Chapter 295: Karma (XIII) [A Morning With The Queen]

The morning light spilled softly into the chamber, painting everything in a golden hue.

I stirred awake first, my body heavy but not weary, my lips instantly curled up as I looked down at the woman nestled against me.

Isabella was still curled against my chest, her legs tangled with mine, her arms clinging stubbornly around my waist like she never wanted to let go.

“Mmnnnhhh… Aestrea…” she mumbled, her voice groggy but spoiled, muffled against my skin. Her emerald eyes peeked open faintly, still hazy from sleep, her cheeks pink.

She rubbed her face into me, her lips brushing my chest.

“Mhm~… you brute. My body hurts all over… nghhh… I can’t even move properly.”

Her words were soft, whiny, and laced with a pout that only made me chuckle.

I ran a hand through her messy hair, pulling lightly the tangled strands.

“Hah… says the queen who kept begging for more.”

Her head jerked up a little, her face flaring bright red.

“I-I did not!” she protested, almost stammering.

“Y-you were the one who wouldn’t stop!”

But she immediately dropped her head back against my chest, hiding her flushed expression while her fingers traced lazy circles on my stomach.

“Mmnnnhhh… still… you have to take responsibility now. My whole body’s ruined because of you.”

I smirked, tilting her chin up so she had to look at me. Her lips pouted, her emerald eyes shimmering with embarrassment and something warmer underneath.

“Ruined, huh? You didn’t look ruined when you were screaming my name.”

“Y-You…!” Her hand smacked my chest weakly, though the blush spreading across her face betrayed her.

“Don’t tease me right after I wake up…!”

I laughed, leaning down to kiss the corner of her lips. She stiffened, then immediately melted, her pout dissolving into a soft sigh as she let me kiss her fully.

When I pulled back, I whispered against her ear:

“You really are spoiled, Isabella.”

“Mhm…” she hummed softly.

“…Only with you.”

Isabella stretched slowly, her soft skin brushing against mine, before collapsing back into my chest with a dramatic sigh.

“Mnnnnhhh… Aestrea… my body still feels heavy. You’re going to have to carry me everywhere today,” she murmured, her tone half-spoiled, half-commanding, like a queen who expected her every whim fulfilled.

I chuckled, brushing my hand through her tangled hair.

“Hah… you’re still the queen, aren’t you? Already ordering me around the morning after.”

She tilted her head up, her emerald eyes glowing with lazy mischief.

“Fufufu~ of course. You didn’t think just because I surrendered my body, I’d surrender my dignity too, did you?”

“From the way you screamed last night… it sounded like both were gone,” I teased.

Her cheeks flushed immediately, and she gave my chest a weak slap, her lips pouting.

“Y-You really…! Ugh, you always know how to get under my skin…”

But instead of pulling away, she snuggled closer, her legs tangling tighter with mine, her bare body pressing shamelessly against me.

“You’re cruel. After ruining me, you should at least comfort me properly,” she whispered, her lips brushing faintly against my collarbone.

I raised an eyebrow.

“Comfort you? Isn’t this enough?” My arms tightened slightly around her waist, making her squeak softly.

“N-No!… Not enough. I demand… more pampering.” Her tone was regal, but the way her nose buried into my chest betrayed her spoiled nature.

“And what does ’pampering’ mean to you exactly?” I asked with a smirk.

Her lips curved into a sly smile.

“It means you’ll feed me breakfast in bed, carry me to my bath, and…” her voice dropped to a whisper, sultry yet playful, “…you won’t leave my side for the entire day.”

I laughed softly, shaking my head.

“You’re impossible.”

She hummed in satisfaction, clearly taking my chuckle as agreement, and laid her head fully against me again.

“Good. That’s how it should be. You’re mine for today, Aestrea… so don’t even think about slipping away. Not for a moment.”

I looked down at her spoiled, flushed face, and for once, didn’t tease her back. Instead, I kissed her forehead gently.

“…Fine. I won’t.”

But just as I said those words, Isabella pulled me out of the bed, standing up with a cheerful smile.

“Then let’s go eat breakfast!” she declared, leading me towards the door that led to the corridors.

She had already disregarded her own words…

Women, huh…

Once we had exited the room, I was a little surprised… they were strangely quiet.

Normally, servants would bustle about, but strangely, there was complete silence.

I followed Isabella as she pulled my hand, her long hair swaying lazily, her bare feet padding softly against the marble floor.

She wore nothing but a thin silken robe, loosely tied, her flushed neck and faint marks from last night peeking through.

When we reached the grand kitchen, I blinked.

Not a single chef, not even a maid.

“…Strange,” I muttered, glancing around the vast space filled with gleaming counters, pans, and stacked ingredients.

“Where is everyone?”

“Fufufu~ I told them to leave the palace for the day,” Isabella smirked, leading me inside.

I raised an eyebrow at her words.

“…You dismissed the entire staff?”

She turned, her emerald eyes glinting with that spoiled glow, and leaned against the counter with her arms crossed.

“Of course. Why would I let anyone disturb us? Today belongs to me. To us.”

“So even your chefs aren’t allowed to serve you?” I couldn’t help but chuckle, shaking my head.

“Not today,” she said with a sly smile. “Besides… I wanted to cook for you myself.”

I stared at her for a moment.

“…You? Cooking?”

Her cheeks puffed in mock offense.

“What’s that tone supposed to mean, dear?”

“Nothing,” I said, smirking. “I just never imagined the queen of an empire rolling up her sleeves in the kitchen.”

“Hmph! Then prepare to be amazed.”

She strutted toward the counter, pulling open a drawer and fumbling through utensils like she had done this maybe once or twice before in her life.

I leaned back against the wall, arms crossed, amused at the sight of the most powerful woman in the palace glaring at a frying pan as if it were a rival.

“What are you making?” I asked.

“Eggs,” she declared, lifting them triumphantly from a basket. “It’s simple. Even I can’t ruin eggs.”

“…We’ll see.”

She shot me a glare over her shoulder.

“No backseat cooking.”

I smirked.

“Fine. I’ll just watch.”

She cracked the first egg, a little clumsily, half the shell almost falling in before she managed to flick it out. I stifled a laugh, and she immediately narrowed her eyes.

“…Say one word, Aestrea, and I’ll banish you from the kitchen.”

I held up my hands in mock surrender.

“Not a word.”

Still, I couldn’t take my eyes off her.

The way she leaned forward slightly, her robe slipping just a little off her shoulder, her hair falling forward as she tried to focus, it was endearing, almost domestic in a way that felt unreal.

However… it was also quite seductive.

Sizzle~

The sizzle of the pan was the only sound in the kitchen.

Isabella was so focused, lips pursed as she tried to flip the eggs just right, that she didn’t notice me stepping closer.

I slid my arms around her waist from behind, pressing myself against her back.

“Hya—!” She stiffened, the spatula clattering against the pan.

“A-Aestrea! I told you, don’t distract me!”

“Mm. But you’re so distracting yourself,” I murmured, resting my chin on her shoulder. My hands roamed lazily over her hips, slipping under the silken robe.

Her breath hitched, her cheeks going pink.

“Y-you… ngh… are impossible. I’m trying to cook for you!”

“You’re already spoiling me,” I teased, nuzzling into her neck. “So what’s wrong with letting me… pamper you back?”

“Th-that’s not fair…” she whispered, her voice trembling, the spatula hanging forgotten in her hand.

I smirked, one hand trailing up her side until my fingertips brushed against her ribs, just beneath the swell of her chest.

She squirmed, caught between indignation and anticipation, her back arching ever so slightly against me.

“Aestrea…” she breathed, half a plea, half a scold.

“Yes, Isabella?”

“…If I burn this food because of you, I’ll… I’ll make you eat it all.”

I chuckled softly, pressing a kiss against her cheek.

“Then I suppose I’ll take the risk.”

She tried to glare at me, but her eyes were already soft, her lips trembling with the faintest smile she couldn’t hide.

Still, Isabella tried to keep her hands steady, but I could feel her trembling under my arms.

“Focus, Bella,” I whispered, lips brushing her ear.

“If you don’t, it’ll burn.”

“Haaa~ d-don’t call me that right now…!” she whined softly, her voice quivering.

My hands squeezed her waist gently, fingers pressing into the soft curve of her hips. She let out a tiny gasp, her thighs pressing together instinctively.

“See? You’re shaking. How can you flip anything like this?” I teased, kissing the line of her neck.

“Mwah…♡”

“Mmnnnhh…! A-Aestrea… ahhh♡… stop kissing me there, I’ll drop it…” she breathed out, the spatula wobbling in her grip.

I chuckled against her skin, nibbling lightly just below her jaw. My hand slid up to cup one of her breasts through the robe, giving a soft squeeze.

“Haahn~! Y-you… nghh… t-this is so unfair…” she whimpered, her hips pressing back against me without thinking.

“Focus,” I murmured again, pressing another slow kiss to her shoulder.

“I want to eat your cooking. So hurry and finish… then I’ll eat you too.”

“KYAAAH~! D-don’t say things like that in the kitchen!” Her whole body trembled, a strangled moan slipping past her lips.

Still, she tried, her flushed face determined as she slowly flipped the eggs, her voice breaking in soft gasps with every little squeeze of my hands.

When she finally placed the food on a plate, her legs nearly gave out. She set the spatula down with a shaky hand, panting lightly.

“Haaah… it’s done…”

I turned her face toward me, capturing her lips in a hungry kiss.

“Mwah… smooch…♡”

She melted instantly, moaning softly into my mouth, her hands gripping mine tightly.

“Good girl,” I whispered against her lips.

“Haaa~ y-you’re the worst… nghh♡…” she murmured, still blushing, still trembling, but smiling as she leaned fully into my arms.

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