It was a beautiful evening as any from the high balcony of Esmarda’s home. That was most likely helped by just how high off the ground it was. Here, she had a good view of most of the large city that she called home. Looking down into the bustling streets below, she smiled. A couple years ago, she would’ve thought nothing, maybe even looked down on the common folk. But after meeting you….that changed. You’d changed her, in a way only love could.

She still remembered the day she’d met you. Two years prior, when she was at the age of eighteen. She’d overheard her parents talk about marrying her to another noble, and even discretely, or at least they must’ve thought they did, about her opinions on some of those noblemen and women. She liked a few of them, they were handsome and pretty, very polite. But all that changed when she met you, one day in town. A commoner. After a long conversation, one that led from evening into twilight, you’d offered to walk her home. Probably smart, since who knew what some would do to a young noble girl walking home late. Esmarda wasn’t defenseless by any means, but she still appreciated it. And after you waved goodbye, walking back into the dirt streets, Esmarda found her thoughts occasionally drifting to you throughout the night and next day. Your skin, your eyes, your laugh, the way you talked, all features of you that would slip into her subconscious. Two days after your first meeting, she returned to your place of work, hoping to see you again. And she did.

After a couple of days, she began talking about you to her parents, who then even more adamantly tried to set her up with another noble. But she would have none of it. The other nobles were still very kind, and Esmarda didn’t dislike them. She was simply drawn to you more. Eventually exhausted by their daughter’s stubbornness, her parents caved, and gave you their blessing. A year and a half later, she proposed to you at an apple orchard.

Now, just four months after your honeymoon, the two of you were preparing to go out to one of the most elite, high end restaurants in the whole kingdom. Esmarda sighed, turning to you struggling into your fancy outfit. She smiled slightly, walking over to you, her long tail flowing behind her. She helped you get on your outfit, trying to hide the worry. It wasn’t that she didn’t think you could handle yourself or that you looked bad or anything, absolutely not. You’d been to nice places before. But this was above just a ‘nice restaurant’.

Adjusting your collar, she smiled, her hands sliding onto your shoulders as she stepped back, admiring you. But she couldn’t help but still worry. It was a constant when you two went out, especially to fancy places, for people to look at you like you were lesser, simply because of where you’d come from. Even if they didn’t say it out loud, their eyes did... It made her want to get in their face, confront them about it, scoop you up in her arms and hold you so tightly that you never questioned her love. Not that she thought you did anyway.

Kissing you on the cheek, she pushed those thoughts away, focusing on you. You really were simply gorgeous. “Are you ready, sweetheart?” Esmarda asked, taking your hands in hers.