Chapter 80
898 Words
CHAPTER 80
“You’re going to lose, your highness!” Tatiana shouted as they galloped through the forest. She took a quick glimpse at Noah and laughed when she saw him a bit behind her.
Tatiana yelled in excitement and applied more pressure on Alexander to speed up even more. The wind got stronger and colder, but it only made her want to go faster.
The trees passed by her peripheral vision in a blur, the wind blew her hair and cooled her face, and the sound of galloping horses filled her ears. At that moment, Tatiana felt so free.
When was the last time I felt like this?
In her previous life, Jane had only experienced hardships. Her mother abandoned her when she was a child, her father ignored her, and the Dela Vega family tormented her just because of her origin. Every day, Jane has to be on her toes around her family and has to put her guard up in case her stepsister or the Dela Vega's staff pulls a prank on her again. As such, she never had a day when she felt safe and at peace.
Aside from that, she’s the illegitimate daughter of the wealthy Dela Vega family. She’s considered a bastard and a shame to the family. Hence, she was forced to stay in the shadows, hidden and unknown.
Jane never felt free. All her life, she was lonely and caged. She was never truly happy, and the worst part was that she died young without even experiencing true freedom and happiness.
Then, she suddenly reincarnated into this bizarre world. She was compelled to live a new and completely different life than she had previously known. And the moment she opened her eyes, she was shouldered with extreme pressure, guilt, and responsibility to change her future and the future of the innocent people around her.
Tatiana smiled as she remembered all that she’s been through.
So many things happened, but I’m still grateful that, at the very least, I was given a second chance to be alive. Let’s strive for that happiness, Jane. You can do it! Tatiana thought to herself.
She screamed and laughed again as she relaxed and enjoyed their ride through the forest, letting go of all the stress, pressure, and anxiety.
Meanwhile, Noah was watching Tatiana from the back. She would constantly glance at him and laugh at him for being slow. But instead of being offended, Noah found it charming. He could easily catch up to Tatiana, given his abilities and expertise, but he intentionally slowed his pace so that he could observe her properly.
Besides, Noah didn’t want to break Tatiana’s excitement to win. It was the first time he ever saw Tatiana be this happy and…free. She looked so lively and different from how she was supposed to be.
Of course, after he returned from war, Tatiana was already different. But this time, she was different in another way. It was as though the noble, elegant, and graceful lady he had known had vanished. Now, Tatiana simply looked so carefree.
Noah couldn't help but smile.
It seems like the more he spends time with Tatiana, the clearer his feelings become.
I still can’t explain what I feel about her, but I now know being with Tatiana makes me happy.
Tatiana and Noah continued their race until they reached a cliff. Tatiana immediately pulled the reins to make Alexander stop, and, without even waiting for Noah, she unmounted the horse with haste and ran closer to the edge of the cliff.
“Wow!” she gasped as she took in the breathtaking view in front of her.
The entire capital city of the empire could be seen from where they were standing. They could even see the ocean in the distance, as well as the tall mountains.
It was so beautiful that Tatiana thought it was a painting at first glance.
On the other hand, Noah also came to a stop and unmounted his horse. But before he walked closer to Tatiana, he first tied the two horses at a nearby tree.
Noah stood beside Tatiana and also stared at the view.
“It’s so beautiful,” Tatiana said and smiled.
She then sat down on the ground, causing Noah to stare at her in disbelief. Later on, however, his surprise changed to amusement. Tatiana was known as the Empire's noblest lady. She's spoiled and notorious for being so obsessed with beauty that she won't let even a grain of dust on her body. That's why Noah was surprised when Tatiana sat on the ground without caring if her clothes became dirty.
She was so carefree, but Noah didn't mind it even for a little bit.
Noah walked back to where he tied the horses. He grabbed the blanket he had placed inside the saddlebag on Alexander. Then, he went back to where Tatiana was.
“Tatiana, stand up for a moment.” He said. Tatiana looked at him confused but then understood his intention when she saw the blanket. She smiled and stood up.
She stepped aside and waited as Noah laid the blanket on the ground. Noah let Tatiana sit on it first before he followed and sat beside her.
“I don’t really mind seating on the ground, but thank you, your highness.” She said sincerely, making Noah speechless.
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