As the kiss broke, she drew a shuddered breath, trying to regain her composure. "That was..." she replied, holding her hand to her chest, afraid that her heart might literally beat out of it. "Forgive me..." she said, shaking her head. "I know the rules for men and women are often very different. Your history with kisses and... whatever else... is probably much more extensive..."

Her cheeks were on fire, burning with embarrassment at even speaking of such tawdry things. He was her husband. She didn't have to be embarrassed at affection, but it had been drilled into her so repeatedly that she couldn't push it down entirely.

"Speaking of... whatever else..." she looked away for a moment. "That's... what I'm most nervous about." she paused a moment, then thought what her words might mean to him. Her emerald eyes flew open in worry he might misunderstand.

"I mean! Not—not... being with you per se. Just... the whole bedding ceremony..." she bit lightly at her plump lower lip as she looked back at him. "It's...nerve wracking enough just to...be intimate for the first time...ever..." this felt so strange to talk about, but he had asked. "Without the whole... being undressed by strangers and having them stalk outside the door to see if we're actually consummating our marriage..."

He had managed it, drawn her in, and gotten her to open up. His smile widened to even larger than when he had first lifted the veil. She was becoming his now. He could feel it. Her face flushed red with embarrassment just made him think of how much life was in her, and the way she bit at her lip made him quiver inside.

"My sweet, the bedding ceremony is an old and outdated tradition. I too would not be at my most comfortable with everyone being so... present throughout. I will make the announcement at the reception. There will be no bedding ceremony. Only me, my wife, and the joy of our first night alone together. The staff may check our sheets tomorrow, but apart from that, the occasion is ours." He hoped that might calm her nerves and earn her trust all at once.

Truth be told, he had no plans to uphold the bedding ceremony, anyway. He would have either dismissed the bedding ceremony or compelled everyone to leave. However, getting her to say it and doing it this way was so much more perfect. It made him more of the caring and loving husband, and it had broken that wall she had put up in front of him.

"My love, we are wed now. Husband and wife. I know some husbands prefer their wives to be nothing more than things, but I do not. You are Natalia, and with me, you can truly be Natalia. Whether its something you want to say or do. I want you to feel that you can." He said it all with an air of confidence and authority. He brushed her cheek with his soft hand before dropping it respectfully again. It was almost like using compulsion without actually using it. Just winding his words around her like his cloak, making her feel safe, secure, and cared for.

She breathed a small sigh of relief. That ceremony was a nightmare come to life in her mind. At least he agreed with her and wasn't angry she wished it to be a more private affair. She didn't mind if someone came to check the sheets and change them the next morning. That would probably be warranted on all accounts.

As he brushed her cheek, she felt herself leaning in toward him, wanting to drink in this moment. She wished they didn't have to play host to all the others in attendance. It would be so nice if they could just be...together and get comfortable with one another. By the time they were finally getting there, they'd be whisked away.

"We can't just hide from everyone altogether though, I suppose?" Natalia laughed slightly. She was talented at politics and pleasantries, but it didn't mean she had to enjoy them. She took the hand he had brushed her cheek with in her own and delicately held it, noting how cold his hands were. Perhaps it was because she now wore the cloak, which was part of custom, but still.

"Are you cold?" She asked, a bit of genuine concern in her voice. "Your hands feel so cold."

He went to pull his hand away from hers out of habit before stopping himself. Instead, holding hers back. "I don't feel cold, maybe you're just warm?" He tried to play it off with a mischievous grin and a joking attitude. "Alas, it must be in my blood, not ideal for nights such as this, but come summer, perhaps I can keep your warm body from too much heat." While it might not make much sense to her at the moment, when he explained later, maybe she could at least take solace in that his 'joke' would actually be true.

Her jab at the reception made him chuckle. Secretly, he was convinced that no one liked these forced social occasions, or maybe it was just those closer to the top of the hierarchy. "I'm afraid I don't think there's any way we can avoid this next part. We shan't make it too long though; a simple but elegant first dance, talk to a few of the guests and receive our congratulations. Besides, there's plenty of wine to keep us enthusiastic!"

"We don't have that much more time, my sweet. There's so much more I want to say before we have to go back out." He took one last look around the haphazardly made private room. It was his wedding day, after all. He wanted to remember it for years to come. Perhaps he would sketch it.

His eyes eventually settled back on her, leaning in to take both her hands in his, feeling the warmth emanate from her body. She too, knew their time was drawing to an end, and she hated it. However, they would be alone again before too much longer. She drew one of her hands away to finish her glass of wine, then laid a delicate kiss of wine-drenched lips on his. It was only a peck, but it showed some degree of returned affection.

Then there was a knock at the door, signifying they had indeed come to the end of their moment. She sighed and nodded, standing from their place and waiting to take his arm before they left the little room.

There was a walkway which connected the church to the palace, which they walked down, arm in arm. The quiet night air swirled around them like gentle hands pushing toward their destination. It was truly a lovely night: neither too warm nor too cold. She would've rather stayed outside with him, but alas, duty called.

A loud roar of cheers erupted as they ended the ballroom. The band picked up, as if ushering them to the dance floor with their music. She took his hand in her own and placed the other on his shoulder. Beginning an elegant waltz, moving in perfect unison.

Step for step they were in perfect form, his cloak on her billowing out at some added twirls. She moved so perfectly. It surprised him a human could do so. As the song finished, he rested his forehead against and let his lips meet hers in a long kiss. The crowd clapped and cheered once more, clearly happy that their Prince and his bride were taking so well to each other.

Their lips parted, and he could tell from her quickened pulse that she was pleased. They turned to the cheering crowd and let the adoration wash over them. Before long, though, Marcello stood tall and lifted his hands for quiet. "It is a momentous day for Venice. I am glad you are all here to share in it with Natalia and I. Before we begin the festivities, which I'm sure we're all keen to enjoy, I must announce that there will be no bedding ceremony for this marriage." A series of murmurs arose from the crowd, making the Prince frown. "She is my wife and mine alone. No other man or woman shall see her the way only I should see her. Our first night will be ours to share and no others."

There was an eerie amount of authority behind his words, but it silenced the murmuring and instigate a calmer applause. No doubt they would create their own rumours, as nobles and aristocracy so often did, but he did not care for their whispered words. He could see the faces of Natalia's parents: a mixture of confused and pleased, his own parents nowhere in sight just yet.

He snapped his fingers once and almost instantly a servant appeared with some filled wine glasses on a golden tray for each of them. The smile returned, and he raised his glass. "Now let the celebrations begin!" Instantly the room sprung to life once more, with loud chatter and a wave of people rushing forward to the newlyweds.

She took her own glass and clinked it against his before drinking from it. They walked, his arm on the small of her back, to a table in the corner of the room where food had already been prepared for them both. A long line of people formed to offer their congratulations as they dined. She picked at the food, feeling awkward to have to eat while speaking to others, but at least she could eat. By the time they'd made it halfway through the line of well-wishers, she'd finished her second glass of wine and had given up on the food. She'd eaten enough to not be starving. That was enough for the moment.

The Prince started to tire after so many pleasantries. He'd picked at some human food and although he enjoyed its unique taste, it didn't quite satisfy his craving. It wasn't too much longer before he caught the eye of a particular servant and ushered them over. Speaking in hushed whispers, he ignored Natalia's slight look of confusion as the servant went away and returned with a crimson red decanter and poured him a fresh glass. It wasn't as fresh or as warm as he'd have liked, but cold blood was better than none.

He gulped it to avoid any suspicion over its darker colour or unique scent. Leaving only a small amount at the bottom of the glass so as not to appear a drunkard to the next well-wishers. He set it down in between himself and Natalia. Instantly seeming more invigorated and eager to greet Lord and Lady Salvador from some region in Spain that he didn't care to remember. It was nothing compared to the rush of fresh blood, but it was enough to scratch the itch.

He could see that Natalia was tiring, and he felt a pang of irritation. He leaned in after saying goodbye to another lord and lady whose names and faces had already blurred out of memory. "Darling, if you wish to get some rest, you may retire to my room. I can finish up the last few people here and meet you there?" A servant stood at the ready to take her.

She made it through all the pleasantries she could stand and gratefully accepted the suggestion that she might go up ahead of him. She gave him a quick peck, noting the taste on his lips was not at all like any wine she had ever tasted, but she quickly pushed the thought aside.

The servant led her upstairs, and she requested a handmaiden be sent in to help unlace the corset and ready her for bed. He nodded and soon a girl appeared, looking at least as young as herself, who did just that. The maid carefully took off the cloak and gown, putting them away in the wardrobe so as not to soil them. She then grabbed the delicate dressing gown held within and wrapped it around Natalia. As she began removing every pin from her hair, Natalia dismissed the girl, assuring her she would be just fine to finish herself.

However, she requested one more glass of wine. The maid nodded, bringing one up to her and left the newlywed to prepare herself for what lay ahead. She was excited, nervous, and a little scared. Natalia wanted desperately to experience her husband, every bit of him, but it was still an entirely new experience. The nerves in her stomach simply could not be avoided, but at least the wine would dull them. She hoped.

As she finished letting her hair down completely, she removed her earrings and necklace, placing them delicately back in the jewelry box upon the vanity. It was her own, brought from her home. This was to be her home now, and they had striven to provide every little comfort that could make her feel it was so.

Natalia took one last long look in the mirror at herself as the girl she once knew. Not that she would physically look any different after he bedded her, but it would change her. She would be his, wholly and completely. The fear in her eyes slowly subsided and was replaced with a small smile as she downed the last of the wine and moved toward the bed. She removed the dressing gown, draping it over the back of a chair, and climbed into the bed.

The sheets were comfortable, and she could've perhaps fallen asleep easily in them had she not been so excited. Instead of snuggling into them, she pulled the covers all the way up over her breasts... and waited....