The next morning, Seren stirred in her sleep, her fingers gently brushing through her hair and touching her scalp. A light smile formed on her lips as she opened her eyes to see a pair of red eyes gazing back at her.
"Good morning, my queen," Drayce said, his eyes taking in her beautiful face.
She smiled in return. "Morning, husband."
Drayce raised an eyebrow, surprised by the new title.
"Now we are truly husband and wife," she said, her voice slightly hoarse. "Nothing separates us now, not even that curse, though I'm not sure if it's still there or if it's been lifted."
"You're right. Nothing can separate us now," he replied, his fingers lightly brushing her delicate cheeks, his gaze exploring every inch of her face.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"You're truly beautiful," he said softly. "You shine even brighter in the sunlight."
"Do you really find me beautiful?" she asked again.
He nodded. "Just like I always thought my mother was the most beautiful woman, our children will feel the same about you."
She chuckled lightly. "So, you're no different from other men who like beautiful women."
"Yes," he said, "but only when that woman is my wife. I won't hesitate to tell her again and again how beautiful she is and that there's no one like her."
Seren giggled lightly. "King Drayce has always been good with words. But I must say, I liked what he said."
"So, you're no different from other women who like to be praised for their beauty," he teased.
"Only when the one praising my beauty is my husband. I would love to hear from him again and again how beautiful I am, that there is no one like me."
He smiled and pinched her cheek tenderly. "Queen Seren is getting good with words as well."
She chuckled happily. "Learning from the best, my husband."
Drayce kissed her forehead and said, "If you're no longer sleepy, I'll take you somewhere."
Seren nodded but then noticed something. "Wait, we're not in our room."
"We are not."
She looked around the room. It wasn't her chamber in the palace but a luxurious cottage. The wooden walls were well decorated, and the windows had pristine white curtains that moved with the breeze. The ceiling was adorned with delicate fabrics hung at the center and stretched out toward the walls. The bed, the mattress—everything was different.
She even wore a different nightdress from the previous night.
"My clothes?" she asked.
"I cleaned you and put on fresh clothes before bringing you here," Drayce explained.
"Where are we?"
"What if I drown?"
"It's not that deep," he passed her an assuring gaze. "Would I ever let you drown?"
She shook her head. "Let's go then."
Drayce turned to face her, his hand moving to her shoulder. Puzzled, she asked, "What are you doing?"
"You can't enter with clothes," he said.
"Is that a rule?"
"Yes."
"Who made this rule?"
"Your husband did."
She understood this sly man and said, "I'll do it."
"Are you sure?"
She nodded. "Turn around."
He smirked. "Are you shy now after screaming under me last night?"
"You..." she frowned. "Just turn around."
Drayce turned around. "Let me know when you're ready."
Just as Seren felt relieved, she sucked in her breath once more, feeling it catch in her throat. Drayce, with his back to her, removed his robe, letting it fall around his feet, and walked stark naked into the water. Her throat felt dry at the sight of the back view of his perfectly sculpted body.
"Don't just watch me," she heard Drayce call out. "You might freeze if you take too long."
Seren snapped back to her senses and hurriedly removed her dress, letting it fall to the ground. She stepped forward into the water, her small feet making their way towards the depth. Despite the cold weather and snow everywhere, the water was perfectly warm and soothing against her skin.
'It's magical.'
She watched Drayce reach the other side, where he turned and sat on the white stone sitting arrangement submerged in the water. As he sat, the water covered him up to his shoulders.
'How elegant he is, so perfect,' she thought, her eyes unable to move away from him.
He extended his hand towards her. "Come here."
The way he looked at her made her instinctively aware that this was not just about soaking in the water. She slowly walked towards him, the water covering her body below her chest. She accepted his hand, and he gently guided her to sit between his legs, her back pressed against his firm chest.
"A-Aren't we here to soak?" she asked, feeling his hands encircle her stomach.
"That doesn't mean we can't sit together," he replied and dipped his face in the crook of her neck to inhale her scent.
Shiver ran her spine as she knew she had been tricked or rather fell into a trap.