This love is like a curse (71)
The maids walked quietly along the corridor.
Thalia followed them, carefully moving her feet.
When she finally reached the stairs at a snail's pace, her back was already wet with sweat. She looked gloomily down the steps.
And at that moment I noticed Longboat quickly entering the mansion.
Talia forgot how to breathe and involuntarily looked him over from head to toe.
He did not wear the uniform of the Roem knights, only a black cuirass with the coat of arms of the house of Siekan and a cloak of gray animal skin thrown over his shoulders.
He looked like a nomadic warrior of the Kan tribe - the same ones that once terrified the entire continent of Roviden. Her heart sank painfully.
The longboat, quickly covering the distance, stopped right in front of her.
It looked like he was in a hurry - his hair, always neatly styled, was now unusually disheveled.
Leaning towards her, he stared at her with a piercing gaze, like polished steel.
- How do you feel?
Thalia just blinked mindlessly. In a normal situation, she would have snapped: “It’s none of your business,” but her tongue seemed to be stuck to the roof of her mouth.
Only after a few seconds did she manage to squeeze out:
-...Fine.
Longboat's eyes narrowed. He seemed wary of the overly peaceful response.
Looking intently into her face, he took off his glove and reached out to her forehead. Thalia reflexively slapped his hand.
There was a resounding bang, and for a moment there was a heavy silence.
The girl clenched her numb fingers and looked at him furtively.
He didn't seem too angry. Although... who knows. Did she ever understand what was on his mind?
Looking down, Thalia muttered in a hoarse voice:
“J-it’s just... you touched me unexpectedly.” I was surprised.
At this moment, his long white fingers came into view again.
Talia instinctively retracted her neck. But this time he didn't let her pull away.
Running his palm over her forehead, Barkas carefully straightened the collar of the cape, tightening the ties all the way to her chin.
Without giving her a second to protest, he abruptly picked her up in his arms and said gloomily:
“You’ll have to get used to my touch.”
Thalia's eyes widened. My heart shuddered painfully.
What does he imply?
No. No! Don't have any illusions.
He just feels sorry for the cripple. This is all.
She hastily suppressed timid hope, and Barkas, intercepting her more comfortably, began to descend the stairs.
Afraid to move, Thalia wrapped her arms around his neck.
He pressed her to him with one palm and walked slowly and carefully.
Soon a courtyard filled with unfamiliar men opened in front of them.
Thalia looked at them in bewilderment. It was immediately clear that these were not soldiers of the Roem Order.
They all had long halberds on their backs, and over their dark armor they wore large cloaks in the form of robes.
One of the men stepped forward:
- So this is the future duchess?
Thalia looked him over carefully. A young man with tanned, wheat-colored skin, dark brown hair and black eyes.
He looked at her curiously, barely seeing her eyes from under his cloak, and then bowed politely:
- Pleased to meet you, Your Highness. My name is Tayrone el Drakan.
Only after hearing his strange-sounding name did Thalia realize that in front of her were the eastern vassals of the Siekhan house, who had arrived to accompany their master.
She tried to throw back her hood to answer the greeting, but Longboat prevented her.
Pulling the fabric back over her head, he said indifferently:
- We're leaving soon. Prepare the horses.
— We won’t stop by the imperial palace?
— The transfer of command has already been completed. There's nothing more for us to do here.
Longboat responded sharply and cast a cold glance at the servant, who was still standing indifferently by the carriage.
- What are you waiting for? Open the door quickly.
The servant, as if emerging from prostration, hastily opened the door.
The longboat, deftly climbing inside, carefully sat the girl down on a seat covered with a thick layer of soft upholstery. Then, straightening her clothes with careful movements, he said:
— We will be on the road for several hours without stopping. If you feel unwell, give a sign to the coachman.
Thalia looked up at him with concern.
Why such a rush?
Is someone stalking them?
The faces of Gareth and Isla came to mind.
Maybe they are up to something?
It was as if Ayla’s poisonous voice sounded in my ears again: “You’ll regret this.”
Thalia bit her lip. Previously, intrigue was her lot. Now their roles have changed.
If Ayla loved Longboat half as much as Talia did... she would do anything to get him back. Even send assassins.
Maybe Barkas is in a hurry, anticipating an ambush...
- Your Highness.
As if sensing the storm in her thoughts, he took her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze.
“I already said: you don’t need to think about anything.”
The low voice sounded like hypnosis, settling in your head.
Thalia frowned in confusion.
What does he mean by this? Warning? Or... or still...
She hastily stopped the dangerous thought.
This man broke into her life, turned everything upside down - and now acts as if nothing happened.
He left her in a strange place and disappeared for a week.
Too many disappointments had gone through her soul to cling to ambiguous phrases.
She pushed his hand away.
- Don't talk nonsense. If we go, then we go.
The harsh words did not make the slightest impression on him.
His unreadable gaze slid over her face. Thalia licked her dry lips. Only when his throat had already begun to burn did he slowly straighten up and get out of the carriage.
The door slammed. Only then was Thalia able to exhale.
She carefully pressed herself against the wall of the carriage and stealthily looked out the window. There Barkas was talking about something with the eastern warriors.
Compared to the men with dark hair and light golden skin, he looked like an outsider. Although, maybe... it is.
After all, he left his home in early childhood and spent almost his entire life at court. For him, the East was also a foreign land, just as it was for her.
Suddenly, the image of a boy who was sent to foreign lands appeared before her. This image merged with her memories of when she first came to the palace.
I wonder if six-year-old Barkas was also lonely? Did he also feel like he was trapped in the belly of a monster and couldn’t breathe?
Absorbed in these thoughts, she did not immediately realize that the carriage had started moving.
Outside the window, familiar and unfamiliar landscapes flowed like a river. Thalia watched them go and suddenly smiled bitterly.
Why am I worried about the man who is destined to rule the East?
Now she herself had to go into the unknown. Without relatives, without support. A new life - from scratch, on earth, where no one is around.
Although... did I ever have someone I could rely on?
Thalia curled up in the corner of the carriage and buried her face in her knees.
The Imperial Palace is no better. There was no place for her there either.
For Senevier, she was only a useful tool.
For the emperor - a painful reminder of the past.
For the half-brother and sister, it’s a dirty stain that they’ll have to get rid of someday.
Suddenly she became curious.
And who will I become in the East?