisses down the column of her neck.

Eilika let out a muffled "Mmmph," followed by a louder moan that broke into a sharp yelp. "Ah!"

Damian had nipped the tender spot where her neck met her shoulder, hard enough to sting.

"Damian, I told you—" she started, but the words died as he pressed a finger firmly against her lips, silencing her while his mouth continued to lavish attention on that same spot. He sucked and kissed the skin deliberately, marking her despite her protest. Only when he was satisfied did he lift his head.

Eilika’s chest rose and fell rapidly, her skin flushed in the warm glow of the lamp.

"Eilika," he began, "I want the rumors to die completely. I want us to be husband and wife in truth, not merely in name before the people." He slowly drew his finger away from her lips. "I want things to go deeper between us. Tell me... do you want the same?"

"Yes," Eilika agreed. "But how deeper will the things go? I’m inexperienced as you know." She lowered her eyes, feeling a little shy.

A smile touched his lips again. "Slowly, I’ll teach you. And I bet you’re going to learn them fast."

She looked up to meet his gaze and smiled back. "Say that you love me," Eilika urged.

"I love you," Damian whispered against her lips, pressing a kiss to confirm that.