Waking up from that nap brought a light sense of relief.
Though my muscles still carried a dull ache, seeing my hand fully grown back was a massive win.
"Finally," a small mumble escaped as I looked at it. "Something actually went right today."
A relaxed smile finally replaced the frustration that had defined my morning.
That short sleep did more than just rest my body; it cleared out the mess inside my head.
With a clearer mind, a wave of embarrassment hit me.
Thinking back to my outburst about life being "a bitch" just because I slipped made me want to hide my face.
In hindsight, that fall was actually a blessing.
A rational person would have seen it that way from the start, but I wasn't exactly rational back then.
Without that clumsy moment, there wouldn't have been a way to vent all that built-up pressure.
The shock of hitting the floor forced a laugh out of me, breaking the tension.
Maybe even sudden disasters can be funny sometimes, the thought crossed my mind.
Since the day had been exhausting enough, any plans for training were officially canceled.
Walking quietly toward the kitchen, the goal was to catch Sera off guard.
However, the room was empty.
The huge serpent sat exactly where it was dropped, untouched and cold on the floor.
Wait... where is she?
Confusion quickly shifted into a cold pinch of worry in my chest.
Usually, Sera would be busy cooking by now, or at least finishing up a meal.
A quick flash of annoyance at the lack of food was immediately swallowed by a racing heart.
Did something happen?
The pace picked up as I hurried through the palace, checking rooms until reaching the library.
There she was, sitting perfectly still.
I walked in quietly, but she didn't even look up. She was completely lost in whatever she was doing.
Stepping behind her, my eyes landed on the book she was holding.
"For a Better Tomorrow."
The title stood out in yellow letters against a deep blue cover.
I knew that book. It was one of those famous romance novels everyone seems to know.
Tragedies like that always draw people in.
They have a way of sticking around, tied to feelings of sadness and "what ifs."
A person might forget a funny story, but a tragedy stays etched in the mind, making you wish you could jump into the pages to fix the ending.
That was why this one was so popular—it had a heartbreakingly beautiful finish.
As someone who spent a lot of time reading during my isolation, a tiny bit of envy toward Sera crept in.
The ability to get that immersed in a story had faded for me.
To my eyes, this book was a bit overrated—famous more for its hype than its actual quality.
Nearby, a table was stacked with light snacks and sweets.
Seeing her so happy and relaxed brought a bit of life back into the room.
Maybe life is only beautiful because it can be so crappy, the thought occurred to me.
I pulled up a chair and sat right next to her.
Finally sensing someone there, Sera glanced up, though her eyes were still stuck on the page.
A hand reached out to grab a piece of cake.
It was the perfect kind—not too sweet, just how I like it.
The sound of the crunch filled the quiet room as I chewed.
Sera's eyebrow gave a tiny, frustrated twitch.
I noticed it, of course, but didn't stop. I just kept eating.
Eventually, she hit her limit and snapped the book shut.
"Theo, are you doing this on purpose?" she asked with a look of mild annoyance.
I looked back at her with the most innocent, "puppy-dog" eyes I could manage.
"What do you mean, wife?"
Silence hung between us for a second.
Her annoyed face softened instantly into a look of pure guilt.
The trick worked perfectly... I had to laugh at her innocence on the inside.
"I'm sorry, Theo..." She took a deep breath, her gaze turning gentle. "How was your day?"
"Don't even ask," I replied, my voice dropping. "I don't even want to think about it. Just remembering it will ruin my mood again."
I could see the curiosity in her eyes, but before she could ask anything else, I took her hand.
Pulling her closer as she sat opposite me, I leaned in without hesitation.
I rested my face against her abdomen, letting out a breath.
From above, her worried voice drifted down. "Theo, tell me what happened today."
I didn't give her a verbal answer.
Instead, a kiss was pressed to her stomach, followed by a move toward her neck and face.
Sera tried to slow things down for a second. "Wait... Theo..."
I just lifted her, not stopping for a moment.
"My day was trash," I said firmly. "So, we're doing this. Is there a problem?"
"But we were talking..." she tried to argue weakly.
Taking a breath, she asked, "And what about this sudden burst of yours?"
The desire for talk was gone. I silenced the conversation with a kiss, the pace picking up as I began to undress her
I had already decided to just roll with this new life.
Instead of complaining about these "rituals," I was going to move past the anger and enjoy the perks.
Life was never fair, and it never will be.
Even if these rituals were unfair to the men, they did give us the final say in big family decisions.
Who knows what the person who started this was thinking?
Did they really think that small bit of power made up for the constant danger?
There was no point crying over spilt milk.
The marriage was a reality. Now, it was just about the risks and the rewards.
I'd deal with the danger, and I'd definitely enjoy the benefits.
Sera wasn't the enemy, and I wasn't going to blame her for how things were.
I was just going to enjoy this, no matter what.