It was hard to tell whether Timothy had tightened his grip around Sylvia's waist just a little, or if Sylvia's half-step back wasn't really ant to avoid him at all.
After a mont, Sylvia was still gently held in his arms, not changing her position.
In fact, her stunningly beautiful face was now tinged with a faint blush.
"Ugh, I swear, you're getting bolder by the day," she muttered, trying to hide the flustered feeling in her chest.
It was true. From their early dates, where they were as polite as strangers, to the point where even holding hands was just a light touch of fingers, now Timothy was hugging her like she was his doll, without a care in the world, as if they'd been married for years.
Sylvia never imagined things would change so much in just a year.
"Well, you've already started bringing iced tea and lemonade during training. Isn't it only natural for to get a little more comfortable?" Timothy replied with a small, knowing smile, as if he had been waiting for this mont.
At the ntion of that, Sylvia's cheeks instantly flushed even hotter.
When she had gone to watch Timothy train the male disciples at Sky Sanctuary, she had only planned to observe from a distance.
But then she rembered overhearing a conversation between so of the female disciples. One of them had said sothing like:
"I heard that bringing soone a cold drink on a scorching day is the most subtle, yet heartwarming way to show you care."
At the ti, Sylvia had thought about it but was way too embarrassed to actually do it.
Yet, watching Timothy lead the disciples with such focus and precision, even her usually calm heart couldn't help but skip a beat.
Because Sylvia knew very well that the day they would announce their relationship to the world wasn't far off.
So, despite the embarrassnt, she had brewed the lemonade herself and brought it to Timothy, causing quite a stir at Sky Sanctuary.
After all, even if people couldn't believe it, many of the disciples were already starting to suspect sothing.
And after it happened a second ti, they were completely floored, their minds struggling to process what they were seeing.
But even so…
"Hmph, that… that was just a coincidence! I didn't an to bring it to you specifically," Sylvia stamred, trying to cover her embarrassnt. "I was actually going to give it to the other disciples, but you just happened to be standing in the hottest spot, so I gave it to you. That's all! Nothing more!"
She said it with such conviction that it almost sounded reasonable.
"You really think I'm going to believe that?" Timothy asked, clearly amused. He was already used to Sylvia's habit of saying one thing and aning another.
Seeing an opportunity, he smiled and asked, "But what if you're lying? What then?"
"Lying? If I'm lying…"
Sylvia hesitated, feeling a bit guilty.
But as the Holy Emperor, there was no way she could just admit defeat.
"If I'm lying, then… I'll… I'll make it up to you sohow."
Her voice trailed off.
"Make it up to how?"
"I… I haven't thought about it yet."
"Well, how about I think of sothing?"
"You?"
"…"
"Wait, what are you planning?!"
Halfway through her sentence, Sylvia suddenly realized sothing was off.
The arm around her waist had tightened slightly.
And not only that—she could feel the warmth of Timothy's breath on her delicate ear, growing just a little hotter.
That feeling instantly brought back mories for Sylvia.
Her face flushed pink, and she quickly tried to pull away.
But her body felt weak, and even her hands couldn't muster the strength to push him off.
It wasn't that Timothy was doing anything forceful—it was more that Sylvia suddenly realized sothing.
Her resistance seed more like a playful protest, without any real intention behind it.
After all, the last ti they were interrupted by accident, it had been right by the flower beds near the Bridge of Souls.
"Hmph, I've just reached the level of Holy Emperor. This ti, don't think you can win like before," Timothy teased, his voice low and confident.
The doors of Sky Sanctuary slowly closed with a soft breeze.
Hearing Timothy's words so close to her ear made Sylvia's face burn even more.
"Hey, maybe we should wait until we're back in the palace," she said, her voice a mix of shyness and frustration. "I'm in the middle of writing a decree, and it's for that annoying Holy Maiden Aeliana."
Sylvia's eyes flicked toward the desk.
Sure enough, there was an envelope on the table, addressed to Holy Maiden Aeliana.
She had already signed half of her na—just one more letter, the final "a," and it would be done.
"Oh, it's for the Holy Maiden? Then there's really no rush," Timothy said, sounding even more relaxed now.
After all, if anyone was used to seeing public displays of affection, it was Holy Maiden Aeliana. She was probably the most exposed to it on the entire continent of Elant.
And besides, Aeliana already knew all the important secrets. Who cared when a simple letter got written?
"These envelopes are pre-made, and this is the only one left…" Sylvia tried to co up with another excuse.
"It's fine," Timothy replied with a soft smile, clearly not concerned.
"You don't have to be in such a hurry just because you've reached Holy Emperor level!" Sylvia said, her eyes narrowing as if she couldn't believe how eager Timothy was acting.
"Well, of course! Now that I've reached this level, I don't have to be pushed around by you anymore. Naturally, I'm going to use my newfound strength to get so payback!"
"You…! Ugh!"
"Hmph, let's see if you can keep up that tough talk now," Timothy teased.
Sylvia, flustered, shot back, "You already know whether I'm all talk or not!"
"Huh? When did I find that out?" Timothy asked, genuinely confused for a mont.
"You… it's not like you haven't tried before…"
Timothy: "…"
Hearing Sylvia's voice, soft and embarrassed, Timothy fell silent for a mont.
It was true, after all.
But who would've thought that the usually cool and composed goddess would be so skilled at turning the tables in these situations?
The once-distant and aloof goddess was now as skilled at playful banter as a seasoned driver on a winding mountain road.
Who could have imagined that beneath her icy exterior, Sylvia had beco a master of this ga?
"Well, since you were the one who started teasing this ti, you can't bla for what happens next," Timothy said with a mischievous smile.
By the light of the candles, the shadows of two figures could be seen, slowly moving closer together by the desk.
Clothes slipped off, falling softly to the floor, as the flickering candlelight cast their silhouettes on the wall.
Even though the doors of Sky Sanctuary were tightly shut, if soone had passed by outside, they might have heard the soft, lodic sounds of a woman's voice, gentle and sweet.
And not only that—the sturdy wooden desk, usually reserved for the goddess's official duties, began to creak and tremble under the weight of their movents.
The birds perched in the nearby trees fluttered their wings and quickly flew off into the distance.
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