We were nearing and I could feel it. The excitent of finally reaching the destination I had dread of was rushing into my body.
The houses of the residents could be seen and the residents were appearing more in numbers. A wide smile stretched on my face as I realized that, finally, we were close to the capital, very, very close.
"You see to be very happy, my lady." The rchant comnted as he watched with keen eyes. "I must say, what a beautiful smile it is."
I lowered my gaze as my cheeks heated up. "Thank you, sir." I used a royal term making him arch a brow in return. "What?" I giggled and watched him too. "You look at like I am a. . ."
". . . A Princess." He finished. "For you, your quick wit, your eternal beauty and just, everything about you, is Royalty."
"What royalty?" I tilted my head at him.
He laughed a bit before saying, "Because, for a villager like , Royalty is out of reach."
So was I, I realized. I was supposed to be out of his reach, his sight, and even his thinking but here I was, in front of him, laughing along and blushing profusely like a lovesick woman.
I looked away from him quickly. His eyes would hold captive again and I did not want that.
My feelings were irrelevant.
********
"We cannot thank you enough for your help. The journey has been trendously easy because of you." Gemma, on behalf of you, thanked Chiara and the others.
rilyn and I smiled in return. My eyes caught Lara and I smiled at her before saying, "Thank you for the proposal, Lara. We would have not reached here quickly otherwise."
She blushed and muttered, "It’s alright."
"Well then," Gemma smiled and nodded to them, "We must take our leave."
Chiara smiled back and we moved to gather our bundles. Mine was in his carriage and I have to move and stand next to him to retrieve it.
I walked and simply took my bundle in my own hands but it did not sit right with that after he had done so much for us I should at least thank him instead of ignoring him and walking away.
"Thank you, Tristan," I said. "The journey has been wonderful because of you as my companion."
He smiled and his eyes twinkled. "Yes, the sa could be said for as well. Thank you for accepting the offer presented by Lara even though I know that she can be very persuasive in getting what she wants."
I laughed at the thought. "Poor She, she could not even sit next to due to the injury she faced at the beginning of the journey."
He smiled widely at that but then it dimd. "What about you? What are you going to do in the capital?" He asked. "Are you eting soone?"
I nodded. I did not have a particular answer but yes I would be eting quite a few people.
"Would have ti to et with as well?"
My eyes snapped to his and I breathed in shock. What? "What?"
He nodded. Thankfully we were at the back of a carriage so no one could see us.
"Yes, I am asking you if you would have ti to et with after you have finished eting with the people you wanted to et."
My eyes lowered to the ground for a mont realised that he was right all along. I was a liar.
"Maybe," I smiled at him. This ti my expressions along with my smile were fake. "If it allows I would love to et you again."
It? It was everything.
He nodded in return and pointed to the manuscripts he had the characteristics about the abducted children in. "Whenever we et again and if we both have a few monts to spare I would love to talk to you about what I have found about these abductions."
My mood soured at that. I had forgotten that he had more details than I did and if I would to begin then I would take years to reach where he had already.
"Perhaps, two days from now we could schedule a eting about it." I offered. "I would love to know what you have found and would love to give my input on as well."
He nodded with attention. "A good bit of it. But I am still nowhere. Which is one of the reasons why I have reached the capital hear people happen to know a lot more."
Ah, that’s good enough. I have at least three weeks with which was twenty-one days. These should surely be enough with Tristan’s help to reach sowhere.
"My lady?"
I looked at him imdiately as he addressed . "Yes?"
"Are you not interested in talking to ?" He asked bluntly and I just stared at him having no idea what to say.
"No, no," had I not been engaged to soone else I would have loved the idea of being courted by him. "It’s just —"
"Layla!" rilyn’s shout reached my ears and imdiately turned away. I could not have been more thankful to her for this. She ca closer and looked at the two of us.
"Sir Tristan," she gave him a slight bow, "I wanted to personally thank you too. If fate ever wills it, we shall et again and I would pay."
Tristan laughed at that and I admired it. It was rich and unadulterated of any arrogance or pride. He seed to be genuinely happy.
"I am afraid I would not let that happen. I would never let a lady pay."
rilyn laughed at that and I could see a blush forming.
That’s it.
"Well, we must go back to Gemma. She is waiting." I smiled and nodded at him in farewell. His eyes held a knowing look but of what, I didn’t know.
Who cares? We were never going to be et ever again.
"Clear the way!" Soone yelled and we all looked, "The Second and third crowned princes are coming!"
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