The Courtesan

Chapter 52

Third Person's POV

Miriam returned to the estate before the downpour started. There were too many things on her mind and none she could say out loud, not even to Geraldine who was already awake. The other was kicking up a fuss for being knocked out like that but as soon as she saw Miriam was not responding, she didn’t say anything.

By the time they reached the doors, Miriam ran inside without regard for the weather. She was closely followed by Geraldine who couldn’t catch up no matter how much she tried. They ran to where Amaya was and swung the door open. As always, Amaya was half asleep.

“My Lady! What happened?!”

{Where is the princess?}

“She left in the morning. I haven’t seen her since.”

{I have to find her!}

“You’ll have to relax. Why don’t you ask the bonehead behind you to do it?”

“Oi! Don’t insult me! I’m not in a great mood. I’ll bash your skull in.”

“Ah, I can see why. I’ll call the guards.”

{Please, you need to find her as soon as possible.}

“But my lady, it is impossible in this weather. No matter how fast you want us to be, we cannot beat nature.”

Miriam slumped, covering her face. She wanted to scream, rage, scream her frustration against the world that challenged them over and over again. But she couldn’t speak. She couldn’t convey such feelings with her signs.

The door slammed and this time, Geraldine didn’t follow.

“What happened to her?”

“Hell if I know. We met Number five and... the cousin.”

“Well, I can see why she would be unhappy with that. But, why is she so angry and impatient?”

“How am I supposed to know if she knocked me out?!”

“What is up with you?”

“Number five aimed a knife at my lady. I wanted to tear that bastard apart with my bare hands but she stopped me. I am so frustrated right now…”

Amaya sighed. Geraldine being in a bad mood was bad but with Miriam as an add on, it was terrifying. She stood from her chair and walked up to Geraldine. She took her hand and led her to the bed in the room. She pushed her down and placed a hand over her eyes.

“What are you doing?”

“Getting you to relax. You’re the only one who can calm the lady but if you keep acting like this, then everyone in this estate is going to be in big trouble,”

Geraldine growled in protest but she couldn’t refute the other’s words. After seeing she could tame the beast, Amaya got quite greedy and ran her hand through her hair.

“What are you trying to do?”

“I am trying to calm you. You are rarely this patient.”

“Ha?”

“For a gorilla, your hair is quite soft.”

“You’re just insulting me, how is this different?”

“No, it’s quite different. I like your hair.”

“Well, is it because I cut your hair?”

“I quite like mine too.”

Amaya couldn’t see her expression but she knew that Geraldine was quite frustrated. She chuckled, removing the hand that went through her hand and settled it on her face. She rubbed it across her lips.

“Urgh, I can’t understand you.” Geraldine grumbled.

“It’s because you’ve never tried to.”

The snow fell faster than it ever did, quickly covering the path till all they could see was snow. Thankfully, they were off the road and in a residence Elayne didn’t even know Kalvin had in the capital.

“Here, it’s hot.”

He couldn’t say he was surprised she ignored him. It was like this in the past too. She never paid attention unless she had to. Her eyes were always out there on the horizon like there was something more important. First it was her family now it was the bastard of the man that killed her family.

Everything was stealing his love from him. Why wouldn’t they just leave them to be happy together?

“I promise I’m not trying to hurt you. Why would I try to poison you after going through all this trouble? Please, just take this.”

She finally turned her head and her eyes were empty. She collected the cup, drank it all, even letting it all spill to the side and threw it away. She pushed him and since he was caught off guard, he fell to the ground. Thankfully, they were surrounded by warm rugs that cushion both their fall.

“Ariana, what are you doing?”

“Ariana is a shadow of a woman I once was. If you’re going to take me, you’re taking me as Elayne. I want to show you, just who that is.”

It physically hurt her to be in the embrace of a man. With every moment she spent with him, it felt like tiny needles were being stabbed in her heart. Still, this was her last ditch effort to get him to leave him alone.

So, she kissed him. Even with years of training, she still fumbled like an amateur, trying to control the tide of the kiss. However, her opponent wouldn’t stay down for long, quickly gaining control, entrapping her tongue in his mouth. He flipped them over and this time, he bore down on her.

“I don’t know what you’re doing but if you think I’m going to hold back after five years, then you’re wrong, my dearest.”

He dipped and kissed her again, but he was gentle. According to what he knew, Elayne became a courtesan. He knew the implications of that but the temptation of being with his wife once more was too good to give up.

He kissed her again but this time, he could sense something was wrong. Her whole body was trembling and the way she looked at him, she was frozen with fear. He realized he was being selfish.

He pulled away, settling on the rug beside her.

“I’m sorry… I was impatient.”

“Why won’t you just leave me?”

“Ariana, I love you.”

“I am not Ariana, not anymore.”

“Even if you look different, you are still my Ariana. Even if you’ve changed your name, you’re still Ariana to me. Even though you’ve been through a lot, you are still my wife. Because I didn’t marry the princess of Casella, I married Ariana, the woman I love.”

“Please, I just want you to stop torturing me.”

“Ariana, I know you’re hurt and vulnerable. It seems like I have taken advantage of that and I’m sorry but there is no way I can leave you alone. Just like you want to save that child, I want to save you. If I had spent one more year without you, I would’ve killed myself.”

“What?”

He pulled her hand and placed it on his chest where his heart beat fast.

“My heart, my soul, my body, I dedicated it all to you when you agreed to be my wife. If you really were dead, then I would dedicate it to your grave.”

“Have you lost your mind?! You’re a prince.”

“Of course. However, you’re my reason to live. So, if you plan to leave me once more, be ready to lose me, Ariana.”