Chapter 22: Carriages are better than wagons.

The next morning, the ladies had brought me breakfast in bed and I appreciated the hot tea.

I had thanked them. It seemed like that had gone out of their way. As I ate, they were drinking tea which was delivered to the room free of charge.

"Now what would we do?" Merilyn quietly asked and sipped her tea as she stared out of the window.

"We have to leave for the capital." Gemma whispered, "I say, we could roam the markets and find out when the next carriage for Lethoris leaves."

"I think I saw a nice cloak but I don't remember which vendor." Merilyn tsked.

What was I here for? Was I not seen by them?

"The tea is nice," I commented and they nodded.

I closed my eyes. As a Royal Princess and a future queen, I have been taught to converse with various people on the topics that would interest them and here I was commenting on the tea.

There was something wrong with me.

Wearing our cloaks we moved out of the inn as I finished breakfast. Somehow my head was covered more the usual. Maybe because I could feel that he could be around and I would once again, be dragged to the brothel.

The same that happened with that women would happen with me as well once again and that too, in the light.

It was horrifying.

We enjoyed the markets and Gemma, like a true guardian, made sure that every one of us enjoyed it thoroughly. She even bought new clothes for everyone and made sure that they looked good on each of us before buying.

The next moved to the drives of the wagons.

"Good evening." Turning around I found the girl that we met in the wagon while we were coming to the Lethoris. It was Lara.

"Lara." I smiled. "What are you doing here?"

"I am leaving for Lethoris. Tomorrow I'm leaving in the morning." She smiled brightly. "What about you? Are you going back?"

Gemma shook her head. "No, we are also going to Lethoris. The capital."

"Ah!" She squealed. "Then you must be taking the public wagons. Would you like to go in carriages?"

"Ye—"

"Carriages?!" Gemma interrupted me and Merylin. "How could you afford them? Those are pretty expensive." Which I truly had no idea about because my entire life I had been travelling in carriages.

Lara only smiled wider. "Well, to be honest, I come from a nice family and this time my brother would be travelling back to the capital as well. For which we would be using carriages and I thought of inviting you."

"Well, we couldn't possibly impose . ."

"Please, I insist!" She pleaded and Marilyn and I glanced at each other knowing that we would do anything to not travel with livestock ever again.

"Well if you insist," Merylin started.

"I think we could wake up early tomorrow morning." I finished with a smile.

"Hurray!" She clapped her hands. "I'm happy to make new friends."

A little too happy, but who was I to judge.

"Remember tomorrow morning they would meet here on the same spot and then continue our three day's journey to the capital." She reminded and bid her farewell.

"Layla, Merilyn," Gemma glanced around worriedly as she spoke to us, "We still do not know much about the girl. You should not have said yes to going with them."

"Please, Ms Gemma. We can't sit in those wagons again." Merilyn stepped in and I nodded along.

"Yes, carriages, no matter what quality would be far better than those wagons with cows and chickens in them."

Gemma looked at the both of us with worried eyes but then nodded. I suppose the question on both of our minds was what could go wrong?