Chapter 103 - The North Girl

I took a bite from a cube of watermelon through my fork, my lips sliding the steel as I recalled I and Cedric's wild session together before he left for the palace.

After he said those words about not making love to me in this body, I was confused but I shut off all thoughts when his tongue was between my legs and the next thing I knew was I was screaming through a release.

I shivered as I recalled, he was wild and untamed, giving me no chance to breathe, I licked my lips, I was still sensitive from what happened... very sensitive, I felt a strong urge to moan as I recalled but I held it in because I was in the presence of Mother and Princess Alice. But my mind kept drifting even as I chewed on my watermelon, I could still picture the scene, the movement of his head between my legs from my peripheral vision and my hand gripping his raven silky hair, and my core plunging upwards to meet his face more as his pace quickened and my other hand gripping the sheets tightly as I reach a pinnacle.

I licked my lips, closing my eyes, having my body drift to that sensation again.

"Is that right Sylvia?"

My eyes snapped open as I turned to Mother. "Hmm?"

"gods Sylvia, where is your mind?"

"Forgive Mother for I did not hear you speak... the flavor of the dishes are just so delicious today," I said, forcing a smile, it seemed like she bought what I said as she just made a hmm sound.

"I wonder why Cedric left for the palace, I thought he would have some rest today after his long journey"

Cedric told me not to tell Mother anything yet, it was part of him handling everything, seems like no one knew of our adventures yesterday, Cedric must have put up yet another sound barrier in his chamber, or else mother would be curious. My eyes drift to Alice who ate her food with her smile, or Alice would be downhearted. I gulped.

Her gaze fell on me as she smiled, I quickly looked away. "Lady Sylvia, I'm planning on doing a little riding today, would you mean joining me?"

"Oh... forgive me but I have some studies to attend"

"I really wish we could go riding," She said with sad eyes. Now I feel bad for saying no.

"Sylvia do not worry, you can skip a day from studying, ride with Princess Alice would you, she has been asking me but I didn't have the time"

"Alright mother", there was no way I could refuse now, Mother has chipped in.

☆☆☆

I straddled my horse, it neighed. "There there Luna" I cooed.

"She is a beautiful horse," Alice said.

I put on my hood. "Yours too," I said with a smile, we were both riding the same white horse.

"Shall we?"

"Of course"

We began riding about five dark knights behind us, their scent was a bit off today, they usually had a different fragrance, I came to notice that the dark knight serving in our household had this familiar scent but I didn't put more thoughts into it, because I knew Dark knight take turns in their work shift, maybe this was a different team.

"Beautiful weather isn't it?" Alice began. I looked to the skies. "Yes it is"

"All sunny, where I come from the North is always plagued with snow, we barely see the sun sometimes, the Empire truly have everything"

She said, like she loves the Empire? I thought she might have hated it because of the war between the two lands but it was the opposite.

"You know, growing up... I knew only war, war after war after war. And you know times of war are a very sensitive period, in short, war affects the North differently. Starvation, not enough blankets to cover, it was truly a sad time. I was born into war. Truth be told I was glad when Lord Cedric ended the war," she turned to me, I just listened to her story.

"With no armies to charge my Father finally grew an insight to care for his people other than war. My mother long since passed away and then he followed too"

"I'm so sorry for your loss," I said softly. I could imagine how it felt to lose both parents from this world, I only lost my mother but the weight felt like I lost part of me not to talk more of losing a father. She must have really been tough for her, especially in that cold place.

"Thank you, Lady Sylvia, but I was only strong with that pain, I led millions of people but to ensure a better future for them, I knew a marriage was in order, rather than having enemies we can have allies," she said before riding ahead.

I blinked in confusion, I thought it was her father who proposed the marriage but it seems like it was only his approval, so this sacrifice was indeed hers alone? How can someone be brave enough to take this step for her people? She was selfless.

I couldn't help the guilt feeling that overwhelmed me.

☆☆☆

We paused for a break, our horse in need of water, I patted Luna as she did before my eyes scanned the forest, we have really ridden far, how far I could not tell after all the dark knight were our guide. Looking at the forest right now, it reminded me of when the Nightshades attacked me, it didn't sit quite well with me.

"After the horses are done let us head back to the castle," I said.

She smiled with a nod before feeling her hands on the flower, I moved away from Luna staring at the scenery, the sun dimming a bit, at the sound of someone behind me I turned, it was a dark knight.

"Anything?" I asked but he did not speak, I just eyed him suspiciously before whirling but yet another knight blocked me, my heart quickened, I didn't know why but my body crawled in fear.

"W-What are you doing?" I stammered they weren't supposed to act this way, they were knights, I gasped when they suddenly grabbed me.

"Let me go!" I yelled as they turned me to face Alice who just seemed calm as she patted her horse.. Her eyes drift to me and then it dawned on me.