Chapter 4. Marital Fights Are Like Swords

 In married life, there are things you naturally learn about your partner without having to try.

Whether they toss and turn at night, or sleep in the same position. Whether they’re heavy or light sleepers. Whether they jump out of bed immediately, or if they’re a lazy one who spends an unusually long time whining under the covers. Even whether they snore when tired or not.

These are very small details, but they’re aspects that can’t be hidden from someone you live with.

And Tatiana particularly valued these small details. Because eating and sleeping habits, no matter how small they seem, are patterns that person has built throughout their lifetime.

The body remembers, so even if there are somewhat embarrassing aspects, they can’t be hidden. If you carelessly disrupt that rhythm, it affects their entire life, and naturally, the person becomes mentally sensitive.

So Tatiana had worked hard not to interfere with Gideon’s wake-up time or sleeping position.

She would sleep in a straight position at the edge of the bed to avoid accidentally touching him, and in the morning, she would slip out of the room with almost assassin-like movements.

Each time, she would think to herself: So this is why separate rooms and beds are trending among modern couples.

But lately, she was realizing something new. That in married life, you inevitably end up affecting and being affected by each other’s living rhythms. No matter how careful and considerate you try to be.

Since they started joining bodies every night, they would fall asleep with their limbs entangled.

Even with Tatiana’s assassin-like talents, it was impossible to slip out of his embrace without disturbing a single hair.

Gideon would wake up every time she tried to figure out some clever way to escape. And then, like catching a fugitive, he would hold her even tighter while contentedly muttering.

‘Got you.’

These two people who had spent their time in such different ways until now. 

 Finding common ground won’t always be easy for them.

Keeping in mind that humans are nothing but beasts who cause huge problems when their basic needs are disturbed, it’s easy to understand why couples fight over seemingly trivial things.

However, aren’t humans also beings who are constantly educated and socialized to find points of compromise? If you give the impression that you’re being very considerate and careful of your partner, it can surprisingly make it easier to avoid fights.

At some point, Gideon and Tatiana started waking up at similar times, caressing each other and exchanging gentle conversations.

Sometimes they would discuss serious topics like the prince’s palace budget and private funds management plans, but often they would talk about completely trivial things. Like sighing when there was a drizzle outside…

‘I hate rainy days.’

‘Why? Because you can’t exercise outside?’

‘No. My curly hair gets all frizzy.’

‘Is that so. You can tie it up.’

‘It’s still different from usual. Ugh, Your Highness wouldn’t understand.’

Conversations with just this much depth and weight. And as they caressed each other’s bodies while whispering, those affectionate acts would often grow deeper.

Tatiana came to realize the obvious fact that marital relations don’t only happen at night. Today was no exception.

In the predawn hours when the sun hadn’t even peeked out yet.

At a time when even the most diligent farmer in Valter wouldn’t be awake, Gideon, who had woken up with his wife, was smiling. And lifting up Tatiana who was on top of him, he said,

“There must be no one in Valter who wakes up earlier than you, Titi.”

“The, ah, early bird catches the worm. Don’t you remember Her Majesty the Queen’s words?”

At this, Gideon frowned, greatly displeased. The force of his thighs pushing up became stronger than before.

“Why bring up the Queen when we’re in the middle of something good? Besides, Titi isn’t a bird but a lioness.”

“Why am I……”

“Because you’re devouring me.”

Gideon laughed deeply, but Tatiana shook her head in denial. She felt more like a snake right now than a lioness.

A snake that had swallowed prey too big for it and couldn’t move with its swollen belly.

Tatiana stroked her belly with one hand and said,

“No, I’m, mmm, a snake.”

“Why? Come to think of it, you really like reptiles, amphibians, and such……”

No, that wasn’t why she said she was a snake.

Tatiana rolled her eyes slightly even as she burst into bright laughter.

Looking at her face, Gideon momentarily wore an enchanted expression. And when a man is smitten with a woman, the words he unconsciously lets slip are usually simple.

“Why is Titi so pretty. There’s not a single part…… that isn’t pretty.”

Tatiana smiled happily but shook her head as if that wasn’t true.

“Mmm, there are many parts that aren’t pretty.”

“……Where?”

“Honestly, my hands are, ah, really ugly.”

Tatiana rubbed Gideon’s bare chest with her palm. From wielding swords and breaking all sorts of things since childhood, her hands were covered in calluses.

But Gideon just smirked. It seemed like even she had trouble finding her unpretty parts. How few must there be for her to point out her hands of all things.

Others might find her irritating if they heard this. However, contrary to Gideon’s thoughts, Tatiana was actually sharing quite sincere inner feelings right now.

“They got like this from holding swords, but my hands are still too small for greatswords.”

“……”

“My body is also stiff. But if someone like Your Highness were to bump shoulders with me, I’d probably get knocked down.”

“……”

“I’m honestly quite different from other women. ……You still find this pretty?”

“……Of course. I’m not saying this just to please my wife. I’m not good at that sort of thing. And there’s no reason to.” 

 Tatiana just smiled, either because she still couldn’t believe it or because she appreciated his words anyway.

Gideon felt somewhat awkward. It seemed she had taken his words, spoken in an enchanted state, more seriously than expected.

Though it was said unconsciously, it wasn’t made up.

Tatiana saw his serious expression and laughed softly before subtly starting to move her body again. Meaning let’s continue what we were doing.

However, as she wrapped her arms around his neck, she also whispered her remaining words. Somewhat shyly.

“But still. I like my body. I like that my hands are rougher than other women’s, and that I’m smaller than other knights.”

“……”

“It’s interesting.”

“……”

“My words sound very strange, don’t they? You probably don’t know what I’m trying to say. Actually, sometimes I find myself strange too.”

“No, I’m very grateful you think that way.”

Tatiana asked ‘What?’ with a puzzled look, but even Gideon found it difficult to answer right away.

Her body that he indulged in every night… But that body was clearly sometimes an obstacle for her.

If Tatiana had felt inferior about it and hated her body, his feelings of loving and embracing that body wouldn’t have been good either. How grateful and fortunate he was that that wasn’t the case.

A very accurate perception of reality, yet a mindset that moves in a positive direction despite everything. This not only affects one’s own life but also the daily lives of those around them.

Gideon nodded as if he had no choice but to agree with all her words now, and kissed her hand.

And he…… loved her body more passionately than ever before. Until the morning sun peeked out its head. 

 Tatiana, who had been enjoying the afterglow in the bedroom, put on a robe and went outside.

As their morning physical conversations became routine, exercise time was gradually getting pushed back. But she didn’t mind much. After all, Gideon was also waking up 1-2 hours early because of her.

However, this much change wasn’t enough for Gideon, who seemed to want to spend today differently again.

Following her out, instead of heading to his study, he sat down on the reception room sofa.

“Aren’t you going to work?”

“I finished all the urgent matters yesterday.”

“……”

“I worked outside for two weeks, and you want me to work today too?”

That wasn’t what she meant. It was up to him whether to rest or not. She just didn’t understand why he was settling there uncomfortably. She needed to exercise now.

However, Gideon leaned back on the sofa in a languid position, apparently ready to fully appreciate the view.

Tatiana thought ‘Hmph, you think I can’t do it?’ and confidently did a handstand. But after a few minutes, she gently lowered both feet. This seemed too unseemly after all.

Though Gideon watched her with the same expression whether her flowing hair swept the floor or her face turned red from blood rushing to it, that actually made it even more embarrassing.

‘I shouldn’t have made fun of Her Highness the Princess.’

They now knew each other’s bodies intimately, even down to the small mole on his waist. 

 But wanting to look pretty to the other person seems to be a separate issue. If anything, that feeling had grown stronger lately compared to the early days of marriage.