Sullivan rubbed his cheek, feeling something poking him. Opening his eyes, he discovered a foot resting on his chest. Initially perplexed in his half-asleep state, Sullivan soon realized whose foot it must be and quickly yanked it away, sitting up abruptly.
Across from him, Dahlia lay on her stomach, clutching a pillow tightly in her grasp. The way she had slept was not the way a lady should sleep. When did she take a complete ninety-degree rotation on the bed? He found how relaxed she was in her sleep that she had no idea how her thighs were visible too.
Sullivan looked away, feeling a bit awkward to see Dahlia in such a way. However, he couldn't hold his gaze away from her for too long. He moved closer to her and pulled down her dress, covering her thighs and legs.
The sun rays were seeping through the gaps between the white curtains on the large window. Sullivan decided to leave the bed when he heard faint murmurs of Dahlia.
"He should not die. Don't kill him…" Dahlia murmured in her sleep as she cried faintly in her dream.
"Who shouldn't die?" Sullivan mumbled to himself, puzzled by Dahlia's cryptic statement. However, he chose to ignore it for the time being and got out of bed, slipping into the robe hanging on the robe hanger.
Initially considering rearranging Dahlia to her original position, Sullivan ultimately decided to leave her as she was, lying on her stomach with the pillow clutched tightly in her grasp.
As he stepped out of the bedchamber, he was greeted with the presence of a maidservant. "Greetings Your Highness. Is Princess Dahlia awake? It's already eight in the morning. She needs to greet the King and Queen before the breakfast commences," said Nylie.
"Dahlia hasn't woken up yet," Sullivan replied and went ahead.
Nylie decided to wake up Dahlia since she didn't wish her mistress to be scolded in the early morning. Entering the bedchamber, she was stunned to see the way Dahlia had slept on the bed. Nylie approached Dahlia and called her name in her soft tone.
When Dahlia didn't budge from her sleep, Nylie shook her arm. "Umm…mom… let me sleep. I have taken a leave from work," Dahlia murmured.
"What is Princess Dahlia blabbering?" Nylie mumbled and again shook her arm. "Your Highness, the Queen will scold you if you get late for the morning greetings," she said close to her ear.
Dahlia shot open her eyes as if reality struck her. She was inside her favorite novel and on top of that she was now a wife to the prince. Quickly, Dahlia sat up while scratching her head. "I feel exhausted. Who are you?" she asked.
"I am Nylie, your personal attendant," the maidservant introduced herself. She was confused seeing how Dahlia behaved. She had heard that Dahlia was the most graceful lady in the Kingdom. But her actions speak otherwise to her.
"Your Highness, please use the washroom. I will prepare a hot bath for you," Nylie humbly told her.
"Hmm." Dahlia got down from the bed and asked about Sullivan.
"His Highness has left earlier to freshen up," Nylie replied.
"Okay." Dahlia headed to the washroom while Nylie prepared a bath for her. After she aided Dahlia in the bath, she helped her get ready in a white-yellow gown.
"How am I supposed to walk in such a heavy gown? And what's with this cleavage reveal?" Dahlia mumbled and tried pulling it up when Nylie stopped her. She was unable to understand why Dahlia acted in such a way.
"Don't you think my cleavage is revealing way too much?" In the real world, Dahlia had always remained in full clothing. Such dresses were never her favorite.
"No, Your Highness. It enhances your beauty," Nylie asserted with a smile. "We shall hurry, Princess. The breakfast will commence soon," she said.
Dahlia exited the dressing room with Nylie. She saw Sullivan was waiting for her in the lounge of their chamber. Nylie halted at her place with her head low while Dahlia walked to Sullivan.
"You didn't wake me up," Dahlia complained.
"Weren't you tired?" Sullivan asked.
"I was. But it is my first day here as your wife. If I get scolded, then take the responsibility," Dahlia told him. "By the way, do I look beautiful? This dress doesn't look bad on me, does it?" She wanted to know his opinion of her outfit.
"Shall we go? We are already late," Sullivan said and went ahead of her.
She pouted her lips and ran after him, asking him to wait for her. Holding his arm, she told Sullivan why he was so cold toward her. "I know I look beautiful and you are finding it hard to get the words," she proudly stated.
"I never found you beautiful, Dahlia," Sullivan said as he halted slowly at his place. "You can let go of my arm," he asserted, glancing at her hand on his arm.
"I won't leave your arm," Dahlia said and dragged him ahead along with her. Suddenly, she came to a halt and so did he, wondering what happened.
In front of them, Crown Prince Daedric was present. He had his eyes on them, which definitely looked hurt. "Greetings to the Crown Prince," Dahlia said and curtsied to him.
"Let's go, Sullivan," Dahlia said and went ahead of Daedric with her husband.
"Dahlia, why did you lie to me?" The Crown Prince's words stopped both of them. "We saw each other for three years, but you left my hand in the middle. I wish I could punish you, but I love you so much that I cannot either do that," Daedric pronounced, causing Dahlia's smile to disappear.
Dahlia let go of Sullivan's arm and turned to look at Daedric. "Forgive me, Your Royal Highness. I tried falling in love with you, but it couldn't happen." She kept her gaze down while fidgeting with her fingers.
"And you fell for this characterless man," said Ainsley, the Third Prince. "A man whose mother slept with numerous men," he muttered.
"Ainsley, don't speak like that," Daedric reprimanded his brother and told Sullivan not to take it to heart.
Dahlia clenched her fists tightly and she strode to Ainsely in anger. "Apologize to my husband," Dahlia said.
"What?" Ainsley chuckled. "Have you lost your mind?"
The next second, a hard slap resounded on his cheek, causing everyone to widen their eyes in shock. "Next time you say it, I'm going to cut your tongue off your mouth," she announced in a threatening tone.