The silence in the carriage weighed on the wheels that creaked noisily along the dusty path out of the merchant town.
Jenna could still remember the shock on the girl's face when she saw Rhane. It wasn't something anyone could make up or pretend. From what Jenna guessed, that girl had actually recognized Rhane, but what bothered her the most was the girl called him a thief.
Lifting her chin up with her hand, Jenna rested her head on the carriage window. Her brown eyes drank up the expanse of land filled with tall green grasses.
A thief? Jenna thought deeply. Had she harbored a thief all this while? And why she even defended him, Jenna had no idea. It was almost as if she didn't want to believe the girl's words because she already had her interest in the man, but the truth had been glaring at her in the face, yet she chose denial.
A man with fresh stab wounds, adding to the already healed stabs. One who could casually throw himself in the face of danger for her. Definitely something wasn't right; he wasn't a good servant Jenna assumed him to be. It must have been her past pitiful life that made her think others have it hard too.
Jenna bit her lower lip, how she had forgotten how cruel people can be... especially men. And a man as big as Rhane... Jenna shuddered. Ever since he arrived in her life, a lot of weird things kept recurring.
Had she been so bent on being kind that she forgot to be wise? Jenna asked herself thoughtfully, pressing her fingers on her lips. First, the road hoodlums let them go without a price, and then the market thieves did nothing but return everything they took.
So many strange coincidences and even the greatest of them all, Jenna suddenly lusting over him.
"Hm," Jenna adjusted in her position. She used her hand to cover her eyes, acting like she was sleeping, but in reality, she peeked, checking the young man before her.
Jenna decided to put him to a test and see how he acts. Once she finds out the kind of man he was, then she makes her decision. Jenna nodded to herself. Her body danced with the carriage's soft rhythm.
After a long ride, the carriage came to a stop, and they camped for the night since the coachman could no longer stay awake.
Rhane and Percy went around for sticks, which he used to make a fire in the middle, and others gathered around the fire with their blankets except Jenna, who had a tent set up for her.
"I'll use these, take the other one." Percy handed the coachman a blanket, then went to his own position to lay.
Jenna roamed around her tent, watching everyone get ready to sleep. Her eyes were particularly on the young man pulling his boots and getting rid of sand from them.
Feeling someone's intense eyes on him, Rhane dropped his boot and looked.
Jenna, caught unexpectedly, tripped over her leg trying to act like she wasn't looking at Rhane.
"Wow... the ground here is so soft," Jenna muttered, rubbing her palm on the sand. Feeling someone's shadow behind, Jenna mumbled under her breath. She knew exactly who it was before she raised her face. Jenna made sure to keep a smile handy.
"Rhane... what are you doing awake?" Jenna asked awkwardly, standing up by herself.
Rhane could see the nervousness in the way Jenna spoke to him, which was different compared to how comfortable she had been, and he could tell immediately that something had changed.
"I thought Master needed help," his eyes narrowed, studying Jenna's countenance.
Jenna rubbed her neck awkwardly. "I'm fine... whew it's a fine night, isn't it?" She chuckled, looking around the place.
At this point, Rhane was certain something was up, but his expression remained stoic.
"Well, goodnight," Jenna waved swiftly, turning to hop into her tent, but an idea clicked.
"Do you drink?" Jenna asked, a mischievous grin curling her smiling lips.
Rhane's brows arched, wondering what the woman was thinking.
"I have this wine but would love to share it, come." Jenna tugged Rhane's hand, bending to walk into the tent. She rummaged through her bag and found a big jar containing wine.
Jenna's smile widened, there has never been a time wine had lied. She traced her fingers on the white porcelain carrying liquor. If she could get Rhane drunk... then ask him for truth. After all, in wine, truth.
"Come in and sit," Jenna patted in front of her.
Rhane glanced back at Percy and the coachman sleeping, then at Jenna. He bent down and entered the tent.
Jenna poured in two cups, making sure the one meant for Rhane was filled to the brim that some of the content spilled. She passed it to him with an encouraging smile.
"Drink up, go on."
Rhane stared at the wine for a moment, then drank up all the contents in one go.
"You know well how to handle your liquor," Jenna praised, pouring another for him.
"Don't be shy, drink." Jenna sipped from hers to show Rhane it was safe.
Rhane picked up the cup and drank again without stop.
At the sixth cup, Jenna noticed Rhane's eyes dilating, she nodded to herself.
"Here, one more. Go on." Jenna filled the cup and passed it to him.
Like the others, Rhane picked up the liquor that was now spilling due to lack of focus, and he finished it in one gulp.
"Are you okay?" Jenna asked, dropping her own cup that was still filled up.
Rhane nodded, his hair falling over his face. "Yes, Master."
"I see..." Jenna eyed him suspiciously, even the way he spoke had changed. No longer conserved, but free.
"Rhane... is there something you're hiding from me?" Jenna went straight to the point.
Rhane mumbled words under his breath. When he raised his face, he smiled. "Yes..."
Jenna gasped, she couldn't believe her ears. "And... is it something you lied about?"
Rhane hummed for a moment, trying to raise his hands, but it felt heavy.
"Let me help you," Jenna moved closer to him and knelt in front of him. "Like your—"
"That," Rhane pointed at Jenna's dress. "I don't like when Master shows her body like that,"
Jenna blinked, he was still calling her Master despite being drunk. Her eyes moved down to her dress, and she frowned.
"Why don't you like it? You think it's not beautiful?" Jenna asked.
Rhane waved his hands dismissively. "I think Master isn't comfortable. I want Master to be comfortable."
Jenna's face flushed when she realized herself. She pinched her cheeks and grabbed her own wine.
"Jenna, get a grip of yourself." She muttered to herself, returning her attention to Rhane.
"You're faking all of this, right? You remember your past and just want to use me." Jenna blurted, waiting for the explosive reaction.
Rhane furrowed his brows, looking at Jenna's face like there was something interesting, then he smiled.
"I'm telling the truth, right?" Jenna asked, her eyes narrowed and her heart threatening to jump out of her chest.
"I'll serve Master forever," Rhane mumbled, trying to keep his head steady but couldn't, causing him to fall to the side.
"Woah woah," Jenna reached to hold him before he could fall.
Both of them fell, Jenna on the ground with Rhane on top of her.
"Mm," Jenna groaned, pushing him to the side, so both of them now lay side by side.
"Did I really accuse an innocent man?" Jenna asked herself, staring at the man who snored softly. She looked down at her stomach where Rhane's heavy hand rested, and she sighed.
Feeling bad that she had not only suspected an innocent man but also got him drunk, Jenna let him sleep beside her. She tried to move her body, but Rhane held her closely, pulling her back to himself.
"Rhane, I..." Jenna muttered. She had wanted to stop him before, but being held by a man that wasn't hitting her felt different, so Jenna let him. She snuggled even closer, slowly drifting to sleep.