Page 28 of A Kingdom so Crimson

A grin played on his lips as he lowered the book. "About war tactics?" His voice resonated with the carriage's movements, purposefully evading my question. "You'll find out soon enough."

"No, why the desire for war?" I pressed. He furrowed his brows, the smile vanishing from his lips.

"Perhaps a tale for another time," he replied, lifting his book once more and returning to his reading. I rolled my eyes, shrugging off the dismissal.

I inhaled and bit my tongue, remembering Jesri's voice in my head about behaving. Slowly exhaling, I rested my chin in my hands, leaning against the window, and pushed aside my frustration.

As we journeyed on, the vibrations from the uneven path beneath the wheels reverberated through the carriage. The vibrant hues of the woods gave way to a sea of lush greenery, with towering pine trees and unusually thick trunks stretching as far as the eye could see. In the distance, mountain ranges emerged, their peaks obscured by clouds looming ominously close, obscuring our view as we approached.

I glanced back at Levon, who was now engrossed in writing something down in his notebook and couldn't help but notice his charm. His tunic draped effortlessly over his sculpted shoulders, revealing glimpses of his hazelnut skin beneath. My eyes traced the contours of his chest, following the rhythm of his breath. I observed the movement of his scarred hand, noticing how hisfingertips had turned black from the charcoal stick he was using. His eyes shimmered with a sense of adventure, which I had always longed for, and I hoped this training might fulfill.

"Enjoying the view?" he teased. I snapped out of my trance and turned to look out the window. I struggled to swallow my embarrassment, but my neck and cheeks betrayed me, flushing with each jolt of the carriage wheels.

"I am," I replied softly before clearing my throat. "It's quite different out here." I caught the hint of a playful grin on his lips as he closed his notebook and retrieved a cloth to wipe his blackened fingers.

"The world is much bigger than those pretty woods of yours," he remarked.

"They were never mine," I muttered.

His smile dimmed. "Perhaps not, but they were a sight to behold." I dared a glance at him, and his emerald-blue eyes sparkled in the setting sun, deepening the color of my blush.

I cleared my throat in an attempt to clear my mind. "I'm ready to see what else the world has to offer," I said, and I meant it.

Leaning forward, he rested his elbows on his knees as the fabric of his open shirt exposed more of his chest. Sensing my gaze, he flashed me a sly smile and locked eyes with me. "I believe the world is ready to meet you."

I wasn't aware that I had fallen asleep when I was quickly jolted awake after Levon tapped his shoe against mine rather forcefully. My neck was stiff and pulsed with pain as I tried to move.

"We are almost to the inn," Levon said, holding back a grin. I looked out the window to see that the sky had dimmed to a dark violet color, with only the setting sun as our guide.

"Did I sleep long?" I asked, rubbing at my neck and stretching back my shoulders.

"No, although—" his lips turned up. "I was about to throw you out with that horrid snore you make."

"I do not!" I snapped. He only laughed, not giving me any indication if he were serious.

We were no longer in the thicket of trees but on a vast open landscape, embraced by rolling green hills and valleys dotted with the twinkling lights of nearby towns and scattered mountains in the distance. Seeing several settlements clustered together made the world feel more tangible, reminding me of my small place within it.

The horses trotted down a winding hill and approached the inn, which had large wooden posts with vines that roped around each one. Though the inn was much larger than I was expecting, it was homely, and as soon as we stopped, I quickly jumped out of the carriage, excited.

"Do I need to remind you of your role as a lady?" Levon teased, a playful glint in his eyes. "I hope you'll conduct yourself accordingly, especially when we dine with the king," he added, waving off the footmen and declining the use of a stepping stool.

"Conduct myself?" I countered, folding my arms with an animated pout. "You mean I can't stroll around in my training gear, taking out my frustrations on anything that crosses my path?"

Levon chuckled. "Tempting as that sounds, perhaps save it for the training grounds," he suggested. "And no oneshouldbe themselves around the king," he quipped, flashing me a cautious smile as he took my arm, leading the way towards the inn. Suppressing the urge to fire back a witty retort, I allowedhim to guide me inside, exchanging a glance as we crossed the threshold.

He pushed open the large wooden door, and a wave of warmth greeted us. A plump woman carrying a basket of mixed vegetables paused mid-stride. "Oh, welcome! What can I do for you?"

"We'll need a few rooms for tonight," Levon replied, gesturing as the two footmen entered with our belongings.

"The only rooms I have left are with two beds," she said with a shrug, her gaze lingering on my arm linked with Levon's. Hastily, I released his arm and stepped back, realizing she assumed we were a couple. I was about to correct her when Levon spoke up.

"We will take them. Thank you, Madame—" he stopped, waiting for her name.

"Oh! Tyran, no. Only Mrs. Bestrum," the woman said, with her cheeks flushing. She walked over to a small table at the far end of the wall and grabbed two silver keys with a red ribbon on each. "Here you are," she said, placing them into Levon's hand. "Upstairs on your left. You can pay once you leave," she stated, hurrying with her full basket.

"Thank you, Mrs. Bestrum."

He pivoted, scooping up the bags, and gestured toward his footmen, who promptly fell into step behind us as we ascended the stairs. The wooden floor groaned under our weight, and distant voices and laughter reverberated through the corridor as we passed several doors, finally arriving at ours. Levon set the bags down with a thud and handed a key to one of the footmen, who swiftly disappeared into their own room carrying bags. Then, Levon slid our key into the lock, pushing the door open to reveal a stale room devoid of the cozy atmosphere downstairs. The two beds were cramped and uncomfortably close, with onlya small stand between them, adorned with a solitary lamp. There was no bathing area, no vanity, no armoire.

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