BXBX NOVEL Chapter 221 Husband And Wife
Kazimir's heart felt itchy upon seeing her pitiful yet moving state. Keeping herself faithful to their marriage, she had let down her royal dignity and served the pathetic him.
His grip tightened as he finally realized how slender her hands were, it was pale and skinny, as if no strength would come out of it even if she tried her best. His hands trembled at this thought, the very same weak looking hand had been working nonstop since she brought him to the bathroom.
"I'm sorry you have to do this.. I'm sober now.." He gently muttered as he lifted her hand which was a little slippery with the lathered shampoo. He carefully dipped it into the water and washed her hands clean.
With the substance no longer around, his grip on her hands became much more easier. He stood up outside the bathtub and carried Arielle like he had not starved himself for days at all.
The dazed Arielle only came to her senses when her body, which was now only covered with a pure white undergarment, was in the warm water.
"First Prince…" She called out in protest, but she saw that Kazimir immediately followed after making sure that she was safely sitting in the tub.
Her back was facing him, but she could feel that her body was getting burned by the touch of Kazimir's skin. She wanted to run like a rabbit fleeing from the claws of the tiger.
She had never found herself in a situation like this before. The one and only moment of intimacy she shared with Kazimir was during their wedding night. After that, she no longer experienced nor had even longed for it.
But what could she do now? After three years of marriage, here she was, sharing a bath with him in his own tub.
"First Prince, this shouldn't be…" Her ears feel so hot, how could she be in such an embarrassing situation?
She curled herself defensively, her timidity overtaking all of the other functions of her body.
Kazimir was actually mesmerized to observe his wife so closely. He felt amused seeing her so timid and shy even after they had already given birth to a two year old son.
He suddenly had the urge to tease her more as he said in a low magnetic voice, "What's wrong in taking a bath together? Didn't you say earlier that we are husband and wife!"
"But.. this.. I," Arielle found herself trapped in her own words. But how could she just act like nothing was wrong with taking a bath with him? She was not a lady with bold aspirations after all.
Kazimir observed her for a little more as she tried to squirm away from him, she clearly wanted to run away however… could she run around wet all over with nothing but a layer of undergarment?
He knew she wouldn't. He knew she couldn't.
His eyes squinted like a fox watching his prey struggle, enjoying the moment that gave him a different kind of satisfaction he hadn't felt for a long time.
He stopped teasing her when he knew that she was reaching her limits.
He gently placed his huge palms on her shoulders as he said with a rare coaxing voice, "Now, now… We can't help it, if you stay out of the tub wet all over for too long, you will definitely get sick. It's better to bathe instead… Don't worry about your garments."
After he said this, he took the bell on the side of the bathtub, ordering the servants to immediately bring in a change of clothes for the Princess consort and obediently wait outside until he said so.
He also didn't linger for too long and started to gently bathe Arielle with his own hands. As he washed her body like a dutiful husband, he realized how frail looking and skinny his princess consort was.
Kazimir's brows furrowed in anger, has she been living well in the palace? Why was she still so skinny? Was she not being well taken care of in his own manor?
His mood immediately turned dark, it seemed like he had been too focused on going around strengthening his power more that he did not even realize what was happening in his own house.
He had to gather around the servants and discipline them, he decided.
When he first laid his eyes on her, who was standing meekly along with her arrogant looking sisters, he was immediately enamored by how pure she looked.
She was like a flower, blooming with all her might on a vast plain, constantly whipped by the harshest blows of the wind.
Frail yet resilient. Weak but not easily crushed.
The moment his eyes landed on hers, he knew she was the one. Without hesitation he chose her, ignoring all the other princesses of the Vanderford family.
Everyone was taken aback by his choice back then. It was unexpected after all, she was the unwanted timid princess of the Vanderfords. But he didn't mind, as he saw her responding without hesitation to his call.
Marrying her was the only time he acted willful and selfish, doing something against his Empress Mother's wish.
But the Creator knows that he never regretted his choice, not back then, not even now.
Not everyone knew, but even after his marriage, his mother would insist him to take a new lover outside, one that is capable and powerful, for the sake of his future.
But that thing never crossed his mind, he just calmy rejected his mother's wish without any sign of aversion. Unknowingly, he made her mother think that he was not completely against it, he just didn't see the need at the moment.
But deep inside he was thinking, what use would a capable woman be, if their motives weren't as pure as hers.
She never demanded anything. She never looked at him with a scrutinizing gaze like all other people did.
However on the wedding night, he realized something surprising about himself and his feelings for her.
Sharing such a magical moment with her on the matrimonial bed had made him thirst for more.
No matter how disciplined he thought he was, he was not able to stop himself from taking her until he just found her laying limply on the soft bed, without an ounce of energy. Her eyes tearing up as she whimpered from the pain of being deflowered by him.
He was in great shock upon realizing how beastly he had acted. He looked at the mess he had created, it was like a bucket of ice water being poured on his entire body.
That was especially so when he woke up the next day finding her burning with high fever. She was so close to convulsing when the doctor arrived.
Although the doctor tried his best not to reprimand and embarrass him as the First Prince of the Empire, he immediately understood his diagnosis.
His princess consort was sickly and her body was frail, she had been 'exercising' for too long when her body was still not strong enough for these kinds of activities.
He never knew that she was suffering from malnutrition and weak constitution. That, and the fact that she was 'not covered enough' for almost the entire night, almost brought her to a vegetative state.
It made him feel so guilty, that he promised himself to restrain whenever he is with her.
But who would have thought that whenever he sees or hears her name, his body would instantly burn with desire to do all those things again?!
And so, the First Prince started to avoid her like a poison lily, all her for her sake.
He didn't want to hurt her nor bring her to that pitiful state again. The only time he saw her again was during the time she was carrying their little son in her arms so warmly.
He burned that scene to his mind and heart, as he continued to keep himself away from her.
Don't say that it was that easy for him, for that was never the case.
He thought of her so badly every moment that he had to force himself get addicted again to playing as an awesome prince of the palace, going around socializing and reinforcing his influence in the noble society.
Until such time that his body and mind were already used to not entertaining the thought of her presence, as if she never existed at all.
But how could his heart be fooled? The moment he heard her words earlier in the bathtub, he had already long wanted to pull her in and take her again.
With the last bit of rationality in his mind, he tried to calm himself down and for the very first time, he thought of someone other than himself.
His wife would surely get sick if she stayed wet like that in the cold air.
He'll bathe her carefully, not even letting himself get consumed by the raging fire he was keeping in his heart at the moment.
He'll dry her hair, then clothe her warmly. He'll dine with her, making sure that she eats a warm meal.
He'll thank her for staying by his side when he was unwell. Then he'll apologize for letting her work so much.
He'll protect her with all his abilities. He'd let her and his son live happily in the future days to come.
He knew he had too. That was why, he decided, he'll rise for himself and not surrender.
If the future is an inevitable battle he has to face, then he will take the sword up and bring forth a good fight!
In the battle of favor, only those who don't give up will surely have the right!