CHAPTER 100: IMPERFECT BEAUTY

{Music Recommendation: Stand By Me ~ Elaine}

If Jenna had foreseen how quickly the world would tear Rhane from her, she would have clung to the inn. Shared it with others, if it meant spending more time with Rhane.

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Done with dressing up, Jenna made sure to pack her hair up, then styled it in a bun. The inn owner had given her a dress which wasn’t exactly what Jenna was used to, and for that reason, she didn’t feel confident enough to step outside.

Pushing her bosom in, Jenna tried to tuck it in so it wouldn’t expose her cleavage as it was doing at the moment.

"Do you need help with that?" A young woman, who had been watching Jenna quietly from a corner, asked.

Jenna gave the woman a once-over and turned. Then she blinked, "You were speaking to me?"

"Yes," the woman replied with a soft chuckle. Pushing her body up from against the wall she leaned on, she walked towards Jenna.

"Is it your first time in a dress?"

Jenna chewed her lower lip, dropping her eyes to the ground. "Not really... I used to wear dresses as a child but..." she trailed.

"Not much as a woman, I see," the woman remarked, her gaze pure. Not a single judgment behind her eyes.

Jenna nodded slowly, using her hands to get rid of the crinkling on the dress. "I’m a merchant, you see? So I usually wear fits comfortable for the road."

"Oh," the woman replied with a nod, stretching her hand forward. "I can help if you let me." Her eyes scanned Jenna’s dress. "You have the corset tied all wrong."

"If I breathe too deeply, this corset may slay me before any man does." Jenna teased, pressing her toes together. She wanted to let the woman help but at the same time she didn’t. If the woman undid her dress, she was going to see the scars beneath. Though Jenna was beginning to get comfortable and shed the shame, it was only with Rhane. Nobody else.

"I..."

The woman dropped her hand to the side, "It’s okay if you don’t want that, I can point out places you should fix," she suggested, taking two steps back to give Jenna space.

If Jenna was alone, she’d have gone with that option, but she wanted to look beautiful for Rhane. It wasn’t something usual for Jenna, to try and please any man, but for Rhane, she wanted to.

"I’ll be grateful if you can help me," Jenna muttered, turning around to show the woman her back.

The woman smiled, walking over to Jenna. "I’d love to help."

"Um... the dress is a little tight because of my chest," Jenna said the moment the woman held the corset.

Dropping her gaze on Jenna’s chest for a brief moment, the woman frowned. "What is wrong with your chest?"

"It’s a little... it’s bigger than normal?" Jenna’s words were more of a question than a statement. She’d seen other women, and Jenna was different. In height she was taller, she didn’t have the slender legs or cupable breasts other maidens had.

In her early days, Jenna had hated herself so much for it. Even after getting married, she’d assumed that it was because of her body that Gerald never got pleased during their mating. Not until she realized that Gerald was a monster driven by madness.

The woman undid the corset ropes slowly before fixing them properly. "I think your bosom is quite normal, dear," she murmured, her hands moving skillfully.

"You don’t blame your body, there’s always a dress for you... and if you ask me, this one looks like it was made perfectly for you." The woman made a bow with the rope, then turned Jenna around.

"Do not be ashamed of these," she pushed the dress up a little, but Jenna’s cleavage remained visible. "They’re your beauty, you see. They give life... they’re the reason you’re a creator."

Jenna felt her head swell with just the woman’s comment. She was gradually loving her skin and the body on her, but not always did a fellow woman compliment her. Most women back at the merchant village only saw her as a homewrecker since every man wanted to have a taste.

"Thank you, really." Jenna replied, looking down at the faded grey dress.

The woman waved her hand dismissively, "Don’t thank me, darling. It’s what I see that I speak... and for this," she let down Jenna’s hair to bounce down on her shoulder.

"Looks better now."

Jenna pressed her lips together. There wasn’t a mirror around to look at herself, but through the woman’s eyes and how they lit up, she felt really beautiful.

"Shall we?" The woman gave Jenna her elbow to hold.

Gathering up Rhane’s shirt, Jenna followed the woman out of the room. The moment the door opened, she found Rhane marching restlessly from one point to another, and it made Jenna wonder just how long he had been like that.

"She’s quite a beauty!"

One of the men gambling whistled at Jenna’s arrival. His words didn’t just draw Rhane’s attention but also that of everyone else in the candlelit small room.

A wedding. That was Jenna’s first thought of the moment. Rhane at the altar and her walking down the aisle. It wasn’t grand, nor as perfect as what she had with Gerald. Rhane had no perfect shirt, only the half-buttoned worn-out white shirt, and a patched brown trouser that still fit his very tall legs. His black hair fell over his face, almost covering his eyes. A sack of bag slung behind him, carrying their clothes, and his heavy black boots were covered in red sand.

It wasn’t near perfect, but she was at peace knowing that the arms of the man she was led to would protect and defend her, not trample.

’My woman.’

Jenna saw Rhane’s lips move and she was quick to catch what he said. Her cheeks burned with the wide smile she wanted to give to him at the moment, but with everyone’s attention on them, she held it back.

"Your lady is here, sir," the woman leading Jenna said the moment they got to stand in front of Rhane. She handed Jenna to him, and with a small bow, she left to stand with others.

Rhane wiped his hand on his half-buttoned shirt, licking his lips nervously before taking Jenna’s hand.

It was rare, Jenna thought, as Rhane’s palm lapped her entire own. A rare sight to see Rhane anxious. He looked like a young boy in front of his heartthrob, and it made him look even younger.

"Good lord, Jenna, you are beautiful," Rhane whispered, squeezing her hands gently.

Jenna scoffed, "In these?" She gestured at the dress. "You’ve lost your eyes then, if you call this beauty."

"You’ll only have to wear dresses when you’re with me," Rhane continued, taking the shirt Jenna was holding. "I don’t think I can think straight if you do otherwise." He pushed the sack forward, opened it, dipped the shirt, then returned it to his back.

"Do you feel at ease now?" Rhane asked, placing his palm on Jenna’s forehead.

Jenna closed her eyes, sucking in a breath. She basked in the comfort of his touch. When she opened her eyes, she opened her mouth to respond but noticed people were still staring.

"How long have you been standing here?" she asked, this time squeezing Rhane’s hand.

Rhane arched his brows, "I was about to break the door earlier. I can’t be at peace if you’re not within my sight," he said mindlessly, shifting Jenna’s hair from her shoulder, watching it drop to her back.

"Are you both newly married?" someone asked from the crowd.

Rhane raised Jenna’s hand, "I’d die a happy man if the lady says yes to my proposal!"

Jenna gasped, trying to bring his hand down. "You reckless fool...," she muttered under her breath while he gave her a half grin and continued.

"Life," Rhane’s voice shook the inn, "Life is having Jenna accept to be mine! I’ll stop at nothing until her heart belongs to just me."

The crowd cheered, clapping and encouraging Jenna to accept Rhane’s proposal. Jenna tried to hide her face in Rhane’s chest.

"Give the man a chance! He’s smitten by ya!" the men encouraged.

Rhane threw his head back and laughed, "Smitten is half of it. I tell ya, mates, half of what this woman has done to me." He dropped his gaze on Jenna and smiled.

"Let’s go," her face soaked in blush, Jenna tugged Rhane’s hand, dragging him out of the inn while everyone in the inn cheered them up.

"Congratulations!"

"Share a cup with us when she grants her answer!"

Rhane kept nodding and laughing while letting Jenna drag him.

Once they were outside, he halted. This time when Jenna tried to drag him, she got pulled back, falling on Rhane’s chest.

"You must have lost your bloody mind, no?" Jenna asked, her hands pinned to her front with Rhane’s own.

"My chambers are not enough, Jenna. I want the world to know too," Rhane replied, using his free hand to tuck Jenna’s hair behind her ear. "How deep of a slave I have become for you... and I need no saving."

Before Jenna could reply, Rhane continued.

"You may not own a kingdom, Jenna, but you do rule my heart. Only you. And that makes you a queen." Rhane swiped his finger on her pink cheeks. "My Queen."

"Uh," a soft hum escaped Jenna’s lips. Her entire body melted under Rhane’s touch. She looked down at her feet, then at Rhane’s yearning eyes. "You leave me without words."

Rhane shifted his hand but didn’t let go. "That you love me too? That you can’t stay a moment without me? That you want to live for me as I live for you... that you’re mine. Use those..." His voice trailed.

"We sleep in the same room, you’ve kissed me and even seen my body. What other do you need?"

"Your answer. Your words," Rhane replied, letting go slowly of her hand.

Jenna touched her ear in passing, "Well... I..." She turned around and began walking. "I’ll tell you tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" Rhane followed. "Truly? And why not this very day?"

Jenna turned her head to the side and smiled. She relished how his eyes pleaded. "Tomorrow, Rhane, if your tongue doesn’t run wild again tonight."

Running after her, Rhane wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her up.

"Ah!" Jenna squealed, her voice shaking with laughter. "Release me this instant!"

"I better get you home quick and start acting right," Rhane teased, running with Jenna in his arms in the dark night while Jenna kept screaming out of shock and excitement.