The days that followed were just like that in a lazy sort of haze as the newlyweds adjusted to one another. Irene didn’t hold back, giving her body to Henry whenever he wanted. It always followed with him bringing her wonderful snacks, drinks, and even flowers.

She felt lazy, but at that moment in her life, it was all she needed.

For so many years, she had pushed her body to its limit. But now, being worked and then immediately taken care of was a heaven she was unaccustomed to.

There were a lot of books read, cuddled up to one another. Plenty of paths she hadn’t explored for a long while were walked as they slowly moved together, finding ways to fill the day.

Admittedly, Irene wanted to seem as if they weren’t spending every moment horizontal in the nest that had been made for them in the guest house, but that was precisely what seemed to happen each time the door was shut behind them. However, being wanted in such a way, the red-haired knight found it so satisfying.

There were a few moments that brought Irene back down to reality.

Their first meals were had together, but Irene and Henry often joined the others for dinner. After all, he wanted to spend time with his mother and Callum considering the times he had with them were few those days.

It was midday and Irene and Henry were enjoying a walk through the garden. They entered the Litharion’s home in time to see Rochelle coming down the stairs.

"Can I see dad today?" Irene asked, her eyes wide with hope.

It had been three days since the wedding. Each day she asked to see her father, but the answer was always the same.

Rochelle’s eyebrows were already subtly lowered into a pained expression, but she wiped it away.

"It isn’t a good day, dear," Rochelle admitted. "He spent too much energy and needs to recover." However, her eyes lifted and she reached for her daughter’s hands. "But don’t blame yourself. Everything he did at the wedding, he wanted to do regardless."

Arthur’s current state was understandable, considering he spent most of his time propped up in bed so liquid wouldn’t pool in his lungs, and he wouldn’t strain himself too much. If there were no breeze, they could hear his wheezing since the windows had been opened for the warm weather they were having.

"Thank you for saying so," Irene responded quietly. "I will ask again tomorrow."

"Of course, dear," Rochelle responded, fully expecting as much.

She gave her daughter a light hug before continuing on her path to the kitchen, making sure the meals being prepared were apt for the guests who were staying in the house.

With nothing more to do and with Celia and Callum in town exploring what they could while they were there, Irene gently pulled Henry’s hand, and they were headed towards the back door once again.

"I haven’t lifted a sword in a while," Irene suggested. "Even a meager practice sword."

"Are you suggesting a spar?" Henry asked, excitedly.

Neither one of them had even been wearing their usual swords, which was completely uncharacteristic for both of them, but they hadn’t been wandering far, and the area was culled of monsters.

In lieu of an answer, Irene merely tugged at Henry’s hand until they were at the practice yard and going to the shed where Irene got them both a sword.

"Show me what you’re made of," Irene insisted, suddenly feeling competitive.

Their swords tapped at one another, still showing good sportsmanship despite not needing to.

"Isn’t that what I have been doing the past few days?" Henry asked, mock-offended.

Irene gasped. "Pervert," she ground out quietly through her teeth.

Henry took advantage of that as he swiped his sword at her, not putting much force into it considering it was a cheap trick. Irene, on the other hand, righted herself in time to fight back. She slapped his sword but then pushed it with her palm. She wasn’t wearing gloves that day, considering they likely wouldn’t travel; it was warm, and they were wearing comfortable clothing, but didn’t hesitate to get her hands a bit dirty. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Quickly escaping, she jumped backwards, only to parry with Henry a couple of smacks before their swords were locked together, both trying to get the advantage over the other.

Unfortunately, Henry’s strength was more than Irene’s. He shoved her forward, not realizing she would get her heels caught on the edge of the practice yard and thrown backward. He had also thrown himself forward enough that he wound up on top of her as they lay underneath lilac bushes at the end of their bloom season. Purple petals fell over them.

"You aren’t hurt?" Henry asked, quickly taking his weight off of his wife.

Her eyes were wide for a few moments, and she blinked, seeming to right herself.

She knew how to assess herself from head to toe and felt nothing that hurt her.

"I... don’t think so," she admitted.

"Then..." Henry uttered as he pressed his hands against the dirt at Irene’s sides so that he could stand up and help her up as well.

Surprisingly, Irene’s knee began to bend, and the Duke found his wife’s boot holding him by the back of his knee. She then reached outward and slid her hands over his neck until her arms were loosely wrapped around him.

Never being someone submissive, Irene was surprised to learn the past few days that she quite liked when Henry was on top of her.

"Here?" he uttered.

Irene nodded as she pulled him a bit harder so that she could kiss him.

Shortly, the newlyweds found themselves forgetting their practice swords and rushing back to the guest quarters. There wasn’t much else to do that day, anyway.

They reemerged for dinner but were sure to occupy each other yet again that night.

The bubble of happiness that their honeymoon phase afforded them burst when they received a knock on the outer door to the guest house the following morning.