Drops of water gathered in his hair, ran down his straight forehead, and collected at the corners of his eyes.
Despite the moisture clinging to him, his gaze felt dry as ever as it settled directly upon her.
“How is your leg?”
Talia's lips twitched.
The way he paid excessive attention to her leg irritated her.
Gareth's mocking voice echoed in her ears.
You've gained your place beside him for the price of one leg.
She chewed the tender flesh inside her mouth.
I know.
I know that.
Then why do you keep reminding me?
“It's attached just fine, so stop worrying about it.”
At her irritable retort, his eyes narrowed slightly.
Avoiding that sharp gaze, Talia turned toward the window.
But wet fingers immediately turned her head back.
“I asked whether you're in pain.”
His hard voice made her shoulders stiffen, but only for a moment.
Talia violently slapped his hand away.
“If I say I'm fine, will that make you feel better?”
“......”
“Well, what a shame. There hasn't been a single day since then when it didn't hurt.”
Staring straight into his mask-like face, she spat the words out like a wasp firing its stinger.
“So stop scratching at me with pointless questions. You're annoying.”
The warm, soft lips that had touched her earlier pressed together coldly.
She had silenced him with cruel words, yet it was his silence that strangled her.
Talia nervously bit her dry lips.
Still, coldness was preferable to pity.
Ever since her leg had become like this, that lukewarm kindness people showered upon her was more horrible than anything else.
Trying to hide her unease, she deliberately snapped,
“Why aren't we moving? Are we spending the night here?”
After staring at her for a moment, Varkas turned and lightly knocked on the carriage wall.
Soon the sound of reins cracking rang out, and the carriage slowly began to move.
Through the fogged-up window, Talia gazed at the rain-soaked garden.
The unfamiliar scenery, which had never once become her home, slid past beyond the blurred veil.
As she stared blankly at it, her body suddenly lifted into the air and soft cushions pressed against her back.
Startled, Talia looked ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) up.
After laying her down across the spacious seat, Varkas reached behind the backrest and pulled out a cloak embroidered with the crest of the Roem Knights.
He spread it over her.
“It will be a long journey. Try to get some sleep in the meantime.”
Talia reached out to throw it aside.
But Varkas was faster.
Grabbing her hand, he pinned it down onto the seat.
Then, looking down into her eyes, still clouded by the lingering effects of the medicine, he threatened her in the rough tone he had occasionally used in their teenage years.
“Stop being stubborn and go to sleep. And quit making people uneasy with those unfocused eyes.”
Startled by his threatening tone, Talia instinctively shrank back and pulled his cloak up over the bridge of her nose.
Watching her silently, Varkas let out a tired sigh and returned to the seat opposite her.
For some reason, she felt like crying.
Burying her face in the fabric carrying his scent, Talia closed her eyes.
At some point, she must have fallen asleep.
Noticing that the rattling carriage had come to a complete stop, Talia pressed a hand to her throbbing forehead and rubbed her stiff eyes.