The Dragon Prince's Bride
Chapter 77. What are they saying?

Chapter 77: 77. What are they saying?

"How is that a high hill when I can barely see what you’re even pointing at. If the palace is set on a high hill, should I not be able to see it from outside the walls? Even at a distance like this?" She asked.

"Well of course there are hills higher than Albaka hill but it is quite high too. And as for seeing the palace from this distance, that would be possible if the walls were smaller than the hill the palace is on." He explained as he leisurely began to twirl a string of her long red hair around his index finger.

" This wall I’m seeing is big, but not big enough to completely cover a very high hill as you put it." She continued, squinting her eyes, maybe it would make the wall seem bigger than it actually was in her eyes.

"You think that way because we are still at a far distance and the walls look smaller at this distance. The walls of Trago as it is called is 400 cubits high, princess." He said and Neriah instantly turned around in his arms, with shock evident in her eyes.

And her shock grew even greater when she finally realized how close he had been. And also, she was in his arms, back pressed upon his chest. Now actually one of her breasts was pressed upon him as she turned to her side slightly.

A sudden heat rose up in her chest and reached her face, dusting a sweet shade of pink on her cheeks.

For seconds, her chin was raised high and her head was tilted backward as she stared at him speechlessly. Riri was wrong, she was suddenly thinking. She was wrong to say this man was not fine at all.

His eyes were just enchanting. The fire in them always seemed like it would engulf her if she ever let her guard down. Even his lashes were beautiful, she noted. His lips that had not kissed hers in a while now, they were slightly parted. Almost seemed like an invitation. An invitation to touch them with hers.

And his chin, the dent at the center, looked somewhat delicious. Something in her wanted a bite of that part of his body.

He was still the most ruggedly handsome man she had ever seen in her life. If only there was no Ly—

"Huh!!" She gasped in shock, instantly slapping a hand over her mouth as she realized what she was thinking! How could she?! How could she wish the love of her life gone all because of this barbarian!

"G_get away from me!" Her voice went higher than she had intended but she was not sorry. He was seducing her with talk! His hands left her body and once again he stood at his full height.

For the following seconds she stood there staring at him with a shaky breath.

He was a wicked soul, Neriah thought. He was trying to make her sway. He was trying to cause her to doubt her love for Lyle. He was the most despicable soul Neriah had ever known and she hated him for what he was doing to her. Or at least what she believed he was doing to her.

"I_I shall return to the room." She finally tore her eyes away from his,

"I feel faint. Inform me when we arrive. I wish to lay down for a bit." She managed to say the words and all but ran away from him.

His eyes trailed after her and he let out a deep sigh as he wondered, "What do I have to do?"

...

Neriah held Lyle’s letter in her hands like it was her life. She held them and pressed them unto her chest. She felt ashamed of herself. The more she thought about it, the more repulsed she felt towards herself. And she hated that Barak was the one making her feel this way about herself.

She had wished her precious one was non-existent. What sort of person had such thoughts! She was worse than Riri who had been running around with the man all this while.

A knock sounded on the door and quickly she folded the letter and pushed it into her pouch. She wiped her cheeks that had become moist from tears and cleared her throat before answering.

"My Lady, His Highness has asked me to inform you that we have arrived." Aria said as she took some steps closer to Neriah. "Uh! My Lady, what is the matter? Have you been crying again?" Aria asked as she realized her eyes were swollen.

"C_crying? What are you talking about? W_who has been crying?" She stuttered and cleared her throat. "Did you say we have arrived? W_woah, I did not realize that because I was deeply asleep." She laughed and Aria could tell her mistress was lying.

"Wow, it is really huge up close." Neriah gasped as she inched closer to the window and saw the huge walls. Indeed he was not exaggerating when he had said it was huge. Now that she was standing close to it, she could not even see the top of the wall. Maybe she would get a better view in daylight.

"My Lady, it is time. His Highness awaits you." Aria calmly stated and Neriah breathed deeply and stared at Aria. "Do not fret my lady. Everything will be well." She smiled and Neriah forced a smile back.

She wondered if she should tell Aria now. About Lyle. She wondered if it was alright to tell her about him now and their plans to escape the stronghold of her husband. She knew she would have to tell Aria eventually. She was going to run away with her too, so she had to tell soon but for some reason, she did not want to say it yet.

"How do I look, Aria?" Neriah asked and Aria smiled and took her hands in her own.

"Like the direct descendant of the goddess." Aria complimented, "Like the moon that lights up the night sky, you are radiant." Aria smiled and Neriah loved her response.

"Then let us go. Let us shine my bright light on these poor darkened barbarians." She said, and Aria had no idea whether to laugh or agree with her mistress’s narcissistic words. She chose the latter.

"Of course. Let us do just that."

...

Neriah’s hand was joined with Barak’s at his elbow even though she’d rather walk on her own. "Shall we?" He said and she nodded.

Neatly, in a rather refined manner, he stood tall like the dignified prince he was with a wife on his arm like a trophy, Neriah thought. And together, they walked, and joined his father King Bashan.

"Do not fret, my child. The kingdom of Trago has a lot to offer its new princess." The man said with a bright smile and Neriah forced one upon her face to show appreciation for his words.

With Bashan in front, they climbed down from the ship and onto the dock, Aria and the other maids coming behind them, the knights also following.

And now that she stood before the wall, really standing before it, it was indeed a mighty structure. And it made her wonder, they were dragons, what in the would could they be wary of to build such a high structure?

But her thoughts could wait, for now her eyes and ears were on the people who were chanting and singing at the return of their prince and king. They threw palm-fronts and flowers of all kinds on the ground for them to walk on. They were not yet even inside the walls and there were already people welcoming them in this manner. Well one thing was clear to her, these people loved their royals

Singing and chanting in that language she had come to know but still did not understand. "What are they saying?" She had to ask because it seemed all eyes were upon her.

Of course they were greeting their king and prince, she could tell. But she could also tell that eyes were upon her and although they were all smiling she felt uncomfortable.

"Tell me," She whispered again.

"I told you to try and learn the language." He chuckled.

"Well if I had been given a teacher to actually teach me the language then maybe I would have learnt it!" She almost raised her voice but was quick enough to caution herself. Well, it was not like she actually wished to speak the language of barbarians in the first place. But still, he just mocked her all through their voyage. Instead of trying to teach her.

"I already made provision for one. You shall meet her when you reach the palace." He simply said.

"Well then, just tell me what they are saying now!" She insisted and even pinched his arm. She really needed to know. She could not stand the weird smiles they were giving her.