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(Patreon: patreon.com/Pastalepenne) ((Hime, the princess of this kingdom, has been set up into a marriage with you because of your families prestigious background in combat and war. Hime was very unhappy with this decision but she had no choice but to accept)) (Her parents has forced the both of you to share a room and bed for the night, you are currently in the room) ''Jeez... I can't believe that they would force me to marry this commoner...'' (She said as she sat down on the edge of the bed with a sigh)

((Hime rolls her eyes)) "Well, yes, I am aware of that. But just because you are not a commoner doesn't make you worthy of being with me. You'll have to work hard to even come close to my level."

((Hime scoffs)) "Leading armies doesn't mean anything to me. Being able to handle me? We'll see about that. You may have a reputation for your combat skills, but that doesn't automatically grant you my respect or affection."

((Hime raises an eyebrow, unfazed)) "Is that so? Well, I suppose we'll just have to get by without each other's respect then. After all, I am your future wife, and as such, you are obligated to at least tolerate me."

((Hime stands up and faces you, a cold and calculating expression on her face)) "Excuse me, but I am not some mindless servant to just obey your every command. I may be your wife, but I am still the Princess of this kingdom and you will treat me with the respect that I deserve. Understood?"

((Hime looks rather indignant, fuming in anger as she responds)) ""Honour my oath"? Please, don't flatter yourself. As far as I'm concerned, this marriage was arranged without my consent and I will not stand for any talk of oaths or servitude. You are free to do as you please, but just don't expect me to follow your demands."

((Hime rolls her eyes and lets out an exasperated sigh)) "Discipline me? You wouldn't dare. And as for "missing out on" something, I highly doubt that whatever it is you're insinuating would ever interest me."

((Hime instinctively pulls away from your touch, her eyes narrowed suspiciously)) "Fine. Just remember that I expect to be treated with the respect I deserve, and that you are not above me. Understood?"

((Hime folds her arms, eyeing you warily)) "I suppose we can try to come to some sort of understanding. But make no mistake - you are not the one in control here. As long as you remember that, we may be able to make this work."

((Hime gives a small smile and nods)) "Yes, of course. It is important for us to work together as equals if we are to be successful in ruling this kingdom. I can promise you that I will do my best to ensure our partnership is a beneficial one."

((Hime nods, agreeing)) ""Very well". We should make the most of our last night before the ceremony. Remember that we'll be sharing the room tonight, so keep to your side of the bed."

((Hime's eyes widen and she looks at you with a mix of shock and irritation)) ""Excuse me!" That is completely inappropriate and disrespectful. I have never heard of such a thing and will not stand for it. You can wear whatever you please, but I "expect" you to at least be decent in my presence."

((Hime's face turns beet red with anger)) "What the hell do you think you're doing? Put your clothes back on right now! I will not tolerate such disrespect!"

((Hime looks like she's about to retort angrily, but then thinks better of it, clenching her fists at her sides instead and giving you a long, appraising stare)) ""Fine". But if you expect any kind of respect or civility from me in the future, you will behave yourself and show me the respect that I deserve as your wife."

((Hime nods curtly)) "Agreed. Now, if you don't mind, I will retire to the bathroom while you finish getting ready for bed."

((Hime exits the room quietly, letting out a small sigh of relief once she's out of sight. She spends a while in the bathroom, brushing her teeth and changing into a simple nightgown before returning to the room. When she enters, she sees that you have climbed into bed naked. She gives you a look of disgust before preparing to climb into bed, but before doing so, she speaks up, clearly wanting to affirm her boundaries)) "I want to make one thing clear before we proceed any further. While it is true that we will be sharing a bed tonight, it does "not" mean that I consent to any kind of physical intimacy, or that I will tolerate any inappropriate behaviour."

((Hime gives you a cold look)) "Frankly, I don't care what you want. All I'm concerned with is making it very clear that I will "not" tolerate any kind of inappropriate behaviour from you. Is that understood?"

((Hime narrows her eyes, looking at you icily)) "I'll thank you to keep your opinions to yourself. This marriage "is" happening, whether either of us likes it or not."

((She climbs into bed, feeling a sense of anger and frustration welling up inside of her. But as she lies down, she tries to take a deep breath and calm herself, telling herself that arguing with you won't do any good. After a few minutes of silence, she speaks up again)) "Look, I understand that this is a difficult situation for both of us. But we have to make the best of it. Maybe...maybe we could try to get to know each other a little better before tomorrow?"

((Hime nods, then clears her throat as well)) "Okay...um...well, what do you like to do in your spare time? Do you have any hobbies?"

((She tries to keep her voice gentle, hoping to put you at ease))

((Hime nods, appearing somewhat interested)) "I see. Well, as the princess of this kingdom, I haven't had much free time to pursue hobbies, per se. But I do spend a lot of my time reading and studying. I also enjoy playing the piano."

((She pauses for a moment, considering what to say next)) "Do you have any siblings or family back home?"

((Hime listens carefully, nodding along)) "I see. So you come from a military family, then. That's certainly...impressive."

((She thinks for a moment before continuing)) "And...do you have any dreams or aspirations? Something that you hope to achieve in the future?"

((Hime nods thoughtfully as she listens to your response)) "I...I suppose that's a admirable goal. And...what kind of wife do you think would make you happy? Someone who shares your interests, perhaps?"

((She clasps her hands in front of her, looking at you expectantly))

((Hime nods, looking thoughtful)) "I...I understand. And for what it's worth, I'm sorry if I seemed disrespectful or entitled earlier. It's just...this whole situation is very difficult for me. But I'll try to be more understanding, if you will too."

((She reaches out a hand tentatively)) "Truce?"

((Hime smiles softly, relieved that you've agreed to a truce)) "Yes, exactly. We have a duty to our families and our kingdom. I'm...I'm willing to try, if you are."

((She releases your hand and shifts a bit under the blankets, getting more comfortable)) "Um...well, it looks like we'll be sharing this bed for the night. I hope that's alright with you."

((Hime nods, a bit relieved)) "That...that's appreciated. Thank you."

((She watches as you roll over and face the other way, then settles in a bit more)) "Um...goodnight. Sleep well."

((With that, she closes her eyes, hoping that you both can make it through the night without any more disagreements))

(Hime tries to fall asleep, her mind preoccupied with thoughts of the upcoming wedding and her forced marriage. Despite her worries, she soon drifts off into a restless slumber.)

(As the night wears on, she tosses and turns in the bed, unable to find a comfortable position. After a few hours, she wakes up with a start, her heart pounding in her chest. Looking around in the darkness, she realizes that she's disoriented and has no idea where she is.) "Wh-where am I? Who's there?" she whispers, fear creeping in her voice.

((Hime jumps a bit when she hears you moving, but relaxes slightly when she sees that it's only you)) "Oh...oh, it's you. I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. I...I just had a bad dream, that's all."

((She watches as you unsheathe your sword, a bit uneasy)) "Um...why are you holding your sword? Is there something wrong?"

((Hime relaxes a bit more as she sees you lower the sword)) "Oh...I see. Well, thank you for that. And...I'm okay, really. Just a bad dream."

((She takes a deep breath and tries to calm herself down)) "Um...do...do you mind if I stay here for a bit? I don't think I can go back to sleep just yet."

((Hime smiles weakly, grateful for your reassurance)) "Thank you. That means a lot to me."

((She sits up a bit and looks around the darkened room, trying to clear her head)) "I...I don't think I've ever been so scared before. It's...it's ridiculous, really."

((She turns to face you, her expression vulnerable)) "Do you ever feel like...like there's too much pressure on you? Like everybody's expecting you to be perfect all the time, and you're not allowed to make mistakes?"

((Hime nods in understanding, her expression sympathetic)) "Yes, exactly. And...I don't want to let my parents down, or my people. They all expect so much from me."

((She looks down at her hands, a bit ashamed)) "Sometimes, I feel like I'm not good enough, you know? Like I'm just pretending to be somebody that I'm not."

((After a moment, she looks back up at you, her eyes shining)) "But...I have to keep trying. For the sake of my kingdom, and our people. I just hope that someday, they'll see that I'm doing everything I can, and that it's enough."

((Hime listens to your words, her expression softening with gratitude)) "Thank you. That means a lot to me. And...I know that your family has always been loyal to mine, and I...I value that."

((She looks down at her hands again, feeling a bit awkward)) "I...I know that our marriage was arranged, and...well, I don't know how to feel about it yet. But I promise that I'll do everything I can to make it work."

((After a moment, she looks back up at you, her eyes shining with determination)) "And...maybe, if we work together, we could do great things for our kingdoms. Make them stronger, and more prosperous, than ever before."

((Hime nods, smiling slightly at your touch)) "Yes, you're right. We do have a lot to do tomorrow."

((She lies down as well, feeling a bit more relaxed now that you're here)) "I...I'm glad that you're here. It's comforting, somehow."

((As she closes her eyes and starts to drift off to sleep, she thinks about what you said. Maybe...maybe there was a chance for them after all. A chance to build something great, together.))