" Didn't you tell me that you're not going to take part in bride-choosing competition?."The man said with a smile in his voice which was full of sarcasm.
Amira wasn't given a chance to explain to her grandma who the man was because he spoke before she could even jolt her mind back to reality.
Amira sucked in the tight air when she heard the man's question, her lips curved into a stiff smile as she tried hard not to show the nervousness on her face.
"Are you waiting for a carriage?" The man asked immediately, acting as if he didn't ask any questions in the first place.
Lady Serena frowned even more when she heard the man's questions. On the other hand, Amira heaved a sigh of relief when the man stopped asking her those embarrassing questions.
She didn't know how to answer him. It's not that Amira joined the competition because she wanted to be one of the royals, neither did she want be the crown Prince's bride or the future queen of Wylan kingdom.
It's circumstances that made her decide to join the competition. If it were up to her, she would never want to get associated with those blood-suckers.
"Yes, we're waiting for a local carriage."Amira nodded her head gently as her lips curved into a smile.
"I think it'll take a while before we find one."Amira shrugged her shoulders slightly since she didn't know how long it would take to get a carriage.
She somewhat blamed herself for staying at the castle after the crowd dispersed.
"I can give you a ride if you don't mind."The man shifted his eyes from Amira to Lady Serena who was looking at them awkwardly.
Amira turned her head gently to look at her grandma. She nodded her head to the old lady, exchanging silent words which no one could understand.
"Thank you for your kindness, Mr."Amira said with a tired smile on her lips and they walked to the carriage.
Amira and Lady Serena looked at the man in confusion when they peeked inside the carriage.
"I'm sorry ladies."The man scratched his head awkwardly.
"There's no chair in my carriage because I use it to transport my goods to the market."He explained briefly and Amira nodded her head in understanding.
Lady Serena was the only person who didn't understand what the hell was going on because she didn't know what Amira and the mysterious man were talking about.
"It's okay. We can just sit on the floor."Amira said with a smile on her lips and turned her head to look at her grandma who nodded in agreement.
Amira knew that it would take a while to get a carriage because it's in high demand, and people who are coming from the event are using it.
"Really?" The man asked with slightly raised eyebrows, not convinced by Amira's words.
Erasing his doubts, Amira nodded her head to confirm what she had just said earlier.
Amira and Lady Serena climbed the carriage and made some space for themselves on the carriage floor.
______
"Wake up sleeping beauty."Lady Serena tapped Amira on the shoulders gently to wake her up when the carriage stopped, reminding them that they needed to alight.
Amira had fallen asleep during the carriage ride since she was exhausted from the challenge. Lady Serena allowed Amira to rest her head on her shoulder because she knew that the poor girl was tired.
"No..."Amira groaned as the old lady continued to tap her on the shoulders. Amira wanted to sleep some more, she couldn't bring herself to wake up since every muscle of her body was aching because of the horse ride.
Amira didn't know that it would be that tiring to ride a horse for five kilometres. The furthest distance that Amira had covered using a horse was three kilometres.
"Hello, is everything alright?"The man peeked inside the carriage with creased eyebrows.
"Yes, everything is fine. Thank you for caring."Lady Serena said as they stood up from the carriage floor, a small smile flashing on her lips.
_____
"Thank you for your kindness." Lady Serena said with a smile on her lips. She was grateful to the man even though she didn't know him
"Don't mention it."The man said with a smile on his lips. Lady Serena could tell that he was not a bad person even though they didn't get into a deep conversation about knowing each other better.
"See you in the next round."The man shifted his eyes from Lady Serena to Amira who looked at him, embarrassment evident on her face.
The man turned around and walked to his carriage since he was running late and he was heading to the market to sale new goods.Amira and the old lady watched the carriage disappear.
______
" Do you mind telling me who the handsome man was?" Lady Serena asked her granddaughter as they walked inside the wooden house.
Lady Serena's voice was full of sarcasm. Amira sat on the bamboo chair lazily and looked at her grandma with slightly raised eyebrows.
"Don't tell me you already have a suitor and yet you decided to take part in bride-choosing competition."Lady Serena said as the corner of her lips curved into a mischievous smile.
"Grandma, don't be paranoid," Amira said with a tired voice, rolling her eyes playfully.
"I can't help it dear."A small sigh escaped Lady Serena's lips as she sat on the old couch across from Amira.
"How can I not be paranoid when none of you explained to me what was going on between you two?"She asked with a raised eyebrow.
"No one cares to tell me what has ever happened between the two of you."Lady Serena winked her left eye at her granddaughter and chuckled in amusement.
"Grandma…"Amira called in almost a whisper since she couldn't believe that the old lady had naughty thoughts about the relationship between her and the merchant.
"What?"Lady Serena said with a raised brow,"Explain it to me then."She shrugged her shoulders slightly.
Amira heaved a sigh and it was silent inside the wooden house for a while before the girl opened her eyes to explain.
"That man is a merchant," Amira said, she paused and laid back on the bamboo chair.
"He was the one who sold those fibres to me. The fibres that you sent me to buy to the market two weeks ago." Amira explained briefly. Lady Serena nodded her head in understanding.
" How did he know that you're among the contestants who are participating in the bride-choosing competition?"She asked with slightly raised eyebrows.
Amira's face flashed into seven different shades when she recalled how embarrassed she was when the merchant asked her the question.
"I asked him about it when I heard two girls talking about it."Amira scratched her head awkwardly, a smile creeping on her lips when the memories that she wanted to forget badly clouded her mind.
"I think that's why he remembered your face even though many days have passed by."Lady Serena nodded her head in understanding, her lips twisted in amusement when a mischievous thought popped into her mind.
"Are you sure the handsome man doesn't have a crush on you?" Lady Serena asked once again as she looked at Amira with doubtful eyes, the corner of her lips curved into a naughty smile