Rhane clenched his teeth. He had met a lot of women, but not once in his thirty-three years of living had he seen someone as careless as Jenna, casually undressing in front of a man. It even annoyed Rhane the most that Percy almost had the seat, and it made Rhane want to step out and beat the boy up before throwing his limp body to wild animals.
That wasn't all. When Rhane saw the dress Jenna had on, that left her cleavage almost hanging out, he clenched his fists but tried to act indifferent.
"The Scourge..."
Rhane's hand tightened on the zipper, his eyes narrowed on Jenna's small back.
"Rhane... I can't breathe," Jenna confessed, touching the corset of the dress.
Rhane let go quickly, going back to sit opposite Jenna.
"Do you think this looks good on me?" Jenna asked, raising her sleeves that were as long as the dress itself.
Rhane almost replied that he would gouge the eyes of anyone who looked at her, but he kept a smile.
"Master looks good in everything," he replied.
Jenna pouted, slumping on the chair. "More like fat," she said with a sigh. "I wish I were like other maidens... slender hands and small chest," she looked down at her chest.
Still contemplating, and Rhane fuming about a lot of things, their carriage jerked to a stop.
Percy knocked on the window, "My Lady... we have some thieves hiding over there."
"Thieves?" Jenna quickly hid her bag of money under the carriage chair. It was normal for thieves to wait around for travelers, especially traders. Jenna knew all she had to do was have a dialogue with them and give them a little amount.
She raised her purse, giving it to Rhane. "Just if talking to them doesn't work, you bring this."
Rhane's eyes weren't on the purse but on Jenna stepping down from the carriage with an exposed cleavage. He watched her walk under the evening sky with Percy and the coachman holding a fire torch.
"Come see them," Percy led the way. "They are here, My Lady," he moved the torch to the side, casting light on the path Jenna now walked through.
Jenna frowned when she saw the people hiding. One of them stood out the most: the young woman with golden hair and shiny eyes. Her features were soft and delicate, yet her eyes said another thing.
"I thought you said the thieves were men," Jenna asked Percy, sizing the woman up. "It's just one man here, and the ladies don't look like thieves."
Percy cleared his throat, touching the back of his neck. He chuckled nervously, "I saw them running and trying to hide. So, I thought..."
Jenna sighed tiredly. "You just tagged them as thieves with no proof," she said, scolding Percy with a hard glare.
"I am so sorry, Lady Jenna. I thought... Please forgive me." Percy bowed deeply.
Lady Jenna turned her attention to the young woman that looked like noble blood and bowed, "I'm so sorry. Some of my workers stole some things, so we were after them. Do not be offended." She lied just so the woman wouldn't feel insulted. It was better to act like they were already after thieves.
"No, no, not at all... It happens," the young woman replied with a small smile that made her lips thin.
Jenna noticed the woman grimace, looking at the two young women and the man behind them. She asked, "But why were you hiding if you did nothing? I mean, you should have just stood your ground and defended yourself instead of hiding."
"We were... um..." the woman began, then stopped.
Jenna narrowed her eyes. The way the young lady was stuttering, Jenna could detect lies brewing.
"Our master has been unkind to us, so we decided to escape. This is my sister, and he is our elder brother," the young lady completed.
Jenna could see it wasn't entirely the truth, but she had also not been honest herself, and she needed to be on her way. Looking at the three of them with pity, her eyes lingered on the noble lady, who was dressed in fine silk. There was just something off about her.
"This?" The young lady touched her dress. "Please look the other way. I just needed something we could sell when we leave."
Jenna inhaled softly, "That's fine. I know how wicked most masters can be. You should report to the Crown Prince. I heard he is King now, King Adric. Was it?" Lady Jenna hummed thoughtfully.
"You know my..."
The younger girl began. Jenna furrowed her brows, waiting to hear what she had to say.
"Our King?" the noble lady completed with a nervous chuckle.
Jenna smiled, "Well, you can say that, but I'm not so close to him. I know his friend, whom I do business with. So Chief Cortez is—"
"Cortez!" the lady exclaimed.
Lady Jenna furrowed her brows, "You know Cortez?"
"He came for... I mean, my master introduced me to someone named Cortez before... so I just thought," the lady continued.
Jenna shook her head, "Cortez isn't one to hang around wicked men like your master because he is also kind. I'm sure it's someone else." The woman remarked. Her first love is anything but wicked. In fact, to Jenna, Cortez remains the sweetest man alive. Though he can be sly most times, but that was it.
The noble lady agreed. "I guess so."
Jenna sucked her teeth. "I feel bad for scaring you earlier. Is there any way I can be of help? Maybe give you a ride in my carriage—"
"Yes!" the man that has been quiet interjected happily. "We would love to join you in the carriage."
Jenna clapped her hands out of excitement, "Please, this way."
The man moved but not the lady. "Thank you for your offer, but no," she said with a smile. "We'll be fine walking. Maybe we can settle in one of the villages."
Jenna hummed thoughtfully. "It's okay, you know better, and I wish you good luck. Let me offer you help in the way I can. It might not be much, but... Rhane! Bring the money pouch."
Rhane stepped down from the carriage and walked to them, "Here it is, Master."
"You!" the younger girl pointed, her eyes wide with shock.
The other woman nudged her. "Do you know him?"
"Yes! The most handso- no, the thief I told you about. I met him at the market."
Jenna swallowed hard. She heard the girl clearly, but she needed to defend her servant first.
"You must be mistaken. Rhane would never steal from anyone. He is just..." the woman paused, "simple-minded."
Rhane's lips curled into a grin, his eyes on the younger girl that recognized him.
"I'm sorry. My sister must have mistaken him for someone else," the young lady apologized.
Jenna waved her hands dismissively. "It's okay. We already did the same to you. Here, take this and find an inn to rest tonight," she said, giving them the entire pouch that contained money.
"Thank you so much for your help," the lady bowed.
Jenna turned, waving them goodbye. "Take care, and I wish you well."
This time, when the carriage started moving, Jenna had her eyes suspiciously on Rhane. What the young girl had said stuck, and it made Jenna worry if it was actually true she was riding with a thief. The girl had been so sure and scared when she saw Rhane.
Rhane could feel Jenna's eyes, and he knew the reason.