Vivia blinked twice, recognizing the familiar voice. She slowly turned her head upward, meeting the pair of golden eyes looking back at her with a slightly tilted head. A long beat of silence later, she gasped.
"M-My lord…!"
She took a step back, straightening her back but not before landing a ruthless jab at his jaw, throwing his head backward. Her acrobatics that had hurt Zerath's jaw with a count that even she couldn't count on her fingers anymore made her freeze.
I struck his jaw once again..!
But wait a minute, what is Zerath doing here in the first place?
And I was supposed to wait by the carriage and not roam around the city!
Then her face paled because she remembered that Eurus was right out in the open, innocently standing by her side. Eurus, who wasn't supposed to be at Bellor at all.
Zerath touched his chin that throbbed with a mild pain - a very familiar pain at that. His gaze fell on Ril and he smiled.
"Ril, the coachman."
She pressed her lips.
"Being unable to contain your shock and then striking a cutting move against someone's jaw feels like an awfully familiar tactic that a particular person I know uses."
She swallowed a gulp.
"They seem to have some real enmity with my face."
She had no words to say.
Zerath lowered his gaze with a smile. "Right, Eurus?"
She completely turned her head away at that point.
Eurus's little face turned extremely serious. He wasn't supposed to be spotted, so he hid behind Vivia's legs again.
"Oh, I didn't know you got so close to our young coachman."
"My lord..!" Razaas, who wasn't expecting to see the Crown Prince at Bellor gasped in wonder. "My lord is here! Rise for the Crown Prince, Zerath!"
"Indeed. As always, it's fun to be at Bellor. I saw your match from the audience, Sir Razaas. You fought well."
Saw the match…? Vivia froze.
"A shame that your pleasant rest got disturbed by a sudden storm."
Vivia turned her head back very slowly and met his playful expression and twinkling eyes halfway.
"Ah, no big deal," Razaas said, "The kid's ice is not to be trifled with."
"A fine attitude to have. Just like Lord Bellor who welcomed new challenges instead of being threatened. His statue at the city square gives such patriotic inspiration."
By then Vivia's gaze was fully locked with Zerath's, her expression darkening.
This cunning demon was following us the whole time!? Why would he bother to follow his coachman unless-
Her brow twitched violently and she bit her lower lip.
"By the way, Ril is my lord's coachman?" Razaas blinked.
Zerath smiled. "He is my extremely talented and capable coachman who gives the finest carriage rides ever. Nobody is a better driver than Ril. I trust him with my life."
"..."
Lucian, who was standing beside him, felt Vivia's heated, questioning glances. It failed to cast even a minute sliver of shadow in his features as he dutifully stood by his lord's side.
Sir Lucian, does Zerath really know!?
There was no response from his side, and her shoulders sagged in defeat.
I'm really done for. This is the end, she prayed.
"What is going on here?"
A grey-haired elderly woman entered the open ground along with Ruri.
"Razaas. What brings you here?" She adjusted her glasses against the tip of her nose. Then her narrowed, stern gaze fell upon Ril and Eurus.
"Who are these people?"
"Pardon their intrusion, Madam Matron, they're my people. My coachman Ril and the child is Eurus," Zerath introduced.
"I see."
The matron stared at the huddled up kids. "Don't crowd around the Crown Prince like that. Go back to doing your exercises."
"No need," Zerath raised his palm. "It's good that all are here. I've brought some gifts for everyone."
Everybody's gaze lit up.
"That's not necessary, my lord. The gifts will spoil them," her voice tightened.
He smiled, eyes closed. "They're at that age to be spoiled, Madam Matron, at least a little bit. You need not worry. Till I speak with the kids here, how about you get all the things ready that I've requested for?"
The matron went silent for a moment. "Understood, my lord."
She then glanced at Ruri. "Come with me."
Ruri jumped on her feet and followed her quickly.
Zerath glanced at Lucian. "Can you bring the gifts in? Sir Razaas, would you help Lucian?"
"Of course!" He smacked his chest hard. "No weight is heavy for these muscles."
"Wonderful."
"I-I'll help you too!" Vivia offered.
"No need, coachman Ril."
She stiffened.
"Let us spend some time here with the kids."
Zerath's smile felt like a looming death sentence. A gust of wind blew between them. Unfortunately, Vivia found no chance to maneuver an escape.
Damn it. I cannot be left alone with Zerath right now!
She straightened when Zerath moved and began to approach her. She was thinking of some kind of excuse to make when he passed right by her without a word.
He smiled at the children. "How's everyone doing?"
The older kids shared glances and looked back. "We're practicing martial arts, my lord."
"That's good," he ruffled the taller kid's head. "But that wasn't what I meant. Is everything going well here? Any complaints?"
"None at all, my lord!"
The older kids replied without any hesitation, but Vivia observed a trace of some discomfort among the younger ones.
"I see. Are you eating well?"
"Yes, my lord!"
"Are you sleeping well?"
"Yes, my lord!"
"I see. That's good to know," he smiled pleasantly. "I've brought some gifts for you all. Hope you like it."
The older kids exchanged glances again. They bowed. "Esthar om ven, my lord."
By then, Lucian and Razaas were back with the presents. Zerath glanced at Vivia.
"Coachman Ril, would you help me with distributing the gifts?"
"Me? O-okay…"
Clearly, he knows who I'm. What is he planning?