"Percy!" Jenna called out the young man's name, pushing her bag inside the carriage.
"We are taking just one carriage, make sure you get rid of everything unnecessary."
Hart stood beside his own carriage, worry marred on his handsome face. "Jenna, do you really need to embark on this journey? I only just arrived."
Jenna dropped the bag she was holding and sighed. She had been too relaxed since after the Festival of Maidens that she forgot to set out like other merchants.
"Hart, you already know how trade works. I need to go make acquaintance with other merchants and see what I can return with."
Hart sighed, resting on his carriage. "This is really not a life for a woman, I mean other women stay in their husband's—"
"Other women…" Jenna interrupted. She turned to look at her old friend,
"I'll let that pass, Hart, because I know you mean no harm," Jenna said with a half-smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"But don't try to fix women in that painting you have in your head. I can do just about anything I want, not because I am woman...or you're a man. There's no limit because I am human." Jenna nodded, patting her friend on the shoulder.
Hart beamed, grabbing Jenna's hand in the process. "This is why I'm in love with you. Jenna, consider my marriage offer already. Please."
A loud crash was heard, interrupting them. Jenna and Hart turned to see Percy crumpled on the floor with his bags, and beside him, Rhane stood staring down at him.
"Be careful, Percy," Jenna warned, wriggling her hand from Hart. "You better be on your way, Hart. It was good to see you."
Percy winced, jumping up from the ground. He gathered the bags and turned to Rhane. "I wasn't the one touching her," he whined, rubbing his shoulder.
Rhane ignored him, walking past the young man. He moved his own bag inside the carriage.
After they were done packing, Jenna turned to her other workers.
"Henri, please take care of the house while I'm away. We'll be back in no time," Jenna instructed. She turned to Mabel and smiled.
The young girl had been trying her best to recover from what happened the last time, and Jenna could see through her smiles that she was hurting.
"You know you can still come with me."
Mabel smiled, shaking her head. "If I leave with you, there will be nobody to take care of the house. I'll stay."
"Thank you, Mabel," Jenna rubbed the girl's hand and smiled. "Bruno, Harriet. Don't cause trouble around the house."
"We won't," they chorused, touching their chests.
Jenna exhaled softly. She turned to look at Rhane, who was also traveling with her. She had kept the young man beside her for too long, and Jenna assumed it was the reason her mind was playing tricks on her. If she was actually going to help him, then it was better to take him back where she found him or rather seek help from professionals.
"Rhane, I can't wait for you to come back. I have a lot I need you to teach me." Bruno hugged Rhane.
Rubbing the young boy's head, he smiled. When his eyes fell on Jenna, his smile widened even more. It was finally time he got closer to Jenna.
Ready for the carriage to leave, Percy hopped inside. Used to sitting close to his mistress during journeys like this, he waited with his hands on his knees for them to depart.
Jenna got ready to climb. Rhane helped place a stool for her to stand on, then she entered.
"Rhane, you're going to sit with the coachman then," Jenna suggested, seeing that Percy had already entered.
Rhane nodded with a smile. "Yes, Master," his eyes settling on Percy.
"Um...I..." Percy adjusted uncomfortably, trying to avert his gaze from meeting Rhane's eyes.
Picking up the stool, Rhane tried to move it back to its position but ended up breaking it.
"Oh!" Jenna gasped. "Rhane, are you okay?"
Rhane bowed. "I was going to gently keep it, Master, but broke it."
"Wow, such strength… Rhane, you know you could snap a human like that too," Jenna muttered in awe of the young man's strength.
Percy jumped down through the window at the shock of Jenna but not Rhane, who placed his lips in a thin line.
"Percy, are you okay? What's wrong?" Jenna called after her servant, wondering why everyone was suddenly acting strange.
Percy picked himself up from the ground and dusted his shirt. "I'm fine, My Lady," not after a bone in his waist cracked softly, but he struggled to stand straight.
"I probably should stay with the coachman since I know the road better than Rhane," Percy suggested, going to pick up the wooden pieces that Rhane was still holding.
Jenna snapped her fingers at the idea. "That's right! I totally forgot that Rhane barely knows the road," she muttered, adjusting in the carriage.
"Quick, get in."
Finally, the carriage got set to depart, with Percy grumbling while sitting with the coachman and Rhane sitting opposite his master.
"Safe travels, Lady Jenna," Mabel and Harriet waved when the carriage started moving slowly away from the merchant village.
Getting to the road that was quiet, Jenna picked up her bag and shuffled with it. Rummaging through, her eyes focused on what she was looking for.
"I shouldn't dress like a merchant to meet someone so important," Jenna raised her shirt and then another shirt. Most of the clothes she had were like that of men, since she found it comfortable.
As a married woman, she was obliged to always wear a silk gown, tie her hair up, and wear makeup, but the moment she left the marriage, Jenna found the freedom to dress comfortably.
"Oh! This." Jenna raised a dress up. She had left it for occasions like this one, when she had to meet important figures.
Rhane sat opposite her, his hands placed on his lap, while his eyes watched Jenna.
"Rhane," Jenna called. "Can you please close your eyes?"
Rhane didn't ask questions. He closed his eyes first, then said, "Yes, Master."
Jenna smiled. She couldn't deny how protected she always felt around the young man. Other men made her feel like an object, one that would only be useful in bed, but this young man never showed interest and treated her with so much care.
Removing her shirt first, Jenna dropped her trousers before slipping her legs and hands into the dress.
"Ugh," Jenna groaned. Putting on weight had made the dress tighter, exposing her cleavage. Struggling to zip up the dress, Jenna pushed her hands to her back.
"Mm," she grunted, even attempting to fold her back but to no avail.
Out of breath and hope, Jenna wheeled. "Rhane, can you… help me?"
Just like the first time, Rhane nodded. When he opened his eyes, his jaw ticked.
"Come zip this for me," Jenna asked, turning her back for him.
Rhane grabbed the tiny zip. Before he moved it up, he asked, "Is Master going to see someone?"
"Y… yes," Jenna struggled with breathing. "Someone very important… the only person who can help me right now." She paused, gathering her thoughts.
"I heard he's the ruination of trade. Every activity goes through him, and he can find just anyone living under the sun, including a bird's lost family." Jenna's breath hitched when Rhane moved the zipper up.
"The Scourge," she whispered.