Chương 15: Hunting- Part 1

The following day, in the morning, saw Eve, assisted by two maids, garbed in a flowing maroon gown. Her hair, tied in a high ponytail, was embellished with a thin, shimmering jewel. Her neck and hands, draped with radiant jewelry, glowed under the soft morning light.

With a regal stride, she approached the entrance where Leif and Lady Oriana waited. It had been two days she last saw the lady. A third figure, an unfamiliar man, stood with them.

"I wasn't aware she would be joining us?" Oriana queried, her eyes flicking towards Leif who was absorbed in studying Eve.

"She will," he confirmed, his gaze still fixed on her till she reached them.

"You look enchanting, Lady Evelyn," Leif complimented, lifting her gloved hand to his lips in a courtly gesture.

"Thank you, Lord Leif," Eve responded, bowing slightly. His blonde hair was slicked back, secured with a small ribbon.

Oriana's gaze on Eve was icy, laced with contempt. The human woman was not only attracting the King's attention but Leif's as well. Oriana resolved then to consult her father and the Queen; she must hasten her marriage to the King.

As another horse was led before Eve, she glanced at Leif, who returned her gaze with quiet anticipation.

"Do you know how to ride a horse?" He asked.

"I don't," Eve admitted. Leif nodded, stroking the mane of his black horse.

"I trust, then, you wouldn't object to riding with me?" He queried, moving away from his horse to look back at her.

Eve hesitated. She could ride alone on a horse, avoiding the vampire's company, but lacked the skills. Falling off a horse was a greater risk than sharing the ride with a vampire who, due to their alliance, would not harm her.

After a moment's deliberation, she responded, "It won't be a problem."

Eve approached the horse, grasping the saddle. As she attempted to mount, Leif's hands steadied her waist, hoisting her up. In a seamless motion, he ascended and took his place behind her.

Meanwhile, Lady Oriana had mounted her own horse, along with the unfamiliar man. With three servants trailing in a cart, they thundered out of the castle grounds. As the horses charged forward, the wind whipped Eve's hair around her face. She reached up to tame her windblown locks.

"I'm surprised you don't know how to ride. How, then, did you anticipate escaping?" Leif's voice resonated close behind her, causing her to startle. His proximity was too close for comfort. He stared at the nape of her neck, her hair having been swept to one side, revealing her bare skin. His fangs lengthened in response, an ache throbbing in his jaw. He quickly averted his gaze.

"I - I didn't have a plan," Eve replied, her heartbeat erratic. She had considered escaping, but if she had formulated a plan, she certainly wouldn't divulge it to him.

"Hmm.. peculiar," he mused, sounding genuinely perplexed, then added, "I'm certain by now you've abandoned any notion of escape on foot."

Casting her gaze forward, Eve marveled at the vast green land. They travelled on the bare path with small bushes on each sides. Once they reached the forest, the horses stopped galloping and trotted into the forest which had tall trees with wide branches.

"Rabbits are only caught in the meadows, we would settle on a deer and I'll make sure it is well-cooked to your taste," Eve heard Leif say and she tried not to sigh, a breath of relief.

Leif used his right leg to hit the horse to stop trotting and he jumped down from his horse, pulling his bow and arrow from the saddlebag.

"You can stay on the horse," Leif looked up at Eve and said who nodded.

"I do wish a human would be out here, there are more fun to hunt down than animals," Oriana said and hopped down her horse, she took hold of her bow and arrow and turned to look at Eve. She didn't doubt her skills in shooting an arrow, she can easily struck it into the girl's fragile heart in a second.

"A rule has been set not to drink from the humans and you wouldn't want to get in bad hands of the King, by doing that, considering you are hoping to be married to him," Leif said.

His words brought a smile on Oriana's lips, he was helping her in winning the King. They walked away from their horses, looking around the wide forest.

"They are humans here?" Eve's surprised voice made all of them to turn to her.

"If I am not wrong, you also have vampires staying in your Kingdom. We have humans also, the captured ones. They work as labourers." Leif answered her question.

Eve jumped down from the horse and walked towards them. "We would have to hunt faster, we have to be back at the castle as I have things to do," Leif said, holding up his arrow to aim.

"I heard they are more stags at this side of the forest," the man that stood beside Oriana interjected.

"You could have gone for your work, lord Leif," Eve turned to him wondering why he would come to hunt instead when he had castle works.

"How can I when I promised to hunt for you," he turned to look at the human also and smirked, a dark gleam passing by his red eyes.

Eve looked away from him and said nothing, following them to stroll further into the forest. She could feel the gaze of someone and when she turned to look at Oriana. The lady wasn't looking her way but was conversing with the man that came along with them.

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