Sold To The Cruel Pr Chapter 80: Someone Was Listening

Chapter 80: Soone Was Listening

Aveline’s back ached from riding all day.

She had managed only a piece of bread with cheese at lunch, and even that had gone down because she knew she ought to eat, not because she had any appetite for it. She had no idea how soldiers managed to travel for days on horseback. It was miserable. Uncomfortable in every possible way.

If she had known just how punishing it would be, she would have chosen the carriage without hesitation. At least then she could have stretched her legs and escaped the harsh glare of the sun. But now evening had finally begun to soften the world, and she still had no idea how much longer they would have to travel.

"How long?" Aveline asked with a sigh so deep it sounded as though life itself had personally offended her.

Kael rolled his eyes. She had asked the sa thing every five minutes, as if she were a restless child and not a grown woman. What exactly had his liege seen in her?

If he had his way, he could silence her in three seconds flat. He’d tid worse things. With how slender her neck looked, it would not even require much effort. Or perhaps he could at least cast a spell to make her mute.

Unfortunately for him, Kael had also decided, roughly an hour ago, not to speak to her unless absolutely necessary. And now, he regretted ever allowing her anywhere near his personal space.

Whenever he answered one of her questions, she asked another. She talked too much. It was giving him a headache. For a man who treasured silence above all else, she was unbearable. Infuriating. One day with her felt longer than a year of tornt.

He groaned inwardly, feeling as though his soul might leave his body every ti her voice reached him.

Aveline pouted as she didn’t get her answer.

But then, as they rode into a clearing, her expression changed.

There it was.

A town.

And beyond it, in the distance, the city walls.

"We’ve arrived, Hamilton! Look!" Aveline lifted the tiny creature in her hand and showed him the sight ahead.

Relief flooded her all at once. Finally, they had reached sowhere she could get down, stretch, and stop pretending her body was not about to fall apart.

The sun was sinking toward the horizon, and the world around them had taken on a softer, prettier glow. The woods behind them looked almost enchanted in the fading light, while the small town below, with the city walls rising behind it, seed like sothing painted by a drear.

"The city gates will be closed for the night," Kael said. "We can enter in the morning. We will stay in the town tonight."

"Yay!" Aveline brightened instantly.

A proper stay. A warm bath. A soft bed. A chance to stretch her legs without feeling as though she might snap in half.

Hamilton, who had not been admiring the scenery at all, was only watching her face. And because she was happy, he was happy too.

They stopped in front of a tavern.

Only then did Aveline realize sothing very important.

"I do not have money. I should stay sowhere else," she said, and all the relief that had just blood in her chest vanished at once.

Theron had truly left her this ti.

If he had been with her, she would not have needed to worry about money or rooms or food. But now she had only Kael, and Kael did not look the sort who enjoyed being reminded of simple necessities.

"I will pay," he said.

He had no idea why she looked so crestfallen over sothing so small. He already knew she had no money. He had brought her here, had he not? Was she really only realizing this now?

"Really?" Aveline’s eyes brightened imdiately. "Once I am paid, I will return everything to you. I promise."

She even gave him an exaggerated bow.

Kael’s brows twitched.

Paid? She was going to the academy. How exactly was she planning to earn anything? Still, he could not be bothered to argue. If spending a few coins ant one quiet night without listening to her complain every few minutes, then it was worth it.

"Whatever," he muttered, and walked into the tavern, which was far more extravagant than she had expected. Rich rchants stayed here, that much was obvious.

Aveline looked around in awe.

Greenvale must have been incredibly wealthy. Everything was polished and fine, from the carved wood to the silver plates the food was served on. Even the air felt richer sohow, as if luxury had seeped into the walls themselves.

After a small al, she went to the bathing area... Only to stop at the entrance.

It was a common bath.

Aveline took one look and turned right back around.

On her way out, a maid stopped her and asked why she was not bathing.

Aveline gave an awkward little laugh and said she was not used to sharing a bath with other won. That was not entirely a lie. With her scars, and with her flat chest, she could not bring herself to stand naked among strangers and pretend not to feel exposed.

It wasn’t the strangers that stopped her. It was the thought of being seen and asured.

So she returned to her room instead.

It was spacious enough for her alone, and she let Hamilton out onto the table.

"I was wishing for that bath, Hamilton..." she murmured, resting her forehead against the wood with a defeated sigh. "But how can I? And I am craving sweets too. Where am I supposed to get those? I have no money. That Spider does not even seem to have a sweet tooth."

She poured all her small sorrows into Hamilton as if he were the only one in the world who would listen without judgnt.

But sohow she didn’t tell Hamilton how much she missed Theron now. He had doted on her so much that she never had to lant about anything.

But she needed to get over him.

Hamilton, now no larger than a garden lizard, listened with the grave devotion of a god being consulted on mortal suffering.

Unfortunately, neither of them was divine enough to make the things they wanted appear.

But sowhere nearby, soone was listening... and already deciding what to do with her.