The Crown Prince and Princess turned to look at each other, before their gaze dropped on Rowan and Freya. They were going to ignore what happened and continue with their horse ride when they heard their younger brother speak.
"Why?" Prince Gerald asked, his eyes looking down at his horse.
Freya tried to push away Rowan’s hand, wriggling her body in the process. But when she heard the prince speak, she became quiet. Rowan, who was still trying to keep a struggling Freya in place, turned to be sure it was the young boy who was referring to him.
"Why do you want to ride with her?" the prince continued when he raised his eyes and saw Rowan looking at him. He blinked, tightening his grip nervously on the reins.
Rowan’s hand moved down to Freya’s waist, now looking at the boy with deep interest.
"If she’s like your family... like a sister to you, aren’t you supposed to allow her to be with other men? Is there something you’re not telling us?" the prince asked, looking down, his hands trembling as he spoke.
Princess Lirien was quick to step in, trotting her horse toward her brother. She hit him hard on the head, "Shut up, Gerald, you’re really acting out today. Are you okay?"
"Let him be," Rowan waved his hand at the princess, but his gaze didn’t leave the boy. He finally realized why Gerald looked familiar. It was the same boy he had bumped into the other day on his way to the library. Now thinking about it, the boy was smoking that day.
"She’s riding with me because I want her to. And yes, I don’t want her around other men; I’m that protective of her. Family? She doesn’t even know my last name," Rowan smiled, pushing Freya’s gown up properly so she could place her feet on the stirrup.
Freya’s heart skipped a beat as she could feel the vibration of Rowan’s chest every time he spoke. And the way he said he was protective of her, was he openly confessing his feelings in front of everyone? She turned to look at the princess.
"Aww... I wish my own brothers were like that too." Lirien’s eyes were now dreamy as she stared at Rowan and Freya. "That’s why family doesn’t always have to be blood-related."
Freya relaxed, relieved that the princess hadn’t caught the meaning hidden in Rowan’s words, and it was for the best.
"Now, Gerald, stop being stubborn and let’s go." Lirien kicked her horse gently, "You weren’t even interested in Freya all this while," she scolded her brother before moving along.
The Crown Prince smiled, then followed behind his sister. The younger prince looked at Freya from the corner of his eye, and without saying anything, he joined his siblings, leaving Freya and Rowan behind.
Rowan’s eyes followed the young prince until he was out of the palace gate, then he spoke, "What was that?"
Freya jerked at the sound of his deep voice, remembering who was actually behind her. "What was what?" she whispered.
"I didn’t know you were close with the prince," Rowan replied, snaking his hands around Freya’s waist. He noticed how the girl’s shoulders tensed up when he did this. She was still very much aware of his presence, and he liked it.
Freya swallowed hard, holding her dress firmly. "You don’t need to know everyone I’m close with. Now put me down!" she struggled, trying to raise her leg, but Rowan was faster, pressing his palm on both legs.
"If you don’t stay still, I’ll assume you want me to take you back inside and fill you up with myself."
Freya gasped, "W-what?" She turned around to be sure they were alone. "Don’t you have any shame?"
"No," was Rowan’s nonchalant response, his fingers now tracing the girl’s body. "We both know I don’t, and you’re also shameless when I’m inside of you,"
Freya turned her body slightly, covering Rowan’s mouth with her hand. At that moment, blood had rushed to her neck, causing her face to look flushed. "You shouldn’t be saying things like that outside..."
Rowan moved back, using his hand to turn the girl properly. "Why shouldn’t I?" He started moving the horse, not waiting for the girl to reply.
Freya let out a tired sigh. This wasn’t how she had planned it, but all of this needed to end. Rowan touching her body the way he liked and saying things to her, she needed to tell him not to keep crossing the line, but she couldn’t do it now. Freya decided to stay calm until after the horse ride, then she would talk to Rowan.
When the duo joined the others, they raced through the smallest villages of Eridor, then their big towns, until they arrived at the mountains. And since the horses couldn’t move because of the height, they tied their horses to a tree.
Rowan jumped down from his horse first, removed Freya’s feet from the stirrups, and then held her waist gingerly, bringing her down. Freya used her hands to straighten the part of her gown that was now looking crumpled. Rowan stood in front of her, waiting for her to get ready so he could walk with her.
"Let me help you with your hair," Rowan offered, trying to straighten the part of Freya’s hair that was out of place. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖
Freya backed away the moment she saw Rowan’s hand coming close. She needed to be on her guard every time she was with him. And before Rowan could say anything, Freya ran toward Princess Lirien, holding her hands closely.
"Let me walk with you," Freya said to the girl, her voice slightly raised. She didn’t turn to look at Rowan, but she knew his eyes were on her.
Rowan’s hand was still in the air, and he turned like that to look at the girl who had just escaped him. He rubbed his brow slightly, without saying anything, and joined them in climbing the mountains.
Freya held the princess tightly throughout their walk. Even when she missed a step, she stood up immediately so that Rowan wouldn’t have to come close to her.
"Freya, it seems you’re really enjoying the mountain view," Princess Lirien noted after noticing how the girl turned her head to the side every minute.
Freya cleared her throat. "Y-yes, it’s beautiful with green leaves..." she muttered, looking to the side. She wasn’t even looking at the mountain; Freya was trying to be ready if Rowan suddenly pulled up and carried her away again. She wanted to be ready for him.
"I’m glad you do, because there’s a spring here I’ll show you," Lirien giggled. "I heard from the maids that lovers come here at night and they... make more love," she whispered.
Freya chuckled, turning her stiff neck to the side. She found Rowan glaring at her, so she quickly turned her face away, hitting the princess’s shoulder as if her joke was very funny.
"Hahaha...so funny, yes..." She used her hand to wipe of the sweat on her forehead, her laugh faltered and she prayed the princess could do her favor of walking fast.
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