The awaited day of the wedding had finally arrived. As the maids finished preparing Sofia, she found it somewhat odd that Tiago hadn`t done anything else to get in the way of the marriage. In all honesty she was a bit disappointed. Well, perhaps he would come crashing the wedding at the last second. Which, despite being contrary to her goals, would be amusing to see. 

Once Sofia was ready, she, in the remade beautiful wedding dress she chose with Alicia, joined Prince Rafael at the entrance to the cathedral. He also was in white and the stitches below his right cheek were exposed to all to see. The Prince was annoyingly handsome.

“Lets go MY dear.” Prince Rafael offered his arm after eyeing Sofia over, full of desire. Sofia smiled and wrapped her arm around Rafael`s, her mind full of thoughts of Prince Gabriel`s demise. She savored the memory of when she killed him in her rage.

Despite Sofia`s slim expectation, Tiago never appeared to ruin the wedding. It was quite a dull ceremony. Once again she was marrying a royal, surrounded by nobles she didn`t care for and a bishop who made things much too long. The only detail of note was the absence of the Garcias who, including Duchess Alicia, had remained at Garcia Manor, watching over the injured Marchioness. One of their vassals was present as the Marquess representative.

Once the bishop was done, it came time for the kiss. Sofia turned to the Prince, he looked eager, she wondered how physical he and Monica had been but it seemed they hadn't kissed before. Sofia and Prince Rafael kissed, she found it physically pleasing but emotionally bland.  

As if the wedding ceremony wasn't tiring enough, following it there was a banquet. The high nobility congratulated the couple, everyone was looking forward to the continuation of the royal line. All expected Rafael would inherit the crown soon and with that he would need an heir. Sofia also was curious about it. In her 8 years of marriage with Prince Gabriel they never managed to conceive, it wasn't for lack of trying either. The fact the unfaithful Prince did not have any illegitimate children, indicated that the issue probably lay with him. Sofia thought that if she had a child with Rafael she would feel somewhat vindicated from all those years of scorn she faced in her time.

The banquet was finally over. Sofia was taken to the palace maids who washed her in a lavish bath and pampered her with oils and a relaxing massage, it was quite nostalgic. Then she was once again back at the Princess Consort`s bedchambers. Sofia looked around the room, reminiscing about her old life there. Perhaps this time she would have a better life. She didn't have a mother-in-law, at least.

Rafael entered the room. He was in a silk robe. Sofia wore a nuptial gown.

“Are you nervous?” asked the Prince, smiling.

“Of course not.” answered Sofia, her eyes unwavering. She wondered how he compared to Prince Gabriel. 

“Is that so?” Rafael chuckled and began untying his robe.

Sofia looked him down and walked to the bed, the Prince followed.

*

Late in the night, Prince Rafael woke up. He was exhausted but needed to pee. In the darkness of night he could feel Monica`s presence beside him in the bed, she seemed to be asleep. With great effort, the Prince rose himself from the bed, lit a candle and retrieved the chamber pot from under the bed. Once he was done, Rafael put the pot away and returned to the bed, for he could not muster strength to stand no longer. 

The Prince sat in the bed and watched the sleeping Monica in the candle light. He compared his night with her to when he took Ana for the first time. The only conclusion he could make was that Monica had experience. She didn't look surprised by the male body nor shy away from it. It was grating, his assumed prudish fiancee had laid with another man. 

Rafael looked at Monica. For a second, he wondered if he should desert her, but he knew it would be impossible. For, as exhausting as it had been, this was the best night of his life. After finally having a taste he could not give it up. Rafael would never let go of Monica. 

The Prince thought about who could have beaten him to it. It was most likely that accursed knight. And now it was too late for him to enact his rage against the man. Had Rafael known how far they had taken their affair, his instructions would have been much more crueler. Well, at least he looked forward to telling Monica of the news of her plaything`s fate.

*

When Sofia woke up, it was morning. The Prince was asleep beside her. She stretched and thought about the last night. She learned that Rafael was more skilled than Gabriel, so in that front at least, she knew this marriage would be better than her previous one. 

The Prince awoke with Sofia`s movement. The two looked at each other. This would be their first interaction since consummating their marriage.

“Lady Ana trained you well.” Sofia complimented. Her comment drove Rafael to laughter.

“How nonchalant can you be?” the Prince asked, subsiding his laughter at the absurd comment.

“Just, giving credit where it is due.” Sofia shrugged.

“And who should I thank for your skills?” Rafael asked, already knowing the answer.

“I’m just naturally talented. You should be thankful, husband.” Sofia waved it away.

“...” Rafael was silent for a moment. Even though she was a dirty liar, having Monica refer to him as her husband was more pleasing than he expected.

“I suppose, I’m lucky, then.” The Prince decided to let his bride`s dalliance aside. Rafael did not wish to acknowledge it. He still, however, wished to hurt her with the news of her lover`s fate, “Oh, by the way, I hear that knight of yours suffered some misfortune.”

“...A knight, who do you refer to?” Sofia asked, trying to stay composed. 

“Sir Tiago Alves. He got ambushed by some ruffians, I hear.”

“A-and, what happened?”

“Well, the news is he died.” Rafael said, studying Sofia`s reaction.

“...I see.” Sofia reacted with a neutral expression, “well, I’m going to go have a bath.” Sofia rose from the bed and made her way to the Princess Consort`s bathroom leaving the Prince behind.

Once her bath was ready, Sofia had the maids leave her and entered the tub. As she bathed Sofia was lost in thought. Tiago had died earlier than in her timeline. It was another difference most likely caused by her presence in this time. She recalled Rafael`s demeanor as he told her the news, it had been carried out on his orders. She wondered if before he died, Tiago was planning to crash the wedding. 

Sofia knew that she didn’t love Tiago, but his death saddened her nonetheless. And, despite everything, she recognized that a deep, small part of her was relieved to be rid of such wild card who could very well complicate her plans. In the solitude of her bath, Sofia allowed herself to shed tears for her departed reckless paramour.