I stood alone, looking at the stars that were scattered around the sky, and felt ready for the night that was about to unfold. My hairstyle was perfectly brushed down, the layers of my gown resting gently on my skin, the fabric flowing around me like silk against my skin.I took a deep breath to calm my racing heart and tried to focus on the task at hand. The prince would come eventually, and I needed to keep myself calm and composed. The thought of the wedding night was enough to fill me with dread, but I tried to keep my fears at bay. Alina had taught me everything I needed to know about the wedding night and its expectations. I was prepared to do my duties as a wife in our marriage.
or so I thought.
The grand door of our bedchamber swings open with a soft creak, and the prince enters. His dark, small strand of hair hung gracefully above his eyebrow. I felt my throat tighten as he approached me and stood before me. The look in his eyes was intense, as it swept over me from head to toe, and I saw the lust in his gaze. "I thought you went to sleep," he said, his voice low and sensual. He brushed the blonde curls that framed my face, and his touch was like fire against my skin. "I was waiting for you," I said in a soft, hushed tone. That made him smile, his gaze never leaving mine. I could see his chest rise and fall as he breathed sharply. He gently leaned in, closing the space between us and bringing his forehead to meet mine. and his breath was warm and moist as our lips were only a few inches apart. My body trembled at the closeness between us, feeling the heat rising to my cheeks as our breaths mingled. His fingers softly brushed against the ties of my night gown, and I felt a shiver run through my body as those soft touches.His fingers slowly untied the ties of my nightgown, the garment becoming progressively looser and more revealing.
The gown slipped fully down, exposing my every inch to his gaze.
My breath caught in my throat as I felt the cool rush of air against my skin. My skin began to tingle, almost like a thousand ants crawling up my body. His gaze glided over my bare body, travelling from my bosom to my stomach and then slowly rising back up. "You are exquisite," he whispered against my lips, my body growing more and more sensitive to his every gesture. My breathing became even shallower as I felt myself slip further into his embrace. His hand moved to my waist and pulled me closer to his body, his breath becoming even faster and more intense as his lips moved down to my neck. I felt completely consumed by the feeling of his lips as they travelled down my neck towards my chest. He is going way too fast. His lips travelled further down my body. He is moving too quickly. I placed my hand lightly on his shoulder, trying to signal that he was advancing too quickly for my comfort. "Slower," I managed to whisper as I attempted to slow the pace of his advances. He seemed to understand, and his movements became gentle as his lips returned to my neck. However, I could feel how eager he was, and his desire for more was palpable. I felt my breath catch as William suddenly picked me up in his strong arms and carried me to the bed, crawling on top of me. As he took off his puffed-sleeve blouse, revealing his muscular frame, I felt the heat rise even higher, as the feeling of his body on mine was too much to bear. I felt myself growing flustered as I was face-to-face with the male form for the first time. "Will you allow me to worship you?" Wiliam asked me, his voice sounding low and masculine. I shivered as his words reached my ears, as his voice alone was enough to send vibrations throughout my body. "Yes," I managed to reply. The heat of the moment was overwhelming.
In that moment, words failed me.
I felt my breathing increasing, and my body was growing warmer as our bodies melted together as one.
The night proceeded with his gentle touch, exploring me in every way possible. My body was left gasping and trembling, with no words remaining to describe it. confused and pleased. I gripped his shoulders firmly, clinging to him for support as he moved his body against mine.
I was consumed by lust.
The morning light crept into our chamber as my body lay entangled with William. We lay closely together, our bodies closely intertwined. He was still asleep, his breath slow and steady. My eyes slowly took in the beauty of his resting face, and my mind filled with the intense emotions from the night before. His hair was all over the place. I slowly moved out of his embrace, feeling the sensitiveness of my skin that was left bare beneath the bed sheets. My skin was still sensitive from the evening's intimate encounter. His body against mine, his scent filling my senses as our bodies moved together, the touch of his skin on mine sending butterflies throughout my body—oh heavens! Anna, have mercy on yourself. My body shuddered just thinking of it.
"Change him; make him fall desperately in love with you. Make him worship the ground you walk on."
Alina's words echoed in my mind as I sat up right in bed, pushing aside my memories of the night before. I had a goal to achieve: to make the prince fall madly in love with me and become my devoted husband.
We were both sitting across from one another at the dining table, each of us enjoying the breakfast laid out before us. William spoke up suddenly, his voice breaking the silence between us. "My mother sent a letter this morning," he said between bites of tart. "A letter?" I asked, raising my eyebrows at him. "She invited us to a ball," he declared, a small smile creeping up his lips. He dabbed his mouth with a napkin before standing up from his chair and walking towards mine. "Make sure you prepare yourself this evening, darling." William spoke the words gently, his fingers brushing lightly against my cheek. I nodded my head in response to his words, as my breath grew shaky from his touch. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have a meeting with nobles to attend," he uttered, his lips brushing against my fingers in a gentle kiss. He looked back at me briefly before striding towards the grand exit, and the guards promptly opened the massive doors for him. I couldn't help but smile as I watched his departure. The distaste I had felt before we were wed seemed to fade away. Perhaps Alina was right. Perhaps he wasn't the rake that the ladies-in-waiting whispered about. I had heard whispers and rumours about his rakish behaviour and many past dalliances, as he was known to favour the company of women.
"Make sure you prepare yourself this evening, darling," he had said,
and I would make sure of that.
I sat on the golden couch with Alina, watching the maid put the tea tray on the table. The tea the maid had prepared was perfect for the morning, its aromatic and comforting scent filling the air. The maid poured the steaming hot tea into our china cups. Once she had finished, she curtsied and quietly made her exit, leaving Alina and me in the drawing room by ourselves. The tea sat steaming on the table as we both reached for the cups, our eyes meeting for a moment before we began to sip the hot liquid. "Now, tell me everything," Alina grinned, her eyes holding the sparkle of mischief. I let out a small chuckle as I realised what she was asking of me. "Tell you what?" "My dear, you know precisely what I'm talking about, so don't play coy." I sighed, knowing that there was no escaping this conversation. I took a deep breath, trying to find the right words to express the feelings I had experienced last night. "It was...passionate, something I never felt before," I whispered, the heat of my encounter with William rising to my cheeks. The feelings I felt were unlike anything I had ever experienced before; the sensation of his touch and my body's response to it were overwhelming in the best of ways. "So, it went well?" Alina's voice sounded hopeful, and I could hear her eyes sparkling with excitement. I let out a small laugh as I tried to contain the blush that was sweeping my cheeks. "Yes, it went very well. It's hard to put into words, but the way he looked at me...it made me feel things I've never felt before." "Love?" Alina asked softly, her eyes searching mine.
Was it love that I was feeling? I wasn't sure.
"M-Maybe," I responded. I hesitated to call it love, fearing that it was too early to label it as such.
I took a sip of tea, attempting to find a way to change the subject, and said, "Oh, William has received a letter from Her Majesty this morning. A ball is to be held this evening." I set my tea cup down. "And I, most, look as ravishing as possible." I spoke the words with confidence, knowing that I would do everything in my power to enchant William. "And I will make sure of that," Alina said in a tone of determination. I knew that she would assist me in preparing for the ball, as she was the best at ensuring that my appearance was perfected to the smallest detail.
The tea was delightful, and as we sipped and conversed, the atmosphere filled with pleasant conversation and laughter. The table was decorated with a delicate spread of treats, from little cakes and biscuits to sweet pastries. After tea, we had a session of embroidery. The two of us sat with our needles and thread, stitching patterns and designs on delicate handkerchiefs. The intricate stitches we made required precision and focus, and the activity allowed us to chat and talk about our day. "My mother once told me before the wedding that in the Zorro culture, they only have one day of honeymoon, unlike us," I told Alina. The marriage custom was very intriguing to me, as in the Astorian culture, we had a full five days of honeymoon. It was interesting to think that the two cultures, despite being so close geographically, had major differences in their wedding rituals and customs. "In their culture, they believe in spending one day in dedicated union as a newlywed husband and wife, cherishing that precious moment together." Alina remarked as she continued to stitch the pattern into her handkerchief. "In their culture, the union of a husband and wife is considered a sacred act—the union of two souls into one in body and mind," Alina explained. "I see," I acknowledged as I listened to her words.
"I was thinking that we should arrange a tea session with the ladies in court," I suggested to Alina as we sat quietly working on our embroidery. "I have not had the chance to get to know them yet, and I believe it's important to form connections and friendships with them." "I think that would be a splendid idea," Alina said, her words carrying a tone of excitement in them. "Should I write a letter or send a messenger?" I wondered, my thoughts swirling as I thought through the possibilities. Sending a letter was the more formal route, but a message by messenger could get the news to the ladies in court more swiftly. "There is benefit to sending a letter," Alina responded. "It will reach the ladies in court in a more polite and formal manner, and they will have time to prepare themselves for the invitation."
"Then a letter it is." I replied as the thread from my needle wove its way through the fabric of the handkerchief I was stitching. The intricate patterns I was stitching represented the delicate flowers of spring, a fitting motif for such a joyous occasion.
As lunchtime approached, William returned to the palace and made his way to our chamber. By this time, the handmaids had almost finished getting me dressed. Having to change into different gowns occasionally during the day is something I have grown accustomed to throughout my life. Yet, there are moments where it still manages to annoy me. William came through the doors just as they were making the final touches to my purple gown. The handmaids were busily weaving the strands of gold and purple together, with the embroidery of white flowers adorning the dress, giving it a dreamy and elegant appearance. The dress fit me perfectly. As soon as he entered, the handmaids quickly excused themselves, letting us have some time alone. "Welcome back," I greeted him, feeling my pulse speed up as I laid eyes on him. William was clad in a silk doublet, the velvet fabric giving his body a refined and elegant appearance. "You look beautiful," he admired, his voice carrying a hint of admiration in it as he took in my appearance. A blush crept up my cheeks at his compliment, and I thanked him with a soft smile. "Did the meeting go well?" I asked, "Aye, the meeting went well," and he replied with a satisfied smile on his face. He took both of my hands in his, his large hands wrapping firmly around mine. "I have a surprise for you," he said with a sly grin, his lips curling upwards at the corners. "What is it?" I questioned, feeling tingles of anticipation in my body. He escorted me by the hand, leading me out of the chamber. His expression remained mischievous, and he did not speak. As we walked down the long corridor, we passed several guards on our way out of the palace. The guards nodded their heads in greeting as we passed. William maintained his hold on my hand, his grip firm but not painful, as he led me out of the palace. Up ahead, I noticed a gleaming white horse held by a guard, its coat sparkling in the sunlight. My heart skipped a beat at the sight of the majestic beast. I gasped at the sight of its grandeur as it stood majestically before me. "White palfrey..." I murmured under my breath, letting my eyes trail over the immaculate coat of the horse. The coat was snow white, like that of a pearl. "It is yours." William's words reached my ears, snapping me out of my reverie. I looked at him in disbelief, my heart skipping a beat at the thought of owning such a marvellous creature. I realised that the palfrey was a gift from him to me. I did own a brown one back in our castle, but this one is exquisite. "William..." The word left my lips, my mouth forming the letters of his name, as I looked at him with a mixture of shock and awe. His unexpectedly thoughtful gift had left me momentarily lost for words.
I found myself growing more and more attracted to him, his every gesture and smile seeming to cast a spell on me.