Ever since that night, the distance between her and Vlad was like that of plains and the sky, she rarely spoke around him and asked for nothing, flinching when he approached.

Days turn to weeks, and weeks to months as they fell greater apart each day. He knows why she fears him now, but he struggles to admit his faults, his pride too great and his masculinity too fucking fragile.

She was sitting in their chambers when he approached, he sat beside her on the edge of the bed, one hand reaching to cup her cheek. She turned away and scooted back, "don't touch me..." She mumbled.

Shock hit his face, How dare his wife not want his touch?! "Darling, why do you hide from me?" Vlad questions, he knows the answer, but he's too prideful to ever apologize for his actions. "I'm your husband, i demand you tell me why you've been behaving like this!"

She flinched when she raised his voice and tears began to well in her eyes, "Y-you yelled at me and accused me of being disloyal a-and acted as if I had no gratitude for all you've given me!" She wailed.

His gaze softened as he reached for her hand, he knew this was why but he had been too prideful to say it. "I'm sorry, my love... I never meant to hurt you so..." He whispered into her hand. "Your apologies aren't enough! Y-you proved to me that you d-don't trust me!" She shouted, he'd wounded her, she felt like he was only pretending to love her for his own pleasure.

As tears fell from her eyes he stood up and knelt before the bed, taking her hand once more, "I only worry because I see how beautiful, how kind and sweet you are... I'm fearful that you'll grow tired of me, and that another man will covet what is mine," he explained, before kissing her hand.

"I-i know you only worry because you love me, Vlad, but it still hurts... I trust you with every bone in my body, we swore before god and man that we'd forever trust one another..." She spoke, her tears beginning to slow down. She sniffled and sat a bit closer to his kneeling frame.

"Forgive me, my darling, for I am ashamed of how I've made you feel... I should know by now that you would never stray from me..." He spoke, looking up at her with pure adoration, and perhaps shame. "My dear, such shame fills my heart, I have doubted you and wounded our love so, I beg your forgiveness, darling." He added, standing up and pulling her close, wrapping his arms around her.

"V-vlad... I forgive you..." She mumbled into his shoulder as he began to rock them both side to side, one hand gently rubbing her hip. "I love you sweetheart," he spoke, "like the sun and moon love one another, how the stars love the sky, how sea loves the shore... You're my everything..." He whispered in her ear.

"Oh Vlad I love you..."