I won't fall for the queen who burned my world-Chapter 171: Before

The silence between them was warm.

That rare kind of quiet that didn’t feel empty—just full. Full of the things they didn’t need to say right away.

Full of breath, and closeness, and the faint hum of magic running low and steady through the walls of the castle. Malvoria sat on the edge of the bed, her back straight at first, composed like always.

But then Elysia had leaned her head on her shoulder.

And it was over.

Everything inside Malvoria, every tension and calculation, just... slipped.

She turned her face slightly, her temple brushing the soft silver of Elysia’s hair. The scent of her soap: jasmine and something faintly citrus settled into the air between them.

"Your hair’s still damp," she murmured, running her fingers gently through the loose strands.

"You say that like you’re going to dry it with fire magic."

"I’ve considered it."

"You burned your people for being nuisance."

"It was before."

Elysia huffed a laugh, then shifted until she was half-facing her, one leg tucked under herself, the other pressing softly against Malvoria’s thigh.

"I still can’t believe you chose this room."

Malvoria arched a brow. "It’s symbolic."

"It’s cursed."

"It’s ours."

That shut Elysia up—for a moment.

Then her voice softened. "You really want to talk about our first night again?"

Malvoria let her gaze drift across the room, remembering the sharp tension that used to live in every corner of it. "Not that night."

"Then what?"

"The first time I saw you."

Elysia blinked up at her, surprised.

"You mean in your when you send that message?"

"No," Malvoria said, lips curving slightly. "I mean the real first time."

Elysia stilled. "...When I surrendered."

Malvoria nodded, her thumb brushing gently over Elysia’s knuckles. "I had just told you that I would kill your father."

"You weren’t being very subtle."

"I don’t believe in subtlety."

Elysia laughed under her breath, shaking her head. "I was running. I didn’t even know if he was still alive until I saw your message ."

"I didn’t want to do that. I was making a point."

"Oh, it was definitely a point."

Malvoria tilted her head to look at her. "And you walked straight into it."

Elysia rolled her eyes. "I didn’t walk. I marched. With a sword I hadn’t sharpened in weeks, wearing someone else’s boots and pretending I wasn’t shaking inside."

"You didn’t look like you were shaking."

"I was," Elysia admitted. "But I saw his face—my father’s—and I knew if I waited, you’d kill him."

"I was thinking about it," Malvoria said, deadpan.

Elysia nudged her shoulder. "You were terrifying. Your armor was red. Your eyes were glowing. You looked like the villain in every bedtime story I was ever told."

"I was the villain in every bedtime story."

"I believed it, too," Elysia said softly. "Until you opened your mouth."

Malvoria frowned. "I’m not sure if that’s a compliment."

"It is. I expected evil queen. What I got was a sarcastic warlord with excellent cheekbones and a superiority complex."

"I do have excellent cheekbones."

"And an attitude."

"You forgot the obsession with order."

Elysia grinned. "And the surprise softness."

Malvoria turned her hand over and laced their fingers again. "You came to me and demanded conditions."

Elysia’s eyes lit with mischief. "I did."

"No one had ever done that before. Not even kings. Not generals. Not priestesses who claimed to speak for the stars. And you walked into my throne room, bloody, limping, furious—and told me you’d stay only if I agreed to your terms."

"You looked like you were going to smite me on the spot."

"I wanted to. And I also wanted to listen."

Elysia’s smile softened. "You called me ’arrogant.’"

"You called me a ’power-hungry snake with an ego problem.’"

"You told the guards to give me a guest room. I thought you were going to throw me in a dungeon."

"I considered it. But I wanted to see what you’d do with silk sheets."

Elysia laughed again, a full sound this time, her hand tightening around Malvoria’s.

"I think I spent the first three days plotting your downfall."

Malvoria leaned closer. "And now?"

Elysia met her eyes. "Now I plot your bedtime kisses."

"Bold of you to assume you’re in charge."

"Oh, I know I’m not in charge."

Malvoria smiled, then leaned forward and kissed her.

It wasn’t heated or urgent. It was gentle. Lingering. A brush of lips meant not to conquer, but to keep. Malvoria cupped Elysia’s cheek, brushing her thumb softly along the bone as their mouths moved together in quiet synchrony.

When they broke apart, Elysia sighed and rested her head against Malvoria’s chest.

"I was so sure I was going to hate you forever."

"I was so sure you’d try to stab me again."

"I still might."

"I’d let you."

Elysia pulled back just far enough to raise an eyebrow. "That’s not sexy."

"Depends on the blade," Malvoria murmured, and kissed her again.

They shifted together until they both sank into the pillows, legs tangled, arms wrapped around each other like a fortress.

The sheets rustled as Malvoria pulled the blanket higher around them, letting the firelight cast a soft amber glow over the room. Elysia’s breath was warm against her collarbone, and every now and then her fingers would brush against Malvoria’s hip, or tangle in her braid.

"Do you ever think about how insane all of this is?" Elysia murmured sleepily.

"Only every day."

"I married a woman who once tried to invade my capital."

"I married a woman who once tried to stab me after undressing me."

"In my defense, I was panicking."

"In your defense, you were ridiculously hot while panicking."

Elysia snorted and nuzzled in closer. "You’re impossible."

"And yet," Malvoria whispered, brushing a kiss to her temple, "here you are."

They lay in silence again, the kind only lovers could share—breathing the same air, hearts beating in a rhythm that didn’t need words.

Eventually, Elysia’s body grew heavier with sleep, her limbs relaxed, her hand slipping slightly from where it rested across Malvoria’s ribs.

Malvoria didn’t move.

She watched the firelight flicker.

And smiled, quietly, as she closed her eyes.

Wrapped in warmth, wrapped in her.

And finally they both slept.