A Mystery
1326 Words
Cason smiled, lifting one leg up onto the rock and leaning forward, drawing in the distance between their bodies, “You are my first and only.”
Adela gulped and looked down, not used to being so close with men. The only male that she was in a “romantic relationship” with was Lucius Cohen, but even so, they had basically treated each other like strangers. They haven’t even kissed in their entire marriage, except a quick one during their wedding ceremony.
This life, she was getting married again, to a stranger again. However, she had nothing to lose now! All she could hope for was that she would be able to help him, and he would also be able to help her.
Unlike the last time, this wasn’t a marriage. . . This was a trade.
“What about you? How many suitors have you had before?”
Adela gulped and looked down before replying, “None.”
Cason was able to catch the quick flash of hesitance before she spoke, and he knew she was probably lying. However, he didn’t expose her or ask any further.
“At this rate, we might not be able to arrive before dinnertime. . . Maybe midnight if we are lucky.” Cason had forgotten that he was running when he made his way through the forest the first time, so it definitely took less time than it would take now.
Adela stood up, “Let’s keep moving.”
Cason looked at her and knit his eyebrows together slightly, “I can carry you if you are too tired.”
“Thank you, but I’m fine.” Adela smiled as she took the initiative to grab onto Cason’s hand as they continued to walk. Cason was slightly surprised by her action, and he smiled as they continued to walk.
As of now, Adela’s main goal was to get Cason to like her. He had only agreed to let her marry him because she was gorgeous to begin with, and. . . she had basically forced him into agreeing. . . She had told him to trust her, and he reluctantly did so.
Maybe when they reached the palace, his parents wouldn’t agree with their marriage. . . Then, she would be screwed. She could only go one step at a time now and see where this road leads her.
Adela crossed her fingers together in her empty hand and pressed her lips together. This had to work out. . . She wasn’t pleased with a normal life after living 18 years as royalty.
She wasn’t pleased living silently after her sister and husband had stolen her throne. . .
She wasn’t pleased hiding away like a turtle after her sister had killed her parents. . .
She had to do this! For her parents, for the empire, for everyone that loved her, for. . . herself.
Cason looked down when he felt Adela’s fingers dig deep into the back of his hand, and he looked up to see her fierce and slightly angry expression.
He licked his lips, thinking for a few seconds, and didn’t say anything.
Since their talk this morning, he knew that she was hiding something. While Madeline and Adela were talking, she had also asked Daniel about her, and he had told him they found Adela in the lake.
Adela Asber. . . She had the same last name as the Baldamia royal family, but there was no one named Adela.
Adela Asber. . . She was indeed a very mysterious woman.
Cason Thorn grinned slightly. This was also why he ultimately decided to trust her. He could tell she was a very complicated person, and he wanted to solve this mystery. If she was actually able to help him win the throne, then he would be more than happy.
On top of that, she was the most gorgeous human being he had ever seen. It was a win-win. . . Hopefully?
He looked down at the leaves that made crunching noises as he walked over them and narrowed his eyes.
Adela Asber. . .
---
She did not know how long they had walked for, but the sun was burning when they came to a stop to eat some food.
They sat down on the burning ground, making several sharp crunching noises as they did so.
Cason pulled out a clean cucumber stick and handed it to Adela, eating one himself.
Although the cucumber was dry and tasteless, Adela didn’t complain. She never ate raw vegetables alone in her entire life, as they were either mixed up into a salad or cooked into a dish.
However, Cason was probably in the same situation and he didn’t complain.
After much decision, they decided to continue walking as they ate, drinking water frequently with every few steps.
“You’re sure you know where we are going?” Adela asked. She had been following Cason this entire time, making twists and turns under the blazing sun, only to see the same array of trees.
Cason pointed up northeast, and Adela’s eyes followed his finger.
On a tree that looked the same as every other tree, there was an arrow stuck straight through the log. It was high up on the tree, hiding between the branches so if you didn’t look up, it would be hard to notice.
“I was on my horse most of the time until they shot it a few minutes before you found me. I shot arrows up at the trees every once in a while to know how to return to the hunting grounds.”
Adela opened her mouth slightly as she stared at the arrow.
“Come on, let’s go.” Cason took a bite off of the carrot he was eating and continued to walk, still holding onto Adela’s hand.
“Where are you from?” Cason asked after they had walked for a long time in silence already.
Adela finished eating the carrot and looked up at him, blinking once before answering, “What do you mean? You saw, I was with grandma Madeline and grandpa Daniel.”
Cason knew she was lying but he didn’t say anything, “Right.”
---
Luckily, it was the beginning of summertime and the sun didn’t set until late into the afternoon. However, the world was still beginning to darken as they walked further and further away from where they began.
Adela felt her eyelids slowly become heavier as each step seemed harder than the last, “Are we almost there?”
Cason stopped walking and she did the same. He turned around and handed her the backpack, “Carry this.”
Adela opened her eyes, looking between the backpack and him. He was asking her to carry the backpack?! She was panting for air and practically dying of fatigue and he seemed to be completely fine and not tired at all!
However, he had indeed carried the backpack the entire way here, and it was only fair for her to also carry it for a while.
Adela forced herself to not get angry upon thinking about the fact that she still had to use him to accomplish her goals, and she took the backpack from him, carrying it on her own back.
As she did so, slowly feeling the weight of the bag pushing down on her shoulders, Cason walked forward and kneeled down on the ground, bending forward.
Adela was about to continue walking when she suddenly saw Cason on the ground about a foot in front of her.
“What are you doing?”
“Get on. I’ll carry you.”
- Writer
