Morning sunlight spilled quietly through the long palace windows, turning the silk curtains gold. The room smelt faintly of jasmine.

For once, the palace corridors were empty and only their much-needed silence remained. The room carried this comfortable warmth that was too hot to ignore.

Lilith stirred first. Her eyes opened slowly before narrowing against the stripes of sunlight touching the bed. For several moments she simply remained beneath the blankets, feeling the heavy arm wrapped around her waist.

He was still asleep which wasn’t a surprise to her.

Atheline was not a morning person. Usually, she would be the first to wake up, prepare herself while he slept his way through all of the ruckus she was making.

It was always a mystery to her really but it still made her happy to see how comfortable he had become, unlike the first time she had brought him to the palace.

At that time he had been too tense and jumpy at the smallest of things which she had noticed but he had thought otherwise.

Those memories made her chuckle under her breath. The difference was astronomical.

Now he slept quietly beside her, white hair messily across the pillow and faint fading marks scattered across his neck and shoulders.

Her own fault.

The memories made heat rise up her face.

"... Succubus," she muttered under her breath.

As if hearing her, he shifted slightly behind her, pulling her closer unconsciously. Lilith stared at the ceiling for a moment, then sighed.

"You’re awake, aren’t you?"

A tired voice answered immediately against her shoulder.

"Unfortunately."

"You liar."

"Hmmm."

"You’ve been awake this whole time. "

"I was deciding whether moving was worth the effort." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"And?"

"Not currently."

She rolled her eyes though a small smile betrayed her.

The blankets tangled around both of them as sunlight shifted with each rise of the beddings. His fingers lazily traced circles against her waist while neither made any attempt to leave.

A comfortable silence settled over them since they rarely needed to communicate to understand each other.

Lilith eventually turned slightly towards him, studying his face properly. She could never get enough of that face especially now that he looked slightly half asleep with a careless smile on his lips.

"Get up, we need to prepare for the awarding ceremony," she reminded quietly.

"I know."

"Are you nervous, this is more like the first step before your coronation."

"No I’m not, I’m sleepy instead."

"That’s why I told you to stop and rest."

A faint smirk appeared on his lips.

"If I remember correctly, someone wouldn’t let me do that."

"How shameless."

Atheline chuckled." You started it."

She clicked her tongue softly before pushing herself upright. The blankets slipped slightly down her waist as she reached for the robe nearby.

His eyes followed her lazily.

Lilith paused. " Can you stop staring holes into my body?"

"You’re pretty."

She stared at him for a full three seconds then threw a pillow directly at his face.

Atheline laughed quietly beneath it. The sound lingered warmly in the room.

Eventually, he sat up as well and stretched slightly before reaching for his robe.

Before he could put it on, a servant knocked quietly outside the room doors.

"Your majesty," came a careful voice," the breakfast you requested has been prepared."

Atheline’s surprised and questioning gaze followed her as she opened the door. The servant pushed the cart of breakfast inside and organised the table. They were done two minutes later and left without one glancing to his side.

"I thought you just woke up?" Atheline questioned.

Lilith sighed.

"I did, this was ordered yesterday."

He nodded. He had only been a little curious. Atheline rubbed tiredly at his face before looking towards the nearby table beside the balcony.

A silver tea set rested there, steam curling lazily from the porcelain cups.

"I want to eat but I don’t feel like leaving this heaven."

Atheline lay down again on the bed. Lilith glared down at him before her expression softened then it became sickeningly sweet.

"Do you want me to feed you?"

Atheline paled. " Thank you but No."

Lilith shrugged." Suit yourself. "

She looked as though he had lost the biggest deal of his life.

Atheline eventually pushed himself from the bed and walked toward the balcony table, his movements slower than usual.

Lilith watched the entire time quietly. There was something strangely peaceful about a morning like this.

No masks, no nobles, and no politics demanding immediate attention. It was just the two of them existing quietly together while the kingdom waited outside.

He sat across from her with a tired exhale before pouring fresh tea into his cup. Fresh jasmine, her scent, filled the air between them.

For a while, neither of them spoke.

From the balcony, they could see the Court below. The excitement was still in the air. Preparations for the ceremony were already underway below. He spotted a few palace guards moving through the crowd below.

Today, it would change a lot of things.

His victory in the competition had done more than just raise his prestige. It had crushed any opponent that though to challenge his stance during the coronation.

Power respected strength above all else.

And he had returned from the competition covered in enough achievements to silence nearly everyone.

Lilith took another sip of the tea before speaking calmly.

"You’re thinking too much again."

"You always notice."

"You became quieter."

"Just how much do I talk when I’m with you. I don’t think I speak a lot."

"Hhm. I’m the recipient so I know."

He smiled faintly at his tea. It was then that something occurred to him.

"Ah."

Lilith raised an eyebrow.

Without a word, he reached towards the nearby chair where his coat had been tossed the previous night carelessly. After searching briefly through one of the inner pockets, he finally withdrew a ring.

His Aether flowed into the ring and a small carefully wrapped bundle appeared in his hand.

Lilith’s eyes immediately sharpened with interest.

"An egg."

"Hm."