The first day of my honeymoon was... quiet.
I woke up alone after a night of restless sleep. I had breakfast alone; the palace felt empty and hollow without the presence of the prince. I eventually asked a guard where the prince was, hoping to see him and get a sense of his current mood, but the guard told me that the prince often spent his time away from the palace. "Doing what exactly?" I asked, curious as to why the prince would spend his time away from the palace. The guard appeared to be flustered by my inquiry, and he gave a vague response instead. "I am afraid I do not know, your grace," he apologised respectfully, his tone of voice betraying his uneasiness. avoiding my eyes. I looked at him for a moment, considering his answer. I could not help but feel a sense of annoyance at his response, but I understood that the guard could only relay information that he knew. I nodded in acceptance before he bowed his head in return, ending the conversation. I decided to have a small walk around the garden, thinking that the fresh air and sunshine would lift my spirits after a quiet and lonely morning. A few ladies-in-waiting were following behind me, which felt odd considering that Alina had always been the only one I trusted in my entourage. Every time I turned, they would curtsy silently, their eyes always following my movements. They always kept a certain distance from me, as if they were afraid to get too close. Perhaps this was just a part of their culture, and there was nothing sinister behind their solemn demeanor. I brushed the thought away, deciding to focus on the fresh air and the beauty of the garden. I moved closer to the bushes, enjoying the smell of the different floral scents.
A sudden thought occurred to me that perhaps he was spending his days in brothels. A possibility, I supposed.
I took a deep breath, exhaling softly as I traced the outline of my ring with my thumb, trying to push the thought away. I don't love him anyway; I needed to keep reminding myself of that. I need to keep reminding myself that this was not an actual marriage but rather a political manoeuvre designed to create an alliance between our two nations.
As I continued walking, I heard the sound of horse steps in the distance. I stopped and looked up, hoping to identify the source of the noise and wanting a distraction from my thoughts.A carriage was approaching, and the sound of rumbling wheels and clopping hooves became louder with each passing moment. I stepped back and waited patiently to see who would emerge from the carriage. As one of the footmen in the back of the carriage got down to open the door, Alina came into view, her beautiful blue dress and olive-toned skin shimmering in the sun as she stepped down from the carriage. Her beauty was undeniable, and I could not help but admire her. "Alina.." I muttered her name as I approached her. I lifted my dress just enough to avoid tripping over the fabric. I felt a sense of relief wash over me as she took one look at me and seemed to understand the state I was in. She quickly came over to me and gave me a hug. The affection and warmth of her touch soothed my nervous energy. "Oh Princess," Alina exclaimed, her voice filled with concern as she hugged me tighter. "You came," I muttered, finally being able to release the breath I had been holding onto. "How could I not?" She chuckled back, her smile calming me even further. She remained holding both of my hands, her smile slowly turning into a concerned look. "How are you doing?" She inquired, her voice soft and earnest as she awaited my response. I remained silent, not knowing what to say in response. I felt a vague sense of uncertainty building up inside of me as I noticed her concerned expression. "Come," I whispered as I led her back to the palace. I wanted to go somewhere quieter, where we could speak without any guards or ladies-in-waiting listening in.
As I led her to my chamber, I felt a rush of emotions wash over me. A wave of relief washed over me at the thought of being able to have a private discussion with her. I felt my shoulders relax as I sat down on the bed, inviting her to join me. "So? How was the wedding night?" She asked, making me smile despite my feelings of disappointment. The irony of her question was not lost on me. "It was..." I trailed off, my eyes avoiding her gaze, as I suddenly felt embarrassed to admit how the night had gone. "It was painful, wasn't it?" She giggled, thinking that we actually bedded, when the truth could not have been further from the truth. I felt my face burn with embarrassment as I realised that she had mistaken my silence for something entirely different. "Don't worry, the pain lasts with time," she giggled again, believing that I was in pain from our intimate encounters during the wedding night. "Princess?" She inquired with concern, seeming puzzled by my silence. "We hadn't," I admitted softly, finally breaking the silence. "You didn't consummate the marriage?" She asked, shocked, as reality suddenly dawned on her. Her face fell and her eyes widened with disbelief, now understanding that we had not shared an intimate encounter during our wedding night. "But Princess," she began, only to be interrupted by me. "I was afraid, Alina!" I blurted out, my words filled with a sudden urge to explain myself. To my surprise, she did not speak in response or ask me any questions. Instead, she came over and embraced me, her body tightly wrapped around mine as she held me close. "I was afraid," I whispered, now finding the courage to admit what had been haunting me. "Of everything," I added softly, finding peace in my vulnerability as she embraced me. She let go, releasing her tightness around my body as she pulled away to face me. Her kind and understanding eyes met mine. "I understand your fear, princess," she said softly, her voice filled with compassion and kindness. "Your fear is understandable." Her words were laced with empathy and a deep understanding of my feelings. "I feel alone," I admitted softly, feeling my eyes fill with tears as the emotions I had been holding back started to pour out of me. "I miss Sophia, mother, and father," I added, my voice catching in my throat as I tried to speak without breaking down in front of her. Alina's hands were soft and firm, comforting as they held both of mine. I looked up at her, seeing the tenderness and worry in her eyes as she spoke. "Look at me, Princess," she said softly. "You're not alone. You have me," she continued, continuing to hold my hands tightly. "You have me," she repeated, her voice gentle and encouraging. "You're not alone in this."
"I know I have to do my duties as a princess," I replied with a slight sigh. "But why him of all princes?" The question was simple but carried a weight to it that caused me to pause for a moment. "Why didn't they choose Prince Charlton instead?" I asked, remembering the prince I had met at the ripe age of ten years old. He was a kind and respectable prince, but I had not seen him in a long time. "Although I have not seen him since I was ten years old," I added softly, feeling the memories of our childhood encounter rush back to me. "Princess...Prince Charlton was married two years ago; I thought you knew?" She gave me a confused look, leaving me speechless for a moment. I had not heard anything about his marriage, but it clearly had been a fact I should have already been aware of. "Oh..." I muttered, feeling like a fool for not having been aware of his marriage. "Change him," she stated in a firm yet gentle tone while wrapping her fingers around my hands and gazing deep into my eyes. "Use this time to mould him into the man you desire him to be." "Change him?" I asked with surprise, shocked by the suggestion. "Change him." She said it firmly, her eyes flashing with conviction. "Make him fall desperately in love with you. Make him worship the ground you walk upon." "You want me to woo him?" I asked, feeling confused by her sudden suggestion. "You want me to make him fall in love with me?" "He is your husband after all, his wife," she repeated. I took a moment to process her words. The truth is, she was correct. It was my obligation to put effort into this marriage. I had been thinking of it as an arrangement and not anything deeper, but Alina was indicating that I should take it more seriously.
Maybe she is right. My thoughts were now being directed towards the possibility of actually falling in love with Prince William and forming a real relationship. I had initially treated this marriage as an arrangement between strangers, but perhaps her suggestion had merit, and it was my duty to give this marriage more of a chance.
"How?" I felt a sudden sense of determination and purpose wash over me. "How can I make him fall in love with me?" "Firstly, my dear, it's time for you to return to your and your husband's chamber," she instructed me, her words sounding more authoritative and firm than they had before. I was surprised by her tone, but she was right. I needed to return to my husband's chambers and begin this process. "Does that mean we have to... consummate our marriage?" I asked softly, my heart beating quickly at the idea. She gave me a sharp look as she spoke. "Yes," she replied bluntly, not holding back on her words.
"Oh dear..." I softly breathed, feeling overwhelmed by her statement.
I knew she was right, but the thought of facing my husband once more caused me unease.
I stood by the window, watching anxiously as the servants placed my belongings in our chamber. I let my thoughts drift to Alina's earlier advice, which was still ringing in my mind. I was staring out the window, letting my thoughts wander, when suddenly I noticed something out of the corner of my eye.
I looked more closely and realised it was William. William stepped out of the carriage wearing a buff blouse tucked into a pair of trousers and shoes.
His attire was simple yet elegant, and it complimented him perfectly. The buff shirt made him look more masculine, which I noted with interest. I watched as he walked across the courtyard.
"Your grace?" I snapped out of my deep observation, swiftly diverting my attention to the servant who was addressing me with worry. The servant's concerned look was understandable, as I had been staring out of the window without realising how long I had been doing so. "Yes?" I replied, my voice calm yet slightly rushed. "Is your grace in need of further assistance?" The servant inquired politely.
"Nay, you may depart now; thank you." I said politely, and the servants bowed before taking their leave. leaving me alone with the knowledge that my husband was soon to enter this chamber. I took a deep breath, gathering my resolve and preparing myself to face him. I looked at myself one last time, making sure to adjust my apparel per Alia's instructions. I had chosen a light pink dress with a lower neckline and a pearl necklace, both of which made me look far more feminine than I had previously. My hair was styled neatly. With a light squeeze of my cheeks, I added the tiniest tinge of pink to my cheeks.
The double doors of the chamber opened, and he entered. His look conveyed his surprise, as it was clear that he had not expected to find me here. I smiled pleasantly, as I knew that I had to play my part and woo him. "Dearest! Where have you been?" I said, my tone sounded overly excited.
I sound foolish, I thought to myself as I realised I was attempting to act in a way that was far from my usual character. "I have not seen you this morning," I said softly, stepping closer to him as I spoke. My steps forward were slow and deliberate, moving with a sensual grace. I wanted him to see how graceful and elegant I was and how much I desired him.
"I was hunting," he replied with a smile, revealing his teeth in an expressive smile.
"Hunting," I repeated, with disbelief on my face. "Beside my prince activities, I enjoy hunting, thanks to my father's practice," was his response, which only added to my confusion. He had been hunting this morning, and I had no idea. Looking at him now, he did have the look of someone who had been out hunting. His dark curls looked slightly out of place, and his breathing was out of breath. Perhaps he truly had been hunting this morning. I was beginning to believe his claim.
"Had a change of heart?" He asked as he slowly moved towards me. His eyes were fixated on mine, and I felt my heart flutter with each step he took. "I beg your pardon?" I questioned him with curiosity, not fully grasping the meaning behind his inquiry. "Your belongings seem to have been moved here," he said, his gaze wandering around the chamber, taking in the surroundings. "Ah, yes, I thought it would be best to move them here. Since we are married now," I replied, my tone sweet, soft, and innocent.
He hummed in agreement, his eyes fixed on mine. I could not help but notice how handsome he was. His features were sharp, and his eyes were intense, almost like he was staring at me with a certain hunger—Anna! What are you thinking!? A voice called out to me inside my head.
I looked away quickly, feeling like I was beginning to think something improper about my husband. I watched him walk across the room towards his wardrobe, where he had placed a new set of clothes. "Are you going to watch me change?" He said it smugly, I felt a slight prick of embarrassment as I realised that I had been caught staring at him. "N-Nay, pardon me," I muttered softly. I quickly turned around and left the chamber, feeling the heat on my cheeks grow hotter as I realised I had been caught staring at him.
The two of us sat opposite each other as we ate a light lunch. His eyes frequently wandered over towards me, and I couldn't help but notice how his glances seemed to have a certain quality of sensuality to them. I felt the heat in my cheeks grow as high as possible and could only imagine what my face looked like. I cleared the tightness in my throat before taking a sip of crimson wine, feeling the warmth of the liquid as it slid down my throat. The flavour of it was somewhat sweet and tart, and I found myself sipping on it more often than I had intended. "It tastes different," I said, commenting on the wine and its unique flavor. It was unlike the wine I had tried before, having a richer and slightly more tart flavor. "We have a special way of making wine, unlike the Astoria one," he replied, indicating that this wine was made differently than the one we typically have in Astoria. "I hope it is to your liking," was his response, and after taking a few more sips of the delicious red wine, I smiled and nodded. "It is delicious," I replied, enjoying the taste of the wine. I sliced the lamb meat, my fork easily piercing through the tender meat, which was perfectly cooked on the inside and delicious in every bite. It was cooked exactly to my tastes, and I felt my mouth watering as it tasted even better than I had expected. "So, what do you hunt exactly?" I asked, taking another bite of the lamb meat. He leaned back in his chair, watching me as he answered. "Rabbits, birds, and sometimes moose," he replied, listing a few of the animals he typically hunts. " The surprise on my face is unmissable. "You hunt moose? Not deer or elk?" I asked, feeling my jaw drop slightly at the thought of the prince hunting such a large animal. "Aye," he replied, his expression showing no hint of disbelief or humour at my surprise. "I hunt everything that I can find. The moose can give you much meat, and the pelts are valuable." "And when do you catch them?" I asked, curious to know what he did with the animals once they were killed. To my surprise, the prince had an unexpected response. "I give them to the cook or poor villages around Zorro," he said, sounding very serious about this matter. I was surprised to hear that the prince was helping the poor, as it was a side of him that I had not known existed until this very moment.
The prince sat back in his chair, looking at me with an expression of interest. "And you, princess? What do you enjoy doing?" I paused for a moment, thinking about the various activities I had been raised to enjoy as a princess. "Uh...I enjoy embroidery, playing the violin, reading, and walking around the garden," I replied, listing some of my favourite activities, some of which I felt like I had been taught to love rather than truly having a passion for them. The prince nodded as he listened to my responses, his eyes searching mine. "They're all fine activities," he began, "but I do wonder if there is anything you enjoy that can be shared with me."
My mind seemed to stop functioning as my heart began to race. "Sharing?" I managed to say that my voice sounded weak and uncertain. I could not help but wonder what he was suggesting with his words. Was he implying that we could share some activities together? "Um..." I began, unsure what to say in response. The way the prince was looking at me was making my heart race. "I enjoy horseback riding," I replied nervously. My breath quickly hitched as the prince suggested we go riding together. I tried to keep my voice steady as I agreed, not wanting to appear too eager or excited. "Yes, I would like that very much," I replied, my tone gentle and soft. Maybe I had been too quick to judge him.
Maybe... Maybe it is all gossip.