The room was quiet, the soft light from the candles casting a faint glow on the white sheets where Scarlett lay, still and composed. Her long, white limbs extended across the bed, the sheets barely touching her skin. Despite her calm exterior, I couldn't ignore the slight tension in my chest. I wasn't sure what I had expected, but I certainly didn't feel prepared for this moment.
Her form was delicate, her body slender yet undeniably feminine. It would be a stretch to say she was anything other than beautiful. Still, my thoughts were scattered, far from where they needed to be. This was supposed to be a moment of connection—of understanding—but all I could focus on was the awkwardness that had settled between us.
Was this really how things were supposed to go? I couldn't help but wonder.
My mind kept wandering, despite my best efforts to keep it on track. What was I supposed to say? What was expected of me now that we were married?
And then I noticed something—the smallest detail that felt both insignificant and too significant at the same time. Scarlett wasn't wearing a bra. Her white underwear clung to her body, and I couldn't help but notice the faint outline where her body met the fabric. Immediately, I tried to look away, feeling the heat creep up my neck. I hadn't meant to stare, but this world, this culture...everything felt so different from what I was used to.
The undergarments were strange—minimal at best—and I found myself wondering about the cultural differences. The maid's look when I'd asked for a shirt had been puzzling enough, but now I realized that what seemed so normal to me was utterly out of place here. I tried to shake off the discomfort, reminding myself that I was simply adjusting to my new surroundings. The situation wasn't nearly as complicated as I was making it.
But, as I turned my attention back to Scarlett, who still lay there, motionless, I felt an overwhelming mix of emotions. She was so still, so composed. My mind raced, trying to process the situation—my first night as a husband, and here I was, floundering in uncertainty.
"Scarlett?" I spoke her name softly, unsure if she was even awake.
There was no answer. She remained silent, her eyes closed, breathing steady.
"Scarlett, what do you want to do?" I asked, trying to break the silence.
Her eyes fluttered open slightly, but it was clear that her thoughts were elsewhere. She looked at me for a moment, then replied in the softest of voices, "I was told to do it this way."
"Told by whom?" I pressed, curiosity piqued despite myself.
"The Vice Captain," she murmured.
I felt my frustration growing. The Vice Captain, again. "What exactly did they tell you to do?"
Scarlett seemed to hesitate for a moment before responding, her voice almost distant. "If the prince invites you to bed... you lie down, close your eyes... and say 'ahh, ahh.'"
The awkwardness of the situation hit me like a wave. My head was spinning, trying to process her words. It seemed like the entire night had been planned out for me, from the wedding ceremony to this strange expectation now laid before us.
I had never been good at reading situations like this. She wasn't saying it with any malice, but there was an underlying discomfort I couldn't ignore.
"No, Scarlett," I said firmly, shaking my head. "You don't need to do anything like that. Just... lie down and rest. You've had a long day."
She didn't protest. Instead, she nodded, closing her eyes once more, her posture relaxing as if the tension had finally lifted.
"Good night, Lady Scarlett," I whispered, watching her for a moment. Her breathing became more even, more peaceful. A sense of calm seemed to settle over her.
"Good night, Prince," she replied softly, her words nearly lost in the silence of the room.
As I lay there beside her, a strange stillness hung in the air. I couldn't help but feel the weight of the situation—the unfamiliarity of it all. The wedding had been sudden, our lives now intertwined in ways I wasn't entirely sure how to navigate.
I turned to my side, staring at the ceiling, my mind racing with thoughts and questions. What did this mean for us? How was I supposed to be a good husband when I didn't even know where to start? The uncertainty was overwhelming.
And then I realized something—despite the awkwardness, despite the confusion, Scarlett wasn't so different from me. She, too, was just trying to find her place in this strange world, just as I was. We were both learning how to be something we hadn't expected.
As the minutes passed, I could hear her steady breathing beside me, a small comfort in the stillness. Eventually, the exhaustion of the day settled over me, and I allowed myself to drift off to sleep, my mind still filled with the strange mixture of emotions and thoughts that the night had brought.
---