So...I Was Right?

Avelina's eyes flickered in surprise, and she reluctantly replied.

 "Yes..."

"Alright, I prefer my morning bath in the hot spring, so—"

"Hot spring?!!" Avelina exclaimed, astounded with broadened eyes.

"Yes." Draven nodded. "Do you want to have a bath there with me?".

Avelina darted her gaze around. She hesitated, reluctant to give an answer. "Well…I um…" 

"If you want to, just say yes. I won't look at you if that is what you are worried about," Draven said nonchalantly with a shrug.

"Ah…" Avelina awkwardly smiled and slowly nodded her head. "Yes…I want to."

Draven reached his hand out for her. "Let's go."

Avelina raised her head and looked at him. She grabbed hold of his hand and slipped her feet into her slippers. Together, they left the room.

At their moment of arrival in the hallway, Draven abruptly came to a halt. He glanced at Avelina who stood beside him.

"What?" confused, Avelina inquired.

Draven did not answer, rather, he grabbed her waist and lifted her into his arms in a bridal style.

Avelina's eyes dilated in shock. 

"What are you doing?" she asked, puzzled.

"Pretending," Draven responded in a hushed tone.

"Huh? Why?" Avelian appeared a bit fearful and concerned, unable to grasp what he meant by "pretending."

"Do you recall how I explained our relationship to my father? Rumors fly easily, Avelina. If we do something slightly different from what standard married couples like my brothers and their wives do, it will spread like wildfire, and my father's suspicion will leap," Draven clarified.

"Till the three months are over, we will have to play-pretend when we are in public. Within our safest space, which is our room, we can go back to our normal selves." He looked at her with a smile on his face. 

Again with the awkward smile... Avelina averted her gaze from him. She glanced at the maids who were passing by, and irritation couldn't help but fill up within her.

Upon arriving at the indoor hot spring, Draven put her to her feet. He opened the door and stepped inside.

Avelina followed behind him and took the initiative to shut the door. She looked around, a smile slowly manifesting on her face.

That fresh smell of hot, steamy, nice water. She squealed internally with her eyes shut.

"Get in while you can. My maid will be arriving shortly with the towels and robes." Draven's sudden voice was soft and deep.

Avelina opened her eyes, and at the sight of him about to enter the hot spring, a subconscious scream fled her mouth. 

"AHH!!" Followed by a quick turnaround.

Draven was startled, thus resulting in him slipping into the hot spring.

He glanced at her with a deep frown on his face. "Why did you scream?"

Without looking at him, Avelina responded with gritted teeth, "You didn't tell me...you were undressed."

"What? Is this your first time seeing a naked man?" Draven raised his brow, a bit curious.

Avelina's face was heavily flushed red. "Yes…it is." She tightly bit her lower lips.

"Oh.." Draven was obviously surprised. "Well, my apologies, but there is nothing to scream about. You're my wife, so it's not a big deal. Eventually, you're still going to see me naked, and vice versa. So…relax." He untied and ran his finger through his wet hair.

This man is crazy! Avelina shook her head and turned around to look at him.

"Can you please look away? I want to undress."

"Okay." Draven turned to face the other side of the huge room, nearly as big as a hall.

Avelina unzipped her white dress, letting it fall to the tiled floor. Then she walked over and slid into the hot spring, a bit away from where Draven was.

"I am quite surprised." Draven suddenly spoke.

"About what?" Avelina asked.

Draven finally turned around. "This is your first time seeing a naked man."

"Why is that a surprise?" Avelina crinkled her brows.

"Well, I just thought you must have." Draven shrugged. "Although if you really haven't, doesn't that mean that you are a—"

Avelina quickly swam up to him and covered his mouth with her palms. She took deep, continuous breaths and spoke with a quivering tone.

"You are chattering a lot this morning."

Draven slightly cackled in a bit of surprise and probed, "So...I was right?"

"Does it matter?" Avelina raised her head and shot him a withering glare.

Draven blinked his eyes and thought for a second.

"No, it doesn't. I was just amused by your reaction. That was all." 

Avelina let go of him, and only then did she realize that she was leaning against him.

Her pupils dilated slowly, and without saying a word out of sheer embarrassment, she pulled away from him and swam back to her position.

Draven gazed at her with glee written all over his face and shook his head.

"Your reactions to some things are winsome."

Avelina gave him a deadly glare.

"And you're quite the teaser. Tell me something, why do you not have a single tattoo on your body?"

"Tattoo?" Draven queried, a bit bewildered.