Chapter 30
When the Prince entered,Sakura quickly put her head covering back on her head.
Sasuke saw she tempered with the chest, and smiled before bringing it to the bed with him. He pulled the head covering off of her and said, "I knew you were going to be curious."
Sakura blushed seven shades of red, but fortunately her face has too much makeup to show it.
"It's an ivory ball." He said,taking the delicate thing the size of a large grapefruit out. "Interesting, no? This one depicts ancient sea serpents in seven layers. I once had one in nine layers."
Sakura begin to examine it as Sasuke handed it to her. "This looks interesting. Look at the carvings, it's so pretty and intricate." Each ball is entangled with the next, and the carvings are serpents'scales wrapping around one another. "Listen to the sound it makes, it sounds like a muffed wave. What happened to your nine layered one?"
"I think I smashed it into various pieces." Sasuke said absently. "I don't recall why."
Sakura looked at him, it was an often look she gave when she thinks he's spending way too much on unnecessary stuff. He adored that look, somehow he took it upon him to mean that she cared for him to save for him. He has never known the meaning of thrift, unlike his brother, who is the exemplar of an Emperor who does not waste his resources on trivial and flashy matters of the court.
She carefully put it back to where it belongs and placed the chest back onto the desk and patting it before returning to the bed, where Sasuke was already waiting, his robe half open and looking at her with tease.
She blushed again, "I need to get all the jewelries off..."
It was an heroic effort. With help from Sasuke, the jewelry she had on her filled up the tea-table. She then de-robed herself, carefully folded the bridal gown, which must've took a few seamstress a few hundred hours to make. Then she wiped away her makeup and washed her face thoroughly before turning to Sasuke, "Should I have my make-up on? I must look plain without it."
Sasuke pounced on her, "I like plain."
"Well that's easy for you to say,you were born pretty..." Sakura grumbled.
Sasuke laughed at her outrageous comments. It's very unusual to call a man pretty these days. If it had came from anyone else's mouth, they would be on their way to hell by now.
He hugged her and buried his head in her tresses. "Finally..."
Sakura tilted her head, "Pardon me?"
He didn't say anything more,and started to nibble on her neck before moving to her lips. She doesn't have any scent on. It's something she has insisted every single time she's been dressed. He likes her this way,simple and clean.
Sakura brushed his hair away and kissed him back. His body pressed closely against hers,and she could feel his heart pounding stronger than ever. It synchronized with hers.
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It was a long and passionate night for the newlyweds. Sasuke had to leave for court early, and Sakura slept way past noon. She got up just as Sasuke came back into the manor, and she quickly got dressed with helps from her attending servants. Sasuke was already waiting for her in the courtyard dining hall, while she quickly brushed her hair into a stylish but simple up-do,perfect for royal women who were already married.
Before she stepped out, she was rushed back in by Riku the elderly servant.
She had a bowl of medicine in front of her. Sakura knew what it was, it's to prevent her from getting pregnant. She looked confused for a second, before deciding she probably isn't particularly ready to get pregnant yet, so she drank it all up.
Riku knew she appealed to the right person as soon as Sakura entered the manner. Riku was an elderly servant who have served the Royal Prince for many years. She predicted the outcome, but she has never even dreamt that Sakura could become a Princess Consort. She guessed Sakura would bare Sasuke's child accidentally and the court would give her a empty gesture title and be done with it. Now that the Prince has officially welcomed his wife into the manor with elaborate traditions and ceremonies,hinting to the whole world that regardless of her title, she is his wife, through and through.
Riku wanted to appeal to Sakura, so she hinted quietly,"your grace, don't feel bad. This isn't coming from the Prince himself, it's the rule of the court."
"What do you mean?" Sakura asked back.
Riku hesitated for a few moments before quietly answering, "Our Emperor does not have any children yet... it would be... bad form, if his young brother would have an off spring before he does..."
Sakura understood.
A royal pregnancy meant so much more in this circumstance. It meant the continuance of the family line,the protection of the throne, the establishment of every court officials, the safety and security of the army, and a long prosperous rule. Without one, the court's future hangs in uncertainty, and that's enough to make anyone nervous.
Riku quickly said, "but I'm sure the Emperor will have the next Crown Prince soon, so there's no need to worry."
Sakura said lightly, "I'm not worried." And proceed to put on her clothing.
Riku took that as sarcasm and silently cursed herself for giving out too much information.
Sakura rose and got ready for breakfast. She discovered, in great detail, that sex was a form of intense intimacy, therefore it has become a pleasure. He's still very dominating when it comes to sex, but it's to be expected, considering he never had to please anyone before. In bed, or other aspects of life.
Sakura doesn't have time to ponder the meaning of like and nature of love or if she's truly happy or not. She found herself constantly tangled in daily necessities of life and its problems. She had to take care of various issues around the manor. She didn't know this, but rumors were already circulating around her ways of doing things within and outside of these walls. They say the new Princess Consort is naturally prone to jealousy, so she sent away all the dancers that was kept within the manor. They also say she has an audacious way of managing the household which breaks tradition.
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TBC
