The following morning came with a strange mixture of calmness and lingering embarrassment from that night. Ester had come into the room with another servant, had her washed and dressed. This time, with more layers. The attendant spoke of a stylist arriving from the city that day to take Ro's measurements. Most likely for the wedding dress.
She had breakfast, a mostly meaty but strangely delicious dish.
Not wasting time, she requested to see the city. Or at least the parts nearby. Ester and the servant had seemed surprised, then hesitant. Of course, they would not have expected her to make such a sudden request so soon after arriving.
Fearing it would arouse suspicion, Ro quickly diffused it. A brief explanation of how walks back in Erzi calmed her nerves and how stifled she felt at the moment. Ro also emphasised that if there were no other business of the day, she would like a brief tour.
They understood and excused themselves to ask for permission from the Lord of the House.
Ro sat in the lounge hall of her quarters, the unease she had woken up with eating her from the inside.
What made her think they wouldn't inquire from Iver?
It was even worse due to the encounter from last night. What if he summoned her instead?
Her stomach tightened. Would she even be able to look him in the eye? He had witnessed her in two different vulnerable states.
Half-naked and covered in dirt!
Ester entered the chamber, alone this time. She flashed an uneasy smile, letting Ro know of a development that drained the blood from her face.
Iver was going to be her guide.
__________
A coat, lighter this time, had been wrapped around Ro. The cold air bit at her face as she stepped out. No sunlight in sight.
A bear, larger than the ones that had brought her and Geneva to the manor, stood in the courtyard. It pawed at the ground, its dark brown fur swaying with each motion.
Ro went still at the sight of the beast. But her stomach churned upon noticing the man petting it.
He stood as tall as the creature itself, his dark fur coat perfectly matched the pitch-black shaggy mane on his head. As if on cue, he turned his head in her direction.
Ro threw her gaze to the bear and made her way towards him with slow, heavy steps. Two sources of immense fear were right before her.
As she drew closer, she called out, "I give my greetings, my—"
Warm hands encompassed her jaw and tilted her face up. Ro's eyes widened in alarm, and her pulse quickened.
He stared down at her, studying her face. His sharp eyes, lightly shadowed by thick lashes, inspected every crevice of her face. Not like property as she was accustomed to, but something else that unnerved her all the same. With someone sporting skin fairer than hers, his chiselled face contained dignified features. One of his dark brows angled upwards, and his straight nose slightly wrinkled. A strange light flashed within his eyes.
"Explain what you were doing last night."
Her breath shook. Sweat trickled down her spine.
"I…" She thinned her lips and swallowed, trying to look anywhere but his face. She could not see anything beyond his huge frame. She decided to settle for his jaw. "I was feeling very weak from the trip. I tend to do this when I feel a sickness coming on."
He leaned forward, locking eyes with her.
"In Lispa, it is disrespectful to avoid one's eyes when speaking." The deadpan tone of his deep voice sent a sweat trickling down her spine. "Or are you low-born?"
Her hands twitched at her sides. She forced down a sick feeling, and her reply came sharper than she intended, "No." A pause, then softer, "I am… not used to the eyes of your people."
"Hmm…" Something unreadable flickered in his eyes at her tone, as though weighing whether her bite was bold or foolish.
She touched his hand, hesitant, then steadier. Her legs slightly trembled as she continued, "My neck hurts, please."
He straightened, letting go of her. Ro released a heavy breath and touched her chin. His hands had swallowed the width of her face, fingers thick with the kind of strength that had launched a man across a hall the day before.
She clasped her hands tightly together and looked up to find him still staring.
"I'm not lying." She slightly bowed. "Please, forgive me for using your grounds in such a horrible manner without notice. I—"
"You won't be falling ill now, is that it?"
She paused. "Ye—yes…"
Without another word, her laid his palm on the beast's back and lifted himself onto it in one fluid motion. Ro flinched. There was no saddle. How would she even get up, much less be able to hold on to the animal?
The beast had barely even buckled under his weight.
"Come."
She cast a weary glance at the beast.
"She's harmless." His tone carried the faintest drop of irony, savouring her disbelief.
A short dry laugh escaped Ro's lips. She clapped a hand over her mouth, mortified.
"Forgive—" Her words were cut off by a squeak as she found herself off the ground, his arm around her waist.
Iver hauled her onto the bear's back, nestled right before him.
Her chest echoed with the sordid hammering of her heart. Her back was rigid against his chest, a chest broad enough to make her feel small. And she wasn't used to feeling small.
"Your stiff posture is going to make her uneasy very soon," he warned.
His words did nothing to ease her. She was pressed in on all sides. He and the bear emanated such heat that she was starting to feel warm within the cold breeze. His thighs pressed in on hers, securing her firmly.
Ro shuddered.
What was happening?