"Is it even okay to undress, completely? Should she keep some sort of gown on? Will it offend her that I to want to see her with nothing on? Will it offend her to see me with nothing on? Should I wear a robe?"

"Artemis?"

"I really want to see all of her, but will she want to see me? And if can only share a bed with her to procreate, does that mean we can only do it when she is in estrus? Can't we--" he babbled, but fell silent when his father placed his hand on his dark head.

"Son," he said, calmly, "you are panicking. Calm down, take a deep breath and let's start again."

Obediently, Artemis complied with his much wiser father and took a deep breath...then another, and another. When he had sufficiently restored his composure, he looked at the emperor with anticipating eyes.

"Better." Kosuda said, approvingly, patting the young prince's head, ruffling his black hair. "Now, as to your sleeping arrangements, you will continue to reside in your bedroom and she will be given one of her own. Since neither of you chose one another, additionally forcing to occupy a shared space devoid of any measure of privacy, would be cruel.

"She is living in a new place, grand and imposing. The palace is not at all what she is used to. She is from the country and is used to living a much simpler way of life. The opulence of a literal castle on a hill, is the farthest thing from an ostrich ranch in the countryside. She will need to get accommodated and that will take time and patience. You cannot rush this sort of thing.

"Knowing, or rather, seeing the girl that she is, it's unlikely that she will choose to sleep at your side, let alone allow you to have her, sexually. That level of intimacy will have to come, later."