MASKS TO UNVEIL! CHAPTER 6: AN ACT OF PROMISE
Sencha gulped and stared at Naxzi, who was definitely more than the word handsome could ever describe. His silver hair that dropped to his shoulder, his eyes that were strict but soft-looking, his thin lips and straight, high end nose, were perfectly refined on his face.
His face was definitely something she would love.
'I think loving him is possible…'
She fell in love instantly with his face and blushed. She suddenly flinched when he turned away and took the wine, pouring it into the goblet and he handed her one while the other one was in his possession. He drove in front of her and smiled.
"May our marriage last long, my wife." He blurted and she instinctively crouched a bit to stand in the same level as him and drank the wine in a love-shot. She looked at him and stole the goblet from his hand.
"I-I'll put them back." She softly said and he nodded gently with a smile on his lips. As she left to put the goblet on the table, she suddenly felt nervous and tried to calm herself down. She bit her lips and thanked her dad for marrying her into a handsome man. She opened her eyes and went back to the place where she was and secretly took a glimpse on his legs.
He noticed it and bitterly smiled, explaining to her, "That's right. When I was young, I was shot by a poisonous arrow and up until now, I have no chance of walking once again. I apologize for bringing you into my misfortune." He smiled and she opened her mouth.
"I don't dare search for more, husband. Truthfully, you're a very handsome man. And this is our first time seeing each other, no?" She politely said. He nodded at her and intertwined his hands.
"This would be the first time we saw each other after ten years. Did you forget?" He curiously tilted his head, and she blinked her eyes.
"Ten years ago? What do you mean, husband?"
Naxzi chuckled and said, "We encountered each other even before I was paralyzed but that was only for a short time, so I doubt if it was still in your mind."
Sencha was embarrassed and bowed, "I apologize, I forget things easily so… but anyways, I will remember them sooner or later."
Naxzi shook his head, "It's fine. You need not worry about such; it wasn't an important meeting actually. And I have to say, but you're honestly beautiful too." He smiled and she blushed. How can she stay calm when he's so handsome? It was her first time feeling this? What is this?
"Thank… you…" She coquettishly said and lowered her head. He looked around and gulped.
".. Uh, uhm… the thing is… I am, as you know, paralyzed, and I am unable to stand up. If it's alright with you, can you help me stand up? No, that would be inappropriate. I'll just call my guard—"
"No, I would be willing. Here, hold my hands." Before he could finish his words, she stood up and grabbed his arm, almost hugging him as she put him on the bed with great difficulty.
After putting him on the bed, she pressed her lips tightly and felt that her life had reduced ten years after helping him.
Surely, his weight will be like this when he can't walk. She almost fainted. When he was completely sitting in an upright manner, he sadly looked at her and said, "I am seriously sorry for bringing shame into you like this. Next time, I better call my guard instead of bothering and seeing you suffer like this, wife."
But, contrary to what he was thinking, she only raised her head and smiled. "It's fine. Please wait for a moment while I take off my accessories and outer garments." She bashfully said and went in front of the mirror to take off her heavy accessories.
He nodded and took off his long red wedding gown. The left clothes he has was the thin red fabric, covering him up. He carefully took off his pants and when he was reaching out for his shoes, Sencha's silky, black hair blurred his vision, and she took both of his shoes cautiously.
Like him, she was only wearing thin red fabrics and was blushing as she put the shoes down on the ground. She sat at the edge of the bed and took off her shoes. She looked at him and climbed on the bed.
This is their first night and they are supposed to be 'one'.
"Thank you for helping me on our first night, wife." He smiled and she nodded.
"It is my honor."
After that, they were silent, and he looked at her fidgeting fingers. He hummed and said,
"As you know, I am paralyzed so I am afraid we can't consummate our wedding night. instead of that…" He leaned forward and lifted her chin, "We can share a kiss and see it as we had consummated our wedding night. If you don't want to, you can say so."
He said and pressed his lips tightly. But before he could kiss her, he felt a tingling sensation of pain in his heart.
He then let go of her chin, "Truthfully, I am ashamed to have a wife. All my life, I thought the emperor would leave me unmarried, but now that I am married, I can't seem to see what right I have." He shook his head in an apologetic manner.
She shook her head and touched his hand. "The same goes to me. My father doesn't like me as I am not talented like my younger sister. No matter how hard I try, it was all my younger sister that he adores."
Naxzi furrowed his brow and asked interestingly, "… Why are you telling me all this?"
Sencha turned to her. "Sooner or later, you will find out, that's why there's no point in hiding it. Aside from that, we're married. Married couples share everything with each other, don't they?"
Naxzi breathed out and felt relieved. "Actually, I never thought you'd be open to me. I am known as the paralyzed crown prince, aren't you embarrassed to share the rest of your life with someone like me?"
Sencha smiled and intertwined their hands, lifting them, "Marriages are for political reasons. Whether we fall in love or not is our own choice."
"Then, will you be willing to fall in love with someone like me? Looking at how you have all that I lacked, I am unworthy of you." He was telling the truth and he lowered his hands.
"I am just from a general family and you're from an imperial family. Personally, I want to fall in love with you as I don't want to regret my whole life not trying to love my husband."
"The same goes to me. They say you fall in love without a reason; therefore, we shouldn't force if we can't love each other. Do you have any rules for me to follow or anything of that sort, wife?"
"Rules? What do you mean…?"
Naxzi touched his chin and said nonchalantly, "I have heard this from somewhere, but they said that wives restrain their husbands sometimes. Will you also restrain me?"
Sencha blinked and when she understood what he meant, she covered her blushing face and muttered, "There's no need…"
It feels strange because it is their first night together, and as he said, it was the first time they saw each other after ten years. It feels… kind of… weird.
Naxzi giggled and patted the place next to him. "Then, shall we sleep?"
Sencha raised her head and said to him, "I would want something that will assure me that you'll protect me." She innocently ordered and he inched forward.
"As you wish. I will only love, respect, treasure and protect you, my wife. For as long as I live, I will do my best to be a good husband and bring happiness to you. With my name, I promise that I will bring more happiness than sadness and share everything with you."
He smiled and tilted his head as he inched forward. They are so close, it was making her dizzy. She closed her eyes and clasped on his hand tighter than before. He glanced at their intertwined hands and kissed her lips gently.
He laid her on the bed and said, "Good night, wife." He smiled and she unconsciously covered her face due to embarrassment. She turned around, and now her back was facing him. He was puzzled. Why is she so shy?
"G-good night, too, h-husband." She forced her eyes to close and he muttered softly,
"Would it be alright to hug you, wife?"
"... S-sure…" After a while, she felt the weight of his arm on her waist and she felt so embarrassed. She didn't say anything and closed her eyes, wanting to sleep as soon as possible.
He stared at her back, and after making sure that she had fallen asleep, he sat up straight and breathed out.
'Are you one of Official Yen's people?'
He furrowed his brows and looked out.