Even though I had on a wedding gown that had to weigh at least twenty pounds, I’d never felt so naked in my life.

I stood at the foot of my new bed in my new bedroom. These had been Elora’s chambers, but they were mine now, mine to share with my husband. Tove was next to me, and we both just stared at the bed.

When the reception started winding down, Tove’s parents, my mother, Wila, Garrett, and a few other ranking officials, including that disgusting Chancelor, had ushered us up to the room. They were al laughing, talking about how magical this would be, then they shut and locked the door behind us.

“On wedding nights, when a Prince or a King were married, they used to close the curtains around the four poster bed,” Tove said. “Then the family and officials would sit around al night, so they could be sure that they were having sex.”

“That is realy disturbing,” I said. “Why on Earth would they do that?”

“To ensure they would produce offspring,” he shrugged. “That is the only reason why they arranged marriages.”

“I guess I should be happy they’re not doing that with us.”

“Do you think they’re listening outside the door?”

“I realy, realy hope not.”

We kept staring at the bed, refusing to look at one another, and I don’t think either of us knew what to do. I wanted to wait long enough until I was certain everyone had grown bored and left, but past that, I had no idea how this night would go.

“This dress is realy heavy,” I said finaly.

“It looks like it.” Tove glanced over at my dress and the piles of train that had been tacked up on the back so I could dance. “The train itself has to weigh like ten pounds.”

“At least,” I agreed. “So… I’d like to get out of it.”

“Oh, right.” He paused. “Go ahead. I guess.”

“Wel… I need your help.” I gestured to the back of it. “There’s like a thousand buttons and snaps to undo, and I can’t reach them.”

“Oh, right, of course.” Tove shook his head. “I should’ve known.”

I turned my back to him and stood patiently while he undid al the buttons and snaps. It seemed ridiculous when I thought about it.

This dress was meant to come off, but it took him at least fifteen minutes to get them al undone. And the whole time, neither of us said anything.

“There you go,” he said. “Al done.”

“Thank you.” I held the dress in the front to keep it from faling off, and I turned to face him. “Should I… do I need to put pajamas on?”

“Oh.” He rubbed his hands on his pants. “Um, if you want to.”

“Are you going to?” I asked.

“I… yeah.” He bit the inside of his cheek and lowered his eyes.