Just a few hours before dawn, Aron gently slipped away from Aurora's embrace, quietly departing from his chambers. The night had refused to embrace him with sleep, leaving him restless and yearning for the cool breeze outside.

As he wandered through the dimly lit corridors, Aron's attention was drawn to a soft glow emanating from the office on the same floor. Curiosity piqued, he pushed open the door and found Scarlett seated at the desk, engrossed in the contents of several notebooks scattered before her.

Aron paused in the doorway, surprised to find Scarlett awake at such an early hour. He watched her for a moment, taking in the sight of her focused expression and the way her fingers delicately flipped through the pages. He couldn't help but be captivated by her allure.

The way her fiery hair cascaded over her shoulders, the gentle curve of her lips as she concentrated on her task—it all seemed to enhance her natural beauty.

She wore a crimson nightgown that matched the vibrant hue of her hair, adding to her enchanting presence.

"Scarlett?" Aron spoke softly, not wanting to startle her. "What are you doing so early?"

Scarlett's head snapped up at the sound of his voice, her eyes widening in surprise before she quickly composed herself. She flashed him a sheepish smile, pushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

"Oh, Boss," she said, her voice a little hoarse from the late night. "I couldn't sleep, so I decided to come here and work. I hope I didn't wake you."

Aron shook his head, stepping further into the room. "No, you didn't wake me. I couldn't sleep either, and…" he stopped next to the desk "…are you still going to address me as 'Boss'?"

Scarlett was always a mystery to Aron. Unlike the other girls, he didn't know much about her, except that she was an adventurer and grew up in an orphanage with Valarian, but how did she end up in slavery and everything else she didn't say a thing.

Moreover, Scarlett always preferred to keep her interactions with Aron more formal and professional. It was like she built walls around her, preventing anyone from getting too close. Freya was the only person who was close to Scarlett and could joke with and mess around. All because they shared the same cell in the past.

Scarlett chuckled softly, a warm glimmer in her eyes as she regarded Aron. "Old habits die hard, I suppose," she admitted.

A faint smile played at the corners of Aron's lips. "Habits or not, from now on, it's Aron. I won't take no for an answer."

Scarlett's expression softened at Aron's request, a hint of surprise flickering in her eyes. She seemed momentarily taken aback by his insistence as if she hadn't expected him to be so determined about it.

"Alright," she acquiesced, her voice gentle yet filled with a sense of warmth. "If that's what you want."

Aron nodded, a sense of satisfaction washing over him at the small victory. He knew it was a minor change, but to him, it signified a step forward in their relationship. He didn't know why, but he wanted to be close to all of his treasurers.

'Maybe a dragon thing?' he wondered.

"Good, now stop working, and let's go and have a drink."

Aron's suggestion caught Scarlett off guard, her eyebrows raising slightly in surprise. She wasn't accustomed to such casual invitations from him, especially considering their usual professional dynamic. But there was something in Aron's eyes, a glimmer of warmth and sincerity, that made her unable to refuse.

"Alright," she agreed, a small smile playing on her lips as she reached for the desk drawer and pulled out a bottle of wine and two glass cups.

"A drink sounds nice."

With the wine in hand, Scarlett joined Aron as they made their way to the balcony of the office, where they sat on a small table.

As they settled into their seats on the balcony, a gentle breeze brushed against their faces, carrying with it the faint scent of the night. Aron poured the wine into the glasses, the rich aroma mingling with the cool night air.

"Thank you," Scarlett said softly, accepting the glass from him with a grateful smile.

Aron returned her smile, a sense of ease settling over him as they sat together in comfortable silence, the only sound being the soft rustle of leaves in the wind.

For a moment, they simply savored the wine and the tranquility of the night, each lost in their own thoughts. But soon, Scarlett found herself unable to resist the urge to break the silence

"What's on your mind?"

Aron took a deep breath, his gaze shifting to the beautiful moon hanging in the night sky. Its soft, silvery glow cast a tranquil aura over the scene, adding to the serene atmosphere of the moment.

"A lot in my mind lately," Aron began, his voice quiet as he spoke. "I found out that I had a brother in the past, a brother that likely I killed with my own hands."

Scarlett's eyes widened slightly, but she kept silent as he continued.

"On top of that, a woman who I possibly had a strong relationship with betrayed me and killed my kin."

Aron shared the weight of his burdens with Scarlett. He never did that with anyone. He had always been wary of appearing vulnerable; after all, men must carry their burdens with an iron will and leave the emotional sharing and talk to women.

However, Scarlett was mature enough to understand things better than most. She listened intently as Aron opened up about the heavy burdens weighing on his mind. Her heart went out to him, recognizing the pain and turmoil he must be experiencing.

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"What was the nature of your relationship with this woman?" she inquired, her curiosity sincere.

"Well, if memory serves me right, I was supposed to marry her for an alliance,"

Scarlett took a sip of wine before offering a piece of her own story. "I can imagine how difficult that must be for you. Something similar happened to me."

Aron looked at Scarlett, intrigued by her words. He hadn't expected her to open up, but he welcomed the opportunity to deepen their connection.

"What happened?" he asked gently, his voice laced with concern.

Scarlett took a moment to collect her thoughts before she spoke, her gaze fixed on the distant horizon as if lost in memories of the past.

"I was a young, stupid girl who thought that she found true love. I married a young nobleman who was my party leader."

"I thought he was the one," Scarlett continued, her voice tinged with regret. "We fought side by side, facing countless dangers together. I believed we shared a bond…but I was naive."

She took another sip before continuing, "It was all part of his twisted scheme to catch me off guard. On our wedding night, he drugged me and sold me into slavery. Later, I discovered he was deeply indebted due to gambling."

CRASH!

"!!!" The sound of something breaking snapped Scarlett from her thoughts. She quickly turned to the source and found that Aron crushed the glass cup in his hand.

"Tell me the bastard's name and I'll make him kneel before you," Aron vowed.

Scarlett's eyes widened at the intensity in Aron's voice and the shattered glass in his hand. She was happy that he was mad for her and prepared to bring her justice.

"Thank you, Aron, but I plan to handle it personally," she declared, standing up and taking a few steps forward. A hint of sadistic satisfaction crept into her smile as she added, "Only I have the right to take that bastard's life. I'll make him curse his own mother for bringing him to this world."

Aron watched with a wide smile as Scarlett's determination filled him with pride. He was glad that she was going to take her revenge with her own hands.

"Good, that's how revenge should be. If you need help or anything from me, just ask,"

Scarlett turned, staring at Aron with her sharp red eyes. For a while, she didn't say anything and made her way to him, sitting boldly in his lap, running her arms behind his neck, and planting a soft, quick kiss on his lips.

"I only ask you to never betray me and stay by my side forever. Can you promise me that?"

Aron's heart skipped a beat as a rush of warmth spread through him as Scarlett settled into his lap and gave him the kiss.

The unexpected intimacy took him by surprise, and just as he was about to reply, Scarlett averted her gaze, cheeks flushed.

"Sorry, I forgot what I just said. I think I'm too drunk, so don't take me seriously," she apologized and attempted to leave his lap, but Aron quickly grabbed her waist, stopping her.

"Scarlett," he called softly, his hand gently holding her waist.

Scarlett didn't respond and kept avoiding his eyes, embarrassed by her own actions. It had been a while since she developed feelings toward Aron, yet the fear of making the same mistake as in the past prevented her from acting on those feelings.

"Scarlett," Aron repeated, gently lifting her chin to meet his gaze.

"From the moment I declared you my treasure, your fate was sealed. I'll never abandon or betray you. You are mine, and no one, be it noble or king, will take you from me."

The obsession in his voice sent a shiver down Scarlett's spine, but not out of fear, from something else. Tears came to Scarlett's eyes as she felt overwhelmed by the emotions swirling within her.

'Oh damn… screw it, I don't care anymore.'

With that, she leaped, kissing Aron passionately, her lips meeting his in a fervent embrace. Aron didn't hesitate to respond, his arms wrapping around her waist, pulling her closer.

The kiss was electric, sending a surge of desire coursing through both of them. In that moment, all the walls that Scarlett had built around her heart came crashing down, and she allowed herself to be consumed by the fire of their passion.

Breaking the kiss, Scarlett whispered seductively, "I'm yours for life. Take me."

Aron's heart pounded with desire as Scarlett's whispered words sent a thrill through him. He gazed into her eyes, seeing the raw intensity of her desire mirrored in them, and without hesitation, he scooped her up into his arms.

With swift strides, Aron carried Scarlett to the nearest empty bedroom, their lips locked in a feverish embrace the entire way. The air crackled with electricity as they entered the room, the anticipation of what was to come sending shivers down their spines.

Setting Scarlett gently down on the bed, Aron hovered over her, his eyes dark with desire as he traced his fingertips lightly along her jawline, savoring the softness of her skin. Scarlett's breath hitched at his touch, her body responding eagerly to his every caress.

"Are you sure about that? There is no going back," Aron asked, even though it was a pointless question in his eyes. There was no escape from his grip in the first place, yet he had to ask.

Scarlett's eyes blazed with determination as she looked up at Aron, her voice filled with unwavering certainty.

"I'm sure, Aron," she whispered, her fingers reaching up to trace the contours of his face. "I've never been more sure of anything in my life. I want you, all of you, forever."

Aron's heart swelled with emotion at her words, a surge of love and desire coursing through him. He leaned down, capturing her lips in a searing kiss, pouring all of his passion and longing into the embrace.

Their bodies entwined with a primal urgency, a hunger driving them to seek solace in each other's arms. Clothes were shed in a frenzy of desire, discarded in a tangle of limbs as they surrendered to the fire burning between them.

For a moment Scarlett attempted to hide her scars, fearing that he might be disgusted by them, but all her fears disappeared when he said a few words.

"You're beautiful."

Skin met skin, igniting sparks of pleasure that consumed them both, as they lost themselves in the ecstasy of their union. Every touch, every kiss was a symphony of desire.

At that moment, there was no revenge for the past, no goals for the future, only the passion for the present, where their love blazed bright and untamed. They moved together with a rhythm born of pure instinct, each movement a declaration of their passion.

As they reached the pinnacle of their desire, Scarlett cried out his name, her voice mixed in with the symphony of ecstasy that echoed through the room.

Lucky for her, Aron isolated the room before entering it, using the words of power, or the whole mansion would be awakened by the sound of their passion.

Exhausted yet euphoric—at least with Scarlett, for Aron and his new dragon heart, it's tough to make him exhausted—they collapsed into each other's arms, their bodies still humming with the aftershocks of their lovemaking.

"Wow… Humph!… that was… Amazing!" Said Scarlett catching her breath, a satisfied smile gracing her lips as she nestled against Aron's chest.

Aron chuckled softly, his arms wrapped protectively around Scarlett as he brushed a strand of hair away from her face.

"You're the amazing one," he murmured, his voice filled with genuine admiration. "I've never felt anything like this before."

Scarlett smiled, her heart fluttering at his words. She reached up, tracing her fingertips along the contours of his face, committing every detail to memory.

"Neither have I," she confessed, her voice soft with emotion. "I never thought I could feel so… alive."

They lay there wrapped in each other's embrace for some time until Scarlett broke the silence.

"Be careful, Aron. The Frostguard is a dangerous place during the monster waves."

Aron smiled, seeing the opportunity for teasing. "Oh! Are you worried about me? How rare."

Scarlett's eyebrow twitched as she realized that Aron was teasing. She twisted and pinched his skin.

"After everything that happened, do you still doubt my love for you?"

"Ouch… Hey!" Aron winced slightly at Scarlett's playful pinch, he reached out, stroking her red hair and pulling her closer to him.

"Of course not," he replied, his tone sincere. "Alright, I promise to be careful."

"Good," she leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to Aron's lips. "I just want you to be safe and return to me… to us."

"I will."

With that, they spent the remaining time till dawn wrapped in each other's arms, finding comfort and solace in the strength of their connection. With a genuine desire in Scarlett's heart to see her dream come true. A simple yet meaningful dream.

To have a family.