The night ended up being long. Khan returned to one of his bedrooms only when dawn was barely one hour away, but his day didn't finish even then. It actually began.

"Khan?" Monica called when Khan entered the room.

"What are you doing awake?" Khan sighed, undressing and throwing his clothes and equipment to the floor.

Monica noticed the exhaustion in Khan's voice and stood up, leaving the big bed to approach him. Her figure and nightgown entered the blue light radiated by Khan's eyes, growing bigger as she neared him.

"You know I can't sleep without you," Monica reminded, helping Khan with the remaining clothes. He could oppose her but didn't. The night had taken a toll on his mind, making him oddly tired.

Monica removed Khan's pelts before getting on her knees to deal with his shoes. He facilitated the process, lifting his feet and letting her handle the rest. That situation could easily lead to lewd developments, but the mood couldn't be more different.

Undressing Khan had revealed the needle-sized holes throughout his body. Monica explored those on his legs with her fingers before standing up and moving to his torso. She found the wounds on his arms and gently turned him, exposing the similar injuries on his back.

"It's nothing," Khan reassured. "Abraham and Garret needed to test something. They succeeded. I should be able to start training soon."

Monica exchanged a glance with Khan before focusing on the injuries again. Her fingers circled the holes' edges, finding dirt and stickiness. Khan had probably sweated and bled a lot during the night, and Monica could easily spot those traces on him.

"Come," Monica eventually ordered, taking Khan's hand and pulling him away. He let her guide him into the bedroom's bathroom, where she prepared the bathtub without letting go of him.

Warm water quickly filled the bathtub, and Monica entered it, pulling Khan inside. She turned him and pushed him down, forcing him to sit with his back toward her. Khan heard Monica undress and throw her nightgown away but didn't turn. He only closed his eyes, knowing his fiancée would take care of him.

Soon, scrubbing and splashing noises echoed throughout the bathroom. Monica cleaned Khan with a soft sponge, focusing on his injuries. The occasional crusts fell, revealing intact skin underneath.

It turned out Khan was already healing, and the bath had finalized the process, allowing Monica to focus on the war paint and dirt. She also dealt with his hair before throwing away the sponge and letting him lean on her.

Khan never opened his eyes and lost track of time, focusing on the cozy atmosphere. The bathtub kept the water warm, and Monica's chest pressed on his back. She had also stretched her legs at his sides, which he occasionally caressed to savor her smooth and soft skin.

"I could almost sleep now," Khan admitted, chuckling. That wish sounded like mockery to his ears since he knew the nightmares would be waiting for him.

"Then, sleep," Monica muttered, tightening the arms around Khan's shoulders to bring him closer. "I'll watch over you."

"I want to attend the tournament," Khan shook his head. "How long do we have?"

"Never long enough," Monica responded, leaning forward to rest her head on Khan's.

"That's true," Khan sighed, letting a few silent seconds pass before adding something. "It doesn't feel good to be treated like a lab rat."

"Then, don't," Monica said. "You don't have to do it."

"The hard part is over," Khan reassured. "Now it's only training sessions and check-ups."

"That's the hard part," Monica pointed out.

"It never was for me," Khan revealed.

"Because you are a dumb scoundrel," Monica explained, slightly hesitating before continuing. "I don't like seeing you like this."

"Naked?" Khan joked.

"Abused," Monica corrected. "Hurt."

Khan opened his eyes, adding a blue color to the bathroom's artificial light. He looked up before turning on himself, planting his knees on the bathtub to pull Monica on him.

"I'm not hurt," Khan stated, sitting down while Monica made herself comfortable on his lap. "They injected me with colorants and other stuff. I'm just feeling off."

Monica didn't show it, but Khan knew she didn't believe him one bit. One of her hands went on his chest while the other removed hair strands from his forehead. Her eyes occasionally met his, but she never spoke.

"What is it?" Khan eventually asked.

"I'm just looking at you, dear," Monica said, shaking her head. "Can't I?"

"You can do whatever you want with me," Khan replied in a serious tone.

"I know," Monica nodded. "You are completely in my power and can't help but fulfill my every whim."

Khan smiled, closing his eyes again and leaning his head forward, planning to rest it on Monica's chest. Yet, she held him still from his left cheek, which made him look at her.

"Let me look at you," Monica whispered, her request almost sounding like a plea.

Khan complied, and the two looked deep into their eyes. Monica searched for something while Khan tried to understand what was happening.

"Monica," Khan called.

"Shh," Monica voiced, and Khan let her continue that silent inspection.

The silence went on for a few minutes, and neither Khan nor Monica moved. The two simply

relaxed in the bathtub, losing themselves in their partner's eyes.

"Yes," Monica eventually uttered. "I'm truly crazy about you."

"What?" Khan asked, the urge to laugh rising through his mind.

"This new training method of yours scares me," Monica admitted, "But you are still you, and I love you more than anything."

Khan didn't reply. He knew the events with the pool had been traumatic for Monica. They had shaken one of her core certainties to the core, and she needed time to reinforce it and adjust to the potential incoming changes.

"Cuddle me," Monica ordered, curling on Khan's chest and smiling when he wrapped his arms around her head.

"I thought you were taking care of me today," Khan teased.

"I am," Monica stated. "You love making me happy. I'm taking care of you by letting you take

care of me."

"How wise," Khan chuckled, "And convenient."

"I made such a good decision when I seduced you," Monica agreed.

Khan laughed, pulling Monica closer. She relaxed even more, and her breath grew deeper. Her

mana also revealed her tiredness, hinting at something else.

"Why don't you rest today?" Khan suggested, caressing Monica's curls. "I can handle the

guests on my own for one day."

"I will rest today," Monica confirmed, "With you."

"I told you I want to attend," Khan reminded.

"You said that," Monica muttered, "But we'll still rest today."

Khan understood Monica's intentions without needing to read her mana. That was the only way to make Khan rest, and she knew it far too well. As long as she fell asleep on top of him,

he wouldn't move.

Khan held back a helpless sigh. Truth be told, his body was fine. It was his mind that needed time away from all the political chaos, and taking one day off didn't sound like a bad idea. Moreover, the new training method would start soon, and Khan didn't know how he would react to it. Chances were his schedule would become full, preventing him from spending time with Monica, so he could make an exception that day.

"Okay," Khan accepted defeat. "We rest today."

"Good," Monica exclaimed, rubbing her head on Khan's chest. "Carry me to bed once I fall

asleep."

"Aye, aye, Ma'am," Khan chuckled.

"Also," Monica continued. "I should tell you."

Monica didn't add anything else, tingling Khan's curiosity. He looked down at her, but she hid

her face, her mana leaking a familiar shyness.

"I-" Monica eventually said. "I interrupted the birth control. Mood swings aside, I should be

fine in a month or so."

Khan slightly froze. He didn't expect that, nor did he know how to react. The two could still rely on condoms for the time being, but Monica's decision put a sense of inevitability to the

topic.

"Your mood swings are you being fine," Khan joked, too stunned to say anything serious. "Tease me all you want," Monica snorted. "Just hurry up. I want to marry you and give you

children."

The statement was another blow to Khan's sanity. He froze again, his brain requiring a few seconds to resume its normal functioning. That wasn't the couple's usual teasing or a sweet moment. Monica was actually pushing for that.

"Hurry up?" Khan questioned.

"I can't stop you from training," Monica explained. "I can't tell you how to grow stronger, either. The least I can do is get something in return."

"Getting pregnant is your revenge or something?" Khan wondered.

"Shut it, dummy," Monica cursed, looking up at Khan and splashing water on his face. "You

will use the pool anyway, right? So, hurry up and become a fifth-level warrior. That way, we

can finally become a family."

Khan blinked twice. He almost couldn't believe Monica was telling him to work harder, but there she was. In a way, that was one of the few times she had asked something from him when his schedule was so busy, and he couldn't help but feel obliged to comply.

"As you wish," Khan agreed. "I'll become a fifth-level warrior, and we'll start a family."

"Don't forget to marry me first," Monica reminded, curling back on Khan's chest. "Oh, also, you better stash condoms again for the time being. I hope the planet has enough of them."

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