The light seeping through the gaps in the curtains forced me to squint.

I woke slowly, still wrapped in a familiar warmth, tangled in sheets that smelled of floral perfume… and of her.

I shifted slightly. The bed beside me was empty.

I blinked a couple of times—and then I saw her: Navia, standing in front of the mirror with her back to me, brushing her long blonde hair with soft, elegant motions. Her satin nightgown left little to the imagination, but what truly caught my attention wasn’t that… it was the calm on her face. As if everything were perfectly in balance. As if she hadn’t committed any crime… against my dignity, my peace of mind, or my body.

I sighed. Not from nostalgia. From pain.

I tried to sit up.

Big mistake.

A sharp reminder shot through my lower back, my hips, and—especially—my thighs. As if the previous night had been a storm that ran me over. Or a bold blonde with soft lips and far too much energy.

I collapsed back onto the bed with a low groan.

“Tsk… damn you…”

I muttered under my breath.

“Hmm?”

Navia tilted her head slightly when she heard me. When she saw me trying to sit up again, a mischievous smile curved her lips.

“Oh, darling… it seems someone hasn’t quite recovered yet.”

“Don’t talk to me,”

I growled, finally managing to sit up, using my arms to lift myself while sparing my legs as much as possible.

Navia set the brush down on the table and slowly walked toward the bed, her smile widening as she noticed the marks on my thighs and hips—small bruises, soft bites, and kisses still decorating my skin like constellations.

“I wonder who could be responsible for that,”

she said playfully, sitting beside me on the bed.

“I could arrest you for assault,”

I replied, crossing my arms, though I knew I didn’t sound convincing in the slightest.

“And who would believe you, Clorinde?”

she whispered, leaning a little closer.

“The impeccable Champion Duelist brought to her knees by the president of Spina di Rosula? Sounds like a bad romantic tale… though last night was better than any novel.”

My face burned, and I looked away.

“Don’t joke about this. It was a momentary weakness.”

“Oh… just one?”

She tilted her head, amused.

“Because last night you had quite a few ‘momentary’ ones.”

She whisper with a wide and shameless smile... damn it...

“Navia!”

She let out a soft, musical laugh before moving a little closer. Her hand rested over mine, and for the first time that morning, her tone changed.

“Clorinde… I’m not mocking you. I like you… and I’m not going to pretend last night meant nothing. Not to me.”

I looked at her.

Her blue eyes shone with sincerity… and something else. Something I wasn’t ready to name yet.

I swallowed and nodded, just slightly.

“All right,”

I said at last, softly.

She smiled and kissed my cheek gently—very different from the kisses of the night before. This one… was more dangerous, because it made me want another.

“Rest a little longer. I’ll take care of breakfast,”

she murmured, standing up.

“And a couple of painkillers, if you can…”

I added, closing my eyes and lying back down.

I heard her laugh as she walked away.

I smiled too.

Just a little.