In the quiet rural night, the creaking of the wooden bed was particularly distinct. Yet, there was still a fist's breadth of space between Cendrarsa and Zagonnas. She shifted as gently as possible, causing the bed to squeak once more.
The sound was undeniably awkward. Swallowing nervously, Zagonnas somewhat sheepishly muttered, "The bed is old; I will repair it tomorrow."
"Mmm," Cendrarsa finally pressed close to Zagonnas. However, each time she drew near, Zagonnas tensed and moved away slightly. A dance ensued—she shifted, he recoiled, leading the bed to sway with an almost rhythmic cadence.
Eventually, Zagonnas had nowhere left to retreat; he turned to face Cendrarsa. "My Lady, do you wish to sleep elsewhere?"
Inwardly, Cendrarsa screamed, 'I want to sleep in your embrace!' Yet, her words were gentle as she replied, "You are warm, and I wished to be near you. If it discomforts you, then I shall keep my distance." Feeling disheartened, Cendrarsa turned away, ready to retreat.
After a moment of internal struggle, Zagonnas extended his arm from behind and pulled Cendrarsa back into his embrace. "Is this better?" he inquired.
"Mmm," she responded.
Just as Cendrarsa suppressed a smile, feeling the warmth of his chest, the bed they had been unsettling for a while suddenly, without warning, collapsed.
A shriek escaped Cendrarsa's lips as she jolted, yet being held tightly by Zagonnas prevented her from falling. As Zagonnas extricated himself from a pile of broken boards and helped Cendrarsa out, both gazed at the dishevelled bed, wearing grim expressions.
"What shall we do?" Cendrarsa had just found some warmth, only to have it abruptly disappear.
"Let us sleep in the academy for tonight. It is getting late, and I will mend the bed tomorrow," Zagonnas suggested, draping his clothes over Cendrarsa.
"Mmm," Cendrarsa nodded, hugging her arms. Observing her shoulders trembling slightly, Zagonnas instinctively pulled her close, allowing her to lean against him.
"Let's go, the wind is strong outside. Draw closer to me," Zagonnas proposed.
"Alright," Cendrarsa replied, blushing, and leaned against Zagonnas as they exited.
The academy was situated just in front of the thatched cottage, a short distance away. However, as they stepped outside, they encountered an elderly villager carrying a lantern on his nightly rounds.
"Well, if it isn't the master! What brings you and the missus out so late?"
"Oh, our bed collapsed, so we are heading to the academy to sleep," Zagonnas responded frankly.
"The bed collapsed?" The old man's eyes widened in surprise.
"Yes, no cause for alarm; I will repair it tomorrow. My wife is sensitive to the cold, so we must depart," Zagonnas explained, then took Cendrarsa's hand and left.
Rubbing his chin, the old man mumbled to himself.
'I never would have guessed—this teacher, so slender in build, managed to collapse the bed on their wedding night. Looks can be deceiving, indeed.'
After a moment of bewilderment, the old man, carrying his lantern, made his way back home.
Upon reaching the academy, Zagonnas and Cendrarsa settled in a quiet room where Zagonnas usually rested. Despite the small bed, it offered more warmth than the cottage.
After a night of turmoil, Cendrarsa quickly drifted to sleep in Zagonnas's embrace. However, Zagonnas remained awake, his gaze fixed on the slumbering face of the woman nestled against him.
Though she had been a past enemy, he found himself unable to harbour any animosity towards her now. She lay defenceless, yet he couldn't bring himself to harm her, even though he had the power to do so.
Despite his determination to fulfil his vows, provide her with a wedding, and then part ways on that fateful day, he doubted if he could ever follow through.
As the saying goes, the first hundred days of marriage set the tone for the rest. However, if she discovered his true identity as Zagonnas, what would she do? Would she, like before, attempt to poison him?
To prevent such a fate, he resolved to keep his true self hidden from her.
With this realization, Zagonnas' conflicted heart suddenly found clarity.
Yes, no matter what, he must not allow her to learn that he was Zagonnas, the prominent disciple of the Sword Sect.
"Mmm, cold."
In her sleep, Cendrarsa murmured, prompting Zagonnas to cover her with the blanket. As he adjusted his posture, Cendrarsa's small feet brushed against his legs, even through his pants, sending a chill through him.
'How can she still have cold feet after all this time?' he grumbled internally, then moved his legs to gently cradle her feet.
Deciding this wasn't sufficient, Zagonnas placed his palm on Cendrarsa's back, converting his internal energy into warmth and transmitting it into her body.
After a while, with the warmth of his energy seeping through, Cendrarsa's complexion regained its colour. Finally relieved, Zagonnas closed his eyes, contemplating the repairs to the wall and bed awaiting him the next day before succumbing to sleep.
As dawn broke, Cendrarsa awoke, only to find herself alone. Her clothes from the night before had been brought over from the cottage.
Indeed, he was a master in every sense. He had quietly arisen, retrieved her clothes, and returned without a sound. His lightness in movement surpassed her own.
Hastily dressing and arranging her hair, Cendrarsa stepped outside, where she was immediately surrounded by a group of students heading to school.
"Teacher, you look so beautiful."
"Teacher, do you remember me?"
With each compliment, Cendrarsa blushed. However, at that moment, a discreet cough resounded, prompting the children to settle back into their seats and commence their studies.
Cendrarsa glanced up to see Zagonnas enter the room. Although his expression was severe, it softened upon meeting her gaze.
Aware of the need for discretion in front of the students, Cendrarsa swiftly departed. Zagonnas followed her outside.
Standing at the academy's entrance, Zagonnas looked down at his newlywed wife.
"Dinner is ready at home; you should return to eat. I have repaired the bed. Will you be going to the clinic later? What time will you be back? The roads are treacherous at night, and it's dark. I will come to meet you."
"I...," Cendrarsa did not need an escort, as she remained unfazed even when walking through graveyards at night. Nevertheless, yielding to her husband's offer, she shyly nodded in agreement.
"Feel free to leave whenever you wish; I will wait for you."