Honeymoon

The wedding and coronation party were a success as the guest left the palace for their wedding reception.

But Alexander and Yukie wanted to stay a little bit longer and decided to spend their wedding trip at the Peony Flower Farm cause Alexander liked to have a private talk with his spouse.

"Well done for doing a better service and the palace. I allow you all to take a break and a day off for a day, that's all for today. You are all dismissed."

The maids, servants, and guards were surprised that it was the first time in the whole history that Alexander suddenly gave them a day off but thankful he could let them rest.

Alexander is a workaholic man and he hates being lazy or his workers were as slow as molasses and lazy as a toad at the bottom of the well. And for being a king in Adkins for 12 years, he gave a day off to his employees and workers in his palace.

"Do you rather wear your wedding dress? We'll go outside Yukie, and I don't want you to feel uncomfortable with it." Alexander says with a concerned tone as they're in the throne room.

They're taking a pictorial a while ago for a portrait, Yukie is completely tired and drained as she has to take a picture since she is a crowned queen in Adkins. The pictorials she had to take were her portrait as a Queen and a pictorial with her spouse.

She shook her head and told her spouse that she was fine and comfortable with her wedding dress.

"I rather wear this as my memorable in our wedding, Alex. And I am glad that we will visit my favorite place."

"My pleasure, my wife. Like I told you earlier your wish is my command and do not be afraid of me especially when you need something, okay?"

A red hooded cape was given to Yukie by Alexander.

"Wear this, it's cold outside and I don't want you to get sick."

He said with a serious look and voice, to conceal his emotional reaction since he cannot help but adore his wife in lowkey. Yukie accepts and wears the hooded cape reaching the tip of her toes.

"Let's go to our honeymoon, my wife."

He says with his voice filled with sweetness and smooth like honey even his tone is husky and his black orbs are filled with adoration for his wife, for them, this is their way to spend their honeymoon.

When Yukie's lips curl into a smile that melts him for a few seconds, she holds his hand in a gentle yet firm manner, an electrifying touch could awaken their nerves that she doesn't want to let him go.

"Does it make you feel uncomfortable with the way I hold my hand to you, my husband?" Yukie asks as she needs confirmation from him.

"N-no, my wife, I am totally okay with it."

Alexander stuttered, almost losing his cool even though they met Yukie not more than a week before. He completely knows that very well, yet, he also knows that he wants to be with her no matter what happens.

They walk and walk until they are outside of the palace, a white horse already waiting for the married couples patiently near the palace fountain. Alexander wasn't sure where his spouse wanted to sit so he asked her. Yukie thinks deeply for a few minutes about her decision, and then she replies.

"Can I sit on the front? Please?"

"Sure, my queen, and I'll guide you."

He was behind her and carefully guiding his wife. Yukie stepped a little on the stirrups and hopped a little using her body as a support until she successfully sat on the saddle Alexander followed as he was behind her.

Yukie gripped the rein that was attached to the horse, but she was shaking a little bit cause she always rode a carriage when going out of the palace and the city. She cursed under her breath regretting that she rarely did horse riding, letting Heine drive the carriage every time she had a travel.

Her small, soft, dainty hands are wrapped by big, veiny, callous hands as they intertwine and instantly receive stimuli from both her nerves and body.

"Do not worry, just hold this rein and I'll control the ride."

His warm breath fanned the silky skin on the nape of her neck as he leaned closer, whispering the reassuring words that may give her a saccharine feeling. She craned a little behind her where Alexander sat while riding a horse, almost touching their lips. Yukie wants to stop the time and enjoy the moment with her spouse. Body aches and strained limbs are nothing for her vocabulary, she finds it romantic and relaxed for their honeymoon.

"Alex, I am so curious about why you are so sweet and so kind to me." Yukie asks as she focuses on the roads while they're outside of Adkins.

"Simple. Because you are my wife and my queen, I should take care and give you proper love and attention, even if we do not have feelings like a couple does."

She paused a little when Alexander said the word that may feel a small crack inside of her heart, she set her mind that his actions and gestures were just for formality and obligations as he is married to her, and she should be fine with it but why does she felt a pang of unrequited love? Alexander on the other hand, only said that word as if he is afraid of what his spouse would tell and react if he confess that he starts falling in love with her. Yes, he is a fearsome king and strict leader but a wimp to Yukie.

The grasp she interlocked with him was a little bit loose, he sensed it and gave her a firm hold, not letting her unbalance while they were riding a horse and getting a serious injury.

"Please tighten your grasp while holding the rein, we're still not reaching our destination."

Alexander says with a low, very deep voice. He leans his body on her back as his overprotective mode is on while Yukie suddenly gets cozy with his gestures, a homely feeling and it calms her nerves but her heart thumps loudly.

The first thing she would like to do with him by this physical contact was to lean the back of her head on his broad shoulders and snuggle but she restrained herself, completely remembering that she must set their boundaries with no love and attachments involved.

Ocean azure pupils zooming in with a soft, low gasp escaped on her lips as she saw different color shades of red, yellow, pink, blue, and purple peonies growing on the fields, seeing this flower field paradise she knew they were finally in the outskirts of Derora and Adkins.

"WE'RE HERE, ALEX!" she screamed gleefully as she felt adrenaline rushing through her veins when they were at the Peony Flower Farm. She is a bit impatient and badly wants to run and roam around the blooming beauty of peony paradise. He sees her as she exclaims in excitement and Alexander cannot help but ruffle her black hair as he finds her very adorable.

Alexander got off the horse and helped his spouse as she carefully hopped down on the ground, she uttered a yelp a little bit and touched her right ankle.

"Yukie, what's wrong, are you okay?" he asks with concern laced in his voice.

She cried a little bit and muttered about her stupidity as she forgot she wears high heels, but she didn't want to bother him and continue to explore their honeymoon. Yukie shook her head and deniably said that she was fine. Alexander wanted to ask her but she pulled him to the Peony Flower Farm, while she endured the sharp pain of her ankle.

"Your grip is too tight, Yukie, you sure you are fine?" He also noticed her odd behavior, as she couldn't walk properly and she told him that it was her gown since it was voluminous, he still felt restless but let her be and thought maybe it was her wedding gown.

She saw the first row of the peony flower bed and went there as she released her spouse and ran closer to the flowers. She picked the deep rose-pink double flowers and sniffed, the intense double, sweet-smelling scent infused the double bud petals of this kind of flower wafted on her nostrils as she inhaled the ambrosial smell of this kind of peony.

"What are these? And peonies had different varieties?" he asked as he ducked and admired the peony she sniffled.

"Ah, this? This peony had the same name as yours, Dr Alexander Fleming?" she replied and she kept smelling the addictive fragrance of the peony.

"How come you know these?! I don't really get it."

Alexander replied that this man is not fond of flowers, plants, and any garden-related.

"My mama taught me about the peonies since this is her favorite flower, and you know that it originally came from her, right? That's why I am writing a letter to you about this garden farm."

Now he realized why Yukie chose to have their honeymoon at this place, and he completely remembered the letter she sent to him as Heine delivered it at his palace. Yukie agreed to give her spouse the garden farm as one condition aside she'll agree to their arranged marriage, she'll obediently follow his command, will, order, and accept his favor.

Alexander has a will and badly wants to do it with Yukie but after they meet again and realize his feelings towards her, he rather gives her time and doesn't want his spouse to see a different light on him. Hurting and scaring her is the least he can do to her and he doesn't have the heart to do that, even though he is a bit cold-black-hearted man.

"Yukie Mae, I genuinely accept your offer and I am grateful that you decided to give the garden farm to us. I completely remember your late mother owns this garden farm since Queen Kateleryn and my mother are close friends. I haven't met you actually since I stayed at Lueur City back in my childhood and adolescent days when I studied there, not until Angguis Kingdom declared a war fight against Derora. I hurriedly went back to Adkins since we're experiencing a shortage of soldiers and when I went back, yes we help with your kingdom and become your alliance and I am sad that your mom passed away."

Yukie actually hasn't met Alexander personally, the first time he saw him was at this place when she was having a mental and emotional breakdown. Yukie badly wants to know the reason why he and her father are not on good terms.

"Uhm, my husband, may ask you a reason of why----ooowwww!"

A burning sensation in the right ankle she felt when she tried to face him. She held the injured ankle and Alexander saw her while she was groaning in pain. He carried his spouse in a bridal way which surprised Yukie and she debated with him that he should do that as she could manage to walk.

"Yukie Mae Assfrior-Arison" he suddenly mentioned her government name with a hint of a little angry tone, thus she stiffened and decided to obey his command.

"Good, now do not move and behave."

He added as he became a bit strict on her, his actions really upset her as she oddly went silent, not even facing nor talking with him, her breathing stopped and froze like a statue. She knows it is her fault but she cannot help that she gets hurt when he becomes cold to her when Alexander genuinely cares for her, he is terrible when it comes to expressing his care to the person he treasures the most.

He gently put her on the bench from the small gazebo and lifted the hem of her skirt, he removed her high-heeled glass sandal and saw her right ankle swelling in red and a little bit purple.

"You also wearing high heels, why you didn't tell me about this? This is very painful." Alexander says but he notices her facial expression, she avoids him and tries to control her expression like she is hurt. He tried to touch her bruised ankle and she hissed louder when she could not tolerate the pain. He ripped the hem of her dress and then carefully treated her injury as he wrapped her ankle firmly and elevated it.

"Yukie."

She is still ignoring him and their honeymoon supposed to be adventurous, enjoyable, and memorable, but not like this. He is guilty after all. He placed his hands on hers wanting to comfort her.

"I am sorry, about my words and my tone. My cold behavior went too far cause I am quite strict but that's how I express my care and concern for you."

Alexander genuinely apologizes to his spouse and wants to make up things with her, he is willing to do anything since both of them are at fault.

"I didn't mean to be strict or scold you, I was just worried that I am not a good husband for you when I failed to notice you and your well-being and that you endured the pain while we were having a honeymoon here. I am sorry, my wife."

Yukie slowly went back her gaze to him as he saw his expression, he looks guilty and he was sincere in his apology, her expression softened thus she slowly laid her head on his lap and genuinely didn't care about his reactions, not realizing her gestures were driving him insane but he keep it by himself.

"I forgive you, my husband and I am sorry too for not telling you, I don't want you also to worry while we're on the honeymoon. And can I use your lap as my pillow? My head hurts and I need some rest. We can talk while we position like this. Is that fine for you?"

His cheeks tinted in coral red and stuttering a bit, he was completely off-guard at her actions.

"Y-yes, Y-Yukie, feel free to do it, and since your head hurts, can I comfort you? Like massaging it or just doing anything to make you feel comfortable?"

He asks permission from her first before doing it. She faced him and gave a smile then replied to him.

"Yes, Alexander, and I feel comfortable if you stroke my hair, I like that feeling so much."

Alexander followed her request as he stroked her semi-wavy black hair in soft curls. It surprised him that her hair was soft and silky, and he found an addiction as he kept repeatedly stroking her locks while Yukie found it comfortable and she purposely let him do that cause she wanted to take a risk by grabbing an opportunity to have a moment with her spouse.

"My wife, I also like to tell you something, my gift for you as an exchange for this deal. This is the only offer that I request you a condition, are you ready to know this."

Yukie admired the beauty of the night sky filled stars then she faced Alexander as she heard the word. She completely knows this as she badly wants to ask a favor of him and now she is happy, wondering what the condition for is approving the deal.

"SO, YOU ACCEPT IT? I AM HAPPY ALEXANDER, THANK YOU SO MUCH!"

She cried in happiness letting her tears trickle down on her cheeks and she got off on his lap and faced him.

"So, what is it, my husband?" She asks a question while wiping her tears.

He badly wants to do this with her to seal their deals, but how can he tell her? He is nervous after all, instead of telling the real condition, he slipped the wrong one.

"My condition is that you won't be a full-time teacher as you are now a queen. You need some professors to teach the children, you can teach them maybe here or at our palace since I have a vacant house at the back of our palace. I allow you to be a community worker but part-time services, how about that?"

Alexander cannot do it but he will tell it to her at the right time, since she doesn't want her to avoid and hate him and even be distant towards him, but he also doesn't want her to be a full-time community worker since she's a crowned queen.

Yukie understood this favor and she was glad that this was the condition he offered to her since she was nervous about what his condition could be. But at the very least, he will let her do community service, this is enough for her.

"I accept your condition, Your Majesty. A deal is a deal"

"Our deal is sealed, Your Majesty. Thank you very much." Alexander says as he kisses her forehead, and Yukie smiles while her heart is swelling in joy and happiness.

"I really enjoy our honeymoon, Alexander, thank you so much, can we go home now? It's very late and I am sleepy after all." Yukie says as she is aware that maybe they stay up outside very late.

"Sure my wife, but can you please give me a few minutes? I forgot something?"

Alexander says as he carefully takes care of his wife and leaves the small gazebo. Yukie is patiently waiting for him like a child.

"What took him so long?"

She sighed as she kept staring at the sky, then she felt something on her head and touched it, soft and a bit fluffy like a marshmallow, she instantly knew this texture and she tried to smell her palms, it was an intense double, sweet-smelling scent. She was surprised and she craned her neck, Alexander was already at her back smiling.

"Sorry if I took a bit long, I know how to make flower crowns, hopefully, you like it and you look very beautiful, my wife."

He made a Dr Alexander Fleming peony flower crown and Yukie is moved by his genuine actions, giving her a gift and his handwork.

"My husband, I appreciate this so much, thank you very much."

He was glad that he made her happy and appreciated his efforts as he gave her a simple yet beautiful gift, he carried his wife in a bridal way while Yukie held her sandal and stared at him as they left the small gazebo, and almost in their way of going back at their palace.

Whatever happens to her, he will take care of and protect her, cause he loves her and he knows that, both his heart and himself.