Damned by Him

At exactly noon, the mansion finally settled into the restless activity that always accompanied the beginning of a long journey, because the servants had spent the better part of the morning carrying luggage through the corridors and arranging the provisions that would be needed along the road, while outside, two large carriages waited beneath the pale afternoon sun with their horses already harnessed and several guards standing nearby, prepared to accompany them toward the west.

Rosaline stood at the entrance of the mansion with her travelling cloak gathered loosely around her shoulders, watching as the last of her belongings were loaded into the first carriage, and although she had been looking forward to leaving for most of the morning, there was something strangely emotional about finally standing there and realizing that she was actually going.

The butler stood a short distance away with several maids gathered beside him, all of them waiting to bid her farewell.

"Take care of yourself, Lady Rosaline," the butler said respectfully, lowering his head slightly as he offered her a warm but restrained smile.

Rosaline smiled in return.

"I will."

One of the maids stepped forward and clasped her hands together.

"Please remember to rest during the journey."

Rosaline laughed softly.

"I promise I will."

From behind her, Xandros cleared his throat.

"She has been told that approximately ten times already."

Rosaline turned toward him with an amused expression.

"Perhaps because everyone thinks I don’t listen."

Xandros lifted one eyebrow.

"You don’t."

"I do."

"You do." He acknowledged but it seemed sarcastic that made her reconfirmed it, "I do."

The butler lowered his gaze, seemingly hiding a smile, while Rosaline gave Xandros an irritated look before turning back toward the servants.

"Thank you for everything," she said more softly, and there was genuine warmth in her voice this time. "I’ll see you when I return."

The servants bowed and wished her a safe journey, and for a brief moment, Rosaline stood there simply looking at the mansion behind her, wondering how strange it was that a place that had once frightened her had slowly become somewhere she could leave without feeling as though she were escaping.

Xandros approached her.

"Ready?"

Rosaline nodded.

"Yes."

Two carriages had been prepared for the journey, with the larger one carrying most of the luggage, supplies, and travelling provisions, while the second carriage had been arranged more comfortably for the principal travellers, and Christophine, climbed into the first carriage with Seth after the luggage had been secured, her expression brightening when she noticed the amount of food that had been packed inside.

"This is definitely the better carriage," she announced, leaning against the doorway with an amused smile.

Rosaline glanced at her.

"You only think that because of the food."

"Exactly."

Seth laughed as he climbed inside.

"At least she’s honest about it."

Christophine pointed toward him.

"See? He understands me."

Xandros shook his head and gestured toward the second carriage.

"Get inside."

Christophine gave him a mocking salute before disappearing into the carriage, while Seth followed after her, leaving Rosaline and Xandros to enter the other carriage.

Once everyone was settled, the horses began to move.

The wheels rolled over the stone road with a steady rhythm, and the mansion gradually disappeared behind them as the carriages travelled farther away, leaving the familiar grounds behind and carrying them toward the western roads that would eventually lead them to Rosaline’s kingdom.

For the first several minutes, Rosaline remained quietly seated beside the carriage window, watching the scenery change from the familiar roads surrounding the mansion to long stretches of countryside.

Xandros sat opposite her, one arm resting casually against the side of the seat as his eyes occasionally moved toward her.

Eventually, he spoke.

"Are you uncomfortable?"

Rosaline turned toward him.

"No."

"The carriage is moving quite quickly."

"I’m fine."

Xandros studied her for another moment.

"If you begin feeling uncomfortable, tell me."

Rosaline smiled faintly.

"I will."

"Don’t simply say you’re fine because you don’t want to inconvenience anyone."

She rolled her eyes.

"I said I’ll tell you."

"Good."

Silence returned between them, although it was not as uncomfortable as the silence that had existed between them days earlier.

Rosaline leaned against the carriage wall and continued watching the scenery pass by until something suddenly seemed to occur to her.

"Xandros."

"Hm?"

"Can we stop somewhere?"

His brows lifted slightly.

"Where?"

"The capital market."

He looked at her.

"Why?"

"I want to stop at Virellion Square."

Xandros stared at her for a moment before asking, "For what?"

Rosaline’s expression became slightly evasive.

"I want to get something."

"What?"

She smiled innocently.

"You’ll see."

Xandros sighed.

"You’ve become suspiciously secretive."

"I haven’t."

"You have."

"Can we stop or not?" She asked and he stared at her for another moment before finally giving in.

"Yes, we can."

Rosaline’s face immediately brightened.

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Thank you."

"But we’re not staying long."

"I know."

"And you aren’t going to wander off."

"I won’t."

Xandros gave her a skeptical look.

Rosaline smiled.

"I promise."

The journey continued for several more hours before the distant outlines of the capital gradually emerged, and by the time they reached Virellion Square, the sun had already begun its slow descent toward the horizon, casting a warm glow over the crowded streets and the numerous stalls that filled the square.

The moment Rosaline looked outside, her eyes widened.

The market was alive.

Merchants called out to passing customers, carts moved slowly between the crowded streets, and the scent of freshly baked pastries drifted through the air, immediately catching Rosaline’s attention.

She turned toward Xandros.

"I want to go down."

He followed her gaze toward the market.

"You’ve already decided, haven’t you?"

Rosaline nodded.

"Yes."

He sighed.

"Fine."

They left Seth and Christophine inside the other carriage while Xandros and Rosaline stepped down together, and the moment Rosaline entered the square, her attention was immediately captured by the rows of pastry stalls arranged along the street.

She moved from one stall to another with growing excitement, inspecting different kinds of pastries, cakes, sweet rolls, fruit-filled tarts, and small delicacies wrapped carefully in paper.

Xandros followed behind her in silence.

"You’ve bought enough," he finally said.

Rosaline turned around with a pastry in one hand.

"I haven’t."

"You have three bags."

"They’re different."

"They’re all food."

"Exactly."

Xandros shook his head.

Rosaline ignored him and continued toward another stall, where something immediately caught her attention.

Her expression softened.

She remembered it.

It was similar to the pastry Matthew had shown her that day.

The memory came unexpectedly, bringing with it a strange warmth that she couldn’t quite explain.

"These," she said.

The vendor smiled.

"Would you like some?"

"Yes."

"How many?"

Rosaline hesitated.

Then she looked toward Xandros.

He already knew what she was going to say.

"Don’t."

She smiled.

"Ten."

The vendor laughed.

Xandros closed his eyes briefly.

"Ten?"

"Yes."

"You cannot possibly eat ten."

"I’m not eating them all at once."

"That’s not reassuring."

Rosaline laughed softly as the pastries were packed for her, and by the time she returned to the carriage, she was carrying enough food to make Xandros question whether they had stopped at a market or stocked an entire kitchen.

Once they were back inside the carriage, the journey resumed.

The capital slowly disappeared behind them, and soon the bustling streets gave way to long roads surrounded by dense forest.

Rosaline opened one of the pastry packages.

She began eating happily, occasionally looking toward the passing scenery through the window as the trees gradually became thicker.

Xandros watched her for a moment.

"You really like them."

Rosaline nodded while chewing.

"Mhm."

She reached into the package and selected one before holding it toward him without looking in his direction.

"Here."

Xandros looked at the pastry.

Then at her hand.

Rosaline waited.

She expected him to take it from her fingers.

Instead, she suddenly felt something warm and wet against the tip of her finger.

Her entire body went rigid.

She turned her head immediately.

Xandros had leaned forward and taken the pastry directly from her hand, his lips briefly brushing against her finger before he pulled away with the pastry between his teeth.

Rosaline stared at him.

Her eyes widened.

For several seconds, neither of them spoke.

Then she quickly pulled her hand back against herself, her face warming as an uncomfortable sensation spread through her body.

"What..." she began before clearing her throat. "What are you doing?"

Xandros calmly chewed the pastry.

"What?"

"You could have taken it normally."

He swallowed.

"I did."

Rosaline stared at him in disbelief.

"No, you didn’t."

A faint smirk appeared at the corner of his lips.

"I got the pastry, didn’t I?"

Rosaline’s cheeks warmed further.

She turned sharply toward the window.

"You’re impossible."

Behind her, Xandros leaned back against his seat, clearly pleased with himself.

Rosaline refused to look at him again.

She continued eating her pastries while keeping her attention firmly fixed outside the carriage, and although she could still feel his amusement in the silence behind her, she deliberately ignored it.

The road stretched endlessly ahead.

The trees became darker as evening approached, and eventually the sunlight began fading until only faint traces of gold remained between the branches.

Rosaline’s eyelids gradually became heavier.

She shifted in her seat.

She was tired.

Without saying anything, she leaned her head against the carriage window, hoping the cool glass would be enough to support her.

Xandros noticed.

He said nothing.

He knew she was still not entirely comfortable with him, and he also knew that if he offered to move her, she would probably refuse simply because she disliked admitting when she needed something.

So he remained where he was.

Rosaline’s breathing slowly became softer.

Her eyes closed.

For several minutes, she remained asleep against the window, but the movement of the carriage caused her head to shift awkwardly with every bump in the road.

Xandros watched her for a while.

Then he quietly reached across.

His hand settled against her back, supporting her carefully as he adjusted her position.

Rosaline did not wake.

He gently guided her away from the window and toward him, eventually positioning her so that her head rested against his lap.

He remained still afterward, making sure she was comfortable before leaning back against the seat.

Rosaline’s body relaxed almost immediately.

Xandros looked down at her.

She appeared completely peaceful now, her silver-white hair falling softly across his lap while her breathing remained slow and even.

He allowed himself a faint smile.

Then he noticed something.

Her heartbeat.

It was fast.

Far too fast for someone who was supposed to be asleep.

His expression changed slightly.

He could hear the quick rhythm beneath her chest, and although she kept her eyes closed, he knew she was not sleeping as peacefully as she pretended.

Xandros lowered his head slightly.

His voice was barely more than a whisper when he spoke near her ear.

"You know I can hear your heartbeat, don’t you?"

Rosaline remained perfectly still.

Her heartbeat quickened even more.

A faint amusement entered his expression.

"You’re supposed to be sleeping."

He adjusted her gently against his lap, his fingers brushing lightly against her hair.

"Stop thinking so much."

Her heartbeat continued racing.

Xandros leaned closer, his lips near her ear as he whispered, "Slow down."

Rosaline’s fingers curled slightly against the fabric beneath her.

"You can sleep peacefully," he murmured, his voice soft and strangely reassuring. "I won’t do anything."

He paused for a moment before adding quietly, "Just rest."

The carriage continued moving through the darkening forest, the rhythmic sound of the wheels blending with the steady breathing of the woman resting against him, while Xandros remained perfectly still beneath her, allowing her to pretend she was asleep for as long as she needed.

And perhaps for the first time since everything between them had changed, Rosaline allowed herself to stop fighting the warmth beneath her cheek.

She remained there.

Quiet.

Still.

Listening to the steady sound of his voice fading into the darkness.

And eventually, her heartbeat began to slow.

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