Beneath the Surviving Princess's Joyful Facade - Chapter 23

Noticing her anxiety, Eirik quickly changed the subject. “Your speech has improved a lot since we started. It’s only been a few days.”

“I was better, originally.”

Encouraged by the change of topic, Miesa’s eyes sparkled. “I couldn’t practice. I used to be much better.”

“Why couldn’t you practice?”

Miesa pointed at Eirik and explained, “When I wake up at night, you are like this…”

She mimicked the act of hugging, reminding Eirik of the times he had embraced her in his sleep. His ears turned red again.

“Ah, I was worried you might leave the room… I didn’t know. Make yourself comfortable now.”

“I told you something. Now, here.”

She pointed to her forehead, hinting that she wanted a kiss there like before.

Eirik chuckled softly. “Are you a trader of information? You seem to demand a reward for every bit of news you give.”

He kissed her forehead as requested, making her scratch at the spot as she asked, “What’s a trader of information?”

Her comfort with speaking led her to start asking more questions.

The questions continued every day. Often, she asked about basic things she didn’t know.

“What’s a swindler?”

“What does ‘damn’ mean?”

One day, she asked a more challenging question.

“How do girls my age usually live?”

“What do people think about the king?”

As the conversations grew longer, Miesa’s speech became remarkably natural. Her questions grew more specific.

“There are people who die from slitting their wrists and those who don’t die even if their whole wrist is cut off. Why do some die with a small cut and others live with a bigger cut?”

“Where are the servants and maids from? Why do they speak differently? Sometimes I can’t understand them.”

It made sense, so Eirik explained the social hierarchy. And then…

“By the way, it’s only been about a month, but your speech has really improved.”

Miesa smiled brightly. At first, her smile was asymmetrical, but now it was becoming more natural.

“It’s because I already knew all the words. I used to say them all in my head.”

She leaned in, and he kissed her soft cheek willingly. She had grown used to the kisses, and the habit of scratching where he kissed had diminished.

“In that case, how about we start by using informal speech with each other?”

“Why?”

“Well, we’re husband and wife. Isn’t it better to speak informally to each other?”

Whenever he taught her something, she listened intently, asking again and again if she didn’t understand. Today, she asked, “I’m royalty, and you’re just a Margrave’s son. Do I have to use formal speech?”

Eirik burst out laughing at her innocent arrogance. “Well, since you’re married to me, you’ve become just a noble yourself.”

Eirik had started teasing her more, which was unlike him, who had never indulged in frivolous talk.

He explained the customs of noble marriages for a while, and Miesa seemed to understand.

“Oh, I see.” She nodded obediently.

Feeling a bit guilty for teasing her like a child, Eirik kissed the back of her hand and asked, “Are you disappointed?”

“No, not at all.”

“You seem disappointed.”

Eirik raised an eyebrow skeptically, and Miesa answered in a serious tone, without a trace of a smile,  “I’m not disappointed. I like it here, so it’s okay to be ‘just a noble.’“

Her words didn’t bother the ‘just a noble’ man at all. After all, it was his own statement, and the meaning behind her clumsy expression was what mattered.

“That’s a relief.”

He smiled, looking at her small mouth as she spoke each word carefully.

“Eirik is kind, too. I’m glad I saved you.”

“What do you mean by that?” Eirik squinted his eyes.

Miesa explained in simpler terms. “I saved you, didn’t I? It was treason, Eirik.”

Recalling the events at the palace after their marriage, Eirik closed his mouth. It was true that without Miesa’s help, the king would have branded him a traitor. So, it was indeed Miesa who saved his life.

Technically, he wouldn’t have faced that danger if he hadn’t married her, but Eirik didn’t want to point that out. He wanted to see her looking proud.

“That’s true. I’ll live gratefully.”

At his respectful response, Miesa nodded like a gracious monarch and grinned widely.

“There’s lots of food here. Eirik treats me well. Margravine Cladnier likes me too. I like everything.”

Sometimes, when she spoke quickly, her old, clumsy speech slipped out. Eirik listened, nodding, delighted by her spontaneous outbursts.

“I’m happy to be married. Really.”

He couldn’t take his eyes off her face.

Her skin was as white as porcelain, with a peach-like blush, and her chattering, rosy lips made his heart race.

How could he have not realized before how beautiful his wife truly was?

The awkward, crooked smile she used to wear had now softened into a natural, gentle curve. She spoke with a grace and dignity befitting her royal heritage, her platinum blonde hair and delicate features adding to her noble air.

But what truly captivated him were her various expressions. The triumphant look on her face, the way her long lashes fluttered as she blinked while he explained something, her curious eyes asking questions to ensure she missed nothing, the intelligence shining in her sea-blue eyes—all of it was irresistibly charming.

Eirik, driven by a sudden impulse, gently cupped her cheek.

“Miesa.”

Her eyes, filled with anticipation, met his. Eirik smiled and softly kissed her lips. However, it seemed his wife didn’t know she was supposed to close her eyes during a kiss.

“Close your eyes.”

Miesa was obedient. She closed her eyes, though her lips were tightly shut in tension. Eirik gently stroked her soft cheek with his thumb, kindly instructing her, “Relax your lips.”

As the tension left her lips and they parted slightly, he tenderly kissed her again, his thumb still caressing her soft cheek. Her lips were moist and soft, making it hard to pull away. What was meant to be a brief kiss stretched longer, and what was meant to be a single kiss turned into several. His desire only grew stronger.

The kisses, initially gentle and light, became deeper and more passionate. When he lightly bit her lower lip, her shoulders stiffened with surprise. Eirik soothed her with his lips, then gently licked the inside of her mouth. At that moment, Miesa’s eyes flew open.

Miesa couldn’t understand the situation. Why would someone put something like that in another person’s mouth? She could understand if there was something to eat inside.

She also didn’t understand why the man’s breathing grew heavier. As something soft and wet explored her mouth, the man’s breathing became increasingly ragged, and he let out a groan as if in pain.

The man, who had been focused on her mouth, now caressed her hair, planting light kisses on her cheeks and jaw. Miesa quietly accepted his kisses.

Eirik noticed her wide-open eyes and clenched fists and couldn’t help but laugh.

Today, he seemed unusually excited. Lately, he had been laughing more often. He gently took her hand and kissed her fingers, the back of her hand, and her wrist. As his lips moved up her arm, she giggled from the ticklish sensation.

“Does it feel strange?” he whispered, his lips brushing her neck and collarbone as he began to undo her robe. When her white skin was revealed, he kissed it lightly.

Trying to hold back her laughter, she let out a small, surprised moan as his lips moved lower, reaching her breasts.

“Ah…?”

Eirik’s lips were now tracing her breasts, and Miesa couldn’t take it anymore, pushing his shoulders away and pulling herself up.

“No, this isn’t right.”

“What?”

“Do you even know how to do this properly? Have you ever done this before?”

“When a wife asks her husband that question, I believe she usually wants to hear—”

“You’ve never done this before, have you? This isn’t how you do it.”

Miesa began to explain what she knew in a lengthy lecture.

“If we’re going to do this, first, both the husband and wife need to take off their clothes.”

“Wait, did you learn the details of the wedding night process somewhere?”

“I learned it properly,” Miesa replied confidently. “At the temple, about the union of man and woman.”

In truth, she had learned more from the Big than from the formal lessons. After all, it was not the priestess who had told her that it would hurt between her legs.

“First, the husband and wife must ‘undress and lie in bed with a reverent heart and share their respect for each other,’” she continued, explaining with a triumphant smile. “Then, you rub lips together, lie down, rub bodies briefly, and the ‘male organ must enter the female organ.’”

Miesa smiled, pleased with her explanation. “Then, the wife’s legs will hurt, and there will be blood. That’s how the wedding night ends.”

Eirik struggled to suppress both his confusion and laughter. He bit his lip, trying to contain himself, but Miesa, misinterpreting his reaction, offered a comforting smile.

“It’s okay. I know the way, so don’t worry.”