"Well, I can't seem to think of anything I can do. The banquet is going on, and I can't be around her without feeling like I am pressuring her. But neither can we be out in the open for a good deal of this."

Will sat at his desk, his elbows propping him up as he hunched over it. His fingers were working on his temples trying to open some form of enlightenment for his situation. It didn't appear to be working.

"I remember what it was like to be young and in love, Will. Don't worry. This is perfectly normal. When your uncle and I married we had a few issues communicating what we expected of each other. Intimacy is a new thing for most couples, and I expect it is harder for her to accept."

He didn't look up, but felt comforted at the words. He waited for the epiphany to come, but it seemed he'd wait a while.

"But what can I do? I told her I'd wait until she was ready, but in the mean time I feel like a brute for wanting to move things along."

A light chuckle floated across the room to him.

There were no guards outside, and Alfric was the only one who knew they were meeting. It did come as a shock to him though. He'd have a hard time not telling his intrusive and perceptive twin.

"William, I think your trouble lies not in wanting her, but in misunderstanding her reason for desiring a cadence to all this."

He peered through his fingers.

"What do you mean?"

"Her mother died giving birth to her. She has a fear of intimacy that could lead to pregnancy. She doesn't want to abandon her child the way she was abandoned."

He frowned at that. Of course she'd know this when no one else could tell him these things.

"So...I need to get her to feel comfortable opening up about such things to me?"

"And cold baths. With ice. Several of those a day."

He nodded, wondering why he hadn't thought of that. They'd been excellent for his recovery when he'd worked with the Order of the Daffodil to become a swordsman.

"Thank you. Honestly, you're the closest person to me, Auntie."

She snickered.

"I haven't heard you call me that in a while."

He smiled wistfully. Their years of working side by side, all the tutelage, the long days spent together in the gardens, it had all meant something to him beyond her station. She'd been there for him almost more than his father had been before he passed.

"Perhaps I'm feeling nostalgic. You've been more of a mother to me than anyone else."

"And I'm always here for you, my Sweet William."

Her shadow darkened his door once more and then she was gone.

...

Chammielle couldn't sleep anymore. She needed to wake from this dream.

Flowers were in her path. Monkshood and deadly nightshade mingled together. If she stepped upon the latter, it shriveled and sent a black ink up her dress, turning it to black all over. If she stepped on the monkshood it reached up to drag her down a dark hole that opened up in the ground. She ran through the path, her gown growing a deeper and deeper shade of darkness, and her ankles being pulled at by hundreds of shooting vines that snapped as she ran.

It was too much. The pressure was too much. She tossed and fell with a gasp from the clutches of the dream.

"Chammielle, shh, it's alright."

She felt damp and his hands pushed the hair from her face.

"Will?"

"Yes, I'm back. Sorry, I had some papers to look over."

She nodded, not accepting his explanation but allowing for it.

"Were you having a nightmare?"

She sat up and he held her, supporting her back with his arm and shoulder. He was dressed now at least. Waistcoat and breeches donned and hiding his lean form slightly. She pushed at her hair so she could air her neck off. She felt comforted and the thought struck her how easily it was for him to do that.

"I think so...strange dream. I can't remember it exactly."

She'd known him all of eight days and an afternoon tea. Yet he cared for her and she could not help but return it. Was this how marriage was?

"Here, I brought you these."

He pulled over a satin box and undid the ribbon that bound it.

"Bon bons?"

"I remembered you mentioning you love them. I thought they might help. My behavior earlier was...well, a bit off even for me. I'd like to apologize. I don't want to pressure you into having physical relations just because we're married. Whether or not I can get away with it, that is not who I am nor who I desire to be."

She smiled and kissed his cheek.

"Thank you."

"So I'm forgiven?"

"Not quite. You did leave me alone for quite a length of time without explanation."

He let a lopsided grin slide onto his face and it reminded her of the day they first met.

"Indeed. I suppose I do require some form of punishment."

She grabbed a bon bon and set it to his lips. His eyes went wide.

"We're married now, but I know so little about you. So why don't we play a game?"

He bit into the chocolate but left half between her fingers. She popped the rest into her own mouth and watched his eyes as they grew curious as he chewed.

"What sort of game?"

She'd read about it in a love story her sisters had adored. Chryssia had had the measles once and couldn't do anything, so she'd asked her to read it to her. In the book, the young woman and her lover gave each other a sugar cube whenever they answered a question in the affirmative when they themselves had not done such. Chammielle decided bon bons were an excellent substitute.

"To start, I will ask you if you have ever done something, and if you have and I haven't you win a bon bon and vice versa. If we both have, we each get one. And if neither of us have, we write it down as something we can share together later."

He smiled brightly and fell back onto the pillows, pulling the box between them and folding his arms beneath his head.

"I think I shall like this game."

"Then we have a deal? You must answer truthfully."

He stared at the ceiling for a moment.

"One condition."

"Yes?"

"You continue to feed me."

She smirked at him. He really enjoyed being pampered it seemed.

"His highness cannot feed himself?"

"His highness's name is William and he wants to enjoy his wife giving him rewards for the first time."

She shook her head.

"Deal."

"Alright, first question."

"Have you ever kissed anyone not family besides me?"

He frowned at that.

"You know I haven't."

She smiled and popped a chocolate into her mouth.

"That's not fair."

"Next question: have you ever been to Kuchen?"

He perked up and lost the pout.

"Yes."

She popped a second into her mouth and then grabbed one for him. Her hand waved it before his face and she watched as his eyes followed it. It made her laugh.

"You're enjoying this too much."

She set it to his lips and he parted them to receive it.

"It's your punishment, I have every right to enjoy it immensely."

They chewed a moment before she came up with another question.

"Have you ever been to the Rose festival in Central Garten?"

"Yes."

She fed him a chocolate and did not have one herself.

"You've never been?"

"No, it's too far from Kuchen to go for a day. And my father was always off for business and us ladies stayed home."

"We'll go this year. The royal family always goes, and you will be the talk of the town as the nation's new princess."

She smiled, considering it.

"Hmm, I could get used to this. Alright, have you ever gone somewhere not as the Prince?"

"How do you mean? I am the Prince."

"Yes, but disguising yourself so no one will recognize you."

He thought about it a second, his hand slipping out and stroking his chin.

"Well, when I was a child I snuck out. But I didn't exactly disguise who I was. I was just wearing my everyday clothes."

She snatched a bon bon.

"Oh? And where did the mysterious Lady Kuchen disappear off to and as who?"

"I was sixteen, I was having a horrid time with my Francan lessons, and I was sure I could speak it better than the textbook was telling me how. So I dressed as a peasant, snuck into a hay wagon headed to the settlement of Pâquerette ten miles south, and spent the day speaking it telling everyone there my name was Cham Gateau."

He sat up, his eyes glittering.

"That sounds like the most spontaneous thing I've ever heard anyone do. And here I thought you had no sense of adventure outside of your epics."

She smiled at the memory but pulled at a stray piece of hair.

"Well, I did get into a lot of trouble for that. But I didn't have to continue my lessons any longer."

She popped the chocolate into her mouth and smiled triumphantly.

"I guess not. I like this game. Ask me another question."

She tilted her head from side to side.

"Mhmm, have you ever beaten someone?"

His face went flat and he reached for the box and put a bon bon to her lips.

"Will-"

He pressed it into her mouth and she gave him a look as her mouth was stuffed and she chewed.

"I've never struck anyone with my fists in my life. And you have kicked me twice upon our marriage."

She couldn't help her retort despite the mouthful of chocolate impeding her.

"You...deserved it."

He grinned at that.

"Yes. Yes I did. I want to ask the next question."

Unable to think of one off the top of her head, she nodded and swallowed the sweets.

"Alright."

"Have you ever thought of how many children you want?"

She shook her head and his eyes narrowed.

"Never?"

"Honestly, no. I've only ever thought of becoming an aunt to my sisters' children once they had their own. I...I can't say I've thought of a number."

He sighed.

"Shall I feed you a chocolate then?"

"No, because then I'll have to tell you how many I've thought of. And that's not fair."

She grabbed at the box and he swiped it away.

"Will!"

"No! If you don't want children, I can't tell you my number. It just feels wrong."

She flicked him on his nose and he snapped out of his miniature tantrum.

"Tell me and I'll give you a kiss instead."

"Anywhere I like?"

She brought her fist to her lips and cleared her throat.

"Within reason."

He sighed.

"You're going to hate me... My mother always wanted ten children. One for each grand bedroom within the palace. It seemed like a good idea, filling the place with a family. It didn't work out that way for her."

She felt a pang in her chest. Queen Magnolia had wanted ten children and had only had three? Perhaps the King was reticent to sire so many? Or she was unable?

She nodded at his admission, considering it.

"Hmm...I suppose I'll have to find you a concubine or two..."

He grasped her sides and she shrieked. He pulled her to his chest and chuckled.

"I have my hands full with you, thank you very much. I'll take that kiss now."

She stared into his eyes, a cold and subdued looking fire burning within them. Hers darted to those rosey lips that smiled and smirked and teased her so. Her breath caught in her throat.

"I...um...where?"

He was staring at her own lips when she tried to meet with his eyes again. Finally they sought hers and he smirked.

"Here's fine."

He lay a finger on the end of his nose.

Chammielle propped herself up more and lay the simple peck at the tip of it. Then decided better of it and let her lips trail to his cheek.

"That's...not my nose."

His scent was light and seemed stronger towards his collar. She lay little kisses down his jaw and followed that line to his neck.

"Chammielle..."

He smelled of something sweet and warm. It was like a pound cake fresh from the oven. Made with lard and butter for a savory undertone. Atop that was a scent like lilacs and cedar. It was heady and enticing. His own personal musk.

"Not...fair."

She pulled back and he pushed her hair from her face. His eyes out of focus and breathing through his mouth. His hands came up to her shoulders and pulled her down once more, gently. Then he moved and hovered over her.

His lips went to her jaw and found their own path to her throat. It set her blood to flow with the sound of a raging river. His mouth opened and he trailed his tongue along to her ear. There he nibbled at her lobe and she gripped his hair. Sliding her hands through it and pulling lightly.

"So this is how you like it..."

He tugged at her ear with his teeth and she felt like she would implode.

"Your highness!"

The knock and muffled voice came at the door and broke the moment.

"Are you coming to the banquet this evening?"

"Yes!"

"No!"

She shot him a look and pushed him away. Scooting to sit up at the edge of the bed.

"Yes, we'll need to get ready."

The voice on the other side of the door came back through.

"Alright, we shall attend you in your personal rooms on either side."

She could hear the footsteps grow quieter and two doors opening and closing. Chammielle turned back to Will and caught sight of his disheveled look.

"We must look a sight."

"No, I look a sight, you look like heaven."

She rolled her eyes at him and he chuckled.

"That was...um..."

"Too much?"

She shook her head and worried her lip.

"Well, no..."

"I hear it's entirely different upon the lips. Would you care to try it?"

Her eyes shot open wide as she stared at him. Then at the floor, pushing her curls behind one ear.

"I have a feeling I'm not ready for that."

"Like I said, only when you want to. Princess, you have nothing to worry about. I shall endeavor to work diligently at my self control."

She glanced at him, biting her lip.

"Is it very hard?"

He smirked.

"You have no idea. But for you, such burdens are worth it."

She nodded, standing up from the bed and moving to the other side of it towards the adjoining door to her room. He moved as well to the side of the bed he was closest to. And then she had an idea.

"Will?"

His knees bent over the edge and he leaned forward in time to look up at her.

"Ye-"

She pressed her lips to his. They were soft and warm and felt lovely. Her lips surrounded his bottom lip and she pulled away as it twitched to life between them.

Then all at once she ran for the door. She called back to him as she held the doorknob.

"I'll see you at dinner."

The door was opened and then closed behind her and she put her back to it, breathing a deep sigh.

"Good afternoon, your highness."

She looked and saw four maids standing in the room. They blushed and gave each other looks, trying their best not to gawp. Chammielle smiled at them and brushed at her skirts.

"I don't suppose I have any chocolate on my face?"

"Ah. No. It's...on your neck, your highness."

The maid blushed and smiled, averting her eyes.

She'd have felt shocked herself but it gave her a pleasant feeling in her belly. So instead, she smiled and stood from the door.

"Long live Garten."

The maids giggled and nodded.

"Long live Garten!"

...

The banquet was equally as lavish as it had been the evening before. Soups and hors deouvrés and roast vegetables and veal and cheeses and salad. Fruit and cakes were also on full display, arranged to look as opulent and bountiful as possible.

Chammielle had been dressed in a silk brocade ball gown. A silvery blue with white roses embossed all over. Her tiara on her head and all her hair styled to one side with her choker on full display, she was starting to feel like a princess.

Will looked utterly dashing.

His justaucorps, breeches, and waistcoat were all a silvery blue to match. A white rose pinned at his lapel. His crown covered in rubies and diamonds was far simpler than her own, and more robust in shape. But it was the red in his cheeks and not on his crown that had her attention.

"Will, are you alright?"

He smirked and rolled his head lazily to look at her.

"The funniest thing happened to me today. I was kissed and left. It all happened so fast. I wonder who that mystery woman was..."

She returned his look and his face melted into melancholy.

"Oh what has my life become? Love me? Leave me? I really don't know what to make of it."

She patted his hand, a smirk still on her face.

Someone decided to cheer them on just then.

"Long live Princess Chammielle! Long live Prince William!"

It echoed about and he smiled at the crowd, taking her fingers and bringing them to his mouth for a kiss.

"Don't think I won't get you back for that later."

He spoke through her fingers, a smile on his lips for the crowd. She leaned in, lowering her voice and bringing her mouth to his ear.

"Forgive me. I'm quite weak when it comes to something so sweet before me."

A server came up then.

"May I bring your highnesses anything?"

"Sweets. All the sweets. It seems my wife has a sweet tooth and I shall see her sated."

"Right away, your highness."

He rushed away and she eyed him for his silly outburst.

"Anything you want, it is yours. If sweetness is what you desire, I shall give it to you for the rest of our lives. I am your Sweet William. And I belong to no other."

His face was so close and she didn't think twice.

Her lips alighted upon his once more, and his hand cupped her face. The room roared with cheers but they were lost in each other. He kissed her softly, tentatively, and with a carefulness that said he didn't want her to disappear. She returned it with a reassuring gentleness, daring to enjoy something she never thought was hers to have.

"My Will..."