Cavi woke up with a strong scent of herbs overwhelming his nose that he felt like sneezing.
He saw a woman with a slightly transparent blindfold fabric, applying something on his wound.
"What are you doing?" he demanded, and found his voice hoarse.
He watched her froze for a moment, as if letting the fact that he's awake sink in her mind. Slowly, her cracked lips broke into a bright yet weary smile.
"You're awake! Thank goodness. I really thought something bad happened to you because of me. because if so, then…then…"
Cavi's brows knotted seeing a liquid rolled down her cheeks.
'Was she crying? Because of him?'
Struggling to sat down, he held her by the shoulder and wiped the tears with his thumb. Ria flushed and moved her face away.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cry. It's just…too lonely here… and I don't know the way back to the port…"
Cavi looked around them and found that they're in a cave. No wonder, this girl was cave. It was dark and cold with only a fire burning near them. He could only shake his head.
"You treated me?" he asked, seeing his wounds tended.
She nodded with sniffs.
"Then why are you wearing that?"
"You mean this?" she pointed at her blindfold, making Cavi squint his eyes in frustration. Again. It's just too obvious and she still kept asking; making him get into his nerves.
"Uh, I needed to take your clothes off so I can apply medicine to your wound. I guessed you won't want others to see your body so I covered my eyes with this…" though she said that, Ria actually saw his body already. Though it was on his back. And remembering about it makes her sad about him.
Hearing her explanation, Cavi couldn't help but feel his ears heating up. just how strange was this woman? After she pulled his clothes, embrace him and hold unto him so tightly, now she's acting like a conservative lady?
He looked at his body and indeed, he was half naked. Inwardly, he grunted.
There was a long moment of silence before Ria decided to broke it. "I already finished treating your wound."
Cavi nodded but then, his eyes squinted even more as he watched her groped at the ground, then to his leg and…
He pushed her hand away. His face was feeling too hot. It wasn't normal anymore. but this woman was for sure was the most unnormal person he ever met.
"W-what are you doing?!" he snapped, surprising Ria even more.
"I was finding your clothes so you can put them back on? I remembered placing it here…" the innocence in her tone only made him frustrated even more.
In the whole continent, he was known for being cold and emotionless. Yet, this woman just kept easily making him mad!
"So that's how you treated my wound while on blindfold, too?" he asked. Lips pressing together firmly.
Ria nodded.
A deep sigh was heard coming from the man. He hit hisa forehead with his palm. So that means, she really didn't see his body. But had touched him all over and who know what parts did she even groped at.
Picking up his clothes that was on the ground, Cavi quickly wore it. "Take those silly blindfolds now."
"Ow."
With his commanding tone, Ria took it off and carefully looked at him. Indeed, he's better than days ago when they fell into the water.
Feeling the scrutinizing stare at him, Cavi turned to whoever was making him uneasy. It was those pair of velvet eyes that looked too innocent. Yet, the more he's staring at them, the more she seemed to be drawn at it. like an enchantment…
He cleared his throat and looked away.
"By the way, how many days did I sleep?" he asked, and though he didn't want to look at her anymore, he still glanced. This time, he noticed the dark circles around her eyes. now that he was properly looking at her, she seemed really tired and sleepless.
"It's two days and a night since we fell from that cliff."
'Then she must have been taking care of me for those days without rest and sleep,' his inner voice thought, as if trying to evoke his conscience. Now, he really was feeling bad.
"Two days and a night… then tomorrow is the celebration for the end of Sea Hunt. And it is night outside…"
Though he was just talking to himself, Ria still answered.
"Right. It's night again. Surely, those bats will come back…"
"Bats?" his brows knotted.
"Yes. And not just bats. They're really wild. And dangerous. I think they smelled your blood and want to…uh…you know?" Ria shrugged her shoulders.
Cavi turned to the fire and noticed a lot of sticks and dried branches beside it. maybe she stayed up because she was driving those bats away from him…
'Really…' he thought and again sighed. He couldn't get her. why would she even help him?
"Can you walk?"
"Uh?"
Again, he was annoyed by her; acting like she didn't hear the question though she did. Noticing him creasing his thick eyebrows, Ria immediately spoke.
"Y-yes. Yes. Why?"
"then…" Cavi stood up, making Ria worry that he wouldn't be able to. Yet, maybe, she just thought too much.
"Let's go."
"Where?"
He looked down at her, straight to those bewitching eyes of a child. "Back. To surprise my enemy."
Cavi walked ahead of her but then, he was halted when he felt a pair of cold arms snaking to his left arm. Looking down to the lady, she beamed at him and grinned wide.
'Fine. Since she helped me, I will let her do anything she wants for now. Maybe she's just too cold and she needed my warmth,' his mind thought, and placing his arm over her, he pulled her closer as they walked out of the cave.
Inside Ria's mind, she was confused. Why would Cavi act like he's protecting her when she just wanted to protect him and assign him in case he strips?
Still, she just let him be. It's not like she could afford to offend him. with a personality of a king like him, she would never wish to make him even mad at her.