No one can hurt us

If Selah was being honest, she had never felt this emotional before. She also didn't expect the first time together with her husband to be this painful in many ways.

They both shed tears, for all the emotions they were feeling right now.

"No matter how hard I try to hold it in, in the end, I still cry. Isn't this sad?"

"I am also as pathetic as you…"

"But it feels like I've only shown my embarrassing side all this time. You even know of my dark past….."

"Aeneas…" Selah whispered as she could feel his hands moving down her nightgown. "You say that because I haven't shown my pitiful side yet."

When she felt Aeneas' hand stop moving, Selah guided the hand to continue lowering her nightgown. Even though it was dark, Selah could feel Aeneas' astonished gaze. Selah tried to ignore it while suppressing her own embarrassment.

Then a soft kiss fell on her neck.

"Back then, there was one dress that I really wanted to wear. The model is very beautiful. I've gone to the boutique to get my measurements done and ready to order. But when the maids there started helping me to measure my body… they furrowed their brows," said Selah. "Then somehow word got out that I… have a bad body."

"Because of these scars?" asked Aeneas, tracing her back and stomach.

Selah gave a small nod. "Father heard about it, so the news soon died down. But since then I don't want to wear weird dresses anymore. I couldn't go to parties for a while because they looked at me disdainfully. Honestly, if Blair didn't propose to me later, I probably would have never been to the parties forever," she explained.

"Is this the reason you disappeared for the past week?"

"Yes. I just remembered at the last second because almost avoided the mirror all this time and didn't want help when I showered."

Aeneas let out a long breath. His finger traced one of the scars under Selah's chest. "Isn't this near the heart?"

"Attempted murder when I was newly engaged to Blair," Selah told him.

"And you managed to dodge."

"Thanks to the reflexes that my father has trained for years."

"Then you should be proud, Selah. If I had been attacked, I would have died already." Aeneas moved to take off his nightrobe. "I was never allowed to learn martial arts lest my skin leaves scars. So when I was 15, I stabbed myself here."

A scar that looks like a deep stab runs across the side of Aeneas' abdomen. Selah reflexively traced the scar with her fingers. She could not imagine a teenage Aeneas sticking a knife through his own stomach. What kind of courage made him dare to do such crazy things?

"It must hurt."

"It doesn't hurt as much as when you got your wounds. After all, it's healed now, just like your wounds."

Selah could feel her skin burning as she felt Aeneas's skin against her body. Somehow the hug that Aeneas gave felt different from the hugs she had ever gotten before. Maybe because of the warmth of their body skin that stuck together or the soft hug she got. Selah didn't know which one, but it was clear that she had been sobbing without realizing it.

"We are together now, so no one can hurt us anymore," whispered Aeneas. He kissed Selah's eyes. "I will take care of you, and you will take care of me. We'll be fine. Trust me."

After giving a slight nod, Aeneas intertwined his fingers with Selah's. His kiss turned into a long kiss on the lips. After a while, Selah could taste the salty tears from both of their eyes.

Nothing like this has ever been read or heard from anyone.

She remembered how she rubbed her body so hard the previous week that her skin was all red. She did this self-torture to disguise the scars on his body. Of course, the result is nil; it will take years to get rid of it. Even if it's true, it can be lost.

Who would have thought that her scars would be insignificant to Aeneas? Her husband still held her gently, whispering sweet words so Selah would believe in them and treat her with care. No expression of disgust or hurtful question comes from Aeneas. Instead, Aeneas heeds Selah's scars.

And that made Selah realize that someone loved and respected her. A treatment and feelings that Selah never thought he would receive when he took off all his possessions.

Selah Dulcia, who is now just a Selah, is an ordinary woman who can get affection from other people.

No need to be someone strong.

No need to be someone in power.

Without needing to be someone pretty.

***

Aeneas had often seen someone beside him when he woke up; his father, his mother, and even his brother. Having a wife beside him was new to him, even though they had shared a bed once before.

But by then, Selah had gotten up and washed her face, thought Aeneas. Meanwhile, Selah was still asleep. Aeneas really didn't expect it because he was sure it was already quite noon for Selah.

"Your Highness?"

A call from outside the room made Aeneas rush out of bed, carefully leaving Selah. At the door, Azel and a maid were already waiting.

"Yes, after this we will be ready. But please don't be too noisy," Aeneas said quietly.

The maid nodded in understanding. "If permitted, I will prepare for Her Highness' departure with the help of Miss Janette," she said.

"Yeah, just do it like that," Aeneas told her. He turned to Azel then. "Do the same with my stuff. After changing clothes, I will meet Mother. She's fine, right?"

"Her Majesty is well, Your Highness," said Azel. "Then let me first tell the maid to prepare for your needs now."

Aeneas went back inside and found that Selah was still asleep. Her face looked calmer and more relaxed than usual. Aeneas doesn't have the heart to wake her up.

Well, I'll wait a few more moments, Aeneas thought.

Aeneas began to open the curtains of the bedroom window. It's narrow. The important thing is the light from outside comes in. He also opened the window a little so that air circulation is better. Don't forget to turn off the lighting in the room.

"Uh… I overslept," Selah muttered hoarsely.

Aeneas laughed at this. He immediately offered water. "Things I didn't expect Duchess Dulcia would do," he said, amused. His hand stroked Selah's head while she drank. "We have to get ready for our honeymoon."

After groaning lazily. "I'm still sleepy…"

"Come on." Aeneas kissed her cheek. "Sleep later in the carriage. If we delay any longer than this, we'll miss breakfast."

Receiving no response, Aeneas tucked into Selah's nightgown with difficulty. Then he carried her into the bathroom and splashed her with water.

Be aware for a moment.

"You-!"

"I'll ask that we take a bath together, you know," teased Aeneas.

After sneering, Selah said, "Even though you were very cute last night, you've returned to your original nature."

Aeneas laughed at this. "I'll call the maids now so they can prepare your water. You stay here and don't sleep back, okay?"

"Am I a child?!"

Before Selah could do anything, Aeneas had come out of the bathroom to escape his wife's wrath.