The morning after the day of Davis and Evelynn's marriage ceremony.
With the seamless morning rays s.h.i.+ning on the bed, Davis woke up and saw the exhausted yet voluptuous figure lying beside him.
He took a bedsheet that was beside them and covered her. After that, he came out of the bed and went inside the bath for a while, coming out clean as a polished jade in a few minutes.
When he came out, he saw Evelynn awake, in the middle of dressing up. Her half-clothed figure was tantalizing to the extreme, invoking the s.e.xual desire in his loins and even his heart.
He thought Evelynn would shy away once she noticed his gaze but instead, he was met with a pair of playful eyes darting at him.
'Feeling bold after the deed, are we?' Davis inwardly muttered but a teasing expression unknowingly filled his face.
'Wait till I let you experience all those positions, we'll see if you'll still be able to keep that playful grin...'
"Good morning, husband~," Evelynn spoke in a melodious tone as she finished wearing her robes, flicking her green hair as it ran down her shoulders.
"Good morning, my vixen..." Davis replied in a teasing tone while both his hands moved towards her to hug.
Evelynn skillfully avoided his hug and moved behind him, "Let me take a bath..."
"Oh... Alright..." Davis replied in a dissatisfied tone.
Evelynn left him behind with a smile on her face as if she won.
Looks like their last session was enough even though he wanted to continue staying in this room for a few more days with her.
Soon enough, she came out of the bath, clean and refreshed while a faint floral fragrance emanated from her.
Davis came close to her and hugged her voluptuous body. It was like her body melted into his embrace, soft and warm.
Evelynn pursed her lips as she smiled, her eyes peering at him with shyness. At first, she acted boldly but couldn't keep it up when he desired her again.
Davis caressed her head and wanted to tease her with the events of last night but decided against it. He gave her a peck on her forehead and said, "Let's go..."
Evelynn nodded and took his hand while he left the nuptial chamber to find the others.
There were traditions to fulfill in the morning after their first night but screw that! Who would want to involve themselves in such a drag?
Davis didn't want to!
Both of them made their way to Throne Hall while the servant maids obediently bowed their heads in reverence.
A short while later, their faces sn.i.g.g.e.red as they could imagine the events that took place in the nuptial chamber.
======
In the Throne Hall.
"Your majesty, the expenditure we currently incurred amounts to 100,000 Purple Coins," Hendrickson said as he read from a report scroll.
Logan who we seated on the throne calmly nodded his head, "Auction a few Low-Level Spirit Stones and settle the expenses..."
Logan was no longer worried about funds since Davis made them ultra-rich in the perspective of the Grand Sea Continent.
A Low-Level Spirit Stone will sell for around 100,000 Purple Coins in the First Layer but since a single-family or an individual in the Grand Sea Continent would find it hard to procure one, it will usually around for half or less the price.
"Yes, your majesty..." Hendrickson obediently replied, his eyes glinting with various emotions.
At one time, he considered if she should still be a part of the Loret Family during the rebellion, and now he was glad that he decided to stay and be loyal.
Behind him were numerous officials, reporting the result of their respective work.
"Your majesty, there were a few incidents which harmed the civilians during this time and we've arrested around 40 criminals who have disrupted the peace with serious crimes..."
"Execute them..." Logan offhandedly commented, not even bothered to hear about their crimes but on second thought, he said, "Investigate their crimes and punish them accordingly, but as you mentioned, if they did horrendous deeds, execute them on the spot."
"Yes, your majesty!" Randal uttered with a below, strutting off his position of the commander of the Loret Empire's Army.
At this time, the large door to the Throne Hall opened and two figures entered.
Logan's eyes lit up as he saw them, "Everyone, you can take your leave now..."
The officials acquiesced and left with a chorus of, "Yes, your majesty."
Once they left, Logan laughed heartily while looking at Davis, "I'm going to become a grandfather soon!'
Evelynn shyly gazed away but then shook her head.
Davis laughed indifferently and said, "Hold your horses, father. Today is the day where she won't get conceived..."
Logan's smile froze as Davis laughed even more as he held his stomach while watching the former's reaction.
======
Three days before the marriage.
In the skies of the Loret Empire.
"Evelynn, I've contacted them and confirmed the marriage date! It's in three days!" Davis excitedly exclaimed.
On the other hand, Evelynn blinked her eyes rapidly, her eyes avoiding his excited gaze as she felt shy.
But soon, her expression changed into one of worry.
Davis quickly noticed it and questioned her, "Evelynn, what's wrong?"
"... It's nothing." Evelynn shook her head.
"Evelynn, we're going to marry... If you hide things from me, I will feel extremely sad..." Davis said in a sad tone as he played tired to play dirty.
And as expected, Evelynn instantly felt bad, her expression changed with a sigh.
"In three days, I don't think I can..." She then spoke, but went silent.
"You can't what?" Davis asked in confusion.
Could it be that she won't marry him in three days?
"Conceive..."
Davis was stunned but then he quickly understood, 'It's her safe day!'
Davis chuckled slightly, making her expression change to one of anger. She captured his ear and pulled it towards her, "You dare to make fun of me like this!"
Davis acted as if it hurt as he spoke, "Oww... Isn't it perfect? I don't want to have a child right now..."
Evelynn froze as she looked at him in disbelief.
Davis explained, "Don't misunderstand. We will have a child but not now since I want to at least have a foothold in the First Layer!"
Evelynn's expression still didn't loosen up as if it came as a shock to her. Her hands trembled and her eyes shook.
Davis didn't know what to do, so he grasped her shoulders and shook.
Evelynn came out of her reverie and asked as her voice was laced with disbelief, "What did you say?"
Davis cleared his throat, "We will have a child when I can ensure that our child will never come in contact with danger..."
Evelynn's widened her eyes as she nodded, "So, that's it..."
Davis moved away his gaze while understanding that she had been really looking forward to having a child. He felt guilty all of a sudden but it wasn't like he was opposed to having a child, it just didn't sit well with him now that their position was so precarious.
He wanted to become stronger before having a child, at least before entering the Eighth Stage, he had no idea of giving birth to a child through Evelynn or any woman to speak of.
"It's fine... I'll follow your idea and until you think it is okay to have a child, I will not..." Evelynn muttered as she looked away. Her eyes were wet with salty secretions while she looked like she was going to cry out her heart.
"Evelynn, don't be like this... I'm saying this for your sake as well!" Davis yelled as he grasped her hands, "Look, you can become stronger and travel with me to the FIrst Layer or do you prefer staying in the Grand Sea Continent, taking care of my children? Decide for yourself!
Evelynn became stunned in an instant but at the next moment, thinking about it, she realized that his decision to not have a child right now was for her sake as well.
She bit her lips and the tears that threatened to swell out of her eyes came out like a dam that had been released, "I'm sorry..."
Davis moved back a little, his hand moving away from hers in anxiety, 'Ah, I made her cry...'
He grasped her hands again and placated her to the best of his ability, realizing that he indeed had yelled at her in a moment of haste.
======
"And just like that, we decided not to have a child while being together..." Davis smiled as he looked at his father.
Logan placed a palm on his forehead as he thought where this matter would end but then muttered reluctantly, "Whatever..."
His little wish of wanting to become a grandfather had been dashed away and thrown to the trash just like that.
At this time, Claire entered the Throne Hall, garnering their attention.
"Mother!" Davis shouted as he turned back.
Claire smiled at him, walking with an elegance that blinded Logan's eyes for who knows for the nth time, "Davis, I was notified by the castle maids about your arrival at the Throne Hall, so I made my way here."
"Yes, mother. I had a good time with my wife..." Davis shamelessly replied as he took Evelynn's hand into his while the latter turned her head shyly away from them.
Claire rolled her eyes but then chuckled with a release of her breath, "Fine, but you should give me a grandson soon rather than pus.h.i.+ng it too far..."
Davis nodded with a roll of eyes, imitating Claire, "Alright..."
"You knew?" Logan asked as he stood up in surprise.
Claire looked at him and asked, "Davis didn't tell you? Evelynn already told me the day before the marriage..."
Logan pointed at Davis, wanting to berate him but took a deep breath and lowered his hands as he sighed, "You are all leaving me out of the loop..."
"Well, who told you to be the Emperor? You should spend time with your family too..." Claire shook her head and berated him.
Logan, who was feeling down looked at Claire with frustration and disappointment but he didn't say anything and looked away.
Claire didn't catch his expression as she didn't bother to see his face but Davis did and he was speechless.
'It's bad, he's losing love for mother...' Davis didn't specifically investigate into it but it seemed that these two had a fight after they left for the Ruth Empire.
He heard it from the whispers of a castle maid after arriving at the Loret Empire for his marriage.
When he caught wind of this matter, he related this matter to the harem of the Emperor, his father.
His father visiting the harem had vaguely but surely increased the discontentment that existed within his mother's heart.
This was also the reason Davis didn't favor the thought of marrying two women and having more wives.
At the least, to him, giving love equally was impossible as differences between characters always existed and affection towards them would be quite different as well.
Though he read the about the harem-loving main character's in the web novels talking about how the main character loved his harem equally, he didn't believe about that bulls.h.i.+t one bit.
After all, jealousy, hate, affection are all a part of love. Any human in a relations.h.i.+p will undoubtedly be trapped by these feelings.
Even in the legends existing in the Greek Mythologies back on Earth, G.o.ds fought over women and a hero fell into depravity because of a prost.i.tute. Although these were stories, they still have a hint of reality to them.
Evelynn shook his hand slightly, prompting him awake from his thoughts.
Davis noted the silent yet the awkward atmosphere and left. Whatever has been bothering these two should be dealt with by both of them. He felt that he shouldn't step in and make matters worse by making a mistep in this perilous bridge.
After all, their separation was an event he didn't want to see come true.
"As I thought, having a loving family continue to stay as a loving family is impossible, right?" Davis calmly muttered as he left with Evelynn.
For good or worse, all three of them heard his words and their expressions changed.