The First One

Louise's eyes narrowed as she observed me. "Of course, I'll visit them. I need to see my uncle, auntie, and Elizabeth again. I want to ensure they're doing well, especially Elizabeth. I had hoped to support them and give them a better life. Then, I could introduce you to them. But I don't know what to say about my sudden disappearance and its duration. We can't just tell them we're already married. In our world, individuals can't marry without parental or guardian permission, so they'd be skeptical once they find out. Besides, marriage is seen as a sign of respect and love, so..."

"You're going to tell them about me?" I asked, trying to confirm what I had just heard.

My wife furrowed her brow. "Why? Don't you want me to? I know you're busy, but perhaps you could..."

"You're taking me there with you?" I interrupted, seeking clarification.

Louise scratched her head, impatience creeping into her expression. "Why, is that not allowed? Do we need permission from the Ministers? I understand you have royal duties, but we won't be away for long. Just a few days, I think."

Now, Louise avoided meeting my gaze.

"So you're not leaving me alone?" I struggled to fully grasp her intentions.

"Why do you keep assuming I'll leave you?" Her tone carried frustration.

"So you're not leaving me?" I persisted, sensing her growing annoyance. Her stare darkened as I repeated the question.

"I just want to be sure, I'm sorry," I murmured, looking away.

"Damn it, Ludwig, I might actually leave you if you don't stop this. Where do you think I would go without you knowing?" Her eyes shot fiery daggers at me, her patience wearing thin.

"So...you won't leave for the human world?" I began cautiously, sensing Louise was on the verge of exploding. "You won't return to your family, and..." My voice trailed off, growing lower and weaker. "And you won't leave me here alone?"

I waited for Louise to either yell at me or confirm my fears, but several seconds passed, and she continued to stare at me with a serious expression. Silence enveloped us. I contemplated walking away to spare her from explaining herself, but before I could move, she enveloped me in a tender embrace.

"I'll be honest, Ludwig," Louise sobbed. "I miss my family terribly. I really do. There's a part of me that longs to go back to how things were before I entered this world."

Instinctively, I tightened my embrace. I didn't want to hold her back, but I also couldn't bear the thought of her leaving me for them.

"But I also know that even if I were to return, things wouldn't be the same as before. I can't just go back to them and live as if nothing has changed. I'm no longer just a human being. Being with them would put them in danger. If I stayed, someone might realize that I'm different. No one wants trouble, especially since Elizabeth is ill, and we're not well off. I don't want to burden them further. People would hate us if they knew the truth about me. It's a difficult choice, but I'm willing to sacrifice my happiness if it means keeping them safe. And most of all, I can't go back without missing you. I'm not leaving you, Ludwig. I'm not. We're married. Why would I even consider leaving?" Louise buried her face in my chest and tightened her embrace around me. My heart felt a sense of relief amidst the turmoil.

"I just thought...I mean," I cleared my throat, gathering my thoughts. "You don't seem to enjoy it here. I see you in the library every day, searching for a way to return home."

"Every day, really?" Louise lifted her face, locking her gaze with mine. "And wait, how did you know I was in the library and what I was reading?"

I raised an eyebrow, attempting to mask my embarrassment. "Are you stalking me, Ludwig?" She teased with a smile, but when she noticed my seriousness, her expression shifted. "Well, that was before. I mean...why are we discussing this, Ludwig? Do you want me to leave?"

I scowled at her. "Of course not," I muttered, frustration evident in my tone. "It's just that you have every reason to leave and none to stay."

Her jaw dropped at my words, and I found myself pouting, questioning my behavior. I was Prince Ludwig, an Ascendant. I had never been this insecure before. Yet, when it came to her, my mind seemed to play tricks on me. I always felt like I couldn't quite reach her, even though she was right in front of me. It was incredibly frustrating.

"What the heck, Ludwig, isn't loving you reason enough?" Louise exclaimed, exasperation evident in her voice. "You know what, forget it. I don't even know why we're arguing in the first place."

Louise moved as if to leave, but I instinctively grabbed her hand. Her confession made my heart beat violently, as if it were on the verge of exploding. I struggled to comprehend the intensity of my emotions. I couldn't even breathe properly.

"Let me go, Ludwig," she said, annoyance clear in her tone, but I refused to release her.

"You love me," I whispered, my jaw set, my vision blurring with emotion.

"I said let go, Ludwig!" Her irritation intensified, but beneath it, I noticed a hint of embarrassment that confirmed my suspicions.

"Damn it, you love me," I repeated, still struggling to believe it. The look on my face must have softened her own, as her expression gentled.

"Of course I do, you idiot. I wouldn't have married you otherwise," she said, averting her gaze, but I forced myself to meet her eyes. "Do you think I'm marrying you just to save the kingdom?" Her eyebrow arched. "Of course not. You'd be clueless not to notice."

Her annoyance returned, but I ignored it. "I let you kiss me...and share my room," she trailed off, her cheeks reddened.

"I thought you didn't have feelings for me. I can sense your fear whenever I touch you," I confessed.

She looked at me tenderly, and before I could react, she punched me in the face. It wasn't painful, lacking any real intent to harm, but I was surprised by the force of her knuckles and the fact that she had done it. She was the only woman who had the courage to challenge me, scold me, guide me, and even punch me in the face. And yet, I loved her all the more for it.

"I hate you!" Louise shouted and stormed away. Once I recovered, I hurried after her, stopping her from leaving. When I spun her around to face me, she pushed against my chest.

"Let me go, Ludwig! I can't deal with this right now," she exclaimed, her eyes flashing with a mix of emotions.

"Louise," I called, trying to comfort her.

She paused for a moment, inhaling deeply before speaking. "I don't know what's gotten into you today. I can understand if you're worried about me returning to my world. I've mentioned wanting to go home many times. But how could you doubt my feelings just because I'm scared to take..."

She sighed, unable to finish her sentence. "I didn't know you were like this, Ludwig," she added, attempting to pull away once more, but I stopped her, wrapping my arms around her.

"How else am I supposed to think, Louise?" I spoke matter-of-factly. "You've never said you love me, and you're afraid of my advances."

"Of course, I'm entitled to be afraid because it's my first time," Louise shouted, her anger palpable.

I stood rooted in my spot, stunned by her words. "I'm your what?" I asked, utterly confused.

Louise stopped struggling when she saw the bewilderment on my face. "You didn't know?"

Realization dawned on me, and I paled. "You're still a virgin?" I asked, and she blushed. "That's why you were afraid, not because you disliked my touch? Not because you didn't like me?"

"Yes," Louise nodded firmly. "I don't just like you, Ludwig. I love you. Are you deaf?" She punched me again, but this time softly on my chest. "How could you not know? You know I'm not human, but you didn't know I'm still...damn, what is your power really for?"

"I am not a Werebeast who can sense whether a woman is still a virgin or not," I said through gritted teeth, touching the back of my neck. "And another thing, I've seen you dancing with another man when I was exploring your memories." I tried to control my anger as I recalled what I had witnessed, but I failed to suppress my emotions, causing the nearest flowers to ignite with my frustration.

"I also saw you getting cozy with another man at a party," I added, my jaw clenched.

Her eyes widened at my words.

"You were with someone else again, and you embraced him," I continued, looking away. "So I thought you just wanted to go back to..." I paused, struggling to voice my thoughts. "To go back to them. You seemed comfortable around them, so I didn't understand why you were different with me. Why you were scared. I thought you didn't want me and that you were only here to keep the kingdom safe, nothing more."

"They were my victims, Ludwig, not lovers," Louise explained, her voice carrying a weight of regret. "I was a thief before, just trying to survive and gather information. I had to pretend to enjoy their company to keep them comfortable and willing to talk to me."

As she spoke, everything started to make sense. I had initially noticed her hesitation and lack of experience with kissing, attributing it to her being scared of me. Now, I understood the real reason behind it.

I cursed under my breath, overwhelmed with guilt. I couldn't help but pull Louise into a tight hug. Without another word, I guided her to my room. The guilt consumed me as I realized how eager and forceful I had been with her, almost crossing boundaries if she hadn't stopped me. She must have been terrified, and I was oblivious to her fear. How could I have been so reckless? Why hadn't I noticed her discomfort? I feared she might hate me now.

"I'm sorry, Louise. I'm so sorry. I wasn't aware. I was consumed by my jealousy and fantasies, and I lost all rationality, not considering your feelings or possible reasons," I apologized earnestly, my voice filled with regret.

Louise reassured me, saying, "You didn't force me, Ludwig. Please stop worrying. I wanted that too."

Her words brought little comfort. "I may not have forced you, but I still pressured you into sharing my room. If only I had known," I lamented, still clinging tightly to her. I was afraid that if I let go, she might leave me for real this time.

"We really suck at communicating, it seems," Louise half chuckled, half whispered. Then she kissed my cheeks. "I didn't know you were this sensitive, Ludwig."

She tried to make me look at her, and when I faced her, she kissed me gently, shyly, but with a tenderness that I couldn't resist. I was still lost in guilt, unable to respond to her kisses, but she deepened them, her tongue exploring mine and parting my lips.

"Ludwig," she moaned, tempting me with her sensual actions. I struggled to maintain control, feeling her hands wrap around my neck, pulling me closer to her.

Her scent, her touch, drove me wild, irrational, for all the right reasons. Before I lost control again, I gently pulled away.

"We can't keep your grandmother waiting for too long," I managed to say between breaths.

My wife, Louise Anderson, nodded, still flushed from our encounter, and then licked her lips, leaving me in a state of longing.