Chapter 28
A week later, the Royal Prince prepared a formal visit to the Haruno household with Sakura.
The humble silk merchant's home spent a week in emergency preparation mode for this moment. They stripped everything from top to bottom and redecorated every corner, almost wiping half of their savings to prepare and pay for this visitation from the royal family.
Because they are traveling out of the manor, tradition dictates the Royal Prince could only stay for less than a day, but because the Prince desires to get to know them more, they've decided to stay for two days. This is a huge honour being bestowed upon this humble household, which had no royal affiliation whatsoever a week ago.
Sakura was getting around to combatting the dizziness and all the commotion and registering this as her new reality when she got ready for her departure towards her home as a guest, not a family member. This time she's following behind her soon to be husband, in a truer sense of the word. She did not feel too much familial ties to this family, but due to keeping up with appearances, she had to go through with all this.
Sasuke was considerably warmer towards her after their engagement. It was genuine and pure, as if finally letting go of a secret, like holding a breath of pure joy, and now he able to approach her without appearing proud like an aristocrat should.
Sakura found his change fascinating, although there are moments when he still reverts back to the cold demeanor, he has curbed it significantly with her around.
They rode in bright red carriages when they arrived at the Haruno Household, and Sakura stepped out, found that the entire place was re-painted so recently it's as if the paint haven't dried up yet.
Everybody stood at the front, not limited to their immediate family, they were dressed in the most formal clothing they have, and were smiling from ear to ear. Except for her father's various wives and Sakura's sisters.
Haruno-san was the most delirious man of all. He greeted the Prince by kneeling down, and as soon as he rose, he begin a string of flattery that Sasuke has always been tired of hearing, but he showed no irritation out of respect.
Then Sasuke raised his hand and servants came up bearing treasure chest full of goods; they're betrothal gifts he and the court prepared. Sakura didn't even know those until every single of the 9 chest full of treasures are on full display in front of their gate, all opened up for the examination of her father. These gifts consist of gems, jades, top quality silk and materials, valuable herbs and medicine, jewelry, and finally, a chest full of gold and silver bars.
Each chest holds a significant meanings and each item holds a wish and custom. This is bring prepared by the highest court official, in accordance with the Emperor and the Dowager Empress, going through final checks by the Royal Prince himself, and being carted off directly from the jade palace to this house.
Haruno-San was about to have a seizure from the excitement, and the rest of the family, especially Sakura's sisters, were writhing in jealousy and envy. There is no possible way for them to marry higher than Sakura at any point in their lives. Sakura's existence and marriage seemed like a stroke of luck that has been bestowed upon them, and everyone's status was elevated, including the distant relatives and even their servants.
The gifts were carefully repackaged back, and being carried off to the center dining room, while royal soldiers surrounded the manor and checked for security clearances, all the relatives came up to give congratulations and well wishes to the couple. Sakura thought Sasuke might've thrown a fit and start frowning, but to her surprise he greeted them with lukewarm reception and mild smiles and nodding. Even answering some superficial questions.
Then they had a large banquet with the best dancer and entertainers Haruno-San could afford, and drank and partied until the day turned late, all the relatives has been sent home.
Sasuke was half drunk by then, having drank out of curtesy with all her relatives. Years of drinking at court banquets has built up his tolerance. Sakura helped him to his quarters, newly prepared by her family.
She felt new waves of emotion today. She was torn between feeling embarrassed of her family doing something outrageous or has a outlandish request to the Prince, versus the Prince holding deep contempt for a common household like hers.
To her surprise neither of those things has happened, although her family did act kind of silly, but Sasuke handed it with such suave nobody thought it was embarrassing or awkward. When Sasuke was drunk, she personally helped him to his room and tended to his needs and undressed him.
Sasuke, in his tipsy state, held onto Sakura's hands for the longest time, and held it against his face.
"Sakura", he said, "you have the softest hands."
I want to hold onto them forever. He said to himself silently, and suddenly felt embarrassed, and quickly buried his face in her palms.
Sakura was dumbfounded. Drunk Prince was behaving like a child.
She quickly seized this chance and asked, "Your highness, have you ever played by a lake or river when you were young and almost drowned?"
"Maybe." Sasuke said, confused, "do you want to sleep with me?"
It was a completely innocent and genuine tone, but Sakura quickly got more embarrassed and pulled her hands away and pushed him down and tucked him in, "you should go to sleep."
"Ok." Sasuke breathed out, smiling at her softly.
She got more embarrassed and blew out the candle, "hurry. Shhh, don't speak now."
Sasuke was very obedient. He quickly fell asleep.
The next day Sasuke woke up at a very early hour, along with the rest of the household, for it's a day of honoring the ancestors. They geared up and travelled up to the near by monastery and graves to offer various offerings and burning of paper money. Sasuke, being the one who holds the highest status, led the team and knelt down at the front. Everyone followed and said their prayers for Haruno's ancestors.
It was up to the Prince how long he wanted to kneel and pray, but nobody dared to stand up before he did. Sasuke prayed for a long while, as if holding many many things in to say.
Sakura looked on, and saw the Prince adorned in plain clothing, for it's a sin to show flashy luxury in a graveyard, diligently reciting various prayers silently. She knew who he's doing all this for, and he's giving her so much affection and grace, it seems everybody in her family, or the entire city, knew of her now. The plain Haruno girl that turned around and became a Princess Consort to the Royal Prince. Every gesture he does, is for her. To protect her from public scrutiny, to elevate her status in the eye of commoners and his family. To prove to everyone of his immense affections for her.
He doesn't say it, though. Not a single word. He did all these without saying how much he loves her, how he wanted to be with her, and how she warmed him up, in the most depressive and mundane days of his life, and brought him heat and light.
He finished all prayers, and finally stood up, turning around to face her, with more confidence and assurance.
There were tears in her eyes, even without a single word spoken, she understood.
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TBC
