Chapter 9 Chapter 8

As we crossed the state border, we entered a large town. It was full of people. People with various status. From rich to poor, the roads were crowded with them. Some were working, some were cleaning and some had established their own businesses and were waiting for customers to arrive. But one thing captured my eyes were the houses. Those were made like modern structures. Series of small to large houses decked both sides of the roads. It wasn't like our old traditional houses which were built on wood.

The path was made with stones and they had oil lamp posts. It was also very clean as I noticed people with lower status had been cleaning it. It was a town of prosperity and beauty. They all were working but there weren't any judgemental gazes.

It was a large town and many wooden vehicles rode on it. I had never seen any other vehicles other than the horse carriage my father used for his occasional traveling purpose.

My curious gazes fell everywhere as I took in the whole scenery before me. My belly flipped with my eyes whenever I saw something that spiked my interest.

Arashi must have caught my curious eyes moving everywhere as he asked, "Have you rode a horse carriage before?"

I looked at him and shook my head as he nodded. "Then let's take one."

A gap parted my lips as my heart danced in excitement.

Arashi went ahead and I blissfully followed him like a little child was about to get her toy.

He stopped a carriage that was passing by and they talked for a minute as the chauffeur came down. He opened the door for us.

Arashi looked at me and stretched out his hand as he said, "Come."

My cheeks got redder and I slowly placed my hand on his strong palm. His hand was larger than me and it was hard like a man of struggle. He helped me to hop on the vehicle. The wooden carriage was small but it had enough space for two of us. The doors had small windows and curtains were hanging from them.

As I entered and took my seat, Arashi followed. Because the carriage had a small space, our shoulders touched and it sent thundering storms in my body and I flustered. My head felt light as I moved my eyes toward the window.

The carriage moved as the roads, trees and houses started to run behind us as if they were busy in this already busier town.

A moment later, I felt Arashi move in his seat and I looked at him.

He was taking out something from his bag. Maybe our lunch... But he brought out a small stick which had a floral arrangement on it and was decked with small yet beautiful blue, pink stones. It was a hair stick and a beautiful one.

He stretched it out to me as my round eyes followed it.

"This is for you. You were looking at it yesterday at the store." He said, "I thought you wanted it, so I went to buy it."

Was that the reason he went out first in the morning? He went to buy it for...me?

A few tear drops sneakily ran out from my eyes as Arashi looked at me with concern.

He asked, "Are you feeling well? Is your belly hurting?"

I shook my head as I took the hair pin and it felt like my heart melted like a candle melts after burning.

"Why are you crying then?" He asked, irritation visible in his voice.

"B-because this is the first ever gift I-I have received from someone." And it was meant for me. It wasn't a used object which my sisters threw at me because they didn't need it anymore. It wasn't an old object which had no use for the first lady. It was a beautiful gift by that stranger who gave me my very first gift.

He looked at me for a while and asked, "Why is it your first gift?"

I froze for a moment as my hands shook and cold sweat formed on my forehead. He didn't know that I was an illegitimate child. He must have been surprised when he heard it was my first gift. I lowered my eyes and I knew he wouldn't like what I was about to say. I took a deep breath and decided I should tell him now.

I mumbled in a low voice, "Because I am the daughter of my father's second wife. More like a concubine's daughter."

Silence dominated us for a while as we stayed like that. He hadn't said a word and my heart thumped loudly. Was he disappointed? Was he angry? Would he leave me now? Many thoughts ran in my mind as I felt more tears were about to spill from my eyes.

I was prepared for any outcome after he learnt it. I expected him to shout or abandon me right then and there but he simply asked, "Who was your mother from those two wives?"

"My mother died when she gave birth to me," I answered with a low voice.

"Hmm..." He hummed and said, "My mother died too...a long time ago."

Slowly my eyes went toward him as I found him leaning against the wood while his chin rested on his palm. He was looking outside as his eyes portrayed a cloud of sadness. I wanted to ask him about his mother but I couldn't dare.

If his mother was dead then who lived in his house? Did he have a house? Where did he live? I wanted to ask but decided against it.

After all, it wasn't long until we reached where he lived.

I released a sigh of relief because he didn't abandon me even after I said I was one of his concubine's daughters.

When my beating heart calmed down, I took a glance at him and saw his eyes were closed as wind slapped his face with his raven hair. I was so occupied with my fear that I failed to notice how beautifully God had carved him. Pointed nose with a perfect sculptured face that every maiden wished for. I wanted to admire him for another while but my mind pointed out that he didn't deserve a girl like me.

I moved away my gaze and looked outside of the window. I didn't know what my fate had planned for me but somewhere deep inside, I was glad that I met him.