AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter 19 - Dewdrops
Luella
He wanted me, too, but he was stubborn. He probably flagellated himself privately, although his back had no scars whatsoever.
I felt it - the difference between him and Thomas. I might not have much experience, but I knew that he somehow could control my fire. Whether it was him doing it on purpose or me reacting to him, I did not know yet. I could only assume that Metheus did not know. I wanted to believe it this way because otherwise, it meant that he had rejected me knowingly.
In the morning, I woke up alone in our bed. I sighed heavily but then proceeded to prepare myself for the day.
I went down to look for Rowali and Francilia. My husband might not be too happy to see me. I was not eager to see him, either, not really. The kiss we shared was burned in my mind. I could still remember how my body responded and how his own did, too.
“Good morrow, Your Highness, “Francilia greeted me as soon as I reached the ground floor. She seemed thrilled to be in Prozeus. Like me, she was dressed in a simple cotton dress. She wore a yellow one, while I wore purple. Instead of long, flared sleeves that went past our hands, we had short, puffed sleeves.
It was liberating. I felt like my lady-in-waiting agreed with me.
“Good day, Francilia. Have you seen Rowali?”
“Oh, I thought you would be looking for your dear husband. I think he went to the fields. As for Rowali, she should be in the courtyard or maybe her study.”
“She has a study?”
“Well, it is where her tutors meet with her.”
“Oh, great. I wonder if Rowali is like Carolina. A bibliophile.”
“Then, it should be good, right, Your Highness? She is now your sister, too.”
“Oh, I have no complaints about Rowali,” I said, thinking about her brother. “She is a sweet girl.”
The two of us walked toward the young princess’s study. She seemed occupied with a lesson. However, she saw us in the corner of her eye, and she hastily left her tutor. She looked stunning in her red dress.
“Luella! Francilia! Where are you two off to?” she asked excitedly, her brown eyes wide with expectation.
“Shouldn’t you be with your tutor?” I asked, summoning all my strength to act as the responsible older sister. I really just wanted to bring her along.
“Yes, but I am almost done. I know my history and languages well,” she said, her chin lifted in pride.
“Mm. If you’re sure, then I would like to meet the witches of Prozeus,” I said. “Do you know them, and is it safe to meet with them?”
I did not think it possible for Rowali’s face to glow even brighter. Still, she managed to make it so with her bursting youthful excitement.
“Well, there are two factions: The Coven and the Touch. The Coven has a straightforward name because they want to keep things simple even if their history is not. Most of them have ancestors who come from Mogochislenia. We are not allowed to have any contact with the Touch. They can be dangerous and are pretty spiteful.”
“So, the Coven it is,” I declared. “But can we move around without a chaperone?”
“We are together, aren’t we?” asked Rowali. However, the mischief on her face gave me pause.
“Rowali, I do not want to get in trouble with your father and your brother. Do we need to bring along someone?”
She pouted a little. Then, she finally admitted that we needed to bring along her nurse and someone else.
“We need to bring my nurse, Fuza, and Clem, my guard,” she sighed.
Clem was not only the guard. He also had to maneuver the donkey-driven wagon. I now knew why Rowali was in a rush to leave her tutor. It was like a bit of adventure.
“Is it far away?” I asked, remembering how it took perhaps from midday to twilight to reach and return from the Seers’ Village.
“No. It will not take long,” Rowali said. “I just rarely got to visit.”
