1 Husband and wife

Her wedding night found Iris more nervous than she thought. The maids bathed her and changed her into a nightgown which was semi transparent, the silhouette of her body being evident throughout the thin material. After the maids left she laid down on her bed, but only for a second. Her nerves didn't let her lay there, she couldn't even sit on it as she knew what was to come. Or at least she thought she knew as she, like all noble girls, was taught about the duty of a wife in the bedroom. But those lessons hadn't taught her about the tingling in her stomach and the heat coming from inside her. No, those were the feelings her now husband showed her with only a kiss. That thought made her touch her lips with her finger. She blushed when she remembered the kiss, the one that started all of this.

It happened only a month ago, on a dark night with no stars in the sky and the moon hiding behind the dark clouds, promising a heavy rain. But not a single drop fell yet and the castle's garden was lit by small torches which threw trembling shadows on the ground. She could remember his hands touching her arched back and caressing it while his other hand touched her cheek before sliding behind her head, entangled in her beautifully done hair. He looked passionately into her eyes, his green eyes making her forget about anything else. The smell that came from him drew her closer until their lips touched and she closed her eyes, letting herself drown in that blissful feeling, in those hard arms. He made her forget everything outside their embrace.

They forgot where they were and the reason they were there. They forgot about the ballroom full of chatting people, full of music and dance. It was only them at that moment, in the garden.

"You son of a bitch!" a cry woke them and they separated from each other. "You will pay dearly for this!". The man that was screaming at them approached and before Iris realized what was happening, he punched her partner hard.

"Father!" she cried, surprised by the turn of events. "Please father, wait!" she pleaded, putting herself between the two men. "Benjamin… he has no-no fault. I-it was I who-who wanted this, " she stuttered.

Her father's face was livid, color fading away and no word came from his mouth. He froze in place, tormented by his daughter's words.

"Iris…" he started. Iris has never seen her father like that, his usual cold eyes pleading.

"Your highness, I am sorry about these unfortunate events. I will take full responsibility for my actions and not let your daughter's reputation be tarnished. I will do everything in my power to make up for tonight's deeds," Benjamin declared with one breath, kneeling in front of Duke Martel.

Although the words moved Iris' heart, it seemed to annoy her father to no end.

"So that was your plan," the duke muttered. "You cunning bastard! I won't let you have your way, Iris will never marry you."

"But father, I love him! I love him so much! Why are you so against this union?" Iris started crying. "I want to marry him!"

"We will talk at home, Iris! This ball ends here for you," he stated, before dragging her by the arm to the carriage. She only had a moment to turn and look at her lover's eyes which were angry for a second, but then a warm feeling came from them. He also loved her, now she was sure of it.

The duke closed the door to the carriage and he shouted to drive home as fast as the driver could. Iris didn't want to see her father at all, she was so angry with him. He, who would avoid her so much after her mother's death, who even made her younger brother the heir of the dukedom, ignoring that she was his firstborn, was now interfering with the first thing she wanted. Iris didn't even think about talking to her father now.

After that night, the events that lead to the wedding happened at a fast pace. Iris indeed didn't want to talk about anything with her father and avoided even meeting him. She heard from her maids that Lord Benjamin was visiting the castle everyday, asking for her hand in marriage. Only after a week did the duke agree, only because they were seen that night in the garden. There were other people in the garden who witnessed what happened and the gossip spread. Now duke Martel's daughter's reputation was tainted and who would ever want to marry her now.

But for Iris, those news were nothing but happy as after months of uncertainty, he finally showed her his feelings. It felt like yesterday when she first met him, the tall and handsome lord who was one of the best swordsmen in the country. The rumors about him were known by all young women and many were enamored with him. But Iris could not believe all of that. In the end how could the man that was said to push back all the monsters in the Black Wood be so elegant and graceful. And a man who was rumored to have many lovers could not possibly be this shy and awkward with the ladies. The hand that slightly trembled when asking her for the first dance couldn't be a hand that knew women.

The sound of the door stopped her thoughts and her husband was now entering the wedding chamber. They had to consummate the marriage, preferably on the first night, so that nobody would be able to interfere. Iris' heart began beating harder until it felt galloping in her chest, anticipating his touch.