Chapter 35: Important Talk
I woke up to the soft, steady warmth of a body pressed flush against mine, a light tuft of dark, wavy hair tickling the underside of my chin.
Opening my eyes slowly, I stared down at the sight before me. Yerin was curled up in my arms, her head resting comfortably on my chest, both of us completely naked under the heavy silk duvet.
I lay there for a moment, my mind struggling to process the reality of the situation. I lost my virginity last night. Not just to anyone, but to Nova, the global pop star, the untouchable idol worshipped by millions across the world.
The memory of her climbing over me in the dark, her whispered desires, and the intense, passionate hours that followed flashed through my mind, making my heart thud against my ribs.
It felt surreal, like a dream I was going to wake up from at any second. But the soft, warm touch of her bare skin and the gentle rhythm of her breathing proved everything was real.
Still, a quiet knot of confusion tangled in my chest. What were we now? We were cousins, even if not by blood, and everything had happened so fast. Just two days ago, I was a lonely guy working late shifts; now, I was lying naked in bed with a girl I was deeply, undeniably attracted to.
As I was lost in my thoughts, Yerin stirred against me. Her long eyelashes fluttered open, exposing those large, brilliant dark eyes. The moment her gaze met mine, her face softened into a gorgeous, sleepy smile. She leaned up slightly and pressed a soft, sweet kiss right onto my chin.
"Good morning, babe," she murmured, her voice raspy with sleep.
I stared at her for a second before a genuine chuckle broke from my throat, the lingering tension in my chest instantly dissolving into thin air.
Looking down at her relaxed, affectionate expression, I wrapped my arm a little tighter around her waist, pulling her closer against my side. Whatever the future held, I knew one thing for certain: I was going to treasure and cherish this woman with everything I had.
We didn’t get up immediately, content to just remain buried beneath the warm sheets, holding each other in the quiet morning light.
"I have to admit... I was pretty surprised last night," I said softly, running my fingers through her soft, dark hair. "I didn’t expect you to jump me like that."
Yerin let out a quiet giggle, hiding her face against my neck for a second before looking up at me.
"I was scared, Seth."
I blinked, surprised by her admission.
"Scared? Of what?"
"Because of your Astral Soul," Yerin explained, her tone turning unusually quiet and vulnerable. "After seeing what happened yesterday, I knew it. You’re going to become someone incredibly important in this world. Powerful factions, ancient pantheons, and high-society families are going to swarm around you. You’ll be surrounded by women so gorgeous, powerful, and talented that I was afraid I’d end up feeling inferior. So... I decided I had to take my chance while I had it. I wanted to claim you first."
I frowned slightly, shaking my head as I looked down at her.
"I honestly can’t imagine anyone making you feel inferior, Yerin. To me, you’re the most beautiful woman in the world. You’re talented, passionate, and amazing to be around. In just two days, I’ve grown to care about you so much. That says a lot about who you are."
Yerin’s eyes sparkled, a bright, happy flush spreading across her cheeks.
"I love when you say things like that. It makes me feel so important."
She paused, leaning her chin on my chest as her expression grew thoughtful.
"But there are things about this world you don’t fully understand yet, Seth. There are women out there, divine beings, heiresses, powerhouses, who will capture your attention. It’s almost inevitable. In the supernatural world, marriages based on talent, bloodlines, and power are completely normal. Society itself is going to push you toward having a harem, all because of the sheer weight of your Astral Soul. I know how this world works."
She looked up at me, a soft, incredibly genuine smile gracing her lips.
"You know, Seth... you’re one of the only people in my entire life who ever looked at me and just saw Yerin. Not a political tool for the Rothschild family, not Nova the pop star, not a trophy to brag about. Just me. I feel so safe with you, like I can drop every single mask and just exist. Yesterday was the best day of my entire life, and I decided right then that I wanted days like that forever."
She grinned softly, reaching up to gently trace my jawline.
"I don’t even know if I fully understand what ’love’ is yet, since I’ve never been in a relationship before... but I am one hundred percent sure that I want to spend my life with you. So... are you okay with dating a dramatic, chaotic girl like me?"
Instead of answering right away, I leaned down, cupping her cheek, and kissed her deeply, pouring all my warmth and affection into the touch.
When we finally separated, both of us slightly breathless, I smiled down at her.
"Yesterday was the best day of my life, too. I’ve never been in love or had a real relationship either, Yerin, but there’s no one else I’d rather figure it out with. I look forward to spending my life with you."
I paused, rubbing the back of my neck with a dry chuckle.
"As for the whole harem thing... I’m not really sure about all that yet. I’m not going to lie and pretend I’m completely uninterested in the idea, I mean, I’m a guy, and imagining a life surrounded by amazing wives sounds great on paper. But I promise you one thing, Yerin. I will never, ever do anything like that at your expense."
My eyes locked onto hers with absolute sincerity.
"I want to live a happy, stress-free life, but if the people I care about aren’t happy, then my life isn’t good. Your happiness matters more to me than anything else."