Chapter 134: On the Road to Everbloom.

Rosaline froze.

His grey eyes opened almost instantly, catching her hand against his face as his gaze settled directly upon hers. For a moment, neither of them moved, and Rosaline could feel the warmth of his skin beneath her fingertips while the realization of what she had been doing slowly settled over her.

Xandros continued staring at her, his expression still softened by sleep, although the faint amusement beginning to appear in his eyes told her that he was already aware of how embarrassed she had become.

"Good morning," he murmured.

The words came out low and husky from sleep, and because of the position he had caught her in, Rosaline’s response came out broken.

"G-Good morning."

Her heart immediately began beating faster.

She tried to pull her hand away, but Xandros did not let her.

Instead, his fingers closed gently around her wrist, and his gaze remained fixed upon her face with such intensity that Rosaline suddenly felt as though he was looking far beyond her eyes, as though he could see every thought she was desperately trying to hide.

"Why were you touching my face?" he asked quietly.

Rosaline swallowed.

"I wasn’t."

One of his eyebrows lifted.

"You weren’t?"

"No," she replied, although the answer sounded considerably less convincing than she had intended.

Xandros’s lips curved slightly.

"Then I suppose your hand simply decided to rest there on its own."

Rosaline’s cheeks warmed.

"I was only looking at you."

"And touching me."

She immediately looked away.

"I didn’t mean anything by it."

"I didn’t say you did."

His voice was calm, almost teasing, and somehow that made her even more nervous.

Before she could find another excuse, Xandros’s free hand moved around her waist. With a gentle pull, he shifted her closer to him, moving her forward until the small distance between them disappeared almost completely.

Rosaline’s breath caught.

There was barely an inch between their lips.

She could feel his breath against hers, warm and steady, while her own breathing had become noticeably uneven. His shoulder-length hair was still slightly dishevelled from sleep, falling loosely around his face, and somehow the sight made him seem more dangerous than when he was dressed in the severe clothes he usually wore.

His grey eyes never left hers.

Rosaline’s heart pounded harder.

"Xandros..."

He tilted his head slightly.

"Yes?"

She did not know what she wanted to say.

His hand remained securely around her waist, holding her close without forcing her, while his thumb moved once against her side in a slow, almost absent gesture.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" she whispered.

"Because you are looking at me."

Rosaline’s lips parted, but no answer came.

Xandros leaned a fraction closer, their breaths tangling between them.

"Kiss me," he said.

His voice was low and deep, carrying the unmistakable weight of a command, but there was no force behind his hands now. He simply waited, his eyes watching her carefully.

Rosaline stared at him.

She could feel the uncertainty inside her, the familiar hesitation that always appeared whenever she found herself too close to him, but beneath that uncertainty was something else.

Curiosity.

She wanted to know what would happen if she stopped thinking for once and simply allowed herself to feel.

Slowly, Rosaline moved toward him.

Her eyes remained fixed on his, still filled with uncertainty, but she did not retreat. She closed the last bit of distance between them until her lips gently touched his.

It was barely a kiss.

A small, hesitant peck.

Rosaline pulled back only slightly, her heart racing as she searched his expression.

Xandros did not say anything.

Instead, his gaze dropped to her lips.

Before she could understand what he intended, he leaned forward and pressed a slow kiss against her upper lip, lingering there for a moment before moving to her lower lip with equal patience.

Rosaline’s breath trembled.

His hand tightened around her waist.

Then he kissed her properly.

The kiss deepened slowly, with none of the haste Rosaline had expected. Xandros held her firmly against him as his lips moved against hers, allowing her enough time to adjust to him, enough time to realize that she was no longer merely responding out of surprise.

She was kissing him back.

Her fingers, which had remained uncertainly against his chest, slowly curled into the fabric of his clothes, and when Xandros felt the movement, his arm tightened around her waist and drew her even closer.

The kiss continued.

Slowly.

Deliberately.

Every movement seemed to erase another piece of Rosaline’s hesitation until she stopped thinking about what she was supposed to feel and simply allowed herself to experience the warmth of his lips and the security of his arms around her.

Xandros’s fingers eventually moved from her waist to her hair, threading gently through the white strands as he tilted her head slightly.

Rosaline’s heart fluttered.

She had kissed him before, but this felt different.

There was no anger between them this time, no argument, no sudden impulse caused by frustration. There was only the quiet closeness between a husband and wife who were beginning, perhaps for the first time, to understand what it meant to willingly cross the distance between them.

They remained like that for a long while before Xandros finally broke the kiss.

Neither of them moved far apart.

Their foreheads nearly touched, and both were breathing more deeply than before.

Rosaline’s cheeks were burning.

Xandros looked at her for a few seconds, his expression unusually satisfied.

"You are going to make me late," Rosaline whispered.

A faint smile appeared on his lips.

"That is hardly my fault."

"You told me to kiss you."

"And you listened."

Rosaline immediately looked away.

Xandros gave a quiet chuckle before pressing one final, gentle kiss against her forehead.

"Get ready," he told her, his voice still carrying the warmth left behind by their kiss. "We are leaving for Everbloom soon."

Rosaline blinked.

"Already?"

"Yes."

He brushed a strand of her hair away from her face. "We have a winter ball to attend."

The reminder made Rosaline suddenly remember everything waiting outside the room.

She quickly pushed herself away from him and hurried toward the bed.

Xandros watched her with amusement as she disappeared behind the bed curtain, and even though his breathing was still deeper than usual, he made no attempt to stop her.

"I’ll be ready soon," Rosaline called.

"I’ll hold you to that."

She did not answer.

By the time Rosaline emerged again, dressed and prepared for the journey, Xandros was nowhere in the room.

She looked around briefly before moving toward the mirror.

After arranging her clothes, she picked up her comb and began working through her long white hair, carefully smoothing it before gathering it into the ponytail she preferred.

She had just finished pulling the strands together when the door opened.

Xandros walked back inside.

His gaze immediately fell upon her.

"You’re still doing that?"

Rosaline glanced at him through the mirror.

"I am almost finished."

"Give me that."

Before she could ask what he meant, he gently took the comb from her hand.

Rosaline turned toward him in surprise.

"What are you doing?"

"Helping."

"You don’t know how I like it."

"I have watched you do it enough times."

He moved behind her and began combing her hair with surprising patience, carefully working through the strands rather than tugging at them. Rosaline watched him through the mirror, unable to hide the small smile that touched her lips.

When he had finished, he gathered her hair into the neat ponytail she preferred and secured it properly.

Rosaline touched it lightly.

"It looks good."

"I know."

She laughed softly.

"Thank you."

Xandros leaned closer and pressed a brief kiss into her hair.

"One kiss for the trouble."

Rosaline looked at him through the mirror, amusement and embarrassment mixing across her face.

"You are counting?"

"I always count what belongs to me."

Before she could respond, Xandros walked toward the bed to collect something he had left behind.

Rosaline shook her head, picked up the things she needed, and left the room.

She had barely reached the corridor when she spotted Christophine.

"Christophine!"

The woman turned immediately, and a playful smile spread across her face.

"Hey, Rosaline. How are you doing?"

"I am fine," Rosaline replied.

Christophine looked her up and down dramatically.

"Fine? That’s all? You look like someone who has just had a very interesting morning."

Rosaline’s cheeks warmed.

"Christophine."

"What?" Christophine asked innocently, although the amusement in her voice betrayed her. "I only asked."

Rosaline decided not to answer.

Instead, she said, "Are you ready?"

"Completely ready."

Christophine slipped an arm around Rosaline’s neck and began dragging her toward the dining room.

"Come on. Breakfast first. We cannot travel on an empty stomach."

"You could simply walk beside me."

"That would be boring."

Rosaline laughed as Christophine pulled her along.

By the time they entered the dining room, the others had already gathered.

Lucien sat at the table with Alistair, while Lucien’s brother occupied the other side. Christophine pulled Rosaline into a seat beside her, and a short while later Xandros entered the room.

His arrival drew everyone’s attention for a moment, although he behaved as though nothing unusual had happened that morning.

He took his seat beside Rosaline.

Breakfast proceeded with the quiet familiarity of people preparing for a journey. Plates were passed around, cups were filled, and the conversation moved between the journey to Everbloom and the arrangements for their departure.

Christophine, however, seemed determined to make sure Rosaline did not escape her teasing.

"So," she said, reaching for a piece of bread, "are you excited about Everbloom?"

Rosaline nodded.

"I suppose I am."

"You suppose?"

Lucien smiled faintly.

"You will enjoy it. Everbloom is quite different from the Western District."

Xandros glanced toward him.

"That is the point of travelling."

Lucien chuckled.

"I suppose so."

Alistair looked toward Xandros.

"The carriage is ready. The luggage has already been packed, and the coachman has been informed of the route."

"Good," Xandros replied.

Rosaline continued eating quietly, occasionally glancing toward the others as the conversation continued around the table. The morning felt strangely peaceful after everything that had happened in the Western District, and despite the mystery surrounding the district and the strange encounter beneath it, she found herself looking forward to leaving.

Once breakfast ended, everyone rose to prepare for the journey.

Outside, the carriage waited.

Their luggage had already been secured, and the coachman stood beside the horses, ready to depart.

The atmosphere quickly became one of farewell.

Alistair approached Xandros first.

"Take care on the road, Your Grace."

Xandros gave him a firm nod.

"You as well, Warden. Keep the district under control while I am gone."

"I will."

Xandros exchanged a few final words with Lucien’s father before Lucien approached Rosaline.

"Princess."

Rosaline smiled though she was a bit shocked at the way he addressed her.

"Lucien."

He reached into his coat and produced a small packet, wrapped carefully in cloth.

"I wanted you to have this."

Rosaline looked at it in surprise.

"What is it?"

"Something small. You can open it when you are on the road."

She accepted the packet carefully.

"Thank you."

Lucien smiled.

"You’re welcome."

For a brief moment, Rosaline looked at him with curiosity, wondering why he had decided to give her a gift before they left, but she did not question him.

Xandros approached shortly afterward.

"Goodbye, Lucien."

Lucien inclined his head.

"Safe travels, Your Grace."

Xandros nodded before turning toward Alistair.

"Goodbye, Warden."

"Safe journey, Your Grace."

Christophine was already waiting near the carriage, waving toward those remaining behind.

"Rosaline, come on!"

Rosaline smiled and climbed inside.

Xandros followed her, taking his seat beside her as the carriage door was closed.

For one final moment, Rosaline looked through the carriage window at the people standing outside.

Lucien remained there with Alistair and the others, watching them leave.

The coachman climbed onto his seat and gathered the reins.

The horses shifted beneath the harnesses.

Rosaline looked down at the small packet Lucien had given her, wondering what could possibly be inside.

Beside her, Xandros leaned back against the carriage seat, his grey eyes briefly settling upon the packet before returning to her face.

"What did he give you?" he asked.

Rosaline looked at him.

"I don’t know yet."

Xandros’s gaze lingered on the packet for another moment, but he said nothing.

A sharp crack of the reins sounded outside.

The carriage began to move.

Rosaline turned toward the window as the residence slowly disappeared behind them, the road stretching ahead toward the distant lands of Everbloom.

She tightened her fingers around the mysterious packet.

And with Xandros seated quietly beside her, the journey to Everbloom began.