Paradise

Odin was not surprised when he heard this. It would have been abnormal if she liked him considering her personality.

He was already expecting this when he asked her the question but he just needed clearance from her.

He sighed and his eyes drifted into the distance, staring at the blooming trees. All he wished for was for his friend to be happy, ever since that day, he had descended into the abyss of loneliness.

He hated people except him and always kept to himself.

This was one of the reasons why he got him to marry Carrissa but it seemed that it was failing.

Carrissa stared at Odin, but he said nothing for a while before she also looked ahead.

She understood his intention, he wanted them to live like a real couple but...she was not sure it was possible.

At this juncture, both of them sighed at the same time, they paused a bit before they chuckled.

"He was not always like this." Odin began, his eyes holding the vicissitudes of time. At this time his eyes held wisdom that only aged people had making Carrissa wonder what he had gone through.

"He was once cheerful and everyone in the kingdom loved him. He loved hunting and reading making him unique among his other siblings. He was a genius who was loved by everyone. Even though he did not talk much he became a parrot in front of me but now..."

The smile on his face faded and was replaced by sorrow and a hint of anger.

Carrissa felt intrigued when she heard Odin speak. She didn't know that Auric had such a beautiful childhood but what happened to him?

He looks like a shell of his past if she considers what Odin said.

"What happens to him?" Carrissa waited for him to continue but after minutes of silence, she asked the question which was warring with her mind.

Odin crossed his hand at his back and let his head fall back with a solemn face.

"I believe it is not my place to tell you," Odin said, regaining that friendly smile on his face."But I do hope that you will give him time."

Just as the last words fell out of Odin's mouth, Auric came by.

He walked to where they stood before glancing at Odin with a raised brow. They stared at each other for a couple of minutes before Auric walked away, not bothering to look at his wife.

Odin apologized to Carrissa before he walked after Auric.

Carrissa stared at the back of Auric and suddenly felt sorry for him. It was not her wish to do so, but he looked so lonely.

From what Odin said, she can conclude that his other siblings were the ones that hurt him.

The pain must have been carved into his bones which was why he still felt pain.

She sighed and went to the vineyard.

She began walking in between the vines while lost in her thoughts.

She was a woman who hated societal norms but that didn't mean that she was heartless, she pitied him.

Initially, when she was about to marry into the family, she thought he was a middle-aged man or worse an old man which was why she created a ruckus about it. Thinking about it now, she felt ridiculous. She laughed and the scene of their first meeting drifted into her sights.

Lost in her thoughts, she failed to see a snake slithering towards her.

Carrissa was thinking when she felt something cold wrap itself around her leg, she looked down and got the scare of a lifetime.

A snake!

She felt terror but at the same time, she felt that it wouldn't harm her.

The latter feeling made her feel like she knew the snake ages ago.

Carrissa slowly steadied her breath and next, she jerked her leg hard, unwrapping the cold reptile.

She didn't stay for another minute and ran towards the mansion.

On the other hand, the snake stared at the running girl and his head dropped, a look of sorrow passed through its slits before it vanished from the spot.

Carrissa ran like her life depended on it, the maids stared at her weirdly while others stared at her in disdain but the latter group of people didn't dare to showcase it.

The butler had an indifferent expression, as usual.

She galloped on the staircase and there she bumped into a hard chest.

Auric was taking a walk around the mansion since his kingly duties were done. He needed peace and he had to stabilize his breathing.

He could have gotten Carrissa to be near him all the time but he did not want anyone around him and that led to his present predicament.

The heat in his body had reached an unfathomable temperature and the vapour was visibly seen.

He didn't care about others seeing his present predicament but the butler made preparations and sent all the maids out. When he was about to take a step on the stairs, he saw Carrissa running into the castle.

He furrowed his brows a bit.

It was not because she was running but why she was running, he still remembered their conversation the last time and from what she said, something must have gotten her on her heels.

He saw her near him and he wanted to dodge and give her way but he was rooted to the spot.

She hit her head on his chest and soon a cold but comfortable feeling washed over him making him feel new.

His face had a relaxed expression and he lowered his head and started at the girl who was now holding onto her head.

Perhaps this was the reason why he did not want to move. He wanted this feeling.

Carrissa held her head in agony, the speed at which she ran had greatly impacted the damage she received.

She glared at Auric. Couldn't he have moved a little?

Auric stood there motionless with his hands in his pants. His handsome face was indifferent but relaxed which was rarely seen.

"Aren't you going to apologize?" Carrissa questioned after a while of silence, still glaring at him.

Auric glanced at her before brushing past her and descending the stairs.

Carrissa's eyes slowly widened as her countenance turned cold, she was literally trembling with anger now.

She had forgotten that a few minutes ago, she was running away from a snake and was now basking in endless rage.

She followed Auric downstairs while yapping.

"...No gentleman would treat his wife in this manner, you purposely stood there and made me bump into you. Who do you..."

The words were stuck in her throat as Carrissa stared at the view in front of her.

The place looked like paradise!

Several birds flew in the air while trees and beautiful flowers bloomed here and there.

There was a neat paved path in front and at the farthest side, there was a flowing river which had fish swimming in it.

The whole place gave off a vibe of peace and it felt comfortable.

At this moment, Carrissa's jaws were on the floor.