[ Music Recommendation: Kiss me with your eyes ~ Morgan Clae ]

Oriana finally stopped struggling. There was no use for it. She sat still on the horse, shame burning her face. The princess had thought that after that day she wouldn’t have a reason to meet with Adric again. Oriana couldn’t face him; it was embarrassing to give up her body just because she was repaying a debt. That day she was just moved by emotions; she felt like doing something very crazy. It was only after she did so that she realized her actions. How could she stay back and face Adric, this devil’s right hand man who would taunt her until she shrinks up and dies?

Now she was not only facing him, they were married because obviously, Adric took the chest. And how did he even... Oriana’s mind wandered places, but because she was tired and stressed out after trying to train to become a crown princess and the entire struggle with Adric, her head felt heavy on her neck. With the gentle breeze that now calmed her nerves, Oriana’s head swayed from side to side that she forgot who was behind her.

Adric was surprised when the princess relaxed on his chest. He was going to tease her, but then he heard the soft, defenseless breathing. The girl was deep in sleep. Adric smiled; her defenses and built-up walls of rebel were down. It was just a young girl sleeping.

"Kato, she must have been tired," Adric muttered silently, trying not to wake her up. When the wind blew, Oriana’s hair moved on her face, causing her to shake her head. Adric used one hand to hold the rein, then the other he used to move her hair away.

"Mm," Oriana mumbled in her sleep, before chewing something in her sleep then she relaxed again.

Adric noticed her hands which were folded in small, harmless fists; he smiled. The girl’s hands were evidence of the harsh life she had experienced; she had nothing to tell that she was a princess. Even on the day he touched her, she flinched at every touch as if ashamed of her own body, which was already covered with scars.

"Your high-"

"Shh," Adric stopped Rowan from talking. Oriana mumbled again in her sleep and turned her head to another side, still resting on Adric’s chest.

The personal guard raised his brows; all his years of working beside the Crown Prince, the only person he cared about was his mother and sometimes father. After his mother died, the prince only cared about himself first. It made him wonder why the prince had gone through all that, just for the same Princess he said he wasn’t interested in.

Adric stopped moving; they were almost close to Avon, but he let Oriana sleep more. He didn’t know how long it had been since she had a good rest for her to sleep immediately the breeze touched her face. Adric sighed; he didn’t know why, but the moment he heard Oriana was getting married, his guards were up. The girl was careless and always got herself into trouble, since she was a child. For some odd reason, he felt responsible for her, even when he rode his horse to go stop the marriage, the question that rang in his mind was why.

Why? Why was he even worried about her? Why was he going to help her? Maybe the marriage would have been a pass card for a better life for her. But then the girl had foolishly acted on her emotions and let a man touch her unmarried. If the king of Valonia were to find out, it would be her very end.

Adric didn’t want Oriana to come to Avon; that was why he didn’t choose her as a bride. Knowing how tough the girl’s life has been, it was just a small cake to the things that happened in his own family. But now all of that was about to change, just because he had also acted on how he was feeling at the moment. The Crown Prince sighed; everything now depends on how determined Oriana was to survive.

Oriana, deep in her sleep, enjoyed every bit of her rest. Since she went back to Orion, she hadn’t had a relaxed sleep; she was afraid someone might come in and harm her while she was sleeping. But now, it felt so good, she could even move her hand freely and turn to the other side and...wait, why did it feel like she was about to fall?

Oriana opened her eyes; she wasn’t on any bed; in fact, she was on a horse and was about to fall, but Adric caught her.

"What are you doing?" Oriana blinked; she felt the side of her face was wet.

Adric sighed, lifting her back to her former position. "Is that the only way you know to say thank you?"

Oriana didn’t say anything; she tried to wipe off the drool on her face but she had no handkerchief. How long had she been asleep to even drool? She bit her lower lip.

"Here," Adric handed her a handkerchief, seeing that she wasn’t talking.

Oriana took it immediately and wiped her face clean, then she cleared her throat. "I’ll wash it and return it to you."

"Then that wouldn’t be the only thing you’ll be washing, my shirt -"

"I’ll wash everything," Oriana interjected; she didn’t want to hear more of it. She wanted to continue shouting at Adric, but how was she supposed to when she slept off comfortably during the ride?

Adric jumping down from his horse, said to her. "We are already in Avon; you should get changed," he stretched his hand forward to help her down the horse.

Oriana wanted to stubbornly refuse, but she had never been on a horse before; it was always the carriage. She didn’t have a choice but to place her hand on Adric’s own, but when she remembered how rough her palm was she tried to take her hand back, but Adric already caught it. He carried her down.

"No need for all of that; I’ve already seen them. Remember?" He said, giving her the dresses he had discarded earlier.

Oriana turned her face to the other side. "Please, can you stop talking about it?" Her voice was calm and low. She took the dress and walked to the nearest tall tree. For now, all she needed was to play along with Adric until she understood what was going on. He wasn’t someone she could escape from with her stubbornness. The princess thought as she tried to fix her dress, but she didn’t understand the concept of any of it. She always had maids to help her out with complex dresses so she fumbled with it at the moment.

"Need help?" Adric’s voice startled Oriana, and she held the dress over her chest. This caused the crown prince to raise his brows. "What are you doing?"

"Can’t you see a woman is dressing? You’re supposed to..." Oriana’s voice trailed when she saw the narrowed eyes of Adric. "Don’t say it; I know what you’re going to say, but I’m still a lady."

Adric nodded, taking the skirt from Oriana. "I didn’t say you weren’t," he moved his hand round her waist and tied it with ease before moving his hand behind her to knot the blouse properly. This time his face was directly close to Oriana’s own, for a moment he paused as they both stared at each other.

Oriana breathed in and out, her chest raising up and down. She tried to control her heartbeat but she couldn’t; sharing this closeness with Adric reminded her of that day, her sighs, and when she called his name desperately as he thrusted... Oriana was the first to look away.

"Is it not done?"

Adric moved back. "All done," he replied, walking back to the horse.

"Wait! What am I supposed to do in Avon? You know your mother doesn’t like me; are you trying to punish me by doing all these?" Oriana asked.

"Just be my wife, Crown Princess Oriana," Adric said to her.