On seeing the King of Darkshire, she instantly froze where she sat. Merely by hearing his voice next to her screamed nothing but danger.
Intimidatingly, he pushed away some strands of his dark hair which fell on his face, staring right into her eyes, and she quickly averted her gaze to the floor.
Before Genevieve comprehended what was happening, with one swift move, the king of Darkshire entered into the carriage, instantly shutting the door.
She flinched from the thud, her eyes widening in panic.
Subconsciously, Genevieve started inching away from him, to the other end of the carriage. She pressed herself tightly to the edge, wishing there was more space where she could adjust to.
Seeing her actions on his arrival, Maximilian's lips curled in amusement.
"When did you suddenly become a cat, Genevieve?" The King's voice questioned. His gray eyes observed the girl who was now trying to make herself one with the seat. "Are you trying to run away from me?"
Without daring to look at him, she quickly shook her head. "N-no, M-milord."
"Of course, you can't run away from me. You can't run away from the villain." He villainously declared. The notorious smirk on his lips remained visible.
Genevieve knew he was right. Being enclosed in a carriage with no way out, except for a small window which she could barely stick her head through, she knew she was stuck with. However, she never dreamt she was going to be riding in the same carriage as the king.
At his sudden arrival, she could already feel his suffocating aura cloud her senses.
"I-I didn't know w-we would be riding in the same carriage, Y-your M-majesty." Her hands clasped, nervous sweats started to form on her face.
But then, she heard the king comment sardonically.
"I had no idea you intended on walking to Darkshire by foot. Or were you planning on riding with the Coachman, Genevieve?
She gulped at his reply, docilely shaking her head.
Maximilian's lips twisted. How did this naive thing think he would give her the luxury of riding alone when he had many interesting things in mind for her?
"Of course you're my bride, Genevieve. You ride with no one else but me." he stated in such a possessive way that made her heart beat skip.
Slowly, her eyes looked to the window, seeing the large castle standing tall before her eyes. She sighed inwardly.
Today, she was finally leaving here, yet after all the years she spent there, it never felt like she belonged there. She only had Sarah on her mind, hoping the woman would do fine in her absence.
But Genevieve, being so engrossed in her thoughts, didn't realize when the horses galloped and the carriage started moving, making her lose her balance.
Genevieve tried to maintain her balance, but it was too late, and she found herself already falling. But in the next moment, a strong arm suddenly held her left shoulder, preventing her from such a disastrous fall.
"Such a clumsy act," he commented with a click of his tongue.
When she turned beside her, she saw the king retracting his hand to his side. He had saved her. However strangely, his gentle hold contrasted his personality.
Yet why did the king save her? Wasn't ye the most ruthless man on the continent? Or maybe he was trying to act concerning, only to kill her off when they arrive at Darkshire.
However, little did Genevieve know that the king before her wasn't someone who pretended. He didn't whatever he wanted, damning the consequences.
When his eyes narrowed at her, snapped out of her thoughts.
"T-thank you, Your Majesty." she quickly uttered, averting her gaze again like a scared rabbit.
"What for?" Maximilian threw an oblivious look.
"For s-saving me from f-falling." she responded.
His head titled, with mirth in his eyes. "Are you sure about that, Genevieve?"
Genevieve stilled. Could the king have heard her thoughts about him pretending to care?
"I hear your noisy heart beat. It doesn't seem to suit your gratifying words." he uttered, making her internally sigh.
She, however, said, "I-I'm s-sorry, Your Majesty."
"You have a very interesting way of apologizing for unnecessary things." Maximilian commented sarcastically, tearing his sharp gaze away from her.
When Genevieve once again looked through the window, the castle was now tiny in view. The carriage continued to drive past countless number of houses and trees…and she got to see places she had never got the opportunity to explore while living in the castle.
Her freedom to move about had always been restricted too. The king seldomly let Genevieve out of castle. He didn't want many people to know about her shameful identity.
When the carriage had driven very far away from the castle, they arrived at an area filled many villagers who were nothing but noisy to Maximilian. However, when the villagers sighted the carriage passing by, they all paused to give a curious look. Who wouldn't?
"Curious foolish peasant." Genevieve heard the king remark, breaking the silence.
She somewhat frowned internally. Contrary to her chaotic life, these people seemed so happy despite being poor, and she wished to switch places with them to find her solace.
"They are not foolish."
Genevieve thought she had said those words internally, not until the king responded. "Are they? Only foolish people stare at a seeming danger and feel unbothered by it."
Of course, he was right. He was certainly dangerous. But that saddening part was that, she was stuck with him.
"You're right, Genevieve. You're stuck with that danger." the king read her thoughts.
"I know." She sadly murmured.
When Maximilian leisurely put his on the carriage headrest, he involuntarily shifted nearer to Genevieve, but that mere actions ignited a lot of conflict in her heart.
Once again, he noticed her tightly pressing herself again the carriage edge to move away from him, but he didn't let her successfully do it this time.
His eyes narrowed at her, "Stop doing that Genevieve,"
Hearing his warning tone, she quickly stopped, obediently. Her fists clenched on not knowing what else to do.
Genevieve looked back at the villagers, to prevent her mind from being on king, which was inevitably for a short time.
The streets were filled by an unending line of people. Mothers and daughters were dancing happily to the tune played by the village musicians.
Their happy moments made her remember her past desires.
Back then, when Genevieve discovered her dead mother was a maid. She always dreamt that if her mother were to be alive. They both would have left the castle, spending time together and doing countless interesting things.
Apparently, her wishes were never going to come true, and it saddened her. When the carriage passed by the villagers, her thoughts instantly died down.
But Genevieve could never have imagined the horror waiting for her, when she looked at the king to see him roughly pull out a dagger, staring straight into her eyes.