Oriana was puzzled, seeing him stop by the entrance. "Aren’t you going inside?"
The young hunter frowned in her direction. They were going on a journey with strangers. It was normal to have certain prudence against people with unknown backgrounds. Though it was rare, there had been stories of travelers robbing or killing others, that was why it was never wrong to be cautious.
’This Orian...he’s just too innocent.’
"Fine," Oriana said, rolling her eyes at him. "I’m tired of walking so I will get in first. You can get in whenever you want."
Just as she was about to head inside, Luke grabbed her hand and pulled her aside.
"After me," she heard him say in that indifferent, toneless voice.
’What is wrong with him?’ Clueless, she shrugged it off as him being his usual temperamental self. She followed close behind and entered the wagon. Four strangers, all men, and with Luke, there were five males inside. She was the only woman, but of course, only she knew that.
’Never mind. What was I expecting? Seems like no woman will want to have six males as company. Do they ride a separate cart...?’
Luke patted the place next to him, seeing her in a daze. "Sit here."
She obediently sat next to Luke who then stretched out his leg as if creating a partition between them and other men inside.
A loud voice could be heard outside, saying that the wagons were about to leave. Oriana felt it was a novel experience to journey with a friend.
"Are you two traveling companions?" one man asked.
"Hmm." Luke replied.
"Going to the capital?"
"Hmm."
"Is this young boy your brother?"
"Hmm."
"Your brother is fair and pretty. I almost thought he was a girl.Perhaps he takes after your mother?"
"Hmm."
"Your mother must be really pretty to have a pretty son like this."
"Hmm."
Oriana almost burst into laughter. ’Poor folks. What I suffer everyday, these men will get a taste of it. Anyone should get a hint by now though after receiving only ’hmm’ in response.’
Those men looked at each other, one frowning, while the others pretending not to notice the awkwardness of the situation. As for the culprit, Luke merely closed his eyes and rested the back of his head against a wooden support, making it clear he didn’t have intentions of talking.
One of the men then looked at Oriana. "Boy, what’s your name?
Even before Oriana could answer, Luke replied, "He is mute."
Oriana looked at Luke in disbelief. ’What the heck? They heard me talking to you before climbing the wagon. At least say a lie that makes sense.’
"You don’t want us to talk to your brother?"
"Hmm."
Oriana rolled her eyes and quietly looked outside of the wagon as she was sitting nearest the entrance.
"We are going to travel for days. You sure you don’t want to talk?" one man asked, as if to confirm.
"Hmm."
’Forget about making friends. It will be a blessing if Luke doesn’t make enemies.’ Oriana sighed. ’Aunt Gwen wants him to marry, but his wife will be lucky if she gets more than a ’hmm’ in response. It’s better he won’t marry at all. I can feel the pain of his poor wife already.’
Oriana nodded off from time to time, but whenever she’s awake, she would listen to her companions’ conversation.
From their stories, she was able to figure out their identities. One was a blacksmith’s apprentice, another a small store owner selling books, while the other two were servants working for some nobles. The friendly man Luke snubbed was the bookshop owner.
Currently, one of the servants was sharing his experience. "...the palace is so huge. but unfortunately, we can only see it from outside."
"I heard the Second Prince is getting married to some foreign princess. Since he’s not the first in line to the throne, according to tradition, he’ll probably be given a duke or marquis title to start his own lineage."
"Funnily enough, the First Prince is still unmarried. If that’s the case, maybe the Crown Prince position will go to the Second Prince."
"Who knows what the royal family plans? I heard the First Prince is incredibly charming though, so I don’t understand why he is yet to choose his princess."
"Well, do you want to know? My wife’s sister is a palace laundry maid. She told us in passing that the First Prince is infamous for being cruel that no sane noble family wants to marry their daughter to him."
"Cruel? What did he do?"
"According to my sister-in-law, the First Prince is a tyrant. Even without evidence, even without giving fair trial, as long as you offend him, you and your family will end up miserably. Even the ministers—"
’Grandpa is right. One should stay far away from the capital. More I hear about them, more they feel scary. Crazy people. Thankfully I am not one of them.’ Then Oriana wondered, ’It is really hard to understand how people can be so cruel. Is it because they’re wealthy and powerful? They think nothing of human lives?’
In the end, Oriana shrugged.
’It doesn’t matter. My goal is to save lives. There’s no need to understand how a tyrant or madman thinks. Not like I will ever come across a Prince when I live a peaceful life in a village.’
While those four men were talking, Oriana could feel gazes on her, though she could not determine who exactly. She felt glad that Luke’s large body was partially blocking them from her, and she only needed to scoot closer to him to completely hide herself from their gazes.
After four hours of nonstop travel, the caravan finally stopped at one clearing by the road, at the outskirts of some forest, to allow the horses to rest. The servants began to prepare meals, and everyone got down from the wagons.
’Freedom!’
Oriana could not help but stretch her limbs the moment she stepped back on solid ground.