The corridor echoed with their voices and light footsteps as Circe and Nieah made their way down the long hallway. The late afternoon light filtered through the tall arched windows, casting patches of light across the stone floors. They were locked in a quiet conversation when the sharp sound of hooves striking stone pierced the air.
The discussion petered out as the sound got even closer to the manor.
Circe froze and just like that her heart gave an involuntary lurch, the kind that had beco far too familiar these past two weeks. Recently, it happened whenever she heard horses entering the estate.
Each ti she rushed to check to see if it was Ragnar returning but it was never him and she couldn’t tell if the feeling that followed quickly after was relief or disappointnt.
She hadn’t seen or heard from him since he had left for the capital almost two weeks ago and every ti she rushed to look out of the nearest window to see if he had returned, her feelings got even more twisted. It both confused and annoyed her in equal asures.
After what her father had made her endure growing up, she had vowed that no man would ever make her feel this unsteady again. Not even Ragnar was allowed to make her feel this way.
But her feet refused to move. Circe didn’t even know when she had stopped walking.
Nieah paused when she realized Circe was no longer beside her. Her brow furrowed slightly as she turned.
"Your Highness?" Nieah called softly.
Circe didn’t answer. She was already standing in front of the nearest window, drawn by that sound like a moth to fla. She leaned forward, eyes searching the courtyard below.
Her stomach fluttered as she watched him stop at the courtyard and climb off his horse.
Nieah moved towards her without a word to the window to see what Circe was staring at so intensely.
"Ah," Nieah murmured, a knowing sound escaping her as she caught sight of Ragnar. She understood imdiately when she spotted Ragnar there.
She then glanced at Circe whose lips were pressed into a thin, stubborn line as she followed Ragnar’s movent with her eyes.
A few seconds passed where neither of them spoke. Then Nieah decided to break the silence, her tone light but teasing.
" Do you want to go down there and say hello?" Nieah asked.
Circe blinked in confusion, trying to understand why Nieah would even say sothing like that.
"What? Why would I do that?" she asked sharply, though her gaze never left the window. She watched as Ragnar handed the reins of his horse to the stable hand with a quiet word.
" No reason. I just thought you would want to." Nieah said innocently but there was a hint of mirth in her tone as she spoke, a fact that completely went over Circe’s head as she continued staring at the window.
Right then Circe was almost too easy to read but Nieah knew that she wouldn’t like it if she ntioned anything of that sort.
Circe either didn’t hear the amusent in her tone, or pretended not to.
" Have you seen Rowen anywhere?" Circe asked, effectively changing the topic to prevent Nieah from seeing how much her suggestion had affected Circe.
Nieah smiled faintly, sensing the deflection. "I think I saw him heading toward the courtyard with Kostia a while ago."
Circe already knew that, of course. She had seen Rowen earlier from her window, walking between Kostia and Casilo.
She hadn’t minded. Over ti, Rowen had grown close to the two of them, and in return, they had brought him into their fold by spending ti with him, teaching him swordfighting, and treating him like a younger brother.
One of Circe’s deepest fears was failing Rowen, not doing enough to give him the upbringing he deserved. She had done her best for nearly nine years, but so days the worry crept in that her best might never be enough.
Rowen was still a boy, one who needed to be surrounded by people who could guide him, challenge him, and give him new experiences. People he could look up to. She would never stand in the way of that, not when Kostia and Casilo had willingly stepped into roles where their father and older brother had once fallen short.
Circe turned from the window just as Ragnar disappeared from sight around the corner of the courtyard.
" Co then, let’s go." Circe says, already resuming her walk down the corridor.
Stunned, Nieah quickened her steps to catch up with Circe.
" But your highness, I thought you said you didn’t want to go see him." Nieah argued but it didn’t stop her from coming along.
"Of course I don’t," Circe replied too quickly. "I only want to check on Rowen. He’s been outside for a while, I just want to make sure he hasn’t hurt himself."
Nieah only humd in response. The sound was soft, but it carried enough knowing mischief to make Circe’s shoulders stiffen.
"What is that supposed to an?" Circe demanded, glancing back at her. She sounded almost defensive even though she had no reason to be.
"Your Highness, I didn’t say anything," Nieah replied, quickly schooling her expression before Circe saw the mirth dancing in her eyes.
Nieah gave her an innocent look which would have been convincing if it wasn’t for the way Nieah’s lips twitched at the corners.
Circe narrowed her eyes at her. "No, but you humd."
Nieah held on to the innocent look on her face even though it was getting increasingly harder to do so with every second that passed.
" Am I not allowed to hum?" Nieah asked, tilting her head slightly.
Circe huffed, glaring straight ahead. "Forget it, then."
Nieah followed beside her, doing her best to hide her grin.
Because for all of Circe’s denial and stubbornness, Nieah had caught the look in her eyes just monts ago when she spotted Ragnar in the courtyard. Her eyes had brightened ever so slightly, a subtle flicker that couldn’t be faked.
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