Married To Darkness-Chapter 355: The Matters Of Love

Salviana moved first.

She pressed a hand against Alaric’s chest — solid, warm, his heartbeat a steady thrum beneath her palm. Then, she tilted her head and kissed him.

It wasn’t a soft, hesitant kiss. It was fierce. Hungry. freeweɓnovel.cѳm

A clash of lips and heat, her mouth molding against his with a boldness that surprised even her. Alaric responded instantly, his hand threading into her hair, his grip firm but not rough. The kiss deepened — hot, urgent, tasting of longing and something darker. He leaned into her, his weight pushing her back against the pillows as his hand traveled down her waist, his fingers burning through the thin fabric of her nightgown.

Salviana’s heart thundered, her body arching into him, silently begging for more. This was it. This was the moment — their marriage, unfulfilled, hanging over them like a delicate thread. It had to happen now. She needed it. She needed him.

But suddenly, Alaric broke the kiss.

The absence of his lips felt colder than the rain outside.

"Why did you stop?" Salviana whispered, breathless, her voice laced with frustration and confusion. "You should continue... We need to—" her words faltered, her cheeks burning. "We need to consummate our marriage. You need to make love to me."

Alaric didn’t speak right away. His jaw clenched, his fingers still tangled in her hair, but his forehead rested against hers as if waging an internal battle.

"No," he said finally, his voice hoarse.

Salviana blinked, her heart stuttering. "No?"

"You’re still recovering," Alaric murmured, his thumb grazing the side of her face. "I’m not going to stress your body. Not like this."

Her lips parted in protest, a small pout forming. "I’m fine now—"

"You’re not," he cut in softly but firmly. "I won’t risk hurting you."

The words were like a quiet plea, his restraint coiling tightly around him like chains. She could see it — the tension in his shoulders, the way his gaze darkened with unfulfilled desire. This wasn’t rejection. It was fear. Fear of pushing her too far after everything she’d endured.

Despite her reluctance, Salviana sighed and sank back against the pillows. "You’re too careful sometimes."

Alaric chuckled lightly, though the sound was strained. "And you’re too reckless."

Still pouting, she shuffled closer to him, tucking her head beneath his chin, her hand splaying across his chest again. Her body relaxed, the heat between them still simmering just beneath the surface, but her exhaustion slowly dragged her toward sleep.

Alaric lay there, staring at the ceiling. His hand hovered over her waist, fingers twitching as if fighting the urge to pull her even closer.

Her scent — a soft blend of wildflowers and rain — lingered in the air, clouding his thoughts. It wrapped around him like a cruel, intoxicating spell.

And as Salviana’s breathing evened out, slipping into sleep, Alaric closed his eyes.

His desire burned. His heart ached.

But tonight, his self-control would have to be stronger than his longing.

He would never hurt her.

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The servant’s quarters were unusually quiet that night — the kind of stillness that only settled after a long, exhausting day. Thalia lay on her back, her feet propped up against the wall, while Emma stared blankly at the ceiling, lost in her own thoughts. Sarah hugged a pillow to her chest, her mind buzzing louder than the silence around them.

Then —

"Achoo!"

Emma’s sudden sneeze shattered the quiet, and all three women blinked, the spell of silence broken.

"Sorry," Thalia muttered, though she hadn’t sneezed.

The air lightened as Sarah drew a deep breath and smirked. "So... anyone got something interesting to share?"

Thalia raised a brow, still wiggling her toes against the stone wall. "Interesting?"

"Yeah," Sarah shrugged, "like... about your days."

Emma sighed, her voice soft but thoughtful. "It was eventful, I suppose. I’m happy for our lord and lady — as much as I fear for them."

Sarah rolled her eyes. "Yes, yes, very noble, Emma. But I meant your personal lives."

Thalia blinked at her. "Do you have something to tell us, Sarah?"

"Well..." Sarah sat up slowly, dragging out the suspense. "I mean, it’s nothing much, really... but..."

Thalia and Emma both shot upright, all ears now, the exhaustion of the day forgotten.

"Don’t laugh," Sarah warned, though a playful whine slipped into her voice.

"We won’t," Thalia said with a sly smile.

Emma raised a hand solemnly. "Serious faces only."

Sarah cleared her throat, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "So... you know Samion?"

Emma’s eyes narrowed. "The new knight following our lady?"

"Yes, yes," Sarah nodded eagerly, her voice growing an octave higher. "Well... he loves me."

Thalia’s mouth fell open. "Loves you?!"

"Yes! Not to brag," Sarah said, doing exactly that, "but he told me he’s head over heels for me — said he doesn’t know what to do with himself. He always wants to be near me, can’t get me out of his mind..."

She added a dramatic flair to her words, flicking her wrist like a true lady of the court, though her heart thudded in her chest with an entirely different kind of feeling — one that wasn’t nearly as bold as her story.

Emma pursed her lips thoughtfully. "He’s strangely always behind Lucius though... I’m just saying."

Sarah huffed, waving her off. "What do you know?"

Thalia, still wide-eyed, leaned in. "So you’re... lovers now?"

The question hit Sarah like a sudden gust of wind.

"W-what?" she stammered, her cheeks burning. "I mean — not yet. But... maybe soon."

Her voice cracked at the end, but she recovered quickly, hoping they wouldn’t notice.

Emma clapped her hands softly, a wide grin spreading across her face. "He’s a fine man — you’re lucky, Sarah. You should agree to him quickly before someone else does."

Thalia smiled too, though there was a faint edge to it — something unspoken lurking beneath her excitement.

Sarah laughed along with them, her voice a little too high, a little too loud. She painted the image of a girl swept up in romance, of a knight hopelessly devoted to her... but the truth sat heavy in her stomach.

Because deep down, the thought of being a knight’s lover — of stepping into something far beyond flirtation — wasn’t thrilling. It was terrifying.

She was a novice at this. Just a shy girl trying to seem braver than she really was.

And as the room filled with her friends’ laughter and well-meaning teasing, Sarah hugged her pillow a little tighter — still smiling, but silently dreading what might happen if Samion really meant every word he said.