"You've got blood! Are you bleeding?! Shit, let me see!" Liam pulled away from the hug as he spotted some blood on her dress and her trousers, wondering why she was already wearing pants when she had been wearing a gown earlier.
"I'm really fine, I just got some minor bruises that you don't need to fret about." She said as she chuckled but after looking at Liam's darkened face, she immediately shut her mouth as she didn't witness Liam getting mad about something.
Besides, it's not her blood though so she's having trouble whether she'll tell him the truth or she has to lie, a believable life for him to trust her and not to push the topic further.
"Minor? Do you call this minor? God damn it." He cussed, "Forgive me for acting brazen, Felicia." He added, making her act confused. Why would he apologize when he didn't do anything wrong—
"Liam! Take me down!" She suddenly gasps as Liam scoops her up, carrying her like her weight didn't matter and goes inside the carriage that he was riding earlier. Her eyes went wide, feeling embarrassed about his sudden actions.
Her heart is acting weird, it keeps on beating hard, like drums being used.
As soon as Liam placed her on the seat, he then closed the door and started to look for something underneath the seat and Rachelle just looked at him, perplexed with his behaviour.
"What's the matter? I told you, I'm fine—"
"Keep acting like a brat and I will worsen your wounds. You are not fine, Felicia. Don't tell me what to do and what to act." He firmly said, glaring at her which made her shut her mouth once again.
Okay, he's clearly mad at her. But for what?
"Alright, I apologize..." She muttered, looking away while her cheeks flushed faintly. Why was he acting so sassy when she was okay?
"What happened? Tell me, Felicia. I am not dumb for you to deceive." He asked, his voice then turned into something soft as he looked at her, eyes resembled like he was begging her, to tell the truth.
"What do you mean?"
"It's clear that this blood isn't yours. Because if it was, then it would've looked like you're wounded, your dress was torn apart and blood dripping out of you. But no, this blood clearly is from someone else." He assessed, opening up the medicine kit that was hidden under the carriage seat.
Felicia was surprised but not shocked to the point that she should threaten him. She knew that he was too smart and she could never lie to him, knowing that he'd figure everything out in the blink of an eye.
She sighed, contemplating whether she'd tell him or not. Although it may bring the two of them closer and possibly she could gain an ally with him, however, there would be constant problems that he will encounter if he knows the truth.
The church might approach him and put him in a difficult place which she didn't want to happen. Either way, knowing how smart he is, he would use the information he got from her, blackmailing her or using it for his benefit.
She's wary of him, it's not that she doesn't trust him, but rather she's afraid to speak and tell, it will put her on a dangerous path and may disrupt her plan if ever.
Liam, witnessing she was silent and cautious, sighed and just cleaned the wound on her feet. She must have been running without her shoes for her to have these wounds over her feet.
"Alright... That was very rude of me. I'm sorry for forcing you but if you don't want to tell me anything, it's okay. I understand, Felicia. As long as you are fine and well, then I am well too." He comforted her, smiling at her as he wrapped each foot with a gauze.
Felicia who flinched at hid words felt a nudge on her heart, tugging it as warmth spread within her. She could tell that he was being sincere with those words that he uttered. He wasn't lying or showing fake concern.
He was being true to her.
"Felicia? Why are you crying? Did I unintentionally hurt you? I'm sorry, I won't do it again I swear. Please stop crying, it hurts me to see you cry like this." He suddenly said as he began to wipe her face.
What? She's crying? Why?
She brought her hand to her face, her fingers brushing on her eyes to confirm her suspicion, and indeed she was crying. Her tears were rolling down her cheeks, and suddenly feeling like some boulder was lifted on her shoulder.
Yet the question remains as to why she was crying. Because she swore that it was not her who was crying, why would she cry over some words that touched her whole being?
"I'm not crying... Some dust just fled in my eyes." She lied, pushing away his hands as she wiped her face immediately. Liam just chuckled at her response, his hand then slowly pulled her hand, entangling their fingers together as his eyes remained on her, staring deeply into her green eyes.
"Felicia, if it's hard for you to carry all of your burdens, then please know that I am always here, ready to carry your burdens with you as well. Because I care for you more than anyone else in this world. You're not alone." It was genuine, and so was the smile across his face.
He was being optimistic, his words filled with the sincerest emotions carried. He was the first man who offered such a thing to her, the first man who refused to hear the rumours behind her.
"So don't be sad anymore and just rest there, I'll take you back soon, safe and sound—"
"An assassin was sent to me from the Holy Church." She suddenly opened up, cutting off Liam who suddenly froze on the floor. Seeing his reaction, it seemed that she had caught him in unexpected news.
"W-what? How could that be?" He asked but then he suddenly shook his head after realizing his words came out of his mouth. "No, I'm not trying to doubt you or make you feel offended. It's just that it's hard to believe that someone from the Holy Church will send an assassin to kill you and for what reasons might be." He added, shaking his head.
He remained in disbelief in which Rachelle held no control over it. Of course, the nobles are siding with the Holy Church as they have been long manipulated by the church and its evil associates so technically she can't blame Liam for his doubt.
She then took out the necklace that she got from the man's body earlier and gave it to Liam, as proof that she was being hunted. "It's not just the first assassin that tried to kill me. I had the first assassin attack me back at the Dukedom." She added, shocking Liam who didn't expect this revelation.
"WHAT?!" He expressed his great shock, his eyes wide open, his mouth gaping wide. Holy hell! Who would do such monstrosity towards her when she didn't do anything wrong?!
"Why would they target you? I'm aware of the fact that you and your family have had no harmony whatsoever since the beginning but really? Sending an assassin? That's too much!" He exclaimed.
"How did you know that it's one of my family members who did such a thing?"
"Other than anyone else, aren't your family acts very vindictive or purely evil around you? Especially the Duke's wife. I still remember the moment I was called within the Duke's office and she continued to harass your name so I did what I did." He reasoned out, calmly.
Rachelle nodded her head, he's highly perceptive as well. As expected of the next in line Marquis, there's no flaw within him that could be used as an attack.
"You're very keen aren't you, Liam?" She praises him, letting out a chuckle while Liam just smirks at him then he lets out a sigh while putting the medicine kit back underneath the seat and taking a seat in front of her.
"I know... Handsome too. But back to our topic, why would the Holy Church and the Saintess' mother target you when you've done nothing wrong? Have you told the Duke or Alexander at least?" He asked, crossing his arms around his chest, invested with the story.
"I didn't. Why would I tell them when I'm still very cautious around them? I can't just tell them about what happened because they will not believe me." She answered, shrugging her shoulders while looking out.
"And I know the reason why they are targeting me, especially the holy church." She answered, her eyes then went back to him as he stared at her with curiosity piquing on his eyes.
"Tell me." He said, "If you're comfortable to share, that is. I'm not forcing you to do something that you don't like." He added, trying not to sound so domineering with her.
"Right... Just promise me that you won't tell anyone else, because if you do, I will personally kill you. Just like what happened to my assassins who tried to take away my life and failed miserably." She threatened him, her aura changing into a threatening one which made Liam swallow a lump in his throat.
Whatever it is, he swore he wouldn't tell anyone.
"It's not hard to keep a secret, Felicia. Please don't think lowly of me." He teases but tells the truth that he can keep whatever secret she has to share with him.
After looking into Liam's eyes for a while, trying to check if he really was telling the truth, she nodded her eyes as she held the ring on her finger, slowly removing it from her finger and wished for it to turn into a sword.
The carriage was then caught in a blinding light, making Liam close his eyes, blocking the light emerging from the ring that Felicia removed from her finger. Soon after the light was dismissed, he slowly opened his eyes and saw something that truly rocked his whole existence.
"The sword of Kartara..."