Chapter 7 Friends

"My Lady, it is time for your dinner with the Grand Duke," Katy said softly. 

Beatrice who is still feeling tired forced herself to sit down on her bed. She smiled at the sight of Katy wearing her new uniform.

"It suits you," Beatrice softly said.

"Thank you, my lady," Katy smiled. 

"My Lady, It is Luna," Luna said after knocking. 

Beatrice nodded at Katy, Katy then opened the door and Luna went inside pushing a rack full of clothes. 

"What's this?" Beatrice asked shocked at the beautiful dresses in front of her.

"It is a present from the Grand Duke, My Lady," Luna squealed feeling happy at the sweet effort of her Lord.

"Oh my, these dresses are all trending in the capital!" Katy said excitedly. 

"Let's get you washed up my lady, for you to try them all!" Luna said excitedly.

Beatrice didn't know how to respond to the kindness of the Grand Duke which is why she just nodded at every word Luna and Katy said. 

While Luna is helping Beatrice to take a bath, she is stunned to see the different types of scars, Beatrice has in her back. 

Luna immediately asked Katy about the scars after bathing Beatrice. 

"Can I ask you something?" Luna asked Katy who was busy picking a dress for Beatrice.

"Is it about her back?" Katy said sadly.

"Yes," Luna replied.

"It's something she had to experience back at the Blanche's estate," Katy whispered sadly.

"Oh poor soul," Luna said trying her best not to cry.

"Don't show it to our master," Katy sternly said and Luna nodded.

Beatrice went out of her bathroom and went to her dressing room. Katy picked a long blue dress with little diamonds attached to it while Luna picked a simple accessory that matched the dress.

"Wow," Beatrice said in amazement after they changed and put some makeup on her.

"You look amazing my lady!" Katy said happily.

"You're so beautiful my lady!" Luna squealed with so much amazement in her eyes.

Beatrice couldn't help but feel nervous, she was having dinner together with her husband and she didn't want to make any mistake.

The long hallway through the room where they will be having dinner seems longer than it looks. As the minutes passed by, Beatrice felt more nervous than before.

Katy and Luna who is walking from behind Beatrice felt the nervousness of their master. Katy walked faster until she was beside Beatrice.

"My Lady, you don't have to be nervous," Katy whispered.

"I can't help it, Katy, what if I made a mistake and then the Grand Duke gets angry?" Beatrice whispered back.

"Don't worry my lady, nothing is gonna happen, just be yourself and relax, the Lord should be the one who will feel nervous at the sight of you," Katy said and winked at her master.

Beatrice took it as a joke and felt some relief. When they arrived at the door, she breathed heavily while closing her eyes. When she opened them she fixed her posture and smiled at the butler who was standing at the door.

The butler smiled back and announced the arrival of Beatrice. When the door was wide open, Beatrice walked towards the long table. Beatrice saw some butler moving the chair backward and she assumed that it was where she would be sitting. 

"Thank you," Beatrice politely said and smiled at the butler.

"You look beautiful," Arthur said, the voice of Arthur was so calm and cool that made Beatrice blush at his compliment.

"You look nice too, Grand Duke," She replied.

"You can stop calling me that, I'm already your husband," Arthur sternly said.

"O-okay Arthur," Beatrice replied shyly.

Arthur raised his hand and all the servants served plenty of different dishes in front of the newlywed. 

"I don't know what you like so I told our chef to cook his best dish," Arthur said while smiling.

"It looks delicious, thank you," Beatrice said.

Beatrice started eating after she saw Arthur eat something. It's not that she was suspicious of the food that was served but she was used to waiting for others to eat before her and this caught Arthur's attention but he kept quiet thinking that, that was normal in their household.

"Did you enjoy your food?" Arthur said, trying to start a conversation.

"Yes, it was delicious," Beatrice said while smiling sweetly. 

Beatrice did not lie, she enjoyed the food and Arthur let her eat what she wanted. This didn't happen back at her home. That's why she enjoyed eating so much food since she never experienced eating this kind of food back at her former home.

"Since you are done eating let's take a walk to the garden," Arthur said and Beatrice knew that they had to talk privately. She thought that it was about their wedding night when they needed to consummate their marriage. 

Beatrice was so deep in thought that she forgot to reply to the Duke, Arthur got worried assuming that Beatrice felt sick or something.

"Are you okay? Do you want to go back and rest?" Arthur said worriedly.

"It's okay, I also want to see the garden here," Beatrice said hiding her nervousness. She thought that they would need to do that sooner or later and that she could not run away.

Arthur nodded and stood, Beatrice was surprised when Arthur walked towards her and offered his arm. Beatrice blushed at Arthur being a gentleman and shyly put her arm around Arthur's arm. 

They slowly walked towards the garden. The silence was not awkward but it was peaceful. Beatrice forgot her nervousness and just enjoyed walking around looking at the beautiful flowers they had in their garden.

"This place is beautiful," Beatrice mumbled.

"Yes it is," Arthur replied and Beatrice was shocked that he heard what she said.

Beatrice pondered for a while what she would be saying for a reply when Arthur talked again.

"This was planted by my mother," Arthur said using his most serious tone of voice.

At the change of his tone, Beatrice couldn't help to look at Arthur. The moonlight made Arthur's face more visible to Beatrice. He looked so majestic but also looked so lonely and tired. 

Beatrice remembered one of the rumors regarding her husband. He killed all of his family members when he got back from the war.

The cold wind made Beatrice shiver and Arthur put his coat on to Beatrice.

"Thank you," Beatrice said sweetly.

"Ever since you arrived here, I only heard thank you from you," Arthur said.

"I don't know what to say," Beatrice said honestly.

"I just want to let you know that you are my partner and the Grand Duchess of this empire, so you don't have to be afraid of getting hurt here in the north," Arthur said while smiling. He smiled so widely that all of his perfect teeth were showing.

"All of this feels so unreal," Beatrice replied sadly. She smiled beautifully but it made Arthur feel sad. In Arthur's eyes, his wife was smiling but her eyes were crying for help.

"Let's go to bed, the wind is getting colder," Arthur said and Beatrice nodded at him. 

In the bedroom, Beatrice was sitting on the right side of the bed waiting for Arthur. She was already wearing her night wardrobe. When she heard the door open, she lifted her head and looked at the person who entered their bedroom. It was Arthur wearing a bathrobe while holding a towel that he was using to dry his hair. 

Beatrice stood nervously and walked towards Arthur. Arthur was shocked and felt nervous when he thought that Beatrice was walking towards him to invite him to consummate their marriage. 

"Let me dry your hair," Beatrice said while blushing. 

Arthur also blushed but it was for the reason that he felt embarrassed thinking that Beatrice would ask him to consummate their marriage.

Feeling embarrassed, he gave Beatrice the towel and sat on their sofa. Arthur was enjoying the moment even though Beatrice was clumsy at drying his hair.

"All done," Beatrice said and walked towards the bed. When Arthur also went to bed and was about to say goodnight to his wife. He saw Beatrice taking off her nightgown.

"What are you doing?" Arthur asked startled at his wife's actions.

"They said that after marriage we need to do it," Beatrice asked innocently. 

"What do you mean 'it'?" Arthur asked with wide eyes.

"Consummate our marriage," Beatrice bluntly said.

Arthur facepalms trying to control himself. After sighing a few times he laid Beatrice down, looking at Arthur's face from below, Beatrice couldn't help but blush.

Arthur slowly went closer to Beatrice and Beatrice closed her eyes shut immediately. Arthur smirked but only kissed Beatrice's forehead.

Beatrice opened her eyes and looked at Arthur surprised. 

"You don't need to force yourself, we can start being friends," Arthur said while smiling.

Beatrice pulled the sheets upwards to her face and smiled. 

"Thank you," She mumbled as she drifted off to sleep.