Seraphina draped on her cloak, deliberately raising the collar a bit higher to cover it.
Without even looking at Lina, she walked straight outside, her steps appearing steady, but only she knew her legs were so weak it felt like stepping on cotton.
At the outpost gate, Movira was lazily leaning against a carriage far more luxurious and spacious than the one they arrived in, like a noble young lady out for a picnic.
Seeing Seraphina approach, she hooked a smile that made the other tremble, her gaze intentionally or unintentionally sweeping over the high collar.
“The matters here are mostly handled; the hardships of this border really aren’t suitable for the delicate Your Highness Seraphina to stay long.” Her voice was still sweet, “Come back with me, my dear… Seraphina.”
Seraphina lowered her eyes, deliberately avoiding Movira’s gaze, only giving a few low-voiced instructions to the hurriedly arriving Bask about precautions for the black land and requiring him to write reports to her regularly.
She could feel her voice was a bit unsteady, carrying an imperceptible weakness.
Bask respectfully accepted the order; after last night’s battle, he had completely changed his view of Seraphina, his respect gradually shifting from Movira’s reasons to heartfelt.
At the same time, he saw the exhaustion in Seraphina’s eyes, carrying a trace of worry as he acknowledged her command.
Movira seemed very satisfied with Seraphina’s submissive yet forcibly spirited appearance, taking the lead to step forward; under the morning sunlight, those long jade legs appeared so alluring.
As if specifically for Seraphina to see, since she was the closest to Movira.
After boarding the carriage, Movira turned and extended her hand toward Seraphina, “Come.”
Seraphina looked up at Movira’s sweet smile that seemed free of any impurities, inwardly cursing “affected”!
Of course, in the end, she still took that hand. The cool touch from the fingertips made her tremble slightly.
“Mmm!” Just as Seraphina’s other foot was about to step onto the carriage, the wooden board under her foot seemed to eerily flicker for a moment, and then her body became unsteady, falling straight into Movira’s embrace.
“Oh my, dear Your Highness Seraphina, how could you be so careless?”
Careless?!
Before seeing Movira’s face full of smiles, Seraphina didn’t believe it.
“Despicable, disgusting, vulgar, shameless!”
Feeling the resentful curses from the girl in her arms, Movira’s smile deepened even more; in her ears, this far surpassed Seraphina’s surface coyness.
And the people below, whether knights, outpost soldiers, or Bask and Lina, without exception all turned their gazes aside, afraid of ruining this momentary beautiful scene.
After steadying herself, Seraphina ignored Movira, pushed her away with one shove, and entered the carriage alone.
“Quite tsundere… but I like it.”
Movira looked at Seraphina’s back, murmuring in a voice the other could hear.
And the other, as expected, deepened her shame.
After her, Lina was also signaled to follow, sitting in the relatively outer position in the carriage compartment.
The space inside the carriage was very large, the decorations extremely luxurious, laid with thick soft carpet.
Movira naturally sat in the most comfortable main seat, which was separated from the other places; if she sat alone, half the space would still be empty.
Then she patted the empty spot beside her, signaling Seraphina to sit.
Seraphina originally wanted to choose a seat a bit farther away, but under Movira’s uncompromising gaze, she could only stiffly move over, sitting as close to the edge as possible, trying to create some distance.
The two sitting together in the main seat was just right, yet under Seraphina’s deliberate actions, a gap was forcibly created between them.
The carriage began to move steadily.
However, not long after starting, Movira seemed to casually suddenly extend her arm, wrapping it around Seraphina’s waist, gently pulling the slender and stiff body into her embrace.
“Ah…” Seraphina let out a short exclamation, instinctively struggling for a moment, but was held even tighter.
“Don’t move.” Movira whispered in her ear, her breath enveloping the sensitive tip of her ear, “You look very tired; lean on me and sleep for a while.”
Lina was sitting right across, trying her best to minimize her presence, her gaze falling on the desolate scenery outside, but the corner of her eye could clearly see the ambiguous scene opposite.
Seraphina was completely encircled in Movira’s arms, her cheek forced to rest on the other’s shoulder, her body tense, full of reluctance.
“I’m tired… and it’s all your fault!” Seraphina glared fiercely at Movira, her words gradually becoming bolder, for some reason…
She was both ashamed and annoyed, wanting to break free, but the exhaustion from nearly a sleepless night and the gradually onset dizziness came in waves like a tide.
The slight swaying of the carriage was like the most fatal lullaby; her eyelids didn’t lie, growing heavier, her brain gradually unable to think.
“Clearly… even lying in bed I couldn’t sleep…”
Though she was very unwilling to admit it, the sweet fragrance wrapping around her from Movira also gave her a moment of peace.
The force from the arm was domineering, yet strangely brought her an… irresistible drowsiness.
The strength to struggle gradually faded, her tense body also slowly softening.
“Movira… you damn thing…”
Seraphina didn’t know if it was sleep-talk or conscious as she murmured this, then fell silent.
Movira pretended not to hear, only lowering her head to look at the quiet sleeping face in her arms, her fingertips gently combing the stray hairs on Seraphina’s forehead, the action carrying an almost doting possessiveness.
Lina偷偷 glanced over, seeing the posture of the two, her heart a mix of emotions, and finally silently shifted her gaze away.
…
Seraphina woke up in a warm yet oppressive restraint.
Before her consciousness fully returned to her body, she first sensed the surrounding environment.
It was no longer cold hard walls, but a soft and elastic touch, enveloped in a familiar fragrance that pulled her into sinking like the finest poison.
She suddenly opened her eyes, and what met her gaze was the black fabric embroidered with dark gold patterns right before her.
As well as the subtly undulating curves beneath the fabric, her cheek pressed tightly against this softness, even able to feel the steady heartbeat beneath.
Memories surged like a tide: the carriage, Movira’s embrace, and the irresistible exhaustion.
She had actually fallen asleep in Movira’s arms! In this place she considered very dangerous… fallen asleep?!
The carriage had probably long stopped steadily, and even Lina was nowhere to be seen!
A rush of hot blood instantly surged to her head, Seraphina’s cheeks exploding red, almost burning.