Chapter nineteen

The fourth wedding took place the day after.

She felt more relaxed that day. Needless to say, the night prior was spent wide awake, as the royal snores that came out the royal asshole kept her from dreaming.

Her brother walked her to the altar, the groom gave her his mohar, they performed the ritual and paraded through the capital city.

Although it was her fourth celebration, she couldn't help but find herself in awe at the sight of the cheering crowds.

"You look beautiful today."

"You flatter me, Lord Wolfgang."

"Is honesty flattery?"

"Perhaps. You look beautiful too."

He unsuccessfully tried to hide his embarrassment, "it is You who flatters me now, Your Highness."

She chuckled, covering her mouth with a white fan.

"Are you anxious?"

"No", he lied. He had been sweating during the whole ceremony, and had to change his clothes twice just before the parade. He came prepared, at least.

She simply smiled without replying. He must not know that she gets records about their every move.

"Just wave your hand and smile." Squeezing his in hers, she did her best to reassure him.

"Yes, Your Highness."

Empress Cassiopeia seemed to enjoy his tense manner of speaking, but she made no remark whatsoever.

After the parade, they dwindled with the other nobles. He danced better than all her husbands.

His movements were delicate, like a fairy's. His body seemed to glide through the ballroom, and he eluded an air of refined elegance like no one before. She had noticed it the first time they danced, but perhaps that day he was doing his best, because she thought that there was no such talent in dancing that could compare to his.

Lord Asher was too shy in his movements, Prince Of Vindbjerg was a brute and abruptly moved her back and forth, while Lord Dorkas was good, but not as good.

"I have taken ballet classes as a child." He explained.

"Ballet?"

"It's a form of dancing. It's popular in the Lyodiya Kingdom and the Vindbjerg Kingdom. Most nobles practice it, but only commoners perform for audiences in the Lyodiya Kingdom. In Vindbjerg it's the opposite, only nobles can perform."

"That's quite interesting."

"Have you ever performed?"

"I've never been to Vindbjerg, and I stopped taking classes a long time ago."

She nodded. "Will you perform for me sometime?"

"Am I allowed to decline, Your Highness?"

"No."

"Then perhaps in a farther future."

She chuckled, "when you'll be too old to move?"

"Precisely."

"How sly."

"That is an adjective rarely used to define me."

"Is that so?"

He nodded, "I have quite the mysterious charm, You see."

"Is that to imply that you rarely leave your chambers?"

"Precisely."

She chuckled, "I'll see you later in my chambers."

"Of course, Your Highness."

She smiled, then pushed herself forward to kiss him on the cheek.

Anyhow, the wet feeling that met her lips was not what she expected.

"Get bathed, you're sweating."

As red as a beetroot he replied, "yes, Your Highness."

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The chemise she was wearing that night felt less revealing than the others, or perhaps she was getting used to it.

She didn't dislike it, she was just not comfortable with showing that much skin.

Massaging scented oils through her hair, the chatty maid, Rossana, was gossiping about the latest trends.

Although many had proposed to be her lady in waiting, she wanted to rule not as a consort, but as the Empeor.

She heard some steps outside of the door. Ready to greet her consort, she straightened her back and let her hair loose.

Anyhow, the steps seemed to be coming and going, as if someone was walking back and forth.

"Lord Wolfgang." She called.

"Y-Yes, Your Highness?" He stuttered, slightly opening the door so that only his head could peek inside.

"What are you doing outside?"

"I was about to enter, Your Highness." The shy reply almost made her chuckle, but she decided not to wound his pride.

"Come in then."

His shirt was tightly closed on his chest, and his velvet forest green trousers were embellished by gold details.

He slowly closed the door behind him, making as little noise as possible.

Although her attire was more revealing than she was comfortable with, she did not feel embarrassed in his presence, like a sister wouldn't need to cover in front of a brother. Was he like a brother to her? She pondered for a moment. No, he was not. He was more like a puppy.

A brown poodle.

"Is there something on my face, Your Highness?"

She wondered if he could bark.

"Your freckles are less pronounced today."

"Ah, yes." He scratched his cheek. "In Lyodiya we cover them with powder. I'm surprised you noticed. Were they that ugly?"

"No. I like them."

For the first time since he had entered her chambers, he lifted his head to look at her.

"Do you really?"

He looked like a poodle waiting for a treat.

"I do."

He beamed, and his emerald eyes seemed to reflect all the lights in the room.

He fiddled anxiously with the ruby on his ring. Hers had an emerald. Surprisingly enough, her ring finger was not feeling heavy with four rings.

"So..."

She brought her focus back to the guy.

"Yes?"

He cleared his throat, avoiding her gaze.

"It's my first time, so..." his voice became quieter with every word, "please take good care of me..." The last word was naught but a whisper, so faint Empress Cassiopeia wasn't sure if she had actually heard it.

Would she be a bad person if she laughed in his face?

Instead, she closed the distance between them and ruffled his hair.

"What are you talking about?"

His eyes remained shut and his cheeks were burning.

"There's no need for us to sleep together tonight."

"But-"

She pressed her hand on his head.

"No buts. You don't seem much more ready than me, and I want to know you before sleeping with you."

"T-The imperial law states that-"

"-That you must sleep with me. That's true, but you don't want to, and neither do I tonight. Let's not ruin the memory of our wedding for a law we can easily break. We'll say we slept together, and no one will say anything."

He nodded. She lifted her hand from his hair.

"Relax. I don't bite."

He covered his face with his hands. "Pardon me, I don't mean to be like this."

"Like what?"

His voice was muffled under his hands. "Pathetic. Fearful. I don't want to be a burden to You, You must hate me."

She chuckled, "why would I hate you? We don't know each other that well."

It hadn't been two weeks since he arrived. They met three times with the wedding day included, so how could she develop such a strong feeling for someone in so little time?

"I'm sorry."

"Stop it", she lowered his hands, "be more confident in yourself."

"What's there to be confident about, Your Highness?"

She liked his green eyes and light brown hair. She liked how he smelled of freshly cut grass and how his freckles adorned his cheeks. She liked how he dressed in clothes she never saw, ans she liked how he was only some centimeters taller than her.

She liked his accent and his sweet tooth, she liked his love for flowers and how sweet his voice sounded. She liked how delicate his thin hands were and how beautifully he danced.

"I don't know. You should find out for yourself. I can't tell you."

He sighed.

"I'll allow you to hug my person for comfort, if that is what you need." She added, feeling bad.

Opening her arms, she waited for him to initiate it.

He lowered his head, hiding his face against her shoulder. She pulled him closer and wrapped her hands around his torso.

Patting it lightly, she did her best to comfort him.

Perhaps it was because she was not adept at hugging people, but it was the most awkward hug she had ever been through.

"This is awkward." He commented, voicing her thoughts.

"No..." she lied.

"Your voice betrays You."

"I'm sorry."

He chuckled on her shoulder, and she couldn't help but do the same.

"I'm sorry too. I never had a partner before. I don't know how to behave."

He didn't reply.

His chuckle diminished, and he pulled her closer. Her chest was against his and his hands were wrapped around her waist. He inhaled her sweet scent.

"You smell like honey, Your Highness."

She was glad he couldn't see her blushing face. How could such a shy guy make such a bold move?

"I too. I've never had a partner either. My parents' relationship is not one from which I want to take an example, and I know too little nobles to sample their relationship. Lyodiya censors most romance novels too. I know my duties and nothing else. We come from different countries too, with different traditions and customs. It's hard for me."

His confession warmed her heart.

He continued, "I don't know how to behave with You either. I don't know at which distance I should keep You, and I don't know how to address You or what You expect from me. I fear that I am too close, only to find myself fearing that I am too far from You."

She caressed his hair. Perhaps it was because he couldn't see her that his words flowed so nicely.

"I am alone in a foreign land. I know no one. It's hard to speak the language, let alone reading it. The only person that I know is Your Highness, and I'm terrified of making a mistake that will leave me isolated in a palace wing."

Had she not grown up isolated in a palace wing? She would never let that happen to him.

"I'm scared, Your Highness. I'm pathetic and a fool, but I'm terrified of this situation."

He had spent his whole life holed up in his cave, and now he was sent under the scorching sun alone with no parasol.

"I'm not famous for abandoning people in palace wings", was all she said.

His desperate embrace was tender and heartwarming.

They held each other, waiting for one to pull away, too shy to make the first move.

Eventually, she broke that hug.

"Do whatever you want. Whether you want to be close or far from me, it's your decision. I won't reject your friendship, but I'll need to know you more if you want to be my lover.

Visit the capital if you wish, or spar with the knights if you prefer. You are captive as a token of friendship with your kingdom, but free in the jail I designed for you."

He chuckled, "from a Duke's son to a prisoner, how drastic."

"Get to know the maids and the servants. Study the language, decorate your room. That is my command to you. Make this place your home, so that I am not the only familiar face around you. Don't let your fears swallow you."

He nodded, "I will, thank You Your Highness."

"I can give you a dog, if you feel lonely."

A brown poodle, perhaps.

"That seems like a good idea, yes."