YasashīShinjitsu to Seiryaku Kekkon Vol IChapter 10

via zerochan

She woke to find herself naked in hisarms. This was something she could never have fathomed before coming here. Shefelt a little dizzy.

I

t is before the marriage. It is beforethe marriage. It is before the marriage.

Those words went round and round inher head.

Although Matilda was in a minor stateof shock, she raised her head to look at Leandroth sleeping. A ghost of a smilewas on his sleeping face, he looked like a little boy. She gave a wry smile; hissleeping face was not that of an adult but one of a mischievous child.

Someone who said she was right forhim.

--- His favourite thing.

Matilda closed her eyes. The sensationof someone else’s breathing, their warmth; it made her feel comforted to beclose like this. But would she be able to bear it if she lost this warmthsomeday?

Even if she was now being told she wascute or beautiful, those will fade someday

When she became a wrinkled old lay,would he still say such things?

Her thought were a jumble. Why wasthis not a normal political marriage?

She paused, what was a “normalpolitical marriage”?

From the beginning, the couple, neitherlike nor dislike each other. A union between Houses was based on making progenyto carry on the family lines. If this was that kind of relationship, she wouldnot be so troubled.

He told her he desired her.

While that sentiment made her happy,she logically felt that such feelings will not last forever. Deep in thought,she moved,

‘Hmmm…Mattie?  Is it already morning?’ Leandroth awoke andasked with a sleep roughened voice. As expected of a person who was raised on abattlefield. He raised his head and looked out the window; he saw the sky wasstill dark.

‘No, it’s still night, please go backto sleep.’ She said softly.

‘Yes. Goodnight, Mattie.’ He repliedsleepily, he yawned pulled her closer and went back to sleep.

‘Goodnight,’ she said softly. Hisbreathing had fallen deep and regular.

She could not dismiss the possibilitythat he would be bored of her before their marriage ceremony.

It was so warm in his arms, shethought.

--- Truly, she was not cute.

She was not a cute person.

Matilda swallowed a sigh and closedher eyes. She didn"t think she would be able to sleep. But it was moreconstructive than keeping her eyes wide open. So she closed them tightly. Thewarmth wrapped around her was real.

She tried to hold back tears thatburned at the back of her throat, tightening her fists.

Like…

She may like this person.

She was dazed by the realisation.Matilda closed her eyes tightly.

◇

‘Good morning, Mattie,’

He hadn"t left.

She was shaken lightly, opened hereyes as she stretched and looked up at him. He was in his robe, smiling happilyat her.

‘Morning,’ she replied sleepily. Hegave her a bright smile. He seemed to smile a lot when he looked at her. Helooked happy, like a big dog wagging his tail from being patted. Shesubconsciously reached up to stroke his cheek. He closed his eyes and rubbedhis cheek into her palm, almost purring.

A large friendly cat? But she stillfelt he was more dog-like.

And that huge dog licked her palm andlaughed. She laughed too, it was ticklish.

She was lightly kissed on herforehead, nose, cheeks and lips, ‘You can go back to sleep.’ He said softly.

‘Thank you.’

‘I didn"t want to wake you up, but Iwas lonely getting out of bed without you awake.’ He said smiling at her.

Her heart was being misled, but Matildasmiled in spite of herself.

‘I also feel lonely when I wake up andI am alone, so please wake me up.’ She said as she rose out of bed. She held a bedsheetup to her chest to shield her naked body. Leandroth watched her intently as shecame up to him.

Affection filled his gaze, when shekissed him on his cheek,

‘Please work hard, please do yourbest, if there is anything I can help you with, send for me right away.’ Shesaid softly because she felt self conscious.

His smile looked a bit soppy. It waskind of funny.

‘Mattie,’ he called as he pulled herinto a hug. She stood in his arms stiffly.

‘Leann?’ Was something wrong, she wondered?Leandroth buried his face in the crook of her neck, replied,

‘I"m recharging.’

‘Recharging?’

Leandroth slowly pulled away from herand smiled, ‘See you later,’ he said

‘Go ahead.’ She said returning hissmile. Leandroth kissed her.

‘Let’s have lunch together.’ He saidas he kissed her fingers. It was kind of ticklish. Matilda smiled and shrugged.

◇

‘Is this lunch or not?’

Matilda asked as her gaze ran over thefood laden table. It was more like a picnic; fruits, fruit infused water, fruitjuice, cakes and bread. Things you can eat with one hand.

‘Maybe…’

‘Maybe perhaps…’ She shut her lips,perhaps Leandroth ordered this. But…she tilted her head.

They sat near each other at a roundtable in her room. They were not dining formally. She reached for the fruitinfused water and said

‘There is so much, it is all a bitwasteful. Let’s improve tomorrow.’

She sent a prayer to the spirits ofthe forest. She wondered if Leandroth had a G.o.d he believed in. She picked up am.u.f.fin.

‘Let"s eat for now and talk about anyconcerns you have later.’ He said and they quietly ate their fruit and sweets.Leandroth showed Matilda fruits he liked, but to be honest, with theoverwhelming sweets she missed the flavour of savoury food.

She said so to Leandroth, who laughedout loud.

‘So do I,’

‘Well, why do you  tell this to theHead of the kitchen staff?’ she asked.

He sighed and said, ‘Depending on howI say it, someone"s neck would fly!’ (Zuben: What a weird bunch of people)

Matilda frowned, that was horrible.

‘It’s hot. It’s cold. I don’t like thetaste. I feel pain…Whenever I say something contrary, someone’s head will beparted from their body. I didn"t notice until it was too late and I am at aloss at how to get things back in order.’

Leandroth’s expression became bitterand distant. Matilda’s hear hurt looking at the dark expression on his face.

‘Did you hear anything in your countryabout me being a puppet king?’ he asked strangely casually. Matilda was aboutto use a fork to pick an piece of cut apple, but the fruit slipped from herp.r.o.ngs.

Zuben: Quick edit based on the continuing conversation in the next chapter.