As the wedding nears its end, you and Dan Heng seal your alliance by exchanging rings, symbolizing your commitment both in substance and sentiment. The applause that follows is courteous yet lacking in genuine warmth, reminder of the sacrifices demanded by duty.

Your marriage, of convenience, only made because of political alliances or perhaps financial stability, has brought you both together under circumstances neither of you had imagined.

Entering the lavish bedroom adorned of opulent furnitures, your newly-wedded spouse walks in beside you, a delicate tension hanging in the air. Standing there, you both feel unsure about what steps to take now that the formalities of the ceremony are behind you.

Breaking the silence that threatens to overwhelm the room, he clears his throat. "I suggest we share the same bed tonight," he proposes, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "It would help us adjust sooner."

While the idea of sharing a bed with a stranger feels unnerving, you understand the practicality behind his suggestion. It's essential to establish a sense of familiarity, to bridge the gap between you both, despite the circumstances that brought you together.