It is already mid-morning when we arrive at the Kingdom of Duran. There are a couple of ships on the dock, most are as big as ours, and some are even bigger. Even on the deck, I can already hear the noise and activity of the people below us.
From where I am standing, I can see some of the Kingdom's landscape. The first area, close to the harbor points, are the establishments, close to the port. Behind those are the residential area and as I look beyond, I notice that the number of houses start to decrease, with some ‌houses far from each other. The castle of Duran, on the other hand, is visible as it rises among the houses, miles away from where we are.
Then I feel Theo grab my waist and pulls me closer to him. I am about turn my face to him when he kisses the side of my neck. I jerk at the touch and pull back from him.
"Let me-" I start, but his arms only tighten around me and he sniffs my hair.
I slap his face which confounds him. I use the opportunity to retreat a couple of steps back from him.
"Aren't we going to spend the day together?" he asks. "You are my personal guard."
I groan. Right, I forgot about that. I take a deep breath. I turn to face him and see the pain in his expression. I look away. Wrong move.
"Is there any place you'd like to visit?" I ask.
"Well, I left the restocking to the captains and other crews, so how about we grab some food?"
I clench my jaws. "Aren't you going to visit the Duran royalty?" I ask.
"No. I never asked them for an audience," he answers.
Ugh, he just wants to stroll and explore the place!
He moves towards me and I take a step back, then I notice Ami on my left. She is shaking her head as if warning me not to anger the King. Damn it! So, I let him approach me.
Theo peers into my eyes. I did not even notice when he places a coat around my body. Then, he grins as he wears one himself.
"I might not be visiting their royalty, but I am worried the citizen might still recognize me, so it's better to travel as inconspicuous as possible."
"Okay," I curtly answer.
He reaches for my hands and interlaces his fingers to mine. My heart starts to make little jumps of joy. I groan. I want to slap myself for even feeling that. Then he pulls my hood down and when he smiles, I feel my heart warming as well.
"Let's go," he says and pulls me down the ship.
The port smells of fish, but it's tolerable. Although, Pitchford port is cleaner than this. As I am pulled away from the harbor and our ship, I scour the kinds of people around us. They are a mix of features, the same as with Pitchford citizens. Their skin ranges from very pale to darker olive skin. Most of them have dark hair, but there are also some with blond and red hair. As I look closer, their eyes are in different colors as well–brown, amber, hazel, green and blue.
"There's the inn that offers delicious food," Theo interrupts my thoughts.
The inn he is pointing at is painted brown like most establishments. The architecture is also similar. I remember Harbin talking about this. Duran houses are uniform and with minimal embellishments. Smooth stucco, adobe, and stone exteriors. Tiled, stone roofs, huge windows, and arched entryway. It's different but nice.
"Come, Kaiya," he says, tugging at my hands. "Their ham, rice dish, and tomato soup is to die for."
I shift my attention to Theo and notice his excitement. I swallow hard because all I can think of is to please him and make him happy. I shake my head and allow myself to be pulled into the restaurant while noting that their establishments also follow the same style as the houses.
"Miss, we will have your signature dishes," Theo orders. "For two people."
The waitress, who looks as young as me with straight hair tied to appear neat, makes an open smile.
"Sure, King-"
Theo places his forefinger on his lips and winks at the waitress. "I'm here as a traveler."
"Oh, okay!" she blushes and hides it using the serving tray. "Understood. I will prepare it right away!"
She scurries away from us and I can't help but feel irked at the exchange between the two. It's obvious he is a common guest here, based on the way the young woman recognizes him even when he is wearing a coat with a hood to hide his face. How far along is their relationship anyway? Until the bedroom? Knowing him, it's not an impossibility.
We occupy the corner-most table and sit next to each other, only because my hands are still imprisoned in his. Then, he turns towards me and places a kiss on my hand before letting it caress his cheeks.
He closes his eyes and mutters, "I've long dreamed to be with you in some of my favorite places, such as this."
Still annoyed, I withdraw my hand from his grasp. "Let me go. How are we going to eat if you keep on holding my hand?!"
There is another flash of pain in his eyes, but instead, he says, "Right, apologies for that."
I snort. I know I am not being fair to him. I want this moment to be a nice memory too, but if I let myself do that, I will be washed away again by my feelings, and share his bed again. I can't betray my unborn child like that, then wake up the next morning being wracked by guilt again.
As we wait for the food, Theo tried to involve me in conversation, but I am uncooperative. I only say one-word replies and sometimes, just nodding or shaking my head. Realizing that I am not in the mood, his sentences become shorter, until he too, falls into a spell of silence.
I sigh. We are such a contrasting pair in the restaurant inn. Everyone around us is having the time of their life, laughing and jovial, and the two of us, are sitting quietly next to each other.
My thoughts are interrupted when the young woman returns and beams at Theo. "Sire! You are here at such an opportune time. A festival is being held at the town plaza! Maybe you'd like to check it out?"
"Festival, huh. Maybe, we'll check it out later."
"In that case," she places a piece of paper in Theo's hands and says, "I will give you a 50% off in our rooms. It's an employee discount so you can enjoy your stay in our country."
"Well, I don't think my partner would like to spend the night with me," he glances at me and I glare at him.
"Oh! A lover's quarrel? Do you need my help then?"
He waves his hand in front of him. "No, thanks. This will pass too."
This will pass?! I want to growl at him and threaten him, but instead, I tightly shut my fist.
"It will be nice if you guys will be able to talk about it. Nevertheless, the offer is still valid, in case you change your mind." The young woman leaves again.
"Do you reckon, we can stay-"
"No," is my quick reply.
He takes a deep breath and leans on the chair. He looks at me and lightly touches my arm. I hiss at him and he immediately takes his hand away. He is about to say something when our food arrives and the young woman smiles warmly at us, before leaving to take care of another guest.
Like what Theo mentioned, the ham, the rice, and the soup, really are delicious. It's new and enticing. I even forgot about my anger toward Theo–until I am about to finish the soup.
I stop speaking and Theo waits for my next words. I blink. What am I talking about? I pause for a while and remember that I start talking about Ami, Elroy, and Nadif, my wind magician teachers, who I think are my friends now. I am also telling him about their lives and how happy I am to be included in their drinking session.
"I still can't allow you to drink without me," he says, supplying the part where I stop.
I swallow. Damn, this enticing food. Are they using this to brainwash people?!
"Kaiya?" Theo asks, and I realize that my fingers are interlaced around him again. I am also too close to him that my shoulders and legs are rubbing against his. I move a bit further from him and the smile on his face vanishes. "What is it? Did I say something wrong?"
"No," I say. I take a glass of water and gulp it all down. Damn, I am full. Wait, I remember that he is also asking me about the glamour I used during my intoxication, what did I say? I can't remember. And besides, I also don't remember how I am able to do that.
He glances outside the inn. "It has become cooler now. Maybe we can visit the town plaza?" he asks.
"Whatever you wish, my King," I whisper.
He takes a deep breath. He must be frustrated with me. Heck, I am even frustrated with myself.
"Theo," he says. "Call me Theo. As I said, I am not a King here."
I purse my lips. He leans on the table and gazes at me. He lightly brushes the strands of hair on my cheeks and adds, "I wonder when you will be able to truly love me."