Oriana rubbed her eyes again and again. Why was she suddenly seeing things? Was it because she barely had enough time to rest? She bowed again, "I present the chest to you."

Adric chuckled, "I already accepted the first time."

Oriana gulped, her heart beating very fast. Why was her mind trying to play tricks on her? This wasn’t the time for it. She was too tired to be frustrated. Why was she suddenly seeing Adric? Just why? She asked herself.

"Um... I know you can’t contain your happiness after being saved, but we need to get down quickly; this is not my carriage," Adric remarked. "You know, be a little faster with processing the emotions and everything. Before that, let me hold this. Thank you," he took the chest from Oriana.

Oriana finally raised her face. "What are you doing here? Oh, heavens," she closed her eyes.

"Do you mean thank you for saving me from marrying an old man who already had numerous wives and would have killed me if he found out that-"

"Don’t!" Oriana cut him short. "Don’t complete that, I beg you. And oh dear Lord, what are you doing here?" she cried.

Adric hummed, "Taking responsibility. It would be sad to know that you got killed because you-"

"Shh! Don’t complete that... please don’t say anything else, ever. In fact, I’ll do the talking," Oriana leaned closer, using her hand to cover Adric’s mouth. When she realized how close she was, she cleared her throat and moved back.

Oriana inhaled deeply, then she sat on the other side of the carriage. "First, I didn’t ask for you to help me or even take responsibility. We agreed that day was just me paying you back, and we also agreed that we wouldn’t cross each other’s paths."

"Quick one, you only agreed without my consent," Adric chirped, receiving a glare from Oriana. "Go ahead."

Oriana bit her lips; she was already stressed as it was. "I don’t know what happened or how you ended up here. Please just leave," she said, moving her face away.

Adric exhaled, stretching his body a little. "When you’re ready, remove those layers. We are leaving with a horse; I wasn’t able to prepare our carriage."

Oriana glared at him, "Did you not hear me? I said leave."

"I don’t appreciate your tone. It’s not how you speak to your husband," Adric fired, with a glint of mischievousness in his eyes.

Oriana scoffed, "You must be dreaming to think I’ll ever be your wife."

"That makes two of us. You must be dreaming to think that you wouldn’t," Adric replied. "Giving you time to process your emotions before we leave. Don’t make me use force."

Oriana fumed; she would never be married to someone like Adric. It was better for her to spend her life as a slave. "You wouldn’t dare. On my life, I will never be called your wife. It’s better I live a life where I’m held hostage."

Adric nodded in agreement. "Well, that’s what it is. I just used wife to sugarcoat it because from what I’m seeing in this parchment, Orion now owes Avon a big debt," he raised the parchment.

"What? How did you get that?" Oriana leaned closer to grab it, but Adric held her hand up in the air, his red-brown eyes boring into hers.

"We shouldn’t do this outside. I know we are newlyweds, but there are protocols to everything. We are not animals!" Adric sighed, shaking his head slightly.

Oriana gave him a hard stare. "Leave me alone!" She tried to move back, but Adric held her hand tightly.

"I gave you the choice earlier; force it is," he moved his head to the side. With his hand still holding Oriana’s wrist tightly, he jumped down from the carriage, holding her steady with his hand.

"Kato!" Adric whistled, and the horse came to stand in front of him. Oriana struggled to free herself from his grip, but it was fruitless. She brought her face closer to bite him.

"Don’t!" Adric’s warning sounded calm, but there was something commanding about it that made Oriana pause.

Adric grinned when he saw her pause, her golden eyes now shooting daggers at him. "Easy to tame," he smiled.

"Let me go. I didn’t ask for your help. I didn’t ask for any of this," Oriana said, dragging her hand away, but that was fruitless.

Adric sucked his tongue, his feet tapping on the ground. "Why were you on your way to get married if you were this rebellious? Or do you only do that in front of me? I don’t mind,"

"You wish!" Oriana eyed him, her voice filled with hate.

Adric shrugged his shoulders. "About that, Kato doesn’t like too much on her body so..." His eyes roamed over Oriana’s body, and with one pull, he tugged the rope on her skirt, revealing a lighter one.

"What are you doing-" Oriana widened her eyes, before she could blink, Adric pulled out the heavy pins in her hair, leaving her sun-colored hair pouring down to her waist.

"Let’s see... much better," Adric nodded with satisfaction. "Are you getting on willingly, or do you still need a little push? It’s okay. Your husband is here to serve you, at least,"

Oriana inhaled deeply. "I don’t know what you think you’re doing, but you’re going to- oh my sweet heavens!! Nana!!" The princess screamed when she found herself lifted up from the ground with her world spinning to the side. And because she was struggling, Adric had to make her lie horizontally on the horse before he joined her on it.

"Bring me down! Don’t! I said don’t, oh goodness," Oriana shouted.

Rowan, who had finally arrived, saw the princess trying to struggle with the prince.

"Rowan, get her dress. She might still need it to greet her in-laws properly," Adric ordered.

Oriana gulped, "What in-laws? You must be- bring me down,"

"King Levi, you shall be invited to the wedding," Adric waved to the king, who had confusion written on his face as he waved back.

And to Oriana, Adric said, "Kato is a fast rider; are you sure you don’t want your position changed before we leave,"

"Bring me down!! I said," Oriana shouted stubbornly.

Adric twitched his lips, "I warned you," he kicked the horse, but didn’t go far because Oriana started screaming.

"Wait... please... Nana... help me, change my position, I want to change,"

Adric stopped the horse, with his hand on Oriana’s waist he moved her up with ease, "Spread your legs," without complaining she obeyed. Holding Oriana’s hair up, he packed it with a band, moving it to her front so it doesn’t disrupt him. Adric moved his hands which now settled at her side, while holding the rein.

"Obedience is the key, don’t you agree, Wife?" Adric grinned, not waiting for her reply, he raised the rein, and the horse galloped. "To your new home, Princess,"