No, that's not it!

  It's expensive!

  Too expensive.

  Images of the inns and animal sheds Tatiana had stayed in before flickered through her mind and then disappeared. Of course, it was obvious that such humble accommodations would cost far less than this place, where just the price of the bathwater could pay for several days in a barn.

  And in some places, if Muel and Tatiana did a little work, they could stay for free.

  This is clearly a rip-off.

  It must be.

  'I should leave now.'

  Although Rafa's intention to spend their first night in an expensive place is appreciated, and it's painful to shatter his dreams, staying here at such an exorbitant price like a fool is not an option.

  There must be somewhere reasonably good and more affordable.

  What's important is not the appearance of the inn but that it’s our new beginning together.

  However, the inn's waitress was not looking at her but at Rafa, leading the conversation in a way that suggested choosing something even more expensive.

  Maybe she thinks Rafa is a barbarian, unaware of the world's ways .

  It makes me angry.

  He may not look it, but he is quite an intellectual person.

  Usually, Rafa wouldn't fall for such tricks.

  But now, he is so exhilarated by our marriage that he seems to agree with whatever the waitress suggests, even asking for more expensive options.

  "..."

  And what about that woman?

  She deliberately presses her arms against her body to make her large chest look even bigger.

  She's even batting her eyes in a coquettish manner.

  Could it be, she's trying to seduce a man who's just married?

  I'm furious.

  Furiously angry.

  It feels like all the fur on my body is standing on end.

  "..."

  Is she trying to seduce Rafa, or has she fallen for him? I glared at her, trying to figure it out when suddenly Rafa's big face filled my view.

  "!"

  I jumped in surprise, and Rafa grinned.

  'His face is scary.'

  His scary expression must mean he's really happy, which made my face turn red without realizing it.

  "Tatiana, let’s go up to our room."

  "..."

  Before I knew it, it seemed like staying at this inn was a done deal.

  Every time Rafa moved, the waitress stole glances at his thick neck and the muscles hidden under his clothes.

  I glared at her as a warning, then followed Rafa up the stairs led by someone else.

  The person guiding us was a plump middle-aged woman who climbed the stairs first, giving a small laugh as she glanced at the waitress and Tatiana.

  Rafa seemed oblivious, but the middle-aged woman’s reaction suggested the waitress definitely had an interest in him.

  Probably physically.

  Feeling a dark cloud rising inside me, Tatiana gasped.

  ‘The biggest reason witches don’t get married is jealousy. Once you start feeling that, it’s very hard not to hate someone.’

  The words of my teacher echoed in my head, and I involuntarily squeezed Rafa's hand I was holding.

  He felt it and looked down at me, adding a bit of strength to his grip as if he was afraid to break me.

  I must be careful.

  Hating someone else is not allowed.

  If I do, I won’t be able to stay by his side...

  With that thought, I looked up at Rafa.

  I had forgotten for a moment because it was unfamiliar, but he too was a witch.

  A novice witch who had lived unaware of his true nature.

  ‘I have to teach him.’

  What a witch should not do, what a witch can do.

  Like my teacher did, I must teach him everything one by one.

  To help him live well in this world.

  ‘I am his wife, and at the same time, I am becoming his teacher.’

  Feeling strange and heavy-hearted, a part of my affection swelled up, increasing my tenderness for him.

  Even if he comes to love another woman, there will surely be another bond between us.

  The relationship between a teacher and a student does not end even at death.

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  With that thought, my heart felt like it was filling with water.

  Tears of joy seemed to flow from my heart.

  ‘... I must love him more than I thought.’

  Unknowingly, very much so.

  Feeling as if I was walking on clouds made of tears, we arrived at our room, where the middle-aged woman opened the door for us and bowed.

  "The hot water and your meal will be up shortly. Please rest in the meantime. May you have a pleasant time..."

  After the middle-aged woman left, only the two of us remained in the room.

  The room was so large it seemed like several of the cheap inn's rooms combined.

  There was a bed on one side, and on the opposite side, a large wooden tub.

  It looked like it was for bathing.

  Near the tub, there were two beautiful partitions.

  Next to the bed, there was a small table and some chairs.

  As Rafa walked around the room, he picked up a garment made of linen from a wooden cabinet.

  It was the first time I had seen such a thing, but Rafa seemed to know what it was.

  He showed it to Tatiana with delight.

  "I didn't expect to find a robe here. I guess that's why it’s so expensive, they have things that other places don’t."

  A robe.

  It was a new concept.

  It was open in the front, giving it a somewhat odd look as clothing.

  It wasn't like a shirt, what could it be?

  I thought it might be sleepwear, but typically both men and women wore long cylindrical shirts for that purpose.

  I used to wear one made by my teacher when I was young.

  I hadn’t worn one since I left home.

  As Tatiana inspected the robe, Rafa came close and whispered in her ear.

  "Tatiana, I'll cherish this. To make you happy..."

  The breath in her ear sent a strange sensation skittering across her skin.

  It was like lighting a fire in her bones.

  Startled, she stepped back, but Rafa held her tightly, making it impossible for her to move.

  "Tatiana."

  His voice was somehow tender.

  A pang went through her stomach.

  Indeed, being a couple is different.

  Even though we had been in the same room as mere companions, the moment we became a couple, our senses changed.

  'That’s why babies are made in bed.'

  If the relationship is bad, no babies are made.

  My teacher had said that when I was young, I really didn’t understand it, but now I think I do.

  If the relationship is bad, these strange sensations wouldn’t be felt.

  The teacher said that a child is conceived when a man and a woman share a bed, but even in my youth, I thought that was a bit strange.

  What if it’s not just a man and a woman but siblings, or what if Muel and the teacher shared a bed? What if Tatiana and Muel slept together?

  Would a child still be conceived?

  No.

  So I thought there was something strange about it.

  But it was too embarrassing to ask more about it, so I just accepted it as it was.

  'But if this is true... Yes, if this is the case, it wouldn’t happen to ordinary people in the same room, only with these feelings.'

  This is how babies are made when these strange feelings are shared in bed.

  "..."

  With that thought, I became incredibly embarrassed.

  I covered my face with both hands, and Rafa laughed and grabbed my wrists.

  "Tatiana, are you embarrassed?"

  "..."

  "You'll have to do even more embarrassing things than this. You really have no immunity to men."

  Rafa’s voice sounded incredibly happy.

  He pulled my hands away from my face, and for some reason, his face came close instead.

  "?"

  Why is his face so close?

  Just then, Rafa did something I hadn’t even imagined.

  Something wet touched my lips.

  It slipped into my mouth, and I was so shocked that my body stiffened.

  Rafa pulled his face a bit away and looked at her with a flushed face.

  "Tatiana, you're supposed to close your eyes when you kiss. It's embarrassing if you look."

  A kiss?

  "Oh my goodness!"

  A kiss?

  The kiss that Muel sang about?

  The thing that makes you feel light and happy, the most beautiful sign of love in the world?

  "This is a kiss, it can't be. No beautiful music is playing, and there’s no lightning in my head."

  Instead, I was so shocked I thought a worm had entered my mouth.

  I muttered without realizing it, and Rafa looked shocked and said softly,

  "A worm."

  "..."

  I'm sorry, but it really felt that way.

  The kiss Muel sang about was beautiful and ecstatic, but this was just wet and unpleasant, like a very large worm.

  Just then, someone knocked on the door.

  "Guests, your hot water and meal have been brought."

  Rafa, too drained to reply, slumped his shoulders as the door opened shortly after.

  A few staff members brought in wooden tubs filled with hot and cold water and filled the room’s bathing area.

  The staff added herbs and dried flower petals to the bathwater, then quietly arranged the food on the table next to the bed and left quietly.

  ***

  A worm... a worm.

  That comment alone shows how pure Tatiana had grown up.

  I was a bit happy about it.

  A woman completely pure, unknown even of the existence of a kiss, was completely my own.

  More precious than a dream to me.

  'But a worm.'

  If only she had described it as a snake instead.

  Though a snake is also an unpleasant creature, at least it’s something.

  A man's pride is at stake.

  A snake is better than a worm, whatever the case.

  But there’s no use dwelling on the shock.

  For shy Tatiana’s sake, I closed the wooden blinds and lit a few candles in the now-darkened room.

  Under the flickering light, Tatiana hesitantly stepped behind the partition.

  The rustling of clothes being removed and then hung up on the partition followed.

  Thump-thump-thump.

  My heart pounded as if it would burst through my skin.

  I wanted to help her wash her back or do something helpful, but Tatiana seemed too embarrassed.

  She shook her head vigorously at the suggestion.

  But after a little while, she would see everything anyway.

  "..."

  No.

  I’m too excited; I might get a nosebleed.

  Blood rushed to my head so much that I feared I might die from excessive bleeding on my wedding night.

  As I counted the splashes from behind the partition to pass the time, it was a long while before she finally finished her bath.

  "Am I doing this right?"

  Tatiana asked, tilting her head as she stepped out from behind the partition.

  She was wearing the linen robe provided in the room.

  The robe was somewhat different from modern ones.

  Perhaps there is a country similar to China somewhere in this world because the robe was designed in an Oriental style.

  It was tied with a thick sash, with no fasteners.

  Naturally, but unlike ordinary clothes, the part from the neck to the chest was deeply cut.

  Bare skin was visible.

  'Wonderful!'

  Maybe I looked too eagerly because Tatiana clutched the front of the robe tightly closed.

  Good.

  Even that look was too much.

  I forcibly turned my gaze away and moved behind the partition.

  I wanted to jump into bed right then, but I wanted to avoid spending my wedding night unwashed after months without a bath.

  Our first night should be a precious memory.

  To keep it a good memory, I pinched my thigh and headed to the tub, but it was too small.

  I'm too large to fit.

  'I heard this was an extra-large size.'

  I had no choice but to wash one arm or leg at a time before stepping out.

  I loosely wore the robe.

  Instead of tying the sash, I held the front closed with my hand.

  Tying the sash seemed like too much of a waste of time.

  Tatiana sat awkwardly on a chair next to the bed.

  She seemed too shy to look up properly but then glanced at me and her eyes widened.

  "..."

  She stared intently.

  At my groin.

  "It's quite embarrassing if you look like that."

  At my words, Tatiana opened her mouth in surprise, then hesitantly asked,

  "Um... Rafa, does it hurt?"

  "..."

  I looked down; the front of the robe was slightly lifted, and my knees and legs were exposed, but there was no sign of pain.

  I involuntarily checked if there was any bleeding or wounds, but there were none.

  Something seemed off.

  I looked up at Tatiana, and sure enough, her gaze was fixed on my groin.

  "Tatiana, do you know how babies are made between a man and a woman?"

  At my question, Tatiana nodded shyly.

  Of course.

  She would know.

  Even if she is naive about kisses, she is of age.

  A bit relieved, she spoke up.

  "Just now, maybe a baby was conceived. We'll know if we sleep."

  "..."

  "I didn’t think a baby could be conceived so quickly, I’m sorry."

  No.

  That doesn't seem quite right.

  'But surely you’ve also been talking about how our mother cut off Muel’s thing...'

  Suddenly, that thought crossed my mind, and I found myself asking without realizing,

  "Tatiana, Muel had his thing cut off by our mother, right? Why were you so shocked then? Why did you think our mother was cruel?"

  Tatiana seemed to recall the event, making a pained expression, and answered very shyly,

  "Well, it's difficult to go to the bathroom without it, you know. Men are different from women. My teacher taught me that the bodies of men and women are different."

  "..."

  No!

  That's not it at all!

  Teacher from Earth, where did you put that excellent sex education?