[MUSIC RECOMMENDATION: SILVER SPOON~ BTS]
Back at Kaima-riya port, Axilla shivered when the first cold caused by the sea wind blew on her delicate skin, it wasn’t raining but the weather was dull and humid. She stepped down when the carriage finally came to a halt, straightening her gown with her hands as it had crumpled after sitting on the same position throughout the ride.
"Look, the merchants from Ipolo," Kayla pointed as soon as she stepped down from the carriage.
Axilla noticed men dressed in a whole different style; their hairstyles were slightly parted at the middle, and they looked like people who stepped out from a picture.
"Who are they?"
Kayla clapped her hands, "You don’t know Ipolo? Wow! They come from the other sea; I heard things are more better where they come from than here, and as you can see, their men are breathtaking. If they are here, it means there would be a party this night to welcome them."
"A party? Won’t they just get their goods and go back?" Axilla asked, wondering why everything should have a party for it when things could be done a lot easier with less noise.
Kayla rubbed her friend’s shoulder, while shaking her head. "It’s obvious your life has been so mundane. You don’t know that people want the slightest reason to drink and have fun so they can forget about their live problems."
Axilla mused, "Life problem is better forgotten in solitude."
Kayla harrumphed in defeat, "Whatever rocks your boat, just make sure you get yourself a man today; seems like Chief Cortez’s boat is sinking." The young girl suggested finally.
Hearing Cortez’s name, Axilla turned to catch a glimpse of the young master. And just then, she saw the lady who had been sitting inside the carriage earlier resting on his chest, and this caused Axilla’s heart to squeeze, as she subconsciously tightened her grip on her dress looking away from the scene.
At the other side of the carriage where Cortez was standing with Abigail latched like a parasite on his chest. His lips twisted in irritation.
"Do you need to learn how to walk again? Abigail?" Cortez asked, taking a step back and this caused the woman to crash on the sandy ground.
Abigail’s face turned grim, she had wanted to push her body to Cortez’s so she acted like she had lost her balance only for him to embarrass her like this. Before she tried to catch her balance and sit up, she noticed the young girl at the other side stare at her predicament and this boiled Abigail’s shame now mixed with anger so much.
Axilla was shocked to see the noblewoman on the ground; before she could avert her gaze their eyes locked together and it was awkward not knowing what else to do, Axilla ran to help the woman up.
"Cortez, I know you like it rough with foreplay, but don’t let others see it," Abigail tried to cover her shame while being helped to stand up.
Axilla didn’t raise her face; she continued to help the woman by cleaning her shoe and sandy dress while listening to their conversation.
Cortez raised his eyebrow, "Abigail you now delude yourself so much. And what is this? Are you a child that you can’t stand up on your own?"
Axilla’s heart skipped a beat, when she heard the young master speak, it has been like that since she discovered her feelings for him.
Abigail laughed nervously trying to cover up her shame, "I didn’t ask for her help, you know girls like her try to lick foots of noblewomen like us to see what little crumbs they can get..ahaha, I’m just generous," the woman hummed fishing out money from her pocket as she threw it on Axilla’s leg.
Axilla was too stunned to speak; she looked down at the nickels, then raised her face to look at the woman at the same time her eyes locked with that of Cortez.
Cortez noticed the hurt that flashed through Axilla’s eyes when she looked at him and he knew very well that the action really touched the young girl who knew nothing about the world and their fangs let out to sink into the flesh of innocent minds like her own.
"Go on, pick it up don’t be shy. It’s better you earn it this way than to sell your body...haha, these girls," Abigail harrumphed, feeling proud of her actions as she touched her hair slightly tucking in a few strands here and there.
Axilla pressed her trembling lips; she hated how the lower class were treated outside. It was something she never had to experience while living with the princess who is now queen of Morado. They called her a thief before , and now a beggar? It was just too much to handle and she needed to stand up for herself.
Axilla opened her lips to respond but her words hung in her throat, because in front of her was Cortez. Who bent down to pick up the nickels dusting off the sands on them.
"Co.. Cortez! What are you doing?" Abigail asked looking gobsmacked. She had been expecting the lower class girl to grovel on her feet begging for more.
Cortez stood tall locking his eyes with those charming hazel ones of Axilla, while directing his words to Abigail.
"Brain of a sea urchin. Abigail I tried twisting words earlier but because of how foolish you are, you still didn’t understand. Why do you want this innocent girl to follow your lifestyle of selling her body to men hm? And what makes you think you hold a dust where Axilla is. Have you ever been friends with anyone from the royal family? Axilla here is protected by the king and queen of Morado. I have saved you today from facing her wrath, next time would be your head on the scaffold." Cortez remarked, finalizing his statement by looking at the stunned Abigail.
Axilla bit her lips; she had wanted to warn the woman from saying bad things about her but talking about her being protected by the royal family was a little too much.
"T-the royal family?" Abigail gulped, now looking at the young girl she tagged as a commoner in a newer light.
"I-i didn’t know, she acted like a commoner. Forgive my Milady," the pompous woman bowed trying not to be on the royal family’s bad side as her father received help from them once in a while, and it wouldn’t be a bad idea to be an acquaintance of the royal family infact it was a privilege.
Not only that, Abigail had heard of Kitanna’s tale and how the young woman was revered by all, she didn’t want to have a taste of her anger.
"Receive the apology given to you, Milady." Cortez smirked, lifting Axilla’s hand while dropping a small kiss on it.
Axilla could swear that her heartbeat was heard clearly because she couldn’t control it. "T- th.. ehmm Thank you."
Cortez smiled, tugging Axilla by the hand he started walking out of the scene leaving behind a defeated Abigail who wanted to transfer her aggression on anyone at all.