The woman’s specific sweet scent hit him hard. She was very close. Lu Havre lifted his hands and embraced Ashite from the back. Slowly.

The woman’s breath crept up his skin. Lu Havre looked down. It felt as if a purple flower had bloomed. He was enraptured by her round head, soft hair, slightly pale neck, delicate shoulders, and neatly pressed dress. Lu Havre, lightly, patted Ashite’s back. He had never comforted a child before, but he imagined that it would be something like this.

Ashite was not speaking. Maybe she couldn’t. Her eyes felt so hot that she didn’t realize the heat emanating up from the ends of her feet. But her mind was not blank without thought. Ashite closed her eyes tightly. As if trying to hold him with her trembling fingers, she fumbled with the ends of her dress. Then she felt a bigger sense of warmth. Overwhelmed by her emotions, she wasn’t able to control her trembling hands.

Suddenly, very slowly, his hands overlapped with hers.

There was a lot of contact between them. They shared their warmth, and their short and long breaths shuffled between them. Together. Ashite’s legs started to tremble a bit, and she thought she might collapse soon, but she knew that this wouldn’t happen because this man was embracing her like a strong tree.

There was only heat left in the room. Only the woman who said nothing, and the man who asked nothing remained.

Ashite sighed loudly. Now, her eyes were so hot that she had to clench her jaw. Her entire body was heating up, but Ashite tried to relax her breathing.

Lu Havre was still consoling her.

You had always been this way. There is no way for me to return the warmth you had given me.

She again felt like she would start crying. She just barely was able to keep it in. But the emotions bubbling up from inside were trying to burst out, so from one corner of it,

“Lu Havre.”

“Hm?”

Eventually, it swept past her delicate back and flowed down his muscular chest.

“Will you call me?” then was relayed in a small voice.

Lu Havre inhaled deeply. She could feel the curves of his muscular chest on her sensitive back. Her senses felt it clearly. Ashite smiled with blushing cheeks.

A faint laugh escaped her, but Lu Havre picked up on it regardless. He didn’t lose a single moment of it.

“Call me Ashi.”

The breath that escaped was trembling furiously. She had not expected to do this.

“It was the name my mother would call me by.”

She had shed tears, lost in sadness, every time this day came. She had muttered to herself like a child, and again, like a child, cried again and again in silence. But not anymore. She wouldn’t. And even if she did…

“I’ll do that.”

Would he know that it would be because of him?

“Ashi.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, he called the child’s name. This peacefulness. This moment which rose like a giant wave and slowly calmed. The gentleness of his consoling touch. His breath soothed her. I know this voice. I know the affection in which he called my name.

The person who embraced her without asking anything was here with her now.

All her effort seems not to have been worth it. Ashite wanted to shed tears. She also wanted to laugh at the same time.

***

Afternoon, in the carriage. Through the small window, strands of light filtered in. The wistfully fluttering hair was reflecting the light to penetrate the creeping shadows of the darkness. It was winter, so the light was especially white. And in it, the dark-haired man slowly opened his eyes. His eyes were narrowed in a frown. He blinked his eyelids slowly. He covered his eyes from the light. He was alone, and he did not hide his tiredness.

He had gone back and forth between the capital of two cities, so there was no way he was not tired. Plus, there was no one to speak to, and he spent all day and night inside the carriage. Because his job warranted meeting many people, this time did feel a bit relaxing.

Meeting people. Whenever they arrived at a location, he had to do that. It was an important task. And yet, it was something so trivial.

“Please relay this message for me.”

This was probably an idea of the latter. Or maybe, he wanted him to think of it that way. Of course, it could just be his assumption also. Plus, it was not even worthy of a short response. He knew of his position in this that well. Even more than the person who had commanded it. He had only said it out of politeness, not out of ‘respect.’

“Congratulations on the wedding.”

There was no way Del Alchevs’k would not have known that.

“Yes. Your majesty.”

The king did not even nod his head. He instead quietly folded the paper in his hand. Neatly. It contained the announcement of the marriage between Skara’s third princess and Del Monte III.

Truthfully Del Alchevs’k had thought that the paper that the king had crumpled up was something much more luxurious. However, coming face to face with the king’s expression, he saw that there was no emotion in it at all. In his short command or congratulations, there was no hint of happiness, neither positive nor negative feelings associated with it. Just for a second, all he had done was close his eyes tightly then open them again.

The third princess had always been one to react this way upon hearing the news. There wasn’t even a reason to go through the king’s servant Bonnie. The marriage announcement had already spread rapidly through Monterobis and reached Skara. Other than what he had already found out, there was no need for him to mind any attention to other details about it.

It would have been simple to anticipate the same reaction, but why had he expected otherwise. Crumbling the paper. That was not the sophisticated action required by a king. Even if they had not met the king in this respect, his mind would not have thought any differently. But.

“Del Alchevs’k. You can go ahead and go there.”

Sending him in his stead was not the ‘proper’ respectable thing to do. Skara’s royal family had no traditions for the ceremony of weddings. Still, their princess was getting married to another country’s king, and the king’s seat will be vacant. Not only that. Other than the crown prince, no one else would be attending the wedding. Instead, their foreign minister will be taking their place as the most minimal attempt at courtesy, but it was obvious what this absence meant.

The king was merely following protocol to display his respects to Del Monte III, but he, in no way, truly wanted to congratulate the princess on her marriage.

He was sure that the princess knew this also. He was only able to assume the king’s intent by the judgment of his previous attitude, but she, being his daughter, must have known this only too well. Instinctively. There was no need to make an inference or assumption. It was as clear as day.

The white light created shadows everywhere. Del Alchevs’k again slowly closed his eyes. As if to quench a thirst, there was an imminent need to rid himself of his tiredness. It was something trivial, yet extremely important.

***

Sleep would not come to her.

Ashite blinked her eyes slowly. It was dark outside the window, but little by little specks of white and blue seemed to be shining through. Like watercolors spreading through clear water. With the darkness lingering, the morning came.

She had thought that she should have slept several hours ago. It was not because she had been tired, but more out of duty. Between daybreak and sunset, she would not be able to rest. So she needed to sleep. She could not afford to be tired even a little bit.

‘”Ashite.”

It was a basic form of respect to relay to this person, and as a bride, is was expected of her.

“A year has already passed.….”

Some time ago, she had told him this. It had been brought up lightly, but he continued to remember it.

“Ashi.”

“Yes?”

“Don’t go to Skara.”

It was a place she forgot about and had never thought of going back. Ashite turned around immediately. It was the end of the year, so there was a lot of work to be done, and so the king was stuck at his office desk without an opportunity to move away from it.

“You….”

He took one, two steps toward her without hesitation. Ashite, who was standing near the window, opened her eyes wide.

“Wanted to dance and teach it?”

Lu Havre reached out his hand and held Ashite’s small hands. There was a strong will flowing from the warmth of his hand.

“I will make sure you can. So….”

“….”

“Don’t go. Ashite.”

His expression. It was composed yet desperate, calm but hurried. Ashite suddenly thought back to this time last year. Office, meeting him, the end of the year. Her memories cascaded. He was not an expressive man but was polite and respectable, and she had been grateful to him for keeping the promises on the contract. But now he was personally showing her his desperation and affection. Perhaps, he too had remembered the contract.

“I won’t leave.”

They shared the same memories and thought the same thoughts. And so Ashite smiled shyly. And now, he is staring right at her. Their eyes meet. Ashite steps forward and touches Lu Havre’s shoulder, slightly leaning on him. She whispers her true feelings to him.

“I will not leave, Lu Havre.”

The man did not speak. Truthfully, there was no need for words. Ashite spread out her arms and hugged him. The woman had hugged him first, but she ended up wrapped in his embrace. The man’s muscular back, warm embrace, his breath that she could feel to the ends of her fingertips, she felt it all. At first, she had needed courage, but afterward, she felt her desire making it easier even if she felt a bit embarrassed.

“I want to hold the wedding at Monterobis.”

Afterward, she wanted to stay here. Ashite whispered quietly so that no one except the man hugging her could hear her words.

“I want to hold the ceremony according to the customs of Monterobis, also.”Of course, he would have probably arranged everything for the wedding already. But to Ashite, expressing her feelings was meaning enough. She also knew that he would respect her decision. Ashite smiled slightly. A deep voice flowed over her small laughter.

“We will do as you wish.”

Lu Havre gently stroked Ashite’s hair. Her lovely hair fluttered and sent her scent into the air. Lu Havre lowered his head. When Ashite lifted her slightly smiling face, he kissed her on the forehead. His whispers continued.

“Ashi.”

“Yes.”

“In Monterobis, it is mandatory for the wife to get the husband’s permission before going back to their side of the family.”

She had already known this. Ashite nodded her head lightly.

“If you perhaps need me to.”

“No. Lu Havre.”

Even if she had not known, nothing would have changed. She would not need that permission. She was not going to go back to that place.

“That’s alright.”

After saying that, Ashite smiled. Before he said anymore, she tiptoed and kissed him on the cheek. A childlike smile spread across his face. She tried to kiss his cheek again, but he wrapped his hands around her face and kissed her on the lips like honey from a flower, with warmth.

She couldn’t help but laugh like a child again. Thinking of their kiss. There had been a time that she could not first approach him or whisper her thoughts to him out of embarrassment. Not now. She still felt embarrassed, and her cheeks blushed red a little, but she continued to smile brightly.

“Ashi. Sleep well.”

His greeting to her last night was also one that brought her happiness and comfort.

“Yes. Lu Havre. Good night. I will see you tomorrow.”

Thinking of tomorrow made her tremble a little subconsciously. The person who first recognized that slight trembling. He tilted his head and smiled at her. Warmly, as if comforting a child. And seductively, whispering about tomorrow.

She would be marrying someone who had made her tremble like this. Of course, she couldn’t sleep. Right when morning breaks, it will be the wedding. After such a long time, she could dive into a life of happiness. Imagining a life together with this person made it impossible for her to fall asleep. And. Another thought popped into her head like a wave crashing over her.

Maybe, our first night together….

She felt embarrassed — even more than when she thought about kissing him. Unable to even utter the words out loud, Ashite buried her face into her pillow. No one had said anything to her, but she lifted her head up suddenly and shook it hard at the rise of the erotic thoughts. Her breath on her pillow became erratic. As if someone had heard her inner thoughts, her entire face, including the tips of her ears turned red. The warmth spread, and she was just able to calm her breathing.

Truthfully, there was no one who could give her advice about spending the first night with a man. Her life was so different from the other woman who was preparing to get married. She had no mother who would stay by her side and congratulate her on her married life or a friend who she could talk openly about these sorts of things. She never had anyone she was close to — especially men. The only women who Ashite was close to in the palace were the chambermaids, but she could never talk about these things with them, and the oldest among them would never even mention anything remotely related to this topic.

That’s why, up to the wee hours of the morning, Ashite had not thought deeply of the first night. It wasn’t that she didn’t know about it. She knew that it was an obvious progression of events when a man and woman got married. A chaste night together with the person she loved. But she pushed away such thoughts out of her mind. At some point, she had started to do that. She was happy enough, just being with him. At first, when she heard that they were getting married, she had been bombarded with so many complicated emotions that she never had the opportunity to even think about the part of spending the night with him.

That may not have been the truth. Whether subconsciously or just a little, her heart may have fluttered at the thoughts about their married life and first night together. ‘Love.’ She had never thought romantically about the concept before. She may have blushed secretly at such thoughts before. If she hadn’t, then how could she be so enraptured by it now.

Again, like a shy young child, she burst out laughing. She patted her hands over her red face. She brushed her hair back two or three times for no reason. She squeezed her pillow to stop her arms from going numb. Electricity shot through her thighs. She swallowed her sigh and blinked her widened eyes. Her feet seemed to be going numb.

She stared at her hand suddenly. The sparkling ring. She smiled just as brightly.

She thought so much about this person. Whenever it had been night, all she could remember was her nightmares, but not anymore. It had really changed. Now, she would feel electrified by the thought of spending a night together with him. The touch of his hands on her hair, cheeks, and hand, his warmth, voice, and stare. She couldn’t help but giggle.

After spending a long time giggling embarrassingly, Ashite got up. She serenely headed to the window and pushed back the curtains with her hands. It was a cool winter morning, but the morning light that filtered through was warm. The white light that had been translucent was now a peaceful blue. Leaving a long trace behind it, the sky slowly started to brighten. Starting from a dark black drenched in shadows, to specks of white, then mottled with blue, until it became a clear blue sky.

The morning had come. Ashite closed her eyes tightly once, then started to move slowly. Her eyes were especially golden, like a halo. She examined the lights of the sky outside the window then let out a soft, soundless laugh. There wasn’t a single particular reason for it, but she couldn’t help laughing. She brought down her small hands, which had been holding the curtain and placed them over her chest. The curtains slid down back into place. There was not a single lantern in the room, but the curtain’s red color was prominent. The bright red color filled her sight, and naturally, it reminded her of someone.

“Your highness. It is time to get out of bed.”

The chambermaid knocked at her door. It was time.

“After this day passes, she will be my wife and this country’s queen.”

Ashite did not hide her small smile. Her reddened cheeks blushed like a child.