Mary stared at Athissa for a few seconds.
“That man?
You mean… The Alpha King?” She asked, wanting to be sure.
“Yes,” Athissa said, looking at the window and the trees outside.
Mary felt the atmosphere between them change, and it became suffocating.
She could see that Athissa was pissed off, and she didn’t want to question why since she got a hint already.
Then Mary mind-linked Richard.
[ Alpha King, I have successfully arrived, and I’m now with Lady Athissa.
Thank you for your consideration of my request.
]
Mary waited a few seconds and felt that her message had been received, but there was no response.
“I linked.
I think it’ll be okay,” Mary said hesitatingly.
Her eyes darted toward Athissa, who was still staring outside.
Silence.
Athissa remained quiet for a few minutes as her mind became emptier.
“You know, I felt more relaxed at the thought of leaving the capital,” Athissa stated lowly, slumping further into the sofa.
Mary’s lips flattened into a thin line.
“How so?” She asked.
“Freedom,” Athissa replied shortly, still gazing outside the window.
Mary sighed heavily.
She knew about Athissa’s situation, and sometimes, she would also question the family’s treatment of their own daughter.
“Is it because you’ll be far away from those people?” Mary asked, clinching her skirt.
“I don’t know.
Maybe, but it’s just that my mind is at peace.
I feel at peace,” Athissa said.
Athissa’s eyes lowered softly, and a small smile appeared on her lips.
That small facial movement captivated Mary.
It truly showed the sincerity on Athissa’s face, and for the first time in all the years they had been together, her beauty shone.
“Whoa, you’re stunning!” Mary complimented, eyes wide as she scooted forward.
Athissa’s calmness vanished, and she rolled her eyes.
“So you think I’m ugly?” She asked, shaking her head from side to side.
“No…no.
It’s just that you really do look at peace haha!” Mary clasped her mouth since she blurted something that was supposed to stay in her head.
“But doctor, aren’t you scared?” She added.
“Scared of what?
That they will treat me like how my parents treat me?” Athissa chuckled sarcastically.
She unconsciously touched the cheek where Richard slapped her.
“Doctor… Did… Did they even see you one last time before your departure?” Mary asked softly.
Concern was laced in her face.
Athissa sighed deeply.
“No.”
“…”
The carriage became silent again.
Both of them were in their own worlds.
Athissa noticed that Mary had become quiet.
When she looked back, she saw Mary looking at her with eyes glistening with tears.
“Hey, wh-what happened—”
Before Athissa could finish her question.
Mary jumped from her seat and launched at Athissa.
“Wahhh!
Poor you!
Wah!
They don’t even try to at least wave goodbye at you!” Mary cried out loudly.
She hugged Athissa’s waist while tears kept flowing, mixed with snot.
Athissa cringed and tried to push Mary away, but she couldn’t.
“Geez, why are you crying?
I prefer not seeing them since I know for sure they’ll just say inhumane words,” she said, grabbing Mary’s hair and pulling her head up.
“Even sooo!
You’re still their family!
Wah!
It hurts!” Mary exclaimed loudly and held her hair against Athissa’s hold.
Athissa’s eyes widened, and she felt something within her unlock.
She had always put a barrier to prevent herself from being hurt.
Most of the time, she expected her family to be mean and to throw insults at her, so she wouldn’t be surprised if it happened.
However, upon hearing what Mary said.
Athissa’s walls slightly shook deep inside.
It made her want to scream, to ask her parents whether her worth as a daughter depended on her womb.
But before that happened, Athissa breathed deeply, and those walls became calm and secure again.
Then she released Mary’s head and patted her.
“Don’t worry.
It’s not like I’m getting younger.
We should focus on our journey instead of thinking about the things that we can’t control,” Athissa giggled and guided Mary back to her seat.
“But still—” Mary wanted to argue, but she was stopped.
“Also, I dislike that you lowered yourself to a maid.
You are my assistant and not a maid, okay.
I prefer to be alone sometimes too,” Athissa said, clarifying some information.
“If that’s what you want, but I’ll be here on call,” Mary saluted playfully as both of them laughed.
“Anyways, I wonder about you since you left in haste,” Athissa stated and wanted to know if Mary had left something in her home.
Mary’s smile died down a bit.
“Well, I really have nothing more to pack.
As you already know, I’m an orphan, and I cut the lease on my apartment today.
The items I brought were mostly the important ones.
It’s not like I own many.”
That made Athissa sigh in relief.
“That’s good to hear that you have no regrets.
We will be traveling for days, so it might be hard for us,” she leaned forward closer to Mary.
Mary’s brow furrowed in confusion.
She leaned forward too since Athissa had something to say.
Athissa was about to open her mouth, but glanced back at the coachman’s position.
Since he was a man with wolf senses, she was afraid that he could hear what she was about to say.
“I see,” Mary nodded in understanding and pulled a small notebook and a pen from her pocket.
“Here,” she said, handing them to Athissa.
Athissa couldn’t help but smile at the fact that Mary completely understood her.
She flipped the page and started writing.
After she was done, she handed it back to Mary, who eagerly took it.
// I don’t trust the coachman.
He seemed so grumpy and angry most of the time.
I can feel his energy, and it’s not positive.
It will be closer to lunch soon, and we need to eat, but I haven’t talked to him regarding our travel plans yet.
//
Mary read the sentences and felt unease.
Especially that not even one guard was sent to protect them.
It really looked like the Alpha King himself didn’t care if they arrived at their destination dead or alive.
Eat your snacks.
Drink your milk.
Smile.
Relax.
And whatever you do, do not get comfortable.