With trembling eyes, Talia examined his face, which bore traces of faint fatigue.
Judging by the Grand Duke of Siorcan's attitude, perhaps Varkas's position itself was unstable.
While she had hidden herself away inside her room, he must have driven himself relentlessly to secure his place.
Her mouth suddenly went dry.
If Aila had come here instead, she would have rolled up her sleeves for his sake.
Displaying the leadership and dignity she had been born with, she would have helped strengthen his position.
He would never have had to ask for something like this.
After a proper wedding night, the two of them would have naturally continued their married life.
Talia bit her lower lip.
One self-destructive thought gave rise to another.
How would Varkas have treated Aila?
He was patient even with her, someone he had once growled at like an enemy. Surely he would have been even more gentle with Aila.
Just as he constantly found opportunities to touch her, he would have touched Aila without hesitation.
Talia could clearly imagine Varkas caressing Aila's cheeks and ears, wrapping his arm around her waist.
In her imagination, the two of them did far more than that without the slightest hesitation.
The more she thought about it, the more her heart burned.
Roughly pulling her hand from his grasp, Talia turned her face toward the window and struggled to suppress her turbulent emotions.
“Do whatever you want.”
Heavy silence settled between them.
She wanted to see his expression.
But somehow, she was afraid.
Resting her elbow on the window frame, Talia pretended to watch the cavalrymen.
Soon, accompanied by the resounding blast of horns, the carriage began moving.
Talia cautiously leaned out the window.
As the carriage passed through the gates, vast plains stretched before her.
Violent winds swept across the grasslands that touched the sky.
Watching the prairie gradually turning ocher, Talia stole a glance at him.
Varkas, too, was looking out at the fields.
The brilliant white sunlight cast dazzling backlight over his face.
A strange emotion tightened her chest.
In this unfamiliar and beautiful land, she would have to spend time with him.
Would she be able to protect the walls she had only just managed to build?
* * *
Lucas swung the reins without restraint.
It was his first ride in nearly a week.
Neglected for several days and furious because of it, Turgan snorted harshly and galloped powerfully across the grasslands.
Lucas could feel the stallion's taut muscles rippling beneath his thighs.
Rising in the stirrups, he let out a loud whoop.
The dry wind scraped roughly across his body.
It felt unbelievably refreshing.
“Do not leave the formation!”
Tyron shouted as he rode beside him.
Lucas looked over with dissatisfaction.
“What's the problem with this much?”
“I barely managed to get permission for you to come along under the pretext of teaching you how to conduct yourself as a retainer! If you keep acting however you want, what will become of me?”
Clicking his tongue, Lucas pulled on the reins.
After finally calming the excited horse, Tyron slowed down and drew closer.
“As I told you before, Young Master, you will be serving as His Grace's squire for a while. Don't stray too far from the carriage.”
“You just don't understand. I'm doing this for my brother's sake.”
Lucas spoke sarcastically.