“Just leave it on the side.”
Ver addressed the maid as she brought in the soup he requested for Prillance, who was not feeling well. He put a finger to his mouth, asking the maid to keep quiet. The maid soon silently left the room.
His gaze turned to Prillance’s dormant figure once more.
He wondered if it was because she was exhausted from traveling for such a long time, for Prillance was sleeping soundly in front of him. Even though he’d said he would stay there until she woke up…
“Aren’t you sleeping too well?”, Ver spoke softly to Prillance, who couldn’t hear him because she was in deep slumber.
But there was infinite tenderness in his eyes. His gaze soon turned elsewhere; it was to her hand that was holding tightly onto his own as she slept.
Prillance, who dozed off after taking the medicine, had woken up a little while ago. But perhaps because of her motion sickness from the sudden trip, she wasn’t able to come to her senses even when she tried to rise out of bed.
“……. I have to get up….”
Contrary to her words, her eyes remained heavy. She knew better than anyone else that she needed to get up, but her body wouldn’t listen.
Her frantic movements, as she turned her body sideways and her arms floundered about, seemed to lack energy in Ver’s eyes.
“Wake up…… I have……to……”
The voice that sounded inebriated with sleep soon disappeared.
Prillance found it hard to move her body even though she knew she had something she needed to do; she unknowingly fell back asleep while thinking such things.
In the meantime, Ver busied himself with tidying her hair that had splayed out while she was moving around.
“It’s okay to sleep a little longer.”
Seeing a defenseless Prillance while she slept in the bed left him feeling both embarrassed and pleased.
Her actions were so lovable that he wanted to see more of her; it was a strange situation that left him happy yet caused a surge of impulsiveness within him.
Prillance felt comforted by Ver’s gentle voice, knowing that he was there by her side as promised. So she held onto one of his fingers on the bed with a pleasant smile.
Ver’s face froze at her action. The peace of mind that he barely managed to bring back was collapsing in an instant.
However, contrary to his agony at that moment, Prillance was oblivious to what she had grabbed onto in her semiconscious state.
“For sure…… five more minutes……”
T/L/N: She sounds like me when I try to wake up in the morning but forever fail…
Prillance’s words, promising to sleep just a little more before waking up, trailed off unfinished. Because it was replaced with the sound of her quiet breathing as she was pulled under once again.
Ver saw her sleeping without knowing how much anguish he was fighting off. He felt a little cross at her obliviousness.
He wondered if she had done this to Duke Tonz, the one she liked, as well. Or perhaps she didn’t see him as a man at all, but even he thought that was ridiculous.
Those thoughts were soon erased little by little however, after he firmly took hold of her hand and watched the reposing Prillance.
His firm hold on her hand felt good; it seemingly told her his need in her.
Her warmth always set his mind at ease.
“At least you haven’t seen this side of my lady before.”
T/L/N: He’s directing that at Roman of course, kekekeke
Her defenselessly closed eyes and those open lips as she breathed lightly caught his eyes.
Ver gently and carefully kissed Prillance’s hand. No, it was more accurate to say it was a feather light touch. It was the least he could do while stifling his longing. He then covered her with the blanket again.
It was a long time afterwards at dawn when he left the room.
* ~~ * ~~ * ~~ *
“Did you rest well last night?”, asked Prillance, as she had a light meal.
Of course, while her voice remained soft, her eyes were watching Ver’s behavior.
“I slept well.”
He was no different from usual- at least on the outside.
Prillance seemed to have misunderstood him, who didn’t say much to her. But Ver didn’t resolve that misunderstanding. He was being a little mean to her for distracting him all day even while she slept on.
“The weather is nice today.”
Ver immediately turned his attention to the sky at Prillance’s words. He could see that it looked a little more overcast compared to yesterday. She also followed his gaze and soon took her words back.
She had said that before she even looked outside but the weather looked worse than the day before.
“It seems refreshing…. It’s nice…”, she added.
Prillance, whose explanation soon withered away, was cute.
“It’ll be nice to take a look around since it’s not hot outside.”
Her adorable image forced him to surrender. Of course, he had no intention of winning against her in the first place.
Prillance had lowered her head in despair and embarrassment. When she lifted her head again at his words, she found Ver smiling with his chin propped on one hand. Those beautiful eyes held a well of affection within them.
“You mustn’t fall asleep today.”
His beautiful smile left her in a daze for a moment before she came back to her senses.
“I absolutely won’t fall asleep”, Prillance replied with her eyes shining while clasping her hands together as if making a pledge.
He laughed again because she looked so lovely. Now, everything she did seemed adorable.
T/L/N: Wow…. is he in the quasi-honeymoon phase already??? lol
“I’ll be going down first.”
When the maids came in to clear away the meal, Ver got up first. He was going to check on the carriage and their luggage one more time before Prillance came out.
“You must have slept well.”
Those were the coachman’s first words as he pulled the carriage up to the front of the lodging.
“Do you think so?”
“Your bright countenance makes you look very happy.”
It was true that he was feeling that way, but he was suddenly struck with a sense of awkwardness upon realizing it.
“Ver?”
It was at that moment when he heard a familiar voice. He turned around to find Cecia standing there.
“What are you doing here?”
Cecia was as surprised as Ver. But she soon found her answer when she noticed the carriage that had come to a stop behind him. Marquis Weiand’s emblem was on the carriage.
He seemed to be traveling with Lady Prillance Weiand.
“Captain, everything else is ready.”
It was Dynno, one of the drivers who were traveling along with them. Ver acknowledged it with a nod and the man quickly disappeared.
“Are you….. on a trip?”
“Hm. Are you on your way to work?”
Unlike Cecia, who was still nervous and shaken, Ver was quickly regaining his composure.
The ‘work’ Ver mentioned to Cecia was referring to the merchant group. It was a common word used between the two when he visited her residence in the past to accompany her on her tasks.
“…… Uhn.”
“On your own?”
Ver looked around Cecia’s surroundings, knowing Ben usually didn’t make her do this alone.
“No……”
Cecia was slightly embarrassed at the unexpected question.
But her lips only moved slightly; she somehow found it strange to say she came with Roman.
* ~~ * ~~ * ~~ *
At that time, Prillance also left the room to head downstairs after putting on light clothing suitable for the trip.
“So it’s true.”
A voice caught hold of Prillance then.
Roman was here. He looked calm as if he knew she would come out.
“Sir Duke?”
Prillance greeted him with a light bend in her knees despite her embarrassment. Nevertheless, her face was full of curiosity.
“It’s been a while.”
“What brings you here?”
“And what are you exactly doing here?”
“Me? I am on a trip.”
Roman’s eyes moved past the lodging’s lobby and landed on Ver who was standing at the entrance.
Roman, who had come out earlier, found Ver talking to Cecia first. From the way he was checking on things, he speculated that this was not a solo trip. Seeing the knights and maids around him only supported this conjecture.
“With Viscount Grant?”
Prillance moved to follow the direction of Roman’s gaze. Ver and Cecia were there.
Embarrassment appeared on Prillance’s face. It was different from how she felt when she found Roman.
‘Why did they come here together?’
The feeling of embarrassment and another strange emotion arose in her mind. Prillance looked on silently before returning her gaze to Roman.
“…..Could it be that… You are going on an inspection?”
The embarrassment on Prillance’s face was now replaced with a look of surprise.
Roman wondered whether she was surprised about the person he was going with or the fact that he was going on one. More than that, he was curious as to how she knew it was an inspection in the first place.
“That’s right.”
Roman’s eyes changed as he answered but Prillance’s mind was elsewhere so she didn’t notice it.
Roman and Cecia set out on a journey after the imperial ball came to an end. It was a commemorative engagement trip under the guise of an inspection. The purpose was to make marriage a foregone conclusion by announcing Cecia as his fiancee throughout the Barua Kingdom.
Naturally, the two hearts gradually grew closer together during this trip to the point where they eventually fall in love.
‘You’re traveling even though the original work has changed?’
Prillance’s eyes grew big in the wake of her surprise. Even though so many things have changed, the story was continuing on its course without pausing. Even now.
This matter left Prillance apprehensive and terrified.
Because the more the two main characters flourished in the original work, the more Ver’s heart was constantly hurt. Yet despite his pain, he couldn’t bury his love for Cecia.
The fact that things were still proceeding according to the flow of the novel may mean Ver will also follow the set ending. If this encounter rekindles Ver’s heart for Cecia and therefore, throws away his reasoning due to jealousy-
Such thoughts inundated Prillance’s head.
Roman watched as Prillance’s expression changed from one to another in quick succession.
‘What caused her to be so startled and afraid?’
While Roman was looking at Prillance like this, he suddenly felt a stinging gaze directed at him. It was a pretty vicious look, one heated with emotions. When he turned in the direction of that gaze, he saw Ver.
“Let’s head down. It seems both of our partners are waiting.”
Roman reached out to Prillance who was lost in thought and she took his hand in an unaffected manner.
It appeared she did this out of old habits as she continued to look introspective.
“Duke Tonz. Lady of Marquis Weiand, it has been a while since we last met.”
“Duke.”
Cecia lightly greeted Roman and Prillance as they came down. Cecia’s eyes were not very friendly, of course. Ver also bowed his head and said his greetings.
“It has been a while indeed, Lady of Viscount Royne.”
Prillance returned Cecia’s greetings though her nerves were all over the place. Ver was standing quite close to Cecia. Her gaze turned a little nervous.
“I didn’t expect to meet you like this.”
“I heard you are on your way for an inspection. Are you planning to stop by Minnippi?”
Ver brought up the story he had heard in his earlier conversation with Cecia.
It was as expected. Prillance’s body flinched minutely.
“That is in the trip’s schedule.”
“May we, perhaps, accompany you?”
Ver’s words surprised everyone on the spot.
Roman knew, of course, that Ver had only wanted to go with Prillance, while Cecia found this utterly unexpected. Prillance was surprised that her foreboding intuition was right.
“I have experience traveling with the merchant caravan of the Royne family as it is, so it may prove helpful.”
Ver followed up with this in response.
“If the two esteemed ladies are fine with it, then let’s do that.”
If it were Roman alone, it wouldn’t be a bad choice to make. The final decision fell on both Prillance and Cecia.
“I’m alright with it.”
Cecia’s decision was also quick. Having Roman and Ver together worried her, but she also wanted to tell Ver what she couldn’t say at that time during the ball.
“I…..”
Prillance found it hard to decide.
The enthusiastic spirit she had when the trip began was now disappearing into a corner. Confusion had now taken over its place.
If Ver was to be included on their trip, then it would not be that much different from the contents of the original work when he had participated as an escort. Despite the changes in the story so far, it seems like the trip involving the three of them will still occur.
She was as worried about their possibly lingering feelings as she was about the flow of the story.
In that sense, Prillance’s answer was, of course, a ‘no’. If she refused, then she would be able to change things just as she was going to do when she first entered this world.
However.
Prillance lifted her eyes and shifted her gaze to Roman first, then Cecia, and finally, at Ver.
“………. That sounds like a good idea.”
Her voice as she forced those words out, half sounded like she was giving up.
Such was how their journey began again, now as a group of four.
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