Kitanna
Chapter 81: INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS WIN

Chapter 81: INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS WIN

[MUSIC RECOMMENDATION:I WILL GO TO YOU LIKE THE FIRST SNOW ~ AILEE]

The harsh wind of the Odel village controlled the wave of the clothes and hair of the two persons who were now riding on their different horses.

Kitanna held the reins of the horse with one hand, using the other to fix her hair, which was falling on her face. They trotted until they got to an inn at the entrance of the village before they dismounted the horse. Kitanna turned to ask Nix, who had been quiet throughout the journey.

"How did you know there was a spy among us?"

Nix, who had stopped moving, dismounted from his horse and walked towards the princess to help her get down.

"Was it not obvious?" Nix asked, walking away when he was sure the girl was steady on her feet.

Earlier when they had left the palace, Nix looked at the hands of men in charge of transporting them. It was a local carriage, but these men had hands of people who had never seen the tough and rough activities of life in the other villages. Not just that, he noticed two of the men hiding a dagger in his shirt. What would a coachman be doing with one? Nix realized immediately that it would be the queen dowager’s little rats. He allowed them to follow their carriage, but he rerouted as they got to the mountains where his grandfather was.

Nix lured the men into the caves, and the spies were trapped there, leaving just him and the princess to continue with their journey.

"I didn’t notice. Your blue eyes are really sharp-sighted." Kitanna shrugged. When Nix had asked her to stop speaking in the carriage, she thought it was because he was tired of listening to her voice. Then he changed their direction; it was only after she saw the men who were supposed to escort them bundled into a cave that she suspected that maybe Almaria sent men to watch her.

"Almaria was really sloppy, this time." Kitanna couldn’t help but let out a laugh; she was glad she had Nix on her side.

Nix tied the two horses and stepped inside the inn. He blended in so well like he was used to places like this, he threw a pouch filled with silver coins to a stubby-looking man with a protruding belly whose mustache was twisted at each end. The man raised his hands and caught the bag, his eyes filled with greed as he touched the money bag.

"Lord Nix, you brought a ripe one today, aye? She looks untouched. She’s not from here, eh! Must be a reason why you never touch our women... hahaha," the stubby-looking man asked in an annoying accent, which caused Kitanna to grimace.

What even annoyed her the most was how the man touched the tips of his curled mustache and raised his voice like she was not there. The man reminded her of someone, but she couldn’t remember who.

Nix turned to look at the man with his brows arched, and the man backed away immediately.

"I’m sorry, Lord Nix; I’ve overstepped my line. I’ll get a room ready," the man quickly disappeared inside, walking through the passage.

Nix walked through the rooms like it was somewhere he was used to. When he got to a room, he pushed a bronze key inside the wooden door and moved aside for Kitanna to step inside. When she hesitated to make a move, Nix raised his brows with eyes narrowed, and Kitanna rushed inside the room immediately.

Nix locked the door with one click, and he moved to the window, checking around when he was through he lighted the four candles which now gave warm light to the room.

"It seems you’re a regular here?" Kitanna asked, sitting on the wooden bed, while kicking her legs in the air.

Nix retrieved some clothes from his bag, and he handed them over to Kitanna without replying to her statement.

"Change into this; we don’t need someone suspecting at first glance that you’re not from here. Especially the minister," Nix replied, his voice sounding a little cold.

Kitanna furrowed her brows; she didn’t understand why any minister would be interested in what she was doing in the village.

Nix noticed the look on her face, and he said, "You were going to get married, and you didn’t know where the man is from? This is Odel, the village you were on your way to that night."

Kitanna’s lips shaped in an O at the sudden realization, then she twitched her lips at the thought of being married off to a place like this where they don’t respect women.

Kitanna raised the clothes; the colors were faded but it was still very clean, and instead of a gown, it was pants and a big shirt. She kept it to a side when she noticed Nix walking towards the door.

"Did I do something to annoy you?" Kitanna asked, calling back his attention. Nix moved his hand, which was now on the doorknob, and he turned to look at the girl with a questioning look.

"I mean, you’ve been cold since we left the mountains. Are you angry that I’m only bringing problems and attention to your quiet life?" Kitanna asked, feeling guilty. She had come to understand that Nix was someone who used to enjoy his own company and spoke less, but since she stepped into his life, things changed for him. And since they started their journey, he hadn’t said anything to her.

Nix noticed the look of vulnerability on the girl’s face, a look of someone who wanted to be protected. He raked his free hand on his silver hair, ruffling it up. It was no lie that the girl was frustrating him, and keeping his control these days was becoming very hard.

"Get dressed; let’s get food. I’ll be outside," he finally said to her.

Kitanna, who didn’t want to give up, stomped her feet on the ground. "Do you not see me as a woman? I heard of your stories among some palace maids. I know you’re a man who enjoys women too; even the innkeeper confirmed it. Why do you act like I’m invisible even when I show you I have interest? Do I not meet your standard as a woman? Is it my status? What about when I was a maid?" When Kitanna was done with her ranting, she blinked breathing hard. The words she shouted echoed in her head, and she gasped taking a step back. She smiled awkwardly.

Nix, who heard every word she said, stood there looking at the princess. He pushed the door shut and walked back to where Kitanna was standing.

As he sauntered towards her, Kitanna moved back until her back touched the wooden table that was beside the bed. Her eyes had fear written in them. She didn’t understand Nix well enough yet, as he always spoke a few words so it was hard to read him. Kitanna didn’t know if her words provoked him because his eyes were looking really scary.

The truth is her words really provoked Nix, even pushed him off the edge, and the calmness in his eyes was replaced with something else. Something wild and wicked.

Nix stopped in front of the princess who was now trying to avoid his gaze. He brushed his hands on her face; the touch was soft unlike how his eyes looked. He tipped her chin, making Kitanna look directly at him.

"Why will a princess want to be treated like maids?" Nix asked, his voice deeper than usual like he was trying to suppress something that was rising deep inside of him.

"N-not that...is just," Kitanna who was blinking at every word she uttered couldn’t make any speech.

Nix moved his hands down to her chest and ripped her dress, baring her pale chest which had a cloth covering her mounds but due to Kitanna’s heavy breathing, the upper part was rising.

Kitanna gasped when her dress was torn; she moved her hands to cover her chest immediately. And out of reflex, she pushed him back, but Nix stood his ground like it was just feathers that had touched him.

He watched the girl try to cover herself up, and his eyes narrowed because even with her trying to cover her innocence, the scene made him feel hot.

"Your actions don’t tally with your words. You are a princess; don’t beg to be treated lesser." Nix moved his hands up and covered the part of her dress which he had ripped apart. Before he brought down his hands, he made sure to brush it on the delicate skin on her chest. And this caused Kitanna to let out an inaudible moan.

Nix turned to leave the room; the more he stayed there, the less he would be able to control how he was feeling. And he wouldn’t hesitate to take her right away when she was not yet ready.

"Stop talking rubbish and get changed." With this, Nix stepped out of the room.