Molly meticulously removed his shoes and draped two blankets over him before proceeding to cleanse the blood from his face and hands. She placed a glass of cold water and a piece of bread by the bed, anticipating his hunger upon awakening. Recalling Kylie’s remarks about the voracious appetites of certain princes after a night out, she contemplated procuring additional food, but ultimately dismissed the idea.
She remained by his side as he had for her. She would always remember his benevolence, despite her awareness that he would prefer she not regard it in that manner. Molly positioned a wooden chair to rest beside the bed where he lay. It was astonishing how his guards permitted Colton to incapacitate him so effortlessly without any attempt to intervene. She surmised that even they recognised he had exceeded acceptable limits and required restraint before he harmed someone. Nevertheless, the other individual must have been somewhat inebriated to believe it prudent to provoke a prince, particularly one of his stature.
Molly perused nearly half of the book he had gifted her before he finally awoke. Her eyes began to feel fatigued from the volume of text she had absorbed. When she lowered the book, he regarded her with a somewhat bewildered expression. His hair was dishevelled, and her fingers yearned to smooth it for him, to glide through his black locks and experience their softness beneath her touch.
Molly promptly rose and assisted him in sitting up. She placed her book aside and offered him a glass of water and bread. “How do you feel?”She enquired tentatively. His eyes appeared fatigued yet vigilant. He remained silent as he consumed the glass’s contents in mere seconds and tore into the bread with his teeth. She surveyed the surroundings for additional sustenance, but there was little else available.
Molly cleared her throat and repositioned the chair across the room. “Is there anything I can procure for you?” Do you feel hunger?She enquired, uncertain of how to occupy her hands, so she began to rearrange disordered items. He merely observed her as she paced, declining to respond to her straightforward questions. Why could he not articulate his hunger, providing her with a reason to momentarily escape and regain her composure? Did he not comprehend the difficulty of being scrutinised by him in such a manner?
After a brief interval, she halted before the bed and placed her hands on her hips. “Are you well?”She attempted once more, striving to mask her annoyance. He audaciously appeared amused by her exasperation, seemingly to provoke conversation. Was this a novel form of punishment? She recognised her position, even in the north where she could choose her identity. Despite their shared experiences, she refrained from raising her voice or making demands. He was aware of this; he understood she would perpetually remain a maid in his eyes, which infuriated her more than she was willing to acknowledge.
“They are not as unfavourable as you perceive,” Molly remarked abruptly. With her brows raised, she endeavoured to avert her gaze from his exposed chest. He was the sole man she had encountered up close without a shirt, a situation that had increasingly occurred of late. “The rogues.” They are not as unfavourable as I anticipated. I presumed we would both be deceased by this time.
He snorted and gazed at the wall behind her head. “On what basis do you conclude they are not detrimental?” Due to the affinity of their leader towards you?
They… They desire autonomy. Isn’t that what we all desire?Molly expressed a hint of yearning in her voice. His gaze returned to her upon hearing it. “They arrived here seeking freedom in life.” To avoid instigating conflicts wherever they are present. They arrived here to establish a life for themselves in a place where they would be safe from harm.
“Have you forgotten all the narratives you have encountered about them?” Among all their actions?
“Precisely, they are merely narratives.” We can never fully ascertain the truth until we witness it firsthand. My presence here has illuminated the nature of their character.” Molly grasped the post at the bed’s edge while gazing at him. “I acknowledge that some individuals are malevolent, but that is a universal reality.” There will always be malevolent individuals.
“They engage in killing for sport, Molly.” “Do not allow them to obscure their genuine motives,” Jayce remarked condescendingly. “You may have been deceived by their facades, but I am not.”
“I learnt the narrative regarding their arrival here, Jayce.” Of why this place even exists. The kingdom mistreated them due to their impoverished status. They could not coexist with the affluent without facing oppression or death.” Molly exhaled softly. She recognised his reluctance to acknowledge any positive aspects about them, yet she would endeavour to alter his perspective. “They eliminate intruders who threaten their security. They merely desire to exist autonomously in this environment; can’t you perceive that?
Jayce squinted. “I observe they have ensnared you already.” Who anticipated that influencing your allure would be so effortless?
