Baldwin’s POV :

She was as beautiful as the stars in the sky as she walked down the aisle, I reached out for her hands and as we walked to the altar, I was completely dazed throughout the wedding… I can’t believe she’s going to be my wife so soon…

I’m not sure if I’m deserving of her. She is stunning and dazzling, and I… Her exact opposite… I was utterly lost in thought when I heard William ask me to kiss her, which made my heart race yet I couldn’t bring myself to do so… It is not because I do not desire it. I wanted to, but she trusts me, and I don’t want her to think I’m going to take advantage of her, so instead I… Kiss her on the right cheek…

My worries vanished as she looked at me with such warmth and honesty… Then I made the decision to protect her and make her happy for the rest of my life.

Philippa’s POV:

Following the wedding ceremony, the celebration took place in the great hall, where happy and lively music could be heard and people from all over the kingdom came to celebrate with us. The table banquet was filled with many courses, including soup, venison, wild boar, salmon, pike, duck, swan, mixed vegetables, and sweet deserts.

Baldwin sat silently beside me, his gaze fixed on the people around us. We receive extravagant gifts from other nobility, which we gladly accept. “Y-your highness? are you feeling alright?” I inquire, concerned, as he sits motionless beside me.

“What?” he asked, his eyes fixed on me. “I-I mean B-baldwin,” I replied, recalling that he preferred to be addressed by his given name.

“Yes.. I am just overwhelmed.. that is all…. I apologise if I caused you concern,” he muttered quietly, placing a gentle grin on the corner of his lips.

“I-it’s okay.. I totally understand. I, too, am nervous.” I fidget with the table serviette.

He grabs my hand in his and smiles. “It appears that we are the same, but don’t worry, my Queen. You will always have me.” I was relieved to hear his words of comfort, which made my heart skip a beat.

With a gleam in his eyes, he stood up and put out his hand, saying, “Can I have this dance?”

My gaze was drawn to his as I reached for his hands without hesitation, and he led me to the dance floor. the people who were dancing and singing in circles while offering us the dance floor. The upbeat song slows down to a romantic cadence. “B-baldwin, I don’t know how to dance,” I admitted, blushing.

He quietly smiled at me and whispered, “Don’t worry, I got you…. “

He lowers his head and turns to face me. I move slowly to the beat of the music, while he softly swings me. When we converged, we passed each other quickly again, with him gliding and me floating. We waltzed together and stared each other in the eyes; everyone looked, but it was incredible. As he hauled me up and carefully laid me down, I began to melt. My body seemed to know just how to move to the beat of the music despite this being my first experience waltzing. Another pair swiftly joined us on the dance floor after he grinned amusingly at me.

I teased him, “I never realised you are a fantastic dancer?”

“Well…my queen…there is a lot you need to learn about me and I about you,” he said, twirling me around.

“Don’t worry.. I’m prepared, and I’m not going anywhere,” I responded cheerfully.

The celebration went far longer than I had imagined. It was blissful and a little exhausting, but everything was fine. We went to bed early that night, but the celebration went on, as I can still hear joyous music from our balcony and feel the soft cool wind on my face; it was such a fantastic night, as the stars in the night sky were all so beautiful.

Baldwin’s POV :

I approached her and threw a blue shawl over her shoulders while asking, “My Queen, is there any problem? It’s freezing out here,” as I gazed at her as she stood admirably outside our balcony.

“Nothing… it’s just that I’m happy,” she replies, smiling.

“I am grateful to you, My Queen,” I replied, standing next to her, “I and Jerusalem are grateful to have you as their Queen… your sincerity and love for my people is endless… so I thank you.”

Her gorgeous hazel brown eyes widened, and she replied, “B-baldwin… there is no need to thank me! I am just doing what is expected of me, and besides I should be the one thanking you for saving me from Bohemond,” she said, blushing

” Still… I am eternally grateful,” I murmured.

Philippa’s POV:

My heart began to pound as I gazed into his soft ocean blue eyes and smile; I was about to melt… He’s truly like an angel… I need to control my emotions, I told myself, and I need to think of anything else… Yes, it had been a while since I had attended to his wound…perhaps I should check on his condition, I reasoned.

“Since it’s our first night tonight, should we do it tonight?” I asked boldly, unknowing that I had unwittingly opened Pandora’s box. His reaction was priceless as his cheeks flushed blazing red.

“P-Philippa I… I’m not sure…. well…. it’s not t-that I – don’t want to….I – I ” Baldwin began to stutter as he couldn’t look at me.

Then I realised I had mistakenly asked him to sleep with me, “w-well i-it is not that…it is not what I meant… this is so embarrassing…” I covered my flushed face with my hand. “I’m so sorry… I’m going to hide in a tiny hole now…” I muttered, continuing to cover my face.

Instead, as he slowly removed my hand from my face, I saw him laugh for the first time. He was more stunning than I could have dreamed.

“I am sorry for making you uncomfortable,” he added as he softly interlaced his fingers with mine, making me blush even more.

“You are my wife… whatever you do to me, I will gladly accept,” he added as he kissed my hand slowly and softly, making me quiver.

I murmured as I kept my eyes on him, “t-then, let me treat your wound again,” and he gladly complied.

We spent the entire night cleaning his wounds, which were already starting to heal, and I was relieved that he did not have any new wounds and that his facial wounds did not progress any further, however his body is still frail, and his immune system is still functioning poorly. I’m still concerned about him.

“I’m almost done,” I said as I put the cream to his right arm. “I’m happy to see that your wound is already healing,” I said.

“”It is all thanks to you,” he stated.

“You always flatters me…it’s quite charming” I said with a smile.

“Is it working?” Baldwin quipped with a smile.

I was taken aback and unable to respond to his interesting comment. “Wow… ” I remarked as I tried not to chuckle at his charming statement. “I never thought that you could actually be like that, I always assume that your always be well behave King” I said with a smile.

“surprised… ” he murmured sweetly.

“Where did you learn that?” I said, giggling. “Don’t tell me, is it Roger?” I inquired.

“No… I am not like this to anyone, not even my family, I can assure you, it’s just that you’re easy to talk to and I can be more of myself than I thought I could be,” he chuckled.

“You can always be yourself around me, and I would like to get to know the real Baldwin, not the King of Jerusalem,” I added with a smile.

“I also wanted to get to know the real Philippa…” he added.

“And you might be surprised,” I mumbled as I reached for a glass of wine.

” Baldwin, I was wondering how your relationship with your mother and sister is?” I inquire.

“Well… I never got to grow up with my mother because my father, King Amalric, divorced her when I was an infant and she left me with my sister; she only recently kept in touch with me when I was crowned King, and now she is actually trying to relive the missing moments that she was unable to do when my father left her,” he explained. “And as for my sister, she is very strong-willed, and sometimes we disagree on things, but I know she only thinks about what is best for me,” he continued.

“”Well.. that’s good to hear, that she wants to get to know you,” I remarked, smiling.

” Thank you, and how about you? I know Lady Constance died when you were a child, and your stepmother never really treated you well… it must have been so difficult for you… you must have missed your mother?” he inquired.

“No… not really…. I am glad she is dead,” I say coldly.

“Pardon?” he asked, frowning.

I sipped another glass of wine and took a seat next to him. “You know what, she’s not what she appears to be… I remember… just recently… when I was a child, she would tie and torture me with hatred and contempt while Bohemond watched and laughed at my misery…I never got the chance to ask her… why she hated me so damn much,” I said.

His face was stunned and his eyes were filled with concern. “I am sorry… I never thought…” he apologised.

“It’s okay, I’m actually grateful to you for saving me from Bohemond,” I said, smiling.

“I never imagined you’d been through so much and yet you’ve remained so strong and cheerful, Philippa… ” he sighed.

“Well… I need to be strong in some way so no one can hurt me, which is why I wanted to live freely in this life…” I said, feeling sluggish and sleepy from the drink and struggling to keep my eyes open.

Baldwin’s POV:

I never knew that she went so much pain, she was always looks strong and confident. She always looks so unafraid of anything, but deep inside she was just waiting for someone to find her and rescue her. I thought

” Philippa, I promised you that no one would ever hurt you again,” I replied, only to find her dozing off on my shoulder.

I smile softly at her, thinking to myself that she must be exhausted as I carry her to bed and carefully place a blanket over her. “I promised to always protect you,” I said as I stroked her delicate cheek and kissed her forehead.

Philippa ‘s POV:

It was early in the morning… I opened my eyes… I realise I’m in my new bedroom, directly next to the King’s chamber, and it’s far more opulent than it used to be. Baldwin and I spent the night together, we spent the entire night treating his wound and talking about our childhood till I fell asleep and didn’t realise it, he may have carried me to bed, but now he is nowhere to be found.

“Good morning, my lady… I mean my queen,” Emma replied as she entered with Bathilda.

“It’s fine, just call me what you used to,” I explained.

“no…your royal highness… we cannot address you as such… you are our queen now and no longer a lady, we will address you with honour and respect,” Bathilda said.

“My queen,” Emma responded, “we will prepare your bath.”

“Very well… Thank you…” I say.

“Your Royal Highness, I’d like you to know that Princess Sibylla and Her Grace Lady Agnes are waiting for you in the grand dining hall and would like to have breakfast with you,” Bathilda remarked.

“What?! why didn’t you wake me up?” I said as I rushed out of bed and began to undress and prepare myself for a bath.

“The King told us not to wake you up… because you were exhausted last night,” Bathilda stated stoically.

“Well, I’m not that tired,” I remarked, blushing, as Emma smiled shyly. “And what about His Majesty? Will he join us for breakfast?” I said.

“no… the King left early in the morning to patrol the western borders and will return later in the afternoon,” Bathilda clarifies.

“I see,” I continue, “well, I have to hurry because I don’t like to keep them waiting.” I reminded myself that I needed to make a good impression on Baldwin’s sister and mother.