The Long-Awaited Night

The night Arkin had been waiting for had finally arrived. He slipped out of his quarters with noticeable solemnity, memories of how he had spent the entire day hazy at best. Without even reaching the garden, his feet moved with the automatic precision of someone who had forgotten how to walk.

Had the garden always carried such an intense fragrance? Arkin ventured deeper into the moonlit expanse, tilting his head in quiet confusion. Something felt… different. He could not quite pinpoint what had changed. The colors that composed the garden seemed sharper tonight, the leaves glowing like silver coins beneath the silver light of the moon.

“Hah.”

The garden was beautiful. The moon was bright. The weather was perfect. Everything was ideal—except what would happen if he made a mistake. His lips, already pinched tight since earlier, had swollen slightly.

“I will grant you the ultimate pleasure.”

He was going mad. Why had he said that? How could a complete stranger possess such confidence?

Nefetia had no doubts about their bond as Hetasept partners. Her expectations for tonight would be enormous.

But Arkin worried she might be disappointed. He believed in the intense pull between them, the powerful force that would one day pull him from his nightmares…

What if tonight, that mysterious sensation did not come?

The sensations that passed between him and Nefetia were capricious; they could sweep him away when he least expected it or remain silent when he needed them most. He could not rely solely on that mysterious power tonight.

He sighed deeply. A pebble rolled across the soles of his feet.

Still, Arkin had not shrunk back in fear. He had spent the evening preparing his body with painstaking care. Even if his skill was lacking, he possessed a clean, disciplined form and a face that would please Nefetia. She should not be disappointed.

Arkin drew a steadying breath and examined his reflection. He added a few drops of fragrant oil to the hot water, scrubbing his entire body until he felt clean. After pushing his damp hair back and applying the oil, he looked presentable.

Just to be thorough, he ran his palms over his own body. Across the tunic, his hands glided over his chest muscles—impressive, honestly—then over the rock-hard ridges of his abdomen, honed by unusually intense exercise in recent weeks. Good. Passed. Last, he flexed his arm. Arkin’s mind flashed to the way Zafiri had discreetly studied his physique earlier. Relief washed over him.

In truth, the images of Nefetia stepping off those bare-chested men’s backs had been on his mind all evening, keeping him on edge.

Such scenes were unfamiliar to Arkin but routine for Nefetia. If an outing on Credo Island involved this much, what happened back home…!

No. He shook his head sharply, banishing the disturbing visions.

Changing the subject, Arkin recalled the section on marriage in Solinar’s sacred texts.

“If the wife refuses to remove her clothes out of shame, the husband must gently persuade and comfort her to ensure a soft night….”

The man must start, he remembered. How could someone with no experience succeed? A princess from a kingdom with sixteen royal consorts would know far more than he did.

The ends of Arkin’s perfectly straight brows dipped slightly. If he could not even touch Nefetia because he was too nervous, what then?

Lost in thought, Arkin reached the inner garden. A patch of bright yellow flowers beneath a low hedge caught his eye. The ‘moonflowers’ Nefetia had discovered. Had these existed here before? He stopped, bent, and carefully plucked a few. Gathering them into a small bouquet and wrapping one stem around the stems to secure it, he felt satisfied.

“Good.”

A smile curved Arkin’s lips as he looked at the bouquet. Yes. It should work. Rely on instinct. He had prepared his body and face, and he had the will and sincerity. This should be enough to spend his first night well.

He squared his shoulders. After all, he was a prince of Solinar who had mastered countless difficult tasks. His first night would be no different. Nefetia would blush and grow shy, and he would hold her gently…

“Arkin?”

Nefetia’s face popped out from behind a tree. Arkin startled, nearly tripping as he quickly hid the bouquet behind his back.

“N-Nefetia.”

“I came early because I was looking forward to tonight.”

She beamed at him. Arkin, who had blinked awkwardly, found himself smiling back.

“You’ve pinned flowers in your hair. Beautiful.”

Arkin pointed carefully at her one ear. The crimson bloom looked perfectly natural on her.

“Yes. I was waiting for Arkin. Does it suit me?” While Arkin’s heart raced, Nefetia showed no trace of shyness or nervousness. The energetic, bold princess from the day she first stepped onto this island had returned.

“I-I brought this.”

Arkin stepped closer and offered the bouquet. His movements were stiff, but Nefetia’s face lit up with delight. Their fingers brushed as he passed it to her. The subtle contact sent a shiver through him.

“This… um, gift. First time receiving one.”

Arkin could not stop a soft laugh.

“Were you about to call it an offering?”

“I was happy, so the words slipped out. Thank you, Arkin.”

Nefetia poked her cheek with the small bouquet, her tone teasing. Arkin’s expression softened further as he watched her.

“In Solinar, we give a woman flowers on her first night.”

“A lovely custom.”

Nefetia nodded, then suddenly looked up at him.

“Then. The person receiving and giving this flower….”

“Husband and wife.”

Arkin answered with a slight flush.

“Husband and wife.” Nefetia repeated softly, nodding. An awkward silence settled between them. After a long moment of quiet, she smiled at him again.

“It’s only once tonight, so thank you for this meaningful gift, Arkin.”

Only once… Arkin nodded. The reason Nefetia looked so relaxed now was that their first night was only for tonight.

“Nefetia, let’s go to the forest.”

Arkin tilted his head slightly and whispered, “The World Tree area is off-limits, so we won’t be noticed.”

The deep forest was silent. Moonlight spilled across the trees and ground like silver threads. Even in the darkness, the night carried an especially strong scent of sweet flowers.

Beneath their feet, the cool, soft moss; the quiet rustle of leaves; and the distant, regular sound of waves blended together.

As Arkin moved deeper into the mysterious forest, the night’s vitality seemed to thrum beneath his skin. Though he had walked this path countless times, this feeling was new. He was not sure if it was a mistake, but the ‘sensations’ that had passed between him and Nefetia seemed to fill the entire space.

“Ouch.”

Arkin could navigate the deep, dark forest well, but Nefetia was unfamiliar with the terrain. Even holding his hand, she stumbled twice over roots.

“It’s too dark.”

The moment Nefetia pouted, Arkin bent and scooped her up into his arms. Pressed against his solid chest, Nefetia felt every degree of his body heat.

It was warm.

Nefetia held her breath and rested her head against Arkin’s chest. The fragrance that rose from him was intoxicating—sweet, sensual, teasing her nose, her neck, her forehead.

Even while carrying her, Arkin’s breathing remained steady. Seeing the man’s sheer size, strength, and solid build for the first time made Nefetia smile against his chest and lean in closer.

What kind of feeling would we share tonight?

Lost in a haze of sweetness, Arkin crossed the forest in long strides and soon reached the clearing. Every time Nefetia exhaled her soft, regular breaths, electric shivers raced across his skin.

He stole glances at her. Her legs swung gently over his right arm as if she were a happy child. A smile tugged at Arkin’s lips. His own heart felt lighter.

“Am I making you comfortable, Princess?”

“Yes. I like it very much.”

Nefetia’s hand rose as she spoke, laughter in her voice. She was about to touch him freely now. Her soft, flexible fingers stroked the back of Arkin’s neck and traced the line of his jaw.

A magnificent World Tree stood ahead, as if it were the lord of the forest itself. Recalling the day he had visited his great-grandfather with his father—the voice still muttering “Greed is sin”—Arkin circled the tree with Nefetia still in his arms. Tonight would cross an irreversible line, but it did not matter anymore.

He stopped where the entrance to the crystal cave came into view.

“We’re here, Nefetia.”

Arkin whispered, looking into her eyes. From the shadowed mouth of the cave, light was beginning to spill out.

“We’ve arrived.”

“Yes, finally.”

Arkin and Nefetia stared at each other, smiling, though Arkin’s mind was far from relaxed. His mouth was dry, and heat began to gather in his lower abdomen.

“Then,”

Her fingers gently traced his cheek, blessing him as if she were pronouncing a rite. The princess’s fingertips slid silently along the line of his jaw.

“Beautiful forest prince, Arkin Seilir.”

Arkin gazed down at the radiant golden eyes and felt his mind go blank. The hand that had followed his throat now rested lightly over his chest.

“Tonight, I grant you permission to share this body with me.”