After diligently explaining to the poor bird that she had no treats to give to it, if that was its reason for waiting around, the dove had gone on its way but not before giving her a wicked bombastic side-eye to show its disappointment in her. A gesture that left Neriah really puzzled.
With her lover’s letter in her hand and his assurance in her heart Neriah had no fear any longer. She trusted him. If he said he was going with her then she believed he was truly going with her. She only wondered how he would rescue her. She knew he loved her. He was willing to risk his life and save her
He was just considering her safety.
That was true love right there. Now that she thought about it, if he appeared out of nowhere, there were Avelian and Tragonian knights everywhere, it would be difficult to escape with her. They would get caught.
So he was right, she would wait for the right moment. She would wait for word from him again, on a strategic method to rescue her. Probably when the knights let their guard down.
She would wait.
And so quietly, with a peaceful heart she was led aboard the Tragonian ship, and delivered to the maids who would be attending to her throughout her stay on the ship. The maids who for some reason were frowning at her and almost pushing her, led her to her room below deck and it was much more spacious and simple than she had expected.
From the wooden interior to the decoration. The little shelf that sat on one side of the room, in front of the shelf was a desk and a chair behind the desk. Some pieces of paper were arranged on the desk, a quill pen carefully sitting inside an ink jar. On the other side of the room was a bed. Not as big as her bed but enough for one person still. A small round table sat at the center of the room with two wooden chairs placed with it.
There was a certain woody scent to the room. A scent of burnt wood too. To be precise, it was the smell of fire if she could put it in words. But if she thought about it deeper then, she would say it was the scent of that man.
This was his room. It was obvious it was his room. It was so manly like him. He told her her things were already aboard the ship. Could they be in this room? The room was spacious but still, could it contain all she had? Definitely not.
"Fret not, Lady. Your things are packed safely in another compartment. Only the necessary items have been brought here." As if reading her mind, one of the maids had spoken up. And Neriah could not help but pick her words and the tone of her voice. She just called her Lady!
How disrespectful... Was she trying to say she wasn’t going to acknowledge her as the crown princess? What insolence from a mere maid at that! They had probably heard all that had occurred and all the problems Neriah had caused.
Still, it gave them no right to be rude to her. She was a princess and now she was a crown princess. The wife of their crown prince. The respect they show him should be what is given to her too. How dare a mere maid speak with such insolence?
Neriah dragged in a deep breath and let it out calmly and silently, at the same time conjuring her most elegant and yet audacious look. Her pose was dominating and she wanted to make sure that the aura she was emitting was a fearless one as she turned around and stared at the maids.
"And who is to say what item shall be deemed necessary?" She asked in turn.
"P_pardon?" The maid stuttered. Neriah could tell, it was working.
"Without any questions whatsoever, you mean you have rummaged through the belongings of the crown princess without my permission." She continued. Not faltering one moment. Maybe she always acted somewhat sheepish in front of Barak, that was because he always gave this feeling that he was the predator between them.
But not with other people. Especially not with servants. She was not sheepish at all. In fact she was the beast hungry for who to torment at the moment.
"L_lady but His Highness said—"
A low scoff escaped Neriah’s lips, "Lady? Not even Milady? Just Lady?"
"I_I mean My Lad—" Her words were instantly halted by the loud crack that filled the room. The two other maids instantly fell to their knees. Trembling with their heads bowed to the ground. Neriah’s hand had landed viciously on the maids cheek.
"Is it that your people taught you no manners or you have refused to make use of the manners taught?" Her voice was low and calm and yet it echoed through the room with dominance. The maid fell to her knees too alongside the other two.
"F_forgive me, Your Highness." She instantly pleaded.
"So it wasn’t that you were not taught, you just refused to use the manners taught before." Neriah scoffed.
"Whatever relationship I have with my husband is business to none of you. Before being his wife, I am an elven princess. I will not condone any sort of disrespect from the likes of you." She brought the heel of her foot and rested it upon the hand of the maid on the ground.
"You shall address me in and with manners worthy of my status." She remained poise and firm as she spoke, pressing her heel harder into the maids hand. Poor thing could only wince in pain.
"Let this information be passed across to all other maids who would try to act out as you have done. The slap was just a teaser. Anyone who tries this sort of rubbish with me while on this journey will be walking the plank."