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Jina awoke to sunlight streaming through the window overhead.  Today those rays were kinder than they’d been yesterday.  Her skull was now free of its throbbing.  As she cracked her eyes open hesitantly, she found herself smiling.  She stretched and realized her arms were surrounded by a soft bed on all sides.  Then she remembered.   

This was her new bed.  Not the tiny pad she’d slept on in the servant’s quarters.  This bed was big enough for two.  And later today she’d be sharing it with her husband.   She swallowed.  She was to marry Jungkook in a few hours.

She was terrified.  

And fascinated by the boy.  Who called himself a man.

A knock sounded on her door.  She climbed from bed and crossed the room.  

“Who’s there?”

“Jina?  It’s Moonflower.”

Jina eagerly opened the door to welcome her queen.  Beaming, she smiled up at her new friend.  And mistress.

“Your Royal Highness, what can I do for you?”

“I don’t think I’ll ever get used to that title,” the new queen murmured.  Then she smiled prettily at her servant girl.  “It’s not what you can do for me.  It’s what I can do for you.  My dear girl!  Are you feeling better?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Well enough to speak your vows?” Moonflower asked hesitantly.  

She knew Jina didn’t wish to marry Jungkook.

“I suppose,” Jina grumbled.

Moonflower’s face broke into a wide grin.  “Excellent!  Don’t worry, dear.  This will all work out.  You’ll see.  If my sweet Yoongi and I could overcome our hurdles, you and Jungkook can overcome yours.”

Jina was not anywhere near convinced of that.

“Jina, I want to help you prepare for your wedding.  I’ve found a beautiful hanbok for you to wear.  And I’m going to have my hairdresser fix your hair.  I’d like you to come to my chambers.  We’ll prepare you for the wedding there.  In a few hours, you and Jungkook will marry in our sitting room.  Then you’ll come back here to enjoy your wedding night.”  Moonflower made sure her face was bland.

To enjoy her wedding night.  With Jungkook.

Fat chance.

Now she was trembling.  The thought of him touching her intimately was almost too much for her.  He wasn’t the man she’d once believed him to be.  What would he do to her when they were finally alone in that bed again?  When he had every right to do as he pleased with her?

Moonflower could feel her tension, but Jina’s facial expression was closed to her.  The queen reached out a hand towards her friend.

“Come.  It’ll be all right.  You’ll see,” she whispered as Jina clasped her hand and allowed herself to be pulled toward the royal chambers.

—

Jina and Jungkook married at noon and afterward enjoyed the finest meal either of them had ever eaten.  Moonflower had even ordered the royal chef to craft a beautiful wedding cake for them.  Jina stood staring down at it for several minutes when it first appeared in the sitting room.

Jungkook joined her a moment later.  Drawn by the look on her face.  A great vulnerability was lighting up her countenance.  Her expression hovered between awe and humility.  He crept up behind her and bent to whisper into her ear.

“What is it, Jina?”

She turned to gaze up at him.  “Never in my entire life did I dream of having a wedding cake such as this.  It’s fit for a queen!  I’ve never even seen a cake this beautiful.  Look at the intricate designs!  Someone spent a long time crafting this cake.  For you and me,” her voice was full of wonder.  “What did we ever do to deserve such a gift?”

He was shocked to see her eyes gleaming.  “I don’t believe you can deserve a gift.”  The corners of his lips quirked upward.  “Moonflower has worked hard today to give us the most memorable wedding she could.  Come.  Let’s go thank her and the king.”  

He reached out his hand to her.  She took it and followed him across the room to express her gratitude for this lavish affair.

—

Two hours later, after both the wedding meal and the elaborate cake had been consumed, Jungkook escorted his bride to their chamber.  He reached for her hand again as they bid their guests farewell.  He held that hand until he opened the door to their bedroom.  

“After you, milady,” he smiled sheepishly at her as he gestured with his free hand.

She let go of him and stepped inside.  Could he see her shaking?  

She crossed the room and stared out the window.  Was he going to take her straight to bed?

His eyes traced the curve of her dark head.  

“Jina?”

“Hmm?”

“What do you want to do?  The king gave me the night off.”

“Oh.  Umm.  I imagine you’re tired, right?  I mean, you’re usually in bed two hours ago.” 

She swallowed and closed her eyes.  Why had she just mentioned the bed?  He really didn’t need her putting ideas into his head, now did he?

“Yes.  I’m usually tired by now.  But…not today.”

His heart had begun to race.  He was trying to figure out how to approach her.  They barely knew each other.  The idea of being intimate with him was probably making her uneasy.  How could he make her comfortable with him?

He crossed the room and removed his hanbok.  Then he took off his shirt.  He slid between the sheets wearing only his breeches.

Jina happened to glance at him right after he removed his shirt.  Her heart began to thud.  Last night she had wished that he’d come to bed half-undressed.  Now she wished he’d put that shirt back on.  Was she insane?

“Jina?” his soft voice called out to her once more.

“Hmm?”

“Come to bed with me.  Will you?”

Her heart flew upward.  She felt like she was now choking on it.  “Don’t you want to sleep?” she croaked.

“Yes.  But I also want to hold my wife in my arms.”

His words were melting her even as they terrified her.  Was this just a ruse to get her into bed with him so he could take advantage of her?

“Um.”  She turned away from him.

“Come on, Jina.  You let me hold you last night.  I thought you maybe even liked it,” he murmured with a tiny smirk dancing about his lips.

She turned towards him.  Her eyes kissed his.  She was searching for something in those obsidian depths.  She must have found it because her feet were carrying her to the other side of his bed.  She hesitated for a moment before removing her hanbok.  

Jungkook’s eyes widened as he watched her draw the garment off.  She was still fully clothed underneath, but his heart was racing now.  Jina hung the hanbok over a chair before pulling back the covers.  

Then she climbed in clothed in her undershirt and pants as she murmured, “I’m tired.  I’m still not feeling normal yet.”

As she lay down across from him, facing her edge of the bed, he muttered her name.  “Jina.  Turn towards me.  I want to see my wife’s face.”

As she rolled towards him, he realized that she was trembling.  He frowned.  Two fine lines popped up between his eyebrows.  “Hey, what’s wrong?” he whispered, a soft light in his eyes.  

“What?” 

Her mouth was completely dry now.  Her heart was racing so fast that she was beginning to feel lightheaded.  She closed her eyes.  

“You’re trembling.  Are you feeling that lousy?”

She nodded her head.  Maybe if he thought she was still very sick, then he would leave her alone today.

Suddenly, she felt the soft back of his hand brushing up against her forehead.  

“You don’t have a fever anymore,” he murmured.  Then he scooted closer to her.  “I didn’t realize you were still sick.  We should have waited a couple more days to get married.  I’m sorry if today stressed you.”  

His voice sounded so tender.  She felt tears invading her eyes at his unexpected kindness.  Truthfully, she was beginning to realize that she was quite exhausted.  Both mentally and physically.  Her body was still in a battle against a foreign invader.  But her soul was quaking because of Jungkook.

“Jina, can I hold you while we fall asleep?  I want you to get the rest you need.  I don’t want to see you worsen.”

She opened her eyes to gaze into his deep obsidian orbs.  As her eyelashes separated, one lone tear slid down her cheek.  Jungkook saw it, and his brow furrowed once more.  He reached up, and his hand approached her face slowly.  Still, she jumped when his palm cupped her cheek.

“Shhh,” he quieted her gently before his thumb tenderly brushed her tear away.  Then he bent towards her.

Her eyes grew wide.  Was he going to kiss her?  She pulled away from him and rolled to face her edge of the bed again.

“I’m really not feeling good, Jungkook.  I, I don’t want to make you sick.  I think I should stay on my side of the bed.”

His heart sank.  “Okay, Jina.  If that’s what you want.”

“Yes.  That’s what I want,” she responded firmly.

So why did she feel disappointed when he rolled away from her and fell asleep a few minutes later?  

Not holding her in his strong arms.