==+-+Dalia+-+==
The dim light of a candle lit up my room. I was flipping through a book, but truth be told, I wasn't really paying attention to it. My eyes kept drifting back to him… He was sleeping with his head on my lap, peaceful, breathing like the weight of the world had finally lifted.(Is he dreaming about something nice?... Is he dreaming about me?... What will he say when he wakes up?)Suddenly, I felt him shift a little. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him open his eyes for just a second, then close them again.
I couldn't help but smile. It was so obvious—he was pretending to be asleep. I set the book aside and, without thinking too much, started to play with his hair. I ran it gently through my fingers.(His hair is softer than I imagined.)
And then, as if something had sparked him fully awake, he sat up abruptly. It caught me off guard, but I stayed calm, placing the book on the nightstand.
— Dalia — Are you okay? Why don't you sit down so we can talk? After all, we're getting married. I don't think there's any harm in sitting together, right? —
I watched him swallow hard as he walked toward the other edge of the bed, as if that could somehow save him. I sighed.(Men.)I got up and walked over to him. I sat on his lap without thinking twice, resting my hands on his shoulders. I looked him straight in the eyes, not breaking contact.(If I don't show confidence, he never will…)But then his hands went to my hips, awkward and gripping too tightly, like he didn't quite know how to hold me.
— Dalia — See? It's not that hard to be close to me. — I said, glancing at his arms and then suddenly into his eyes.
I could feel him tense up. But I didn't pull away. I leaned in closer, heading for his lips, slowly, without pressure… just getting near.And just before I could kiss him, he turned away.
●— I… I don't know how to do this — he murmured, uncertain —. I'm honored that you want to… but I don't want to disappoint you.
That stung. I felt rejected, but I also understood his fear. Even so, I couldn't help the hit to my pride. I gave him a light shove, pushing him back onto the bed, and straddled him with my arms crossed.
— Dalia — It's my first time too, just so you know. And you go and pull away! —I punched him lightly in the chest, more teasing than angry, but not completely without frustration.Neo gently moved me aside and sighed. He looked at me nervously, and seeing my expression caught between offense and frustration, he spoke quietly.
I frowned. I didn't want to be harsh, but I couldn't just let it go. With a small push, I laid him back on the bed again and sat on top of him, arms crossed.
●— I guess you're right… We can start from the beginning. —
He sat at the edge of the bed and patted his lap. I couldn't help but smile. I sat there again, this time closer, calmer.And then we kissed. It was brief and a little awkward. Not exactly how I had imagined my first kiss, but it wasn't bad either.
He wobbled back and fell onto the bed, and I let myself fall on top of him, resting my head on his chest.
●— I don't know about you, but I kind of like this position… — he murmured.I gave him a little smack on the shoulder.— Dalia — Don't be silly… Though, if I stay like this, I might fall asleep. —
He adjusted slightly and wrapped one arm around me. But then I heard a small noise—my uncle probably just got home.— Dalia — Neo… would you mind if we changed and got under the covers? I'm a bit cold. —
●— Yeah, sure… and uh… sorry… all of this is a lot for me, really sudden. —
I nodded. I understood. I turned to change clothes, feeling my cheeks burn. He turned his back so he wouldn't see me.(Well… at least he's not a creep or a pervert.)When we got under the covers again, through nervous laughter, I moved closer to him. I placed my head on his shoulder, and he rested his hand on my arm. Calm. Steady.
— Dalia — Huh… the blankets are so cold. —Suddenly, I felt a bit of mana radiating from his body—he was using mana to warm me up.(You dummy, I thought.) If he keeps this up, he'll hurt himself. I gave him a small thump on the chest.
— Dalia — Stop, you'll wear yourself out. You've already used up your mana for today. —
●— I guess you're right. Sorry… this is all just really weird for me. —
— Dalia — In this world, far from your village… this is normal — I whispered —.My aunt and uncle, Astrid and Durman, got married after he challenged her father to a duel. But Astrid took his place and told him that if he won, she'd marry him. And if he lost… she'd think about it. Durman tried to win… and ended up buried in the ground with earth magic.
●— That sounds familiar — he said with a soft laugh. I couldn't help but laugh too.
— Dalia — My parents also faced off in a rune duel, and my mother won. But she married my father anyway because he almost matched her. I guess I'm the first one to lose.
He looked at me thoughtfully.
●— Can I ask something? Why am I in your room? I don't remember much after seeing Astrid with that huge crystal.
— Dalia — You fainted. Hunt suggested I take care of you — I said calmly —. My aunt Astrid brought you here with magic, although you hit your head a couple of times on the door. — I couldn't help but laugh at that part.
●— I see…I scooted a little closer, and he wrapped his arms around me. I closed my eyes. In his arms, I felt safe and held.
●— This… this is starting to feel like home. I think… this isn't so bad — he said, his voice heavy with sleep.— Dalia — You know… maybe we don't know how to do this… — I murmured —. But if we learn together, I don't think it'll be so bad.
He didn't answer, but I felt his chest rise with a soft sigh. He closed his eyes, and I did too.And there, in the middle of the night, with the wind brushing against the window, our hearts began to find their rhythm.