Dawn in the Empire was silent.

In the detached palace of the Imperial Palace, beneath a grand chandelier, the morning sunlight had not yet fully seeped into the bedroom where the Crown Prince and his spouse stayed.

Toya slowly opened his eyes.

The first thing he felt was a warm body temperature.

And an arm wrapped firmly around his waist.

Toya blinked for a moment, feeling the weight that was familiar even in his sleep. When he tried to move his body slightly, the arm behind him tightened. It was a natural, practiced movement, as if holding him so he couldn't run away.

It was Akito.

He didn't know how long they had been this close, but Akito's chest was pressed against Toya's back, and his breath was brushing against the nape of Toya's neck.

Just half a year ago, a scene like this would have been unimaginable.

Before they were married, Akito was the type of person who would freeze up awkwardly at the mere mention of physical affection. He would avoid eye contact if Toya just reached out a hand, and on days when their fingertips happened to touch, he would struggle to act nonchalant while his face turned bright red.

Despite having harbored feelings for Toya for years since their first meeting, he was a man who couldn't even manage to hold hands properly.

But from the moment they had their wedding, everything changed.

Now, Akito reached for Toya whenever he had the chance.

He held his hand while walking, wrapped an arm around his shoulder while sitting, and hugged him from behind while he read. It seemed he only felt at peace if he was holding Toya in his arms before going to sleep.

It was as if the single word 'marriage' had granted permission for all the physical affection he had been holding back.

Toya carefully turned his body around.

As he did, Akito's sleeping eyes slowly fluttered open. His groggy green eyes looked at Toya, and without a word, he tightened his grip again.

Akito's lips lightly touched Toya's forehead.

Did you sleep well?