Duke Romanov was now technically her husband and just being around him made Sophie feel a tad more nervous than she had ever been with other people. It could be because she had been intimate with him.
She knew what it felt like to be lying beneath the man while she was in bed with him, how his taut muscles had been… Sophie felt her face suddenly flush. She didn't want to admit it aloud but when she did look at him, she realized how outstanding his physique was.
Sophie didn't want to compare it to Nicholas, but Duke Romanov was more burly and muscular. If she could associate Nicholas with the word graceful, then, Duke Romanov was the definition of strength.
Even though she wanted to forget the memory of them sleeping together, today, it came back and became more vivid than before. Seeing him sitting upright beside her, looking outside the window, Sophie's mind went back to their wedding night.
She thought he would act like an animal when they had sex and crush her in bed, but she was wrong. He was very careful and even apologetic. Now that she thought about it again, Sophie realized the man might have been holding back when he had sex with her.
Was that true? Did he wish to do more to her but he stopped himself from doing that? He did bite her in the end... was that how he was in bed when he had sex with other women before her?
All these questions and the fact that he confused her with his change in attitude made Sophie feel a lot more conscious around him. She didn't want to make the wrong move or say the wrong things.
Sophie was moved from her reverie when suddenly, Leland reached for something in his coat. He pulled out a small pouch and gave it to Sophie. He cleared his throat and said, "Since you've asked to go here in the town, here is some money that you can spend with your maid."
"Ah… why thank you," Sophie accepted the money pouch and her eyes widened when she saw how much was inside of this. In her eyes, it was too generous while Leland was actually thinking the money was too little.
Sophie looked at Leland, looking grateful. She asked him, "Are you sure?"
Leland resisted the urge to chuckle but nodded. "Yes… since I will be preoccupied, I cannot simply let my wife just stroll about the festival without actually enjoying herself."
His wife.
The way that Duke Romanov said it was with such a relaxed and normal tone that Sophie found that it sounded so natural. This made her feel like she had always been married to him. The thought made her face flush again.
Sophie was actually about to ask something that may make her sound like she wanted to be around him, but the truth was she only said it out of politeness. It would have been rude not to offer.
"My lord, if your business here in the town is finished quickly… would you like to join me with sightseeing the festival?" Sophie asked the duke politely. "I am quite sure that we can enjoy some sights together."
Leland's heart skipped a beat as he looked at her with shock, but then he nodded. "Yes, I think that if my meeting finishes shortly then I can join you for a stroll. Though I must tell you that I am not fond of large groups of people."
"Oh, please don't worry about it." Sophie smiled at him. "We'll head for quieter and less crowded areas so you won't feel uncomfortable."
"I wouldn't mind going to noisy places for the experience though," Leland said. He wouldn't miss his chance to be with her and he knew for a fact that his business was actually just… watching her from afar.
The Alpha made a decision to guard Sophie for an hour or two without letting her know so she could enjoy herself with her maid, Dinah. Then Leland would take the opportunity to come join them after his 'affairs' in the town were finished.
***
"Ah, human–I mean Riga festivals!" Dinah said aloud with a hint of surprise. "They're so crowded and noisy. Are you sure that you want to be here, my lady?"
"Yes!" Sophie exclaimed with a smile on her face. "Yes, I am."
The festivities in the town of Redgrave were enough to cause the lycans to feel a bit confused because while each pack did have its own ceremonies, gatherings, and occasions… It was unlike humans.
Lycans were actually less dense and fewer in number per pack. The rare moment when lycans banded together was when there was a Lycan King, an Alpha King who could actually command several packs.
So, the sight of seeing so many people in one place was odd to the more nomadic lycans.
Humans enjoyed events, where numerous stalls were placed alongside the roads, new sights, music, and scents, were available for everyone to pay attention to and one could see the road bustling with people.
All of them were strangers and did not know each other as well as lycans who stayed in one pack, but they were all festive and merry. The lycans accompanying the Alpha and the Luna found themselves culture shocked.
Before Sophie knew it, she was already having such a fun time with Dinah that she didn't notice how much time was passing as they strolled from one stall into another.
With the money pouch that Duke Romanov gave her, they bought a lot of hot piping snacks, tried out games and challenges, and watched other people perform.
There was a bright smile on Sophie's face as they went through each of these activities. When she was in Hastings, it had always been her cousins who enjoyed particular festivals and she could only watch.
Now Sophie was experiencing it all for herself.
.
.
_________________
From Missrealitybites:
It's nice to see Sophie is having fun!
The source of this c𝐨ntent is freewe(b)nov𝒆l