Anisha paused at his statement.
"You know how to ride… don't you?"
His eyes glinted with amusement.
"Sure," she held tightly onto the reins and turned to the horse.
She wasn't going to show him she didn't know how to ride a horse. It was just too embarrassing.
From the corner of her eye, she could see his amused expression, and she didn't know which was more embarrassing…her not knowing how to ride a horse, or her pretending to know how.
Determination flashed across her face.
Now she just had to mount the horse like a professional, then get it moving. That was all.
She hoped.
Anisha tried to recall how her sisters mounted when practicing in the field.
"Time's against us. We have to set out now. Maybe next time," Nhel spoke.
Right at that moment, Anisha felt something heavy lift off her chest, and she smiled secretly.
Nhel helped Anisha up first before hopping to the front.
He felt her hands wrap around his torso, and a smirk escaped his lips.
Anisha watched Madlyn mount effortlessly as she got settled.
"Are you ready?" Nhel asked, concerned that the trip to Willowvale would be arduous for her.
"Of course." Anisha lifted her chin.
After that, the horses departed into the hush of the night.
Anisha wrapped her arms around Nhel more tightly and very soon drifted off to sleep, resting her head on him.
Nhel's lips curled slightly, and he slowed down.
After several hours of riding, they camped. By dawn, they set off again, and in no time reached Willowvale's borders.
The wide gates were opened without Nhel needing to introduce himself. The guards also recognized their princess.
Nhel and Madlyn slowed their horses as they entered the palace courtyard.
It was not as grand as Hazucia's, but it still held the scenery that only a palace could possess.
"My lady," Madlyn said, already moving over to help Anisha down.
Anisha felt a wave of familiar emotions upon returning home.
Despite the little discomfort from the journey, it didn't reflect on Madlyn at all.
Nor on Nhel.
His hair was intact, not a single strand out of place.
Meanwhile, Anisha felt stressed and dirty.
"Let's head to my chamber and freshen up first," she said to Nhel.
He smiled in approval.
After they had freshened up and been served a late lunch in their chamber, they went to meet Anisha's father, who was waiting to receive them.
Nhel and Anisha stepped into the throne hall and walked toward the king, a man whose posture remained straight. Thick beards framed his jaw, and traces of white hair could be seen.
The queen sat beside him, her presence carrying a quiet grace.
"Your Majesties," Nhel bowed, and Anisha followed after him.
"It's great to see you, Your Majesties," she said, curtseying.
Anisha studied her father, whose face gave nothing away. The same went for her mother.
She wondered how they felt about their arrival.
King Aldric released a hearty laugh as he stepped down.
"Prince Nhel. My daughter seems to be glowing under your care," he said. "You're doing a good job. Wouldn't you agree, my queen?"
"Indeed she is," the queen replied.
Anisha couldn't help but wonder why her father was being so welcoming. In fact, she had been surprised that he agreed to let them stay here for the meantime.
"How have you been faring back at Hazucia, Anisha?" the queen asked in a mild voice.
"It has been good, Mother, all thanks to Prince Nhel for treating me well," Anisha responded.
Nhel glanced at her.
"And Anisha has been a good wife too. I couldn't be more satisfied," Nhel said.
Anisha paused at his comment. Her lips curved slightly.
"That's great to hear," the king said.
"You can ask the servants to prepare another chamber if you are in any way uncomfortable with Anisha's room layout," King Aldric informed him.
But Nhel had more pressing issues on his mind to be bothered by whether a room suited his taste.
"There's no problem with Anisha's room.
We'll take our leave. The journey was long, and Anisha needs rest."
Anisha was taken aback by his abruptness.
King Aldric let out another laugh.
"Very well then."
Nhel bowed slightly and Anisha curtseyed. She raised her head and saw that her mother seemed displeased.
They retreated from the throne room.
"Nhel, I think you have to be careful here so my father doesn't get displeased and throw us out," Anisha whispered as they passed by the marble corridor
Nhel paused in his steps.
"Why do you think your father allowed me to bring you back here?" he asked.
Anisha thought there could only be one reason.
"Because I'm his daughter?" she answered, though uncertainty lingered in her voice.
Nhel didn't want to tell her it was nothing close to that. It would only hurt her feelings.
He had provided King Aldric with the slow-acting poison he needed to get rid of his brother, a substance rare among underground dealers in Hazucia.
In the end, every male child born into the royal family had to fight for the throne.
You either killed for the throne, or were killed because of it.
That was simply how it was.
The king had no surviving sons, so even though he held the throne, there were still relatives who eyed his power and sought to bring him down.
It had taken Nhel several days to get the connection to the poison, and even then he had to enforce threats to obtain it.
He chuckled.
"You could say that."
"Anisha."
A woman with a bright, round face grabbed their attention.
Anisha saw her fifth sister, Juliana, looking as lively as ever. She had married a lord within the kingdom three years ago.
The last time Anisha had seen her sisters was on her peculiar wedding day.
She glanced at Nhel briefly as the memory resurfaced. She had never asked him why he wasn't present that day.
"Juli?"
"Your Highness," Juliana greeted Nhel.
Amazement flickered in her eyes.
Nhel smiled at her with closed lips, and heat rose to her cheeks. She quickly looked down.
Anisha smiled at the sight. She couldn't blame her sister. Nhel possessed a graceful charm she herself still hadn't gotten used to.
Nhel bowed lightly without saying a word and left the sisters to catch up.
Juliana watched his retreating figure until Anisha pulled her out of her reverie.
"Juli, what if your husband sees you?" Anisha said.
Juliana giggled and dragged Anisha closer.
"Your husband is a man of rare quality," she said, wriggling her brows teasingly.
"Well, it's all thanks to Father. Just look at the husband I'm married to….already looking so slack," Juliana added playfully.
Anisha admired her cheerfulness. Despite being married to an even older man as his third wife, it hadn't changed her spirit.
Anisha giggled quietly in return.
Then she looked ahead down the hall, something crossing her mind.
"Where's second sister?" Anisha asked cautiously.
"And how may I help you?"
A voice cut in, making Anisha turn around.
There her sister was, approaching with an entourage.
This elder sister of hers had continued living in the palace even after getting married. There was no telling the ambition she and her husband had for staying there unlike their first sister, who ran away with a commoner from another kingdom, showing no interest in what was supposed to be her birthright.
"Greetings, Second Princess. I hope you've been well," Anisha said.
She looked down at a young, charming boy with a cute mole near his right eye. He looked no more than nine. His mother held his hand.
"Prince Richard," Anisha smiled at him.
But he simply stared at her without saying a word.
"Of course, my dear. Just one look at me and you'll know," the princess replied haughtily.
"How about you? You suddenly came back with your husband." She laughed softly, the sound edged with amusement. "I've never been so curious."
"Um Princess Millicent, perhaps this isn't the place." Anisha said, trying to maintain a polite font.
"What? It's not like it's a secret, dear," Millicent stated.
"The husband you married can hardly be called capable. What a pity."
Millicent then sighed dramatically.
"After all, he ran from his brothers just to keep his head attached."