Check closer, Rinnie.

I was certain of the person I saw for a moment. But when I looked outside, all I saw was the crowd. I felt my heart sink as I shrunk back to my seat, questioning myself if I saw it wrong.

"Ashton... again?" I flinched when Hugo's crisp voice tickled my ears. "You look very upset, Bambi."

I clutched my skirt tightly, catching the glint that flickered across his eyes. Hugo narrowed his eyes slightly, tilting his head to the side.

"Never mind, Bambi," he said, pulling up the hood of his cloak to cover his head. "Just keep quiet while I am asking nicely."

Even though the hood covered half of his upper face, I felt intimidated. His tone was something I had never heard before, making my back break out in sweats. Just what made him so angry suddenly?

'He looks more upset than I am,' I uttered internally while gazing at him before looking down at my hand. Just as instructed, I kept my thoughts to myself. Since I didn't know what made Hugo so upset, I didn't think about it to save myself from having a headache.

'But Ashton...' I looked at the window once again and sighed. '... maybe I was wrong. There's no way he survived that night. If only he did, he would surely find me.'

I convinced myself that what I saw was a mistake. That maybe it was just someone who resembled him. When I was fully convinced, I glanced at Hugo and pressed my lips together. He was leaning back, arms crossed and leg over the other.

'Was he asleep?' I lowered my head to peek if he was, but I couldn't see anything aside from his lips. 'Well, it will be a long journey.'

I shrugged my shoulders and leaned back, reminding myself to not make a sound. Who knows what would he do if I annoy him? He could push me out of this carriage and I didn't want that.

With the silence enveloping the carriage, I kept my eyes on the window. I couldn't believe I was finally outside the castle and was now traveling to another place. It still felt odd, but it gave me this sense of excitement. Not that I already forgot about my losses, but wallowing in something I couldn't control wouldn't change anything.

'I should thank Mother for telling that to me,' I mentally nodded, thinking that my mother's advice helped me go through the past few days. 'She told me to be forgiving, to be more understanding, and to not dwell on things I couldn't change or have no control over. I can only wish that they were at peace now in heaven.'

After some time, I glanced at Hugo once again. He didn't move a muscle since he put on that hood. Was he dead? That sudden thought that crossed my head made my heart thump loudly against my chest.

I lowered my head curiously. This time, I bent down until I could see his nostrils, but it wasn't enough to distinguish if he was alive or not.

'Can I call him?' I wondered, biting my tongue as I was a bit hesitant to speak. He said I should hold my tongue while he was asking nicely.

My mouth opened and closed, but my voice wouldn't come out. I was too scared of the threat he spoke off earlier. So, in the end, I carefully slid down from my seat and squatted.

'I will just check.' I nodded as I looked up. My eyes landed on his lips. When I stretched my neck in his direction, I caught his nose and then his eyes. Despite the dark shade from the hood, I saw that his eyes were closed.

'So, he's just sleeping?' A sigh of relief slipped past my lips.

When I was about to return to my seat, Hugo suddenly open his one eye and instantly met mine. That very second, I froze as soon as that red orb glowed in the dark.

"What are you doing, Rinnie?" he asked in his cold baritone voice, opening his other eye.

"I... uh..." my lower lips trembled along with my knees. I felt like a nail stilled my feet on that spot as I couldn't stand up from fear. Hugo was this type of person. Sometimes, I would feel very comfortable and free. But there were times he scared me. My body was already terrified even before I could mentally process it.

"I said, what are you doing, Rinnie?" he repeated, making me gulp. I even heard my swallow in my ear.

"I... I'm just checking if you're alive," came out a muffled reply as I panted as if saying those words took up a lot of energy.

A dry laugh escaped his mouth. "Why don't you check?"

"I — I just did."

"No, come here." Hugo crooked a finger while the side of his lips hooked up into an ingratiating smirk. "Check closer, Rinnie."

I looked at him hesitatingly. I didn't want to look closely, but I knew it would annoy him if I didn't. He was already pissed earlier, so I didn't want him to snap and lose it. Still, that wasn't the problem.

"You don't want to?" he asked, sending a shiver down my spine.

"No, not that," I replied softly, staring up at him apologetically. "It's just... my legs won't listen to me."

"Ah..." Hugo rocked his head before he moved forward, offering me his hand. "Come. I'll help you."

I darted my eyes from his eyes to his hand before reaching it. But before I could hold him, he already grabbed mine and dragged me up. I yelped at how strong he was, wincing at his rough grip until he let me go when he yanked me onto his lap.

"Hu --"

My back stiffened when Hugo buried his face in my shoulder, wrapping his arms around my lean waist. How could I see him up close like this? No, that wasn't important. Why was he so... hot?

"Are you sick?" I asked in worry, but he didn't answer. I could feel his deep, hot breaths permeate through the fabric of clothes.

"Hugo..."

"Just stay like this, Rinnie..." His grip tightened, but not tight enough to suffocate me. "... or I might kill someone."