Wedding Preparations

King Ren dried his wet hair with a towel as he stood by Queen Anna's dressing table. He had just finished bathing in her indoor pool. "I've had my measurements taken by the tailor this afternoon. The suit will be done in about a month. The gardener also assured me that all the flowers he planted would bloom in time for our wedding."

The Kaminari king had been dropping by the Kouku palace at sunset to give an update to his fiancée about their wedding preparations. He had been doing that everyday since the queen had given him the go signal to initiate the pre-wedding activities. Well, that's ever since Yoh Asakura left months ago.

After the war, Ren wasn't sure that Anna still wished their marriage to push through. It was apparent that she and the Kasai prince were in love. He did not want to lose her again but he did not want to force himself on her either. Anna wasn't the type of person to talk about her feelings but he rather hear her say to his face if she wished to break off the engagement. So he gathered enough courage to propose to her - - - something that he had long wanted to do even before the arranged marriage was agreed upon by their fathers. When the blond queen said yes, his happiness was over the moon. He was really expecting that she would give the opposite response. He was elated when he saw that she was still wearing the diamond ring that he gave her.

The Kouku royal eyed him as she was brushing her blond hair in front of the mirror. She could see her fiancé watching her from that view. Normally a palace maid would do it for her but after being subject to the life of a servant, she had learned to do menial things without requiring any help. She had also managed to change into a night gown by herself while Ren bathed in her pool. She wasn't aware of any recent change in the protocol but the servants would automatically leave her presence as soon as the Kaminari king entered her chamber.

"I, too, have spoken with the royal seamstress. She would be presenting to me her designs before taking my measurements. Then it would probably take months before the dress would be finished. It's always easier for you, men. Your clothing styles are very limited."

King Ren chuckled. He recognized that slight annoyance in her voice with which he was so acquainted.

"I've also sent my royal cook to yours so they could finalize the menu for the wedding banquet. I do hope they would come up with something without slicing each other's fingers off as they are both ill-tempered men. I've already agreed to have the wedding take place in Kaminari palace since you have a bigger ballroom but I'm hoping that the Kouku cuisine would be showcased during the banquet."

"Whatever you want, my love. I'll talk to the royal cook as soon as I come back to Kaminari." King Ren placed his hands over her shoulders and began to massage her. "Don't stress about this too much... You know what... Pirika was raving about this newly opened inn with hot springs near the Kasai-Kouri border. We could spend our honeymoon and relax there for about a week if you like... It's owned by her friend... I forgot her friend's name though... Pirika mentioned it during our graduation ceremony at the academy. She was Yoh Asakura's---"

The queen accidentally dropped her brush. "It's Tamao." She closed her eyes and breathed deeply. "Her name is Tamao."

Her fiancé picked it up for her. "I'm sorry for even mentioning his name. I know you're still upset with him going away..."

"A hot spring sounds good... We should go right after the banquet." She put the hairbrush down, stood up and took the towel from him. She wiped off the drips of water from his neck and nape. "Before you jump into conclusion, I'm doing this so we can already retire to our own beds."

She had assigned the guest room next to hers as his so he could spend the night at the Kouku palace everytime he finds himself there after dark which was more frequent now that he was a full time king. She wasn't ready to share her bed with him just yet.

She gave him his sleep wear and looked away as he put them on. She needed to get used to his presence in her room. She would be spending her lifetime with him soon. They have agreed to live in both palaces, half the week in Kouku and the other half in Kaminari. This meant that her room would become a marriage den eventually.

"You can turn around now although it's no big deal to me even if you peeked." Her fiancé smirked at her.

Queen Anna rolled her eyes and pointed at the door.

"Can I atleast get a kiss?" King Ren pulled her to him then gently cupped her face. "I have missed you all day..."

She nodded then closed her eyes. She felt him plant several soft kisses on her lips. They were different from his usual ones which were always passionate and intense.

His gentleness reminded her so much of someone... Someone who left her months ago and broke her heart. Someone whose heart she had broken as well. She tried to block the thought of him from her head but all she could see was his goofy smile.