"What were you thinking, you fool?"
Melrose glared at herself in the mirror. Her eyebrows were furrowed and she couldn't help but ask why she impulsively decided to go with Lord Knight in East Brownsville. Sure, she could not bend her father's word, but if she told him she would see the King, there was no doubt he would immediately abolish the plan.
But she was so annoyed at how Lord Knight taunted her and wanted to get even so bad.
So what if he saw her in a brothel? What he thought of her didn't matter as long as he kept his mouth shut. Now she should just think about how she would survive those few days with him.
Though she couldn't deny how she wanted to laugh when she saw his hard expression because he was obviously expecting her refusal. Did he think she was a pushover? No, she was certainly not.
"It is a good thing you didn't refuse to come with Lord Knight, Mellie. As the future queen, you should have your presence known in certain events like that for you to gain the respect and trust of people. By joining the medical mission, everyone would see your good deeds and think that the King didn't make a mistake in choosing his bride," said Lord Lewis to Melrose the following morning. It was one of those rare occasions that they got to have breakfast together.
Although Melrose knew that his father wouldn't accept a no if he wanted her to do something, she didn't comment and just smiled. "Of course, Papa."
Sometimes it felt weird. Her father only thought about their reputation and what they could gain from something. If not for Lord Knight, she was actually willing to join the medical mission but to help the village people and not for the same reason her father had.
"I know Lord Knight is just the late Princess' son to an unknown man and seemed to be a loyal subject of His Majesty, but still you need to watch his actions. The late King killed all of their relatives who coveted the crown and it has been over a decade since a male relative of theirs stepped foot in the palace. We do not know if Lord Knight has ill motives and is plotting something behind the King."
Melrose's eyes narrowed at her father. Even though she didn't like Lord Knight, she didn't like the tone his father used. Why would he think that way?
Lord Knight seemed to be… harmless, well at least when it came to the crown, and if he was indeed planning something, Vincent wasn't a king for nothing. He was gentle but he was smart and a keen observant. He must have felt it after they talked for several times, but instead he was even entrusting Lord Knight with some affairs of the kingdom.
Melrose had no idea what was happening in the palace but Arianne knew some things in the court because both her brother and father were working for the King and she could easily fish information from them. Besides, most of the things taking place in the palace weren't exclusive to the palace walls. The news, after all, had wings.
The following week, Melrose and Reed together with the people joining the medical mission which would take three days at most, were to leave the town with the royal carriages sent by the King.
Despite being annoyed by how she would have to endure the presence of the lord, the idea that it wasn't only her feeling that way consoled Melrose. Besides, she always wanted to see more of Arden. She wanted to lend a hand to less fortunate people like how she was supporting Vernice Orphanage in secret.
So she better think that this was a good experience for her rather than occupying her mind with non-substantial matters like her annoyance with Lord Knight.
"Ladies first," Reed gestured to Melrose to climb to the carriage coldly. If only she could join others' carriage, she would have done it. But the doctors coming with them seemed to be afraid of being in the same carriage as her. The King also suggested that she ride on Lord Knight's carriage. She had no choice.
Melrose said nothing and went inside. Reed followed shortly and sat across from her, which made her wonder what was worse. To sit beside him, which would grant them a possibility of a physical contact as the carriage wasn't that big, or to sit across from him where she could see his face the whole ride.
But she supposed it was the first one? She could avoid looking at him and divert her gaze outside but they couldn't avoid touching each other with Lord Knight's massive build and the small space between them. She would certainly not like it, neither would he.
Tired of craning her neck to the side, Melrose got the book she brought. She was never fond of reading a book while riding a carriage as the letters seemed to be moving when she read it, but today, she pretended that she was reading just to keep herself from meeting someone's gaze accidentally.
Meanwhile, Reed remained calm on his seat as he kept his eyes outside. But even though his gaze was at the window, he took quick glances at the lady in front of him momentarily. He noticed how her neck turned a little stiff looking to the side for a while now just to avoid the sight of him. He would have said something if she did it longer, but she stopped and started reading a book instead.
Reed wanted to smirk when he noticed something. She wasn't really reading. He knew because her eyes didn't move through the lines, nor did she turn the page after a long minute.
He cleared his throat. "I know you have more guts than other ladies but I didn't know you were bold enough to read such a book in open space, Lady Lewis."
Melrose lost her thoughts when he heard Lord Knight all of the sudden. She met his gaze and her eyes narrowed in suspicion when she saw the taunting mischief in his eyes.
Realizing what he said, she looked at the cover of the book and her lips parted in shock. She almost threw the book! What the bloody hell!
What she was pretending to read all this time was an explicit book!