Chapter Text
You and Hitoshi both shared a carriage while Chimi took the next one which trailed behind yours. According to her the two off you needed 'some alone time'. Despite the fact that she was correct, you desperately (and discreetly) begged for her to join you. This interaction would have felt awkward as is but now with the added tension of you snapping at Hitoshi, it made the atmosphere feel worse.
You begrudgingly walked to your carriage and opened the door. Hitoshi had definitely heard your presence but refused to make eye contact with you. After what you did, you understood his attitude.
"I bought you some sweet potato since you shared some with me last time." You offered him the steaming good.
He scrunched his nose in annoyance but accepted it anyway.
"Thank you."
You both were in a stagnant silence, neither of you wanting to break it.
You decided to take the initiative. "About this morning-"
"It wasn't that big of a deal don't worry about it."
"But I want to. We are married and I cannot allow my saltiness to ruin it. I don't want this marriage to end. I still mean my apology, regardless of whether it's a big deal or not"
For some reason, hearing you say this made Hitoshi feel hopeful about the two of you.
After painstaking few seconds, Hitoshi finally looked up and gave a small smile.
"I will make sure that in the future anything important is moved to a later time. And that I will not be the one to wake you."
You scoffed at his remark but the smile on your face still remained.
"Fine I suppose you have come up with a valid solution. Thank you Hitoshi."
He looked away for a few seconds not wanting to give way to his surprise at how quickly your bickering dispersed.
Hitoshi reached out his hand expectantly and said "Well can we get to our carriage now?"
"If we have to!" you reply sarcastically.
It was unanticipated how quickly you were able to act comfortably around Hitoshi and he appreciated the sentiment greatly. Likewise it allowed him to showcase his own propensity.
The carriage ride lasted an approximate of 3 hours. For you, it was mostly spent gazing outside thinking of how Hitoshi will eventually inherit this as crown prince to future king and how you shall remain at his side to help rule such a vast and unfamiliar land. In between your prolonged admiration for the wonderful rural area the carriage was passing by, you wanted to brush up on some demon history via a book gifted to you by Chimi :A short History of The Akuma Kingdom. While the book was intended to be a work that would give a foreigner the vague insight of the kingdom, it greatly helped you as an introduction to demon life in general.
General information sifted into more detailed as you learnt of the folklore and tradition held in the North-west and South-easterly citadels and some big towns of the kingdom. This was expanded by the learning of what was universal in demon public and it was deemed as a successful part of the read by you. After finishing the light book, you took note of the author's name and made sure to ask Chimi for more material from the woman you just read from.
For the entire 3 hours that you busied yourself in, Hitoshi too decided to read the novel he was reading beforehand. With your avid appreciation of the beautiful landscape, he subconsciously felt inclined to flaunt his knowledge of rural life in the Akuma kingdom and why farmers were greatly respected for their craft.
You diligently absorbed every detail you could of what Hitoshi told you. For reasons unknown to him, he swelled with pride that his constant study of his kingdom's culture was of use to you and that you somewhat liked listening to him speak.
The carriage slowed to a halt as you were informed of a pit stop in a port town.
Hitoshi got off first and gracefully gave you his hand for you to come down as the carriage rider stood watching the crown prince steal his job.