“Ah, you all appear splendid.” Colton clapped his hands, interrupting her contemplation. “Satisfactory. I scarcely recognised you three without your elaborate royal garments that you attempted to disguise as humble attire.”
“What is the duration of our absence?” Molly enquired, her gaze apprehensively fixed on the carriage.
“They believe you three are there to reside. We could not send you with merely one bag.” Colton smiled at her. “The duration of your trip is at your discretion. It will last as long as necessary for you to acquire what you require.”
Beckham enquired, “Is there any additional information we should be aware of prior to our departure?”
“Indeed. Do not take offence if some individuals do not favour you upon your arrival. Many employees can be quite ruthless in their pursuit of advancement. Seek out the more relaxed individuals; they tend to be more forthcoming and amenable.” Colton gazed at all three of them. “Additionally, avoid being in prohibited areas. The consequences are severe-”
“Ruthless? Are you not the proprietor of Life Pharmacy?” Beckham straightened slightly, as if he were just becoming aware of the situation he was entering.
“Indeed, I have others present at my location in my absence. I will not participate in this endeavour, as I wish to maintain a clear separation to ensure that any misconduct is addressed by them.”
Molly looked up at Jayce, observing his furrowed brows. She was uncertain whether he was anxious or irritated at that moment, yet she experienced a blend of both emotions.
“I will accompany you as you depart. Remember to maintain your identities, and the three of you can devise a backstory during the journey, which will take several hours.”
Colton opened the door and extended his hand to assist Molly. Jayce intervened, grasping her hand and assisting her into the carriage while placing his hand on her lower back, preempting Colton’s approach. He appeared merely entertained by Jayce’s tenacity as he retreated.
Jayce entered next, taking a seat beside Molly, while Beckham positioned himself opposite them. Colton grasped the frame and examined them one final time. “This situation may deteriorate; you might discover unwelcome truths or face severe consequences. I have previously cautioned the rogues against harming the prince upon your arrival, yet this admonition appears to have been disregarded by many. I wish you all the best and hope to reunite.”
Colton nodded, then closed the door and struck the side of the carriage to signal the driver that they were prepared to depart. The launch was chaotic, prompting Jayce to extend his arm to prevent her from tumbling into Beckham’s lap.
Beckham’s gaze shifted between them with a trace of scepticism, yet Molly sensed that he was already aware without needing to observe her flush.
“So, Isabelle and James, huh? Whose brother am I?”
“Mine,” Jayce stated. Molly looked between them and bit her lip. They appeared markedly dissimilar. She was unable to identify a singular similarity between them and doubted that anyone else would perceive them as brothers at the camp.
“What about the cousin? I am uncertain if you will be perceived as brothers. Colton indicated that we could assign him a role ourselves,” Molly proposed.
“So, what is our narrative? Did we journey north to flee the abominable kingdom?” Beckham enquired with a smirk. Jayce exhaled in exasperation and reclined in his seat, his thigh in contact with hers. He had not observed her frequently since they… following the events that transpired between them. However, he was near her to such an extent that she observed he was perpetually mere inches away from making contact. She had not experienced a solitary moment with her thoughts, and a portion of her felt relieved by this. She realised she would lament her entire existence the moment silence enveloped her.
“We departed from one of the towns due to their mistreatment of us for our poverty,” Molly stated.
“In what manner did they abuse us?” Beckham interjected. “One might assert that they attempted to appropriate your exquisite wife for their own.” Beckham chuckled and struck Jayce’s leg. Jayce struck his shin and grimaced with displeasure. They certainly behaved as siblings, despite their dissimilar appearances.
“Perhaps they consistently harassed us due to our poverty, and we reached our limit, prompting our migration northward in search of freedom,” Molly stated hastily. She remained somewhat uncomfortable being designated as his wife. “We encountered an individual acquainted with Colton who facilitated our employment. I am confident they will not investigate our backgrounds further. This is the primary reason individuals arrive here.”
“Any communication with a worker must be disclosed to the others. We must avoid any deception. This situation is critically sensitive, and we cannot afford any errors.”
“Do not exert yourselves prior to our arrival,” Jayce muttered, subsequently closing his eyes. “We are married; you are my foolish cousin, and we travelled north in pursuit of freedom, as others have done. That is all.”
