Drayce stood rooted in place, looking at his wife as she poured out all her emotions. He had longed to see her, and now, as she stood before him, removing her veil, he found himself unsure of what to do. Her confession left him frozen. He had confessed his love for her countless times through words and actions, but none of his declarations compared to hers.
The man who had been forged like iron through countless trials, the man who could be shaken by nothing, was now shaken to his core by her words. It was as if her confession was the only weapon powerful enough to affect him.
He could clearly see that what she felt was true love, not gratitude, and it wasn't because of the flower mark on her forehead. Her heart had truly fallen for him.
His usually calm and rational mind was now a whirlwind of emotions. His eyes, which had barely shed any tears over the years, were now glistening with moisture.
"Dray?" Seren called, seeing him unresponsive, worry evident in her eyes.
Has the curse taken its effect already? Was it a mistake to confess to him?
On her call, he finally reacted and took a note of her beautiful face only to have his gaze captivated by her beauty- striking red-brown hair, flowing in soft waves around her face, her face a delicate masterpiece, with a complexion as smooth as porcelain, her cheeks tinted with a natural rosy hue, pair of rare purple eyes which had caught his heart long back.
Each feature, from her gracefully arched brows to her finely sculpted small nose, contributes to an aura of classical beauty, timeless and utterly mesmerizing. Her appearance was like a gentle, yet undeniable force, captivating and enchanting to him.
Was it reality or a dream?
"Dray?" Seren called again, walking towards him until she stood face-to-face with him, his red eyes meeting hers. Only then did she realize how deeply he was affected, for the first time seeing tears brimming in those red eyes, ready to roll down.
After a while, when they parted, Drayce didn't let go of her entirely, wanting to feel her moist and soft lips against his a little longer.
"Seren?" he whispered, his lips brushing against hers.
"Hmm?" she responded, catching her breath.
"Shall we head inside?"
She raised her lowered gaze to meet his intense one. The hunger he felt for her was evident in his red eyes.
"Yes," she replied, her voice barely a whisper. Deep inside, she knew what she had agreed to.
Drayce stepped back and picked her up in his arms. She responded by circling her hands around his neck, a light blush covering her cheeks. As they entered the chamber, the door closed behind them on its own, blocking the cold air from the balcony.
The slamming sound of the door made Seren acutely aware of their situation. Though ready for it, she couldn't help but feel nervous. She realized that talking about it and actually facing it were two very different things.
Drayce carried her to the bed and gently placed her on the soft mattress. His gaze observed her flushed face, and a light smile played on his lips at her shyness.
Was this the same woman who had been so bold with her confession, demanding to start over from their wedding night, and showing her intention of finally consummating their marriage?