You chose the wrong man

"Why don't you undress too?" Sullivan asked. He decided to find out if Dahlia would be ready to consummate with him since she claimed to love him in front of everyone. 

Dahlia widened her eyes and gulped. She should have acted well earlier. Now, how would she escape from the consummation? She found him approaching her with deliberate slow steps. The grip of her hands on the duvet tightened. 

"Sullivan, but I'm sleepy. My entire body is aching," Dahlia said. She could feel the shivers traversing her body, but she tried to show the calmness on her face. 

"If we will not consummate tonight, then what do you think will happen tomorrow?" Sullivan asked her as he sat next to her. 

Dahlia moved away from him while holding the duvet tightly. She realized it was a palace, where everything was kept on record, including the days she would get intimate with the prince to keep a record of her pregnancy. 

Sullivan leaned down, resting his body's weight on his elbow, and held the top edge of the duvet. Dahlia tried holding it up, but Sullivan's strength surpassed hers. 

She tilted her head, meeting his ocean-blue eyes, which had always been her weakness. Her eyelids fluttered rapidly as she found herself trapped in his gaze.

"You kissed me at the altar," Sullivan remarked.

"Because we're married now, and it's customary to kiss," Dahlia replied, forcing a fake smile as she reached for the duvet. But before she could grasp it, Sullivan swiftly moved his hand away, causing her to miss it. In the next moment, he tossed the duvet aside and loomed over her, pinning both her hands to her sides. 

"Let's begin this night, Dahlia, my admirer," Sullivan said and leaned down to kiss her. 

"I'm on period!!!" Dahlia exclaimed at the top of her lungs, a lie that she had concocted on the spot. "Your Highness, I just got them this morning. I was looking forward to our union as well, but unfortunately..."

"My stomach is throbbing with pain because of it," she added, her voice trailing off into a murmur.

Sullivan's expression shifted upon hearing her words, and he quickly withdrew from her, his demeanor changing as he processed the information.

Dahlia took a deep breath of relief as he watched Sullivan lying next to her. 

"You are a terrible liar, Dahlia," Sullivan said and chuckled. 

"No, I'm not lying." Dahlia confidently answered him and sat up on the bed. 

"Then, why were you lying on the floor with this duvet wrapped around your body completely?" Sullivan questioned and turned his head to look at her. "Then, you made a wall of pillows between us. You don't love me. Instead, you married me for a motive," Sullivan stated with a menacing expression covering his face. 

Dahlia looked at Sullivan and noticed his simmering anger. "Haha!" She chuckled lightly, playfully hitting his shoulder. "Husband, why would I marry you for any ulterior motive? I did it because I was nervous. It's normal for women to be nervous around men they like," she explained, her tone light and teasing as she caressed his bare arm.

"Wow! You have such a strong arm. I can feel its firmness," Dahlia remarked, smiling as she admired his well-built physique. 

Sullivan grasped her wrist and asked her to stop doing that. "Did you hit your head somewhere?" he questioned her. 

"No. Why do you ask?" Dahlia traced his arm with her hand while smiling. 

"Because the Dahlia Ermacora I knew was graceful and shy," Sullivan replied. 

Promptly, Dahlia stopped moving her fingers on his arm. "Really?" She turned her head away. "What kind of woman Dahlia was in the story? About her, not much was told," she murmured. 

"What are you mumbling?" Sullivan questioned her and she quickly faced him. 

"Nothing. A human has two sides: one which he wants to show to the world; second, which he wants to show only to himself," Dahlia replied. "I'm tired of being graceful. What good does it bring? From now onward, I'll act on my own will," she asserted, pondering if Sullivan believed her or not. 

She then pulled up the duvet and covered him with it. "Goodnight, Prince Sullivan. I hope you have a good sleep," she said and turned to her side. 

Dahlia lay down on the mattress with her back toward him. She tightly held the duvet close to her chest and shut her eyes in apprehension.

"Shouldn't we consummate then?" The moment Sullivan said that Dahlia shot open her eyes. Her breath hitched as Sullivan closed the distance between them and hugged her from behind. His hot breath brushed her earlobe, sending shivers down her spine. 

Dahlia opened her mouth to speak, but words didn't come out of her mouth. She rapidly blinked, thinking what she should do in such a situation. 

"Dahlia, if you love me, then there should not be any kind of resistance. You are making me question what exactly you want," whisperer Sullivan in her ear. 

Cold sweat formed on Dahlia's forehead and even palms. Nothing came to her mind. Her lips purred when Sullivan kissed her earlobe and her fingers curled. 

"Why did the Duke's daughter marry a prince with no identity? She always saw Daedric with affectionate eyes. For her, Sullivan should not have existed in the palace," he revealed to her. 

Dahlia was shocked to learn that. Even the original Dahlia didn't like Sullivan. She pushed him away gently and turned to face him. "That's because you never responded to me. I was angry at you for not looking at me. You would leave the balls, the royal events as soon as we encountered each other," she said anything that came to her mind. 

Dahlia understood why Sullivan suspected her. In fact, he was dubious of all the people around him. As she lightly hit Sullivan's bare chest, she said, "I could have been punished to death today, but I stood for my love for you. However, what did you do to me? You said in front of everyone that you didn't love me." She pouted her lips, acting cutely. 

"Because that was the truth. I don't love you and I was never interested in you," Sullivan said, gazing into her eyes. 

"What about now?" Dahlia asked. 

"The answer is the same. You chose the wrong man to spend your life with," Sullivan stated. He finally moved away from her, turned his back on her, and went to sleep.