Evangeline woke up in a very calming way. Dean was still close to her, their bodies tangled in a gentle mess, and for the first time in a long time, she was feeling very safe.
"Good morning, my lady," her husband whispered when their eyes met.
The princess felt her cheeks reddening up in embarrassment instantly and he only smiled.
"Good morning, my lord," she finally said.
"How was your sleep?"
"Good, my lord," she looked down, hiding her face on the crook of his neck and breathing his scent for a moment.
The knock on the door made the two of them raise their heads in surprise, and Dean cleared his throat before raising his voice.
"We are not ready yet," he let out, still protectively holding his wife, and she closed her eyes. Maybe she could fall asleep again.
Dean kissed Evangeline's forehead very gently, as if he was still testing the waters, even after he'd crossed that line long ago. She enjoyed his affection. It reminded her of how King Chuck did the same to her when she was a child, something the princess had lost after he passed away. The last time someone had been so affectionate with her before Dean was when Chuck decided to do so before he left for the hunt that caused his death.
Even with the husband's warning, a handmaid entered the couple's chamber and stood in front of their bed, making Evangeline flush and Dean move his eyes to her.
"My lord, my princess," she bowed for a moment. "Breakfast is ready and waiting for you."
The princess frowned.
"You can bring it later," she said, confused. "We said we are not ready."
Deam squeezed her hand for a moment, making her look at him.
"I completely forgot. We won't have it alone. Our families are waiting for us."
Evangeline's eyes widened. She had completely forgotten that their first breakfast as a couple was supposed to be with their families.
"What will we tell them?" she whispered.
Dean frowned, looking in her eyes, confused.
"We do not need to tell them anything," he said like it was obvious. "You are my wife now, a married woman. You don't own them anything."
Evangeline could already feel eyes on her as she and Dean stepped out of their chambers, even though they were still completely alone. Anticipation wasn't great. They would eye her face and the way he held her hand, how she blushed like the maiden she still was – something they didn't actually know – and he grinned like a fool. They would judge her dress and her body, and the way she had brushed her hair differently for the day.
Dean had been the one choosing her outfits that morning from the gifts they had received just the day before from his own father. The dress was similar to the pieces she had seem Charlie and her cousins – Evangeline's cousins now – wearing and exposed much more skin than anything she had ever worn. Dean's homeland was very warm and sunny, she could see that in his tanned skin, and the princess just wondered if he was feeling cold in the capital.
Her arms were exposed to the sun, as well as her back and the top of her breasts. She had felt Dean's eyes burning her skin the moment he saw her dressed, and the way he licked his lip in delight. Apparently, he liked what he saw.
Beautiful, he had said when his wife finally approached him sat a few steps from her.
Evangeline stopped in the middle of the way.
"I do not wish to go," the princess decided and he looked into her blue eyes, puzzled.
She was afraid. Evangeline didn't want to see Michael, his mother, or anyone else. She wanted to stay in with Dean their room and not see their faces, and not think of how they would read through their lie.
Silently, he walked the two of them back and opened the door to their chambers again.
"Change your clothes, and lay down," he caressed her cheek. "I'll let a handmaid know my wife is too sore and our breakfast must be served in our room later today."
Evangeline looked down at her feet in embarrassment and Dean ran a thumb on her lips for a moment before she complied.