The Messenger( Iva) novel Chapter 177

Time Together-1

Morning came slowly, wrapped in warmth and unfamiliar comfort.

Iva stirred first.

At first, it was just a sensation-heat.

Deep, steady, almost overwhelming.

Something solid pressed against her back, radiating warmth like a furnace, anchoring her in place.

Her brows furrowed slightly as sleep still clung to her, her mind slow to catch up.

Then-

An arm.

Heavy.

Strong.

Draped securely around her waist.

Everything rushed back at once.

The ceremony.

The royal family..

The overwhelming presence of the castle.

And-

Caleb.

Her breath hitched softly as awareness fully settled in.

Oh goddess…

す

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She went still for a moment, her heart beginning to beat faster, acutely aware of how close they were, how naturally her body seemed to fit against his.

Carefully-very carefully-she tried to shift, to turn just enough so she wouldn’t wake him.

Slow movements.

Measured breaths.

But it wasn’t easy.

His hold tightened instinctively for a brief second, as if even in sleep he wasn’t willing to let her go.

She finally managed to turn.

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And when her eyes lifted-

She froze.

He was already looking at her.

Wide awake.

His eyes steady, watching her with quiet intensity.

Her breath caught.

Heat rushed instantly to her cheeks.

“I-” she started, completely flustered.

A low chuckle rumbled from his chest.

“Good morning to you too,” Caleb said, his voice rough with sleep but laced with amusement.

Iva blinked rapidly, trying to recover.

“H-how long have you been awake?” she asked, her voice softer than intended.

A small blush crept across her face.

He didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, his gaze lingered on her a moment longer than necessary before he replied casually,

“For a while.”

His hand shifted slightly against her waist, absentminded, almost testing.

“I’m used to waking up early,” he added. “Years of training.”

Iva nodded instinctively, the words slipping out before she could stop them.

“I know what you mean… I’ve had years of waking up at 4 a.m. for training.”

The moment the sentence left her lips-

She stilled.

Realization hit.

Too much.

Her expression faltered slightly as she became aware of what she had revealed.

A glimpse.

A piece of her past she hadn’t intended to offer so easily.

Not yet… she was not hiding information intentionally… yet..

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Time Together-1.

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Not when the memories still carried bitterness…. still lingered like a bruise she wasn’t ready to press. Since she left she refused to think of her past… except the catch-up with Lori and the occasional slip-ups on the memory lane.

She glanced at him cautiously.

Caleb had noticed.

Of course he had.

There was a flicker of interest in his eyes-sharp, observant-but to her surprise, he didn’t push.

Instead, he asked, tone deliberately casual,

“What kind of training?”

Relief mixed with hesitation.

“Mostly defense,” she answered, choosing her words more carefully. “But I studied strategy and offense too… perks of being from a Gamma family.”

His gaze held hers for a moment longer.

Then he nodded once.

No probing.

No pressure.

And just like that, he shifted the conversation.

“What do you usually have for breakfast?” he asked,/completely out of context.

She blinked, caught off guard.

“What?”

“Coffee and granola type,” he continued, his tone almost thoughtful, “or full breakfast?”

For a second, she just stared at him.

Then something softened in her expression.

He was trying.

Actually trying to get to know her.

A small smile appeared on her lips, genuine this time.

“Depends on the day,” she said lightly. “But… I guess today feels like a full breakfast kind of day.”

A corner of his mouth lifted.

“Good.”

Not long after, they both got up to refresh, the earlier tension easing into something quieter, more

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balanced.

And to her relief-

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Breakfast wasn’t in the grand, intimidating dining hall, under the eyes of the other royals.

Instead, when she stepped outside, she found a private terrace bathed in soft morning light, the air fresh, calm, untouched by the overwhelming presence of the castle’s inner workings.

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