Yes, Movira’s movements showed almost no hesitation.
She naturally leaned forward and used two fingers to pick up the cake piece that had fallen on the ground.
Then, under Seraphina’s disbelieving gaze, she placed it directly into her own mouth.
The action flowed smoothly, as if she were merely retrieving something she herself had dropped.
Movira chewed slowly and deliberately, as though savoring some rare delicacy, then swallowed.
She lifted her eyes and saw Seraphina, who looked as though she wanted to shrink into a ball.
Movira tilted her head slightly, wearing an innocent expression that made Seraphina’s heartbeat skip half a beat.
“This isn’t dirty.” Movira’s voice was steady. It seemed the only thing she cared about was whether it was dirty or not, not whether it had passed through Seraphina’s mouth. “Wasting food isn’t good. Isn’t that what you keep telling me?”
Seraphina felt her cheeks burn hot enough to fry an egg.
Movira’s words left her speechless. She had no way to refute them.
Yet the meaning was completely different! That was something she had already eaten, and it had fallen on the ground… How could Movira just…
Movira watched her look so ashamed she seemed about to burst into flames and revealed a satisfied smile.
She still had no intention of dropping the topic, however, because she wanted to test exactly where Seraphina’s limits stood after the guidance at noon.
She leaned forward, closing the distance between them. “As for the fact that you already ate it… I don’t think it’s a big deal. After all, we’ve done far more intimate things together. Compared to that, this bit of indirect contact is really insignificant, isn’t it?”
Seraphina of course knew what the other meant by “more intimate things.” Whether it was last night or this noon… both made her mind go “buzz.” She didn’t dare respond at all and only wanted to hide herself again. Her gaze darted about in panic, unsure where to focus.
As long as Seraphina did not show rejection, this reaction only made Movira bolder. She dared to probe further.
She pressed the advantage, using a deliberately naive yet clearly teasing tone to counter, “Oh? Do you really think… that something like kissing would be ‘lighter’ or easier to accept than sharing a piece of cake you’ve already eaten?”
Her voice then lowered into a devilishly seductive whisper. “Then… if you truly think that’s the case, why don’t we compare them more clearly? Shall we relive that ‘more intimate’ thing right now? Hmm?”
“You… you wouldn’t dare!” Seraphina exploded in an instant. She hurriedly scooted to the farthest corner away from Movira while slapping her hand over her mouth. Her voice came out trembling with shame and anger through the gaps between her fingers. “I… I absolutely will not do… that kind of thing with you again!”
Yet even as she said this, Movira did not think so. Not only did she refuse to retreat, she advanced rapidly. Everything happened so suddenly.
Their noses were almost touching. Warm breath brushed against the back of Seraphina’s hand. “Really? But your eyes are telling me you don’t seem so certain!”
As she spoke, she reached out and, one by one, pried Seraphina’s fingers away from her mouth.
Seraphina struggled a few times in vain. The difference in strength was too great. Even her body betrayed her mind’s commands and went soft. She could only watch helplessly as her final “line of defense” was dismantled, revealing lips that trembled slightly from tension.
The other woman’s face rapidly enlarged in her vision. Her own panicked expression was clearly reflected in those eyes. Seraphina’s heart began to pound wildly. When she tried to raise her hand again, it was firmly locked in place!
She closed her eyes in despair. Her eyelashes trembled violently like dancing cicada wings as she put on an expression of “calmly facing execution,” ready to be slaughtered.
But the expected touch never came.
Time ticked by second after second. The only sound in the carriage was her own breathing.
Seraphina’s taut nerves gradually relaxed. She felt her hand being released by Movira as well. Doubt replaced panic. She cautiously opened her eyes a sliver, then fully.
Movira had already returned to her original position and was now smiling at her, her face full of the pleasure of a successful prank.
Seraphina maintained her curled-up posture for a few seconds before realizing she had been completely played. A wave of humiliated anger surged to her head. Her cheeks puffed out in fury, making her look like a hamster stuffed with nuts as she pointed at Movira.
“You… you!” She wanted to curse, to throw every harsh word she had ever known at Movira’s head. Yet those words circled in her mind and, when they reached her lips, refused to come out. In the end they only transformed into a single complaint that carried no intimidation at all and sounded more like coquettish whining. “You big meanie! You big, big meanie!”
Movira could not hold back her laughter. The low sound echoed through the carriage. She looked at Seraphina and simply found her adorable. She reached out to rub the top of her head, only to have it angrily swatted away.
“I’m telling you! Don’t touch me! Not ever again!” Seraphina twisted her body so her back faced Movira. Even her shoulders shrugged up and down from anger.
Seraphina herself did not know what she should do now. She only knew that Movira had made her angry, yet… it didn’t seem like she was truly that angry. She secretly glanced toward Movira’s side, her heart quietly hoping Movira would comfort her somehow… She wasn’t even sure what she wanted, and she didn’t dare face her directly.
Before long, the carriage stopped once more. This time the stop lasted especially long. The noise outside clearly grew louder, as though an argument had broken out.
A very troubled voice sounded. “My lords, this is truly a direct order from above. All passing vehicles must undergo inspection. You understand, after what happened in that town last night… it’s for safety’s sake. Please…”
“Presumptuous!” A rough, arrogant rebuke cut the man off. It was probably a knight belonging to the royal family, yet his words were extremely unpleasant. “Open your dog eyes and look clearly! This is the royal crest! Do you think the people sitting inside are the sort you filthy scraps are qualified to inspect?! If you delay important matters, chopping off your dog head won’t be enough compensation!”
“My lord, Sir Knight, please calm your anger!” The soldier in charge of the inspection even carried a crying tone. “I’m only following orders. It’s just… I don’t dare disobey…”
At that moment, Dekalorin’s voice came through via magic. “The person in charge of this pass is a fool profiting from national disaster! Using the excuse of the town attack, he’s collecting a one-silver-coin tax on every passing vehicle. One silver coin! That’s enough for an ordinary household’s monthly expenses!”
Movira heard this and replied without the slightest concern, sending her voice back through magic. “Just give it to him. Wasting time stuck here is pointless! Don’t tell me you’re so poor you don’t even have one silver coin?”