The coachman waiting in a humble carriage parked on the side of the road across the town's square was beginning to wonder what took his master's guests so long.
He had been ordered to wait at that place for Marquess Vandross and Sir Lucaz, but the two hadn't arrived yet even after two hours of waiting.
He scratched his head not knowing what to do. He wasn't informed of what to do if the guests didn't come. Should he leave already and just tell the lord that no one came? But he immediately erased the thought, afraid to earn his master's anger.
He invested himself to wait longer.
Fortunately, after an hour of his extended waiting, the knight and the marquess arrived. But his forehead creased in confusion after seeing a third person, carried by the marquess in his arms.
"Let's leave immediately." The marquess spoke, stepping inside the carriage opened by the knight.
The coachman hurriedly climbed on his seat, while the knight silently sat beside him. He gulped at the grim expression of the man beside him, and immediately made the carriage roll on the street.
His hands were sweaty and all he muttered to himself was to arrive at Adri's mansion quickly.
Meanwhile, Kyden's party received a warm welcome from the townspeople. They didn't even return from war, but some even cheered for their arrival. He ignored the onlookers, while his gaze landed on the black horse ridden by Sandra. His mind instantly thought of Mona and her companions.
With that, he made Frost walk faster without bumping anyone and felt annoyed at how the crowd on the street was packed. But once they entered the royal road leading to the mansions and townhouses in the capital, he felt relieved and made his horse run faster.
He thought that maybe Mona had arrived at his house already.
But unfortunately, arriving at the front gate and hearing the guard's answer to his question, his face darkened at the news of their carriage still not in sight.
Clucking his tongue, he looked back at where they came from.
"I'm sure they will arrive soon, your grace." Said Lionel after seeing his master's hesitation to enter the gate. "They were on foot after entering the capital, it'll take time before they reach the square."
"I know," Kyden answered and looked ahead. It was stupid of him to think that they'd arrive before him, but he still believed since she was with the marquess. A wind manipulator. He could have used his magic since Mona's body is beginning to accept other magics unlike before.
He sighed dejectedly and thought that the marquess must have thought it was risky. They entered the gate and the servants greeted them.
"We greet the master of Adri!" Shouted them while bowing.
He waved his hand, dismissing their greeting so all the servants went back to their work, while an old woman remained.
"Welcome back, your grace." She said and smiled at him. Waiting for his orders.
"Prepare my room. And clean the room next to mine."
"Yes, your grace."
"Take care of them as well." He pointed at his companions, weary from travel, before whirling away.
Some of the guards at the mansion took their horses and led them to the stable house. While the knights and the two ladies were escorted by the servants to their room. Only Kyden remained at the entrance, looking beyond the closed gates.
He decided to wait at the entrance.
"Do you plan to wait here, my lord?"
He looked at his side and found Sandra looking at the gates as well. He thought the woman already left.
"Do you also feel anxious?" She asked again.
Shifting his gaze back on the road again, he answered, "Do you?"
"A bit. Honestly, I don't know what she'd been through here. I only heard rumors. But still..."
"Still, it's a terrible memory."
"Yeah." She coughed and added, "...my lord."
Kyden ignored the maid's forgetful act to address him politely, and just focused on the street. With every carriage that passed by, he hoped it was the one ridden by them.
But two hours have passed already. His last remaining patience to wait longer snapped and he clenched his fist, ordering Sandra, who was beginning to look worried as well, right away.
"Call Lionel."
"I'm here, your grace," Lionel answered quickly.
"Prepare the carriage."
"It's done." The captain replied, gesturing at the carriage parked behind them. "I was waiting for your order. I was actually surprised your patience could last two hours."
His brow twitched and glared at the guy while cursing himself inside. What was with him that he waited patiently anyway? He waited for fucking two hours. What if something happened in the two hours that she wasn't with him? How could he be so lax?
He shouldn't have trusted the marquess!
But then he remembered Mona reminding him not to cause commotion and to wait for them patiently before they parted ways.
"Relax, your grace. She's with the Marquess and Lucaz. I'm sure nothing serious happened."
Kyden felt annoyed upon hearing Lionel. But he could not refute his words for he knew how dearly the two men held Mona in their hearts. He was annoyed that he wasn't there with her. He ran his fingers on his hair frustratedly and sighed again.
Kyden rode the carriage, one with the official insignia of his family. Immediately after settling himself down, Lionel sped it. The carriage rolled on the royal road quickly, and with the sign of the house of Adri, every carriage on the way moved aside instantly.
Not long after, just about passing the townhouses owned by the lower nobles, the carriage halted and Lionel jumped down. Kyden too, went outside immediately. Knowing that they probably met on the way.
Upon seeing Lucaz with a grim face and the terrified coachman on the box seat, an unpleasant emotion crept within him. His face darkened and without waiting for them, he almost tore open the carriage door and looked inside.
"B-Brother-in-law!"
Ice crept from the door he grabbed and quickly enveloped it. It crept above and formed stalactites reaching just above the marquess' head.
On another occasion, Kyden would have felt proud to be called like that by his woman's brother, but not now that he's seeing his beloved slumped in his brother's arms and unconscious.
"Listen! She's just drunk!" The panic-stricken voice of the marquess registered in his ears. He was holding his sister carefully in his arms as if trying to protect her even from him.
"...what?"
Luven scratched his forehead and answered, "She got drunk accidentally."
His answer earned a death glare from Kyden. How could someone get drunk accidentally? Moreover, he was with her. Why did he let his sister drink 'accidentally'?
"I'm telling the truth. We were held back by something at the commoner's street and hid at a pub for an hour."
Kyden heard the marquess' explanation but ignored him. He doesn't have time to listen to his excuse. He quickly stepped in and snatched Mona. Then, went out and slammed the door on the marquess' face who was trying to follow him.
Turning his head at the trembling coachman, he said darkly, "Send the marquess back to his own home."
"Hey!"
But he ignored him again and went inside his carriage. He laid Mona down on the seat gently and used his lap as her pillow. What the marquess said was true, since he could recognize the strong smell of alcohol from her.
His mood gradually changed and the unpleasant feeling disappeared.
"What the hell did you even drink?" He murmured as he combed her dark hair away from her sleeping face. He even chuckled seeing her cheeks so red, and his gaze remained at her pinkish lips.
He should not do what he was thinking, but like a fool entranced at the beauty in front of him, he too stared with an intense desire to reach the enchanting beauty. Before realizing his own actions, he already bent down and placed a soft kiss on those glossy lips.
The taste of alcohol seeped on his own, and it made him drunk for a completely different reason.
He immediately straightened his body and looked outside the window. He scolded himself for taking advantage of a drunk person.
"Marsh....lows...gimme..."
He turned his gaze to her again, after hearing her mumble something.
Was it Marsh…mallows? Kyden thought. Trying to comprehend her sleep talks.
But his ears reddened when he saw Mona nibbling on her lips like munching on something, plus the addition of slick sounds she was making made him more distressed.
He averted his gaze and cursed under his breath. Trying to keep his hands away from the unconscious woman on his lap.
"Damn it."
He wished to arrive quickly.