Chapter 288 - Bargaining Agreement (Part 1)

Zenia did not expect that Vaughn would give such a big reaction.

'Is it really that different when it comes to men?'

Zania looked at him, teary-eyed and uttered, "It hurts so much. It's more painful than being slashed by a sword."

She knew that her description may have been exaggerated since she was already used to being cut - be it a sword or a knife.

Vaughn panicked. It must have hurt a lot, or she wouldn't shed a tear like that. He kept thinking if he went overboard and failed to control himself properly.

Zenia took a peek and saw Vaughn's fl.u.s.tered face. She was about to say something when he beat her to it.

"Does it really hurt that much? Do you want to see a doctor?" Vaughn suddenly stood up and announced, "I will tell Chief Elder to send in the best doctor in their kingdom."

Zenia did not expect him to react like that and stopped him from going out, "Stop it! I will be embarrassed. I think I just need a few days rest for it to heal."

"Then, what happens next?" Vaughn looked so pathetic in Zenia's eyes.

She sighed, "Since we are both new to this, why don't we find a book about it so we can understand better. All I know is that men's desires are stronger than women's."

Vaughn looked at his wife and asked innocently, "How did you know?"

It was too late when Zenia realized that she spoke something that she should not have. Well, they were in the same boat anyway. It was not the time to be shy.

"There was a book about it when I was still attending school. Someone circulated it around, and I happen to take hold of it and read it without knowing anything. That was when I learned about it."

"There was that kind of book in Ishelon?"

Zenia got a bit annoyed at Vaughn's innocent look and replied, "Well, I know that you also saw that kind of book before. It was nothing new. Anyway, I don't want to do it every night while it still hurts."

"Are you telling me that it's okay to do it every night if you are healed?"

Vaughn's eyes sparkled when he asked the question.

"Hey, be serious here," Zenia tapped his chest lightly and repeated to herself that it was not really the time to be shy.

They should be straightforward. Now that they had tasted what it felt like.

"Be honest and tell me what you really feel," Zenia asked as if she was conducting psychoanalysis.

Vaughn looked at Zenia and was contemplating whether his honesty would not put him in a sort of danger.

"Are you certain that you won't get angry? You might not like what you are about to hear."

Zenia took a deep breath and braced herself. She was already expecting an outrageous answer.

"Go ahead. I promise that I will not get angry at all."

Vaughn hesitated and sighed. He surmised that it was better to come clean than getting misunderstood later.

"Zenzen, I want to do it with you right now, right this minute. But, I know that you are in a lot of pain. Don't ask me why I want to do it because I, myself, do not know the rationality behind it. All I know is I love you so much that I want to engrave you in my bones. When I was inside you, I could feel that we were one. I feel more secure when we are that close. So, please don't say that we won't do it again."

Zenia blushed just when she thought that she wouldn't be shy anymore. She cleared her throat, which felt dry at the moment.

"I did not mean that we won't do it ever again, and I know that it's a natural thing for a married couple to do. However, I don't want to do it again while it still hurts so badly. I don't want to ask someone because I will surely feel awkward. Can you do it?"

"Ask someone?"

Zenia nodded her head. They both fell silent. None of them could ask someone to explain it to them. Zenia blamed herself for not listening to her mother before.

In the end, they both agreed to buy a book about it and learn earnestly from it. They promised to keep it a secret between them, and no one should know about it, not even the people in the temple.

"We need to wear a disguise just in case."

"But, we don't have anything here to wear as our disguise."

"We will wear a disguise when we reached the shopping district. We will buy from there and ask for the bookstore."

"Oh…"

After eating their meal, they rested for a while and changed their clothes. They informed the Chief Elder that they would like to go to the shopping district. The Chief Elder did not expect that they would leave their house after the marriage ritual. But, he could see that the couple seemed to have something urgent that they must settle first.

"Should I call for Zosimo, Madam," the young apprentice asked politely.

"No, there's no need. We won't be long anyway," she immediately held Vaughn's hand and pulled him away from the temple.

Everyone was puzzled at Zenia's behavior but did not dwell on it. They went back to their chores as if nothing happened.

Vaughn and Zenia finally reached the end of the bridge, and they were lucky to chance upon an empty carriage to rent. They boarded it and told the coachman their destination.

"Do we really need to do this?"

"Yes! None of us know the answers to the questions that we have in mind, and you don't want to ask someone. The next best thing to do is find the book that we need."

"Why should I disguise myself as the wife?"

"I don't think you can ask the things that must be asked to the keeper of the bookstore, but I can. I just don't have the guts to ask them if I go as a woman."

"We can go as both men."

Zenia tapped Vaughn's chest lightly using the back of her hand.

"Tell me, what will you think if you see two seemingly intimate men ask the shopkeeper for that kind of book?"

Vaughn imagined it and got what Zenia was trying to say.

"I will not be intimate with you."

"Hah! When I disguised myself as a man and went out together with you, did you not feel the suspicious looks of the people we met?"

Vaughn just gave her a puzzled look.

Zenia rolled her eyes and said, "They looked at us like we were some kind of oddities, and I don't want to experience that awkwardness again."

"But, no one will recognize us later because we will wear a disguise."

"I said I don't like it, and I will feel awkward even if no one will recognize us," she snapped at him.

Vaughn did not say anything anymore and just thought to himself.

'Is it possible that she's pregnant now after that night and now she's beginning to show symptoms of pregnancy? I really need to find that book so I can understand my wife better.'

Vaughn grinned at Zenia, who got confused when she saw Vaughn's reaction.

'Is it possible that my husband is a masochist? I just snapped at him and now he is grinning like a fool. I really need to find that book to see if my husband's behavior is normal after doing it once.'

They just looked at each other thinking what was wrong with the other. It was a smooth journey, and they reached the shopping district in no time.

Vaughn paid the coachman, and they walked hand in hand looking for a shop that was selling everything that they would need to disguise themselves. Luckily, it was not difficult to find.

They entered the shop and Zenia quickly gathered everything that she might need, and then smiled at Vaughn and told him to pay up. Vaughn handed two gold coins to the seller.

"Where should we go now?"

"We need to go to an inn to change."

Vaughn found a decent inn immediately and paid a room. They entered it quickly and locked the door. The first thing that Vaughn noticed was the large, fluffy bed. His mind wandered off somewhere it should not have. He looked at Zenia, who was busy organizing the disguises they would use. He felt hot even though Zenia was just standing there.

'Why do I think that Zenzen seems more beautiful today? Is it the effect of doing it?'

He felt even hotter and suddenly ran to the balcony of the room, which startled Zenia. Vaughn breathed in the fresh air of Shadora and somehow felt relieved. His body slowly returned to normal, but he refused to look at Zenia in the meantime.

Zenia did not know what just happened and thought that Vaughn was just curious about the things he could see from the balcony. Vaughn was indeed amazed at the sight from the balcony, and he also found a bookstore and a clinic.

Zenia changed into her disguise and called out to Vaughn to help him change. He would go as a woman, but Zenia chose something that still resembled a man's clothing. In Shadora, there were lots of women wearing pants and a blouse. The pants for women were a bit fluffy and almost resembled a skirt.

"I saw a bookstore and a clinic just now. We can go there at once."

"Okay, change into these first." She shoved the clothes to Vaughn.  

Zenia helped Vaughn adjust his clothes and put his face veil for him. Zenia made him wear a hooded cloak to hide his face even more.

"Are you uncomfortable?"

"No."

"With this, no one will see your face. Let's head out."

Vaughn held her hand, but Zenia broke free. Vaughn was surprised and did not like it one bit, and his reaction said it all. Zenia sighed and quickly held Vaughn's hand before he misunderstood further.

"I'm the husband right now so I should be the one holding your hand and leading you out."

Vaughn's eyes glowed with delight, "Of course, hubby. Why did I forget?"

Zenia shook her head and nudged him to get going.