Shun had stopped, but Koyuki was still a little nervous. Before her breathing could fully calm, she felt her body lighten.
Shun had picked her up in his arms and was slowly flying into the sky. Koyuki subconsciously hugged his neck, her body tensed.
"Don't be afraid, I'm here. Relax a little, look around you, it would be a pity to miss it." Shun's voice rang out above her, carrying a comforting warmth.
He adjusted his posture, letting Koyuki's head rest in the crook of his arm, and with his other hand, he gently patted her back. The warmth of his palm permeated through her clothes, as if transmitting a calming power.
Koyuki slowly opened her eyes and began to look around. Unbeknownst to her, they had already passed through the low-flying snow and ascended above the clouds.
The sunlight poured down unobstructed, dyeing the clouds a faint gold. Vast seas of clouds flowed gently beneath their feet like soft cotton, with occasional wisps of cloud brushing against her fingertips, carrying a cool, damp sensation.
In the distance, the peaks of the snow-capped mountains pierced through the clouds, like golden mountain peaks embedded in the cloud sea, so beautiful it made her forget to breathe.
The tension gradually dissipated, and Koyuki's body slowly relaxed.
She tilted her head slightly, looking at the cloud sea beside her, her eyes full of wonder. Even the heartbeat that had accelerated due to fear gradually calmed down.
Shun gently adjusted his embrace, allowing Koyuki to see the cloud sea more clearly.
His other hand gently lifted her chin, turning her gaze towards him. Before she could react, he leaned down and lightly pressed a kiss on her lips.
The kiss carried the warmth of sunlight and a faint masculine scent, as gentle as a wisp of wind in the cloud sea.
Koyuki's cheeks instantly flushed crimson, her eyes widened abruptly, and her body began to tremble slightly again. She didn't know why, but there was no resistance in her heart. Instead, there was even a hint of secret delight.
When Shun released her, he looked at her with gentle eyes.
"Koyuki, with me here, you don't need to be afraid."
"Whether it's Dotō or the future of the Land of Snow, I will help you. Now, let's enjoy this cloud sea together. It's such a beautiful sight, it would be a pity to miss it."
Koyuki's heart was still beating fast, but she just nodded gently, returning her gaze to the cloud sea.
The sunlight fell on her profile, making her flushed cheeks appear exceptionally soft. The previous exhaustion and unease seemed to have been washed away by the high-altitude sunlight and cloud sea, leaving only a calm in her eyes and a hint of imperceptible dependence.
Shun held her, flying slowly above the cloud sea, not fast, as if deliberately to let her enjoy the scenery.
Occasionally, mischievous wisps of cloud brushed past Koyuki's hair. She would subconsciously raise her hand to brush them away, the movement of her fingertips through the clouds carrying a childlike curiosity.
Shun looked at her profile, his eyes full of tenderness.
Koyuki suddenly spoke softly, asking with a hint of hesitation, "Shun-sama, why are you... willing to help me? The Land of Snow and the Land of Water originally didn't have much connection."
Shun leaned down and kissed her forehead, his gaze falling on her flushed earlobes.
"Because of your beauty and you also said you were willing to offer yourself as a betrothal gift to serve by my side, so my heart was moved."
Recalling her request in the great hall yesterday, and remembering the phrase "willing to offer myself as a betrothal gift to serve Your Excellency's side," Koyuki's cheeks instantly turned red, even her earlobes were tinged with crimson.
She quickly lowered her head, not daring to look into his eyes again. Her fingertips tightly clutched the hem of her clothes, her heart beating so fast it felt like it would burst from her chest.
Shun's lips curved into a smug smile. "There are still 3 hours left, it's time to fulfill your initial promise."
Before she could say anything else, Koyuki felt the scene before her eyes change abruptly.
Shun carried her into a spatial gate. The next second, the biting cold wind and cloud sea vanished, replaced by warm lamplight and a soft carpet.
Looking at the silk bedding with gold and silver threads, and the luxurious decorations around her, Koyuki naturally guessed what would happen next.
The shyness of an untouched woman, intertwined with a past promise, swirled in her heart.
She didn't struggle, but quietly buried her face in Shun's clothes, the masculine scent on him lingering at her nose, making her feel inexplicably at ease.
Shun sensed the tension of the person in his arms, and his movements became exceptionally gentle. He didn't immediately put her down, but carried her to the soft couch in the center of the room and sat down.
He raised his hand to brush away the tiny snowflakes clinging to her hair, his fingertips gently tracing her flushed earlobe, and softly comforted her, "Don't be afraid, I'll be gentle. If you don't want to, we can..."
"I do..." Koyuki suddenly looked up, interrupting him.
Her eyes were sparkling, with a hint of shyness, but more so, determination. "It was my initiative to make the promise, I won't go back on my word."
After speaking, she quickly lowered her head, pressing her cheek against his chest. It was as if only this way could her flustered heart gradually calm down.
Looking at her obedient appearance, a wave of tenderness welled up in Shun's heart.
He slowly leaned down, his fingers gently cupping her chin, bringing her gaze to meet his own.
Before Koyuki could say anything, he kissed her lips again.
Unlike the previous fleeting touch, this kiss carried abundant tenderness and patience. His lips gently caressed hers, as if soothing her nervousness.
Koyuki was initially a bit stiff, her lips trembling slightly, but under his guidance, she slowly relaxed. She gently wrapped her arms around his neck, her fingertips carefully touching his hair, responding to this warm kiss.
After a while, her breathing gradually became hurried, her cheeks flushed with an alluring redness, and even the corners of her eyes were tinged with a faint dampness.
Only then did Shun slowly release her, resting his forehead against hers, and rubbing his nose against hers.
He asked, "Are you ready? Do you want to rest for a bit?"
Koyuki gently shook her head, her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz. "No... I can."
Her fingertips were still resting on his neck, and the temperature of her fingertips gradually rose.
Shun said no more, carefully picking her up in his arms and walking gently towards the bed.
His movements were exceptionally soft, as if afraid of hurting her. When he reached the bed, he even deliberately lifted a corner of the bedding before gently placing her on the mattress covered with soft velvet.
As Shun leaned closer, Koyuki's body involuntarily tensed up. Her heart pounded even more violently, as if it would leap out of her throat, and her breathing also became somewhat rapid.
Two hours later...
"Little glutton, hurry up and get ready. We're going to the Land of Snow."