She looks up at me as if startled. “Yes?”
“Would you like to come with me? I’m going to the river.”
She shrugs. “Sure.”
I blink. That was much easier than I anticipated. I thought for sure I’d have to barter with her, but she’s already up from her cot and walking toward me. My heart racing, I get up, grab my water pouch, and lead the way to the river, which is just to the north of our camp. I can see its bubbling waters through the trees, and I can hear the rushing water after walking only a short way. When we arrive on the riverbank, we find that it’s not a sand-based river, but a river full of smooth stones with some silt at the bottom. The water is crystal-clear, probably runoff from the mountains that run between Krasta and Wruceria.
“This place is beautiful,” Alessia comments. “I’m glad we came here during the day.”
“Me too.”
I crouch down to fill my water pouch, watching the way Alessia gazes out at the river. I want to ask her a million questions just to nullify the insecurities racing through my head, instead, I take a deep breath, swallow my pride, and take the leap of faith.
“Hold this, will you?”
I hand Alessia my water pouch. She takes it but there’s a lot of questions written over her face when I take off my shirt and set it aside.
“Um…Aurelio?”
“What? I came here to bathe,” I inform her.
Her face goes bright pink in the blink of an eye. The color shift is impressive, really.
“Aurelio—I—Um,”
“Your eloquence is stunning today,” I tease.
She shoots me a death glare. “Shut up! Why are you bathing? I thought we were coming here to get water!”
“I didn’t say that. I just asked you to come to the river. You assumed it was for drinking water.”
“Well…yeah, you’re right, but do you really have to do this in front of me?” Alessia questions, her eyes flickering to my exposed skin.
Perfect. Right on target. I smile, taking off my travel pants in one fell swoop. Alessia’s eyes fly wide.
“I don’t see the harm in this,” I say. “I’m your husband, after all. I’m not ashamed. You can feel free to avert your eyes if it bothers you, though. It’s not like I can make you look.”
As much as I dislike my body being an object of affectionate attention, for once, I really want Alessia to look at me. This is very different from the day we faced off in a training match, and I was flustered over my outfit, and then I was flustered over hers; I want to expose all of myself to her, and I want to do it confidently. If I’m going to spend the rest of my life as the patriarch of Celestia, the least I can do is earn the love of the matriarch who chose me for the job. That starts with learning to be confident when vulnerable with one another.
“Aurelio…again, can’t you wait until I leave?” Alessia says quietly, clearly struggling to avert her eyes.
There’s that reverse psychology I pulled on her. Now that I told her she doesn’t have to look, curiosity is killing her. I grin victoriously.
“I don’t have to wait until you leave. You’re free to do whatever you like. I, however, am going to wash the travel stains out of my skin. You’re free to join me.”
“Wait, Aurelio—”
With one last leap of faith, I drop the last piece of clothing, and I head into the water. I hear a small (absolutely adorable) gasp behind me right before I take my first step into the river. I don’t dare to look back and shatter my chances; I keep walking, letting Alessia decide how far this is going to go. I’ve made my intentions clear.
Come on, Alessia. Seize the moment.
I wade as far as I can into the river, finding the deepest part just deep enough to come up to my shoulders. I splash water all over my face, then dip my head back in the water, letting it run through my hair until I’m certain the dirt and grime is finally gone. I’m starting to finally feel human again when I hear the telltale swish of someone stepping into the water.
“Aurelio…you’re trying to get me to come in with you, aren’t you?”
“Guilty as charged,” I say, grinning like an idiot. “What’s the punishment, my queen?”
“…I’ll let you off with no charges if you wash me down.”
