Raelyth did not speak again after Valerie confirmed the reason for flinching was her father. She didn't know what went through his mind; he only kept his hold on her while looking outside the window of his side of the carriage. Valerie took that moment to admire him.
His silvery-black hair was a contrast against his very pale skin. Valerie only watched his side profile, but she was already aware of the colour of eyes the man had. His nose was sharp and pointed, not too small nor too big. His lips were a dark shade of cherry. His face was angular, and his chiseled jaw added to his beauty.
Her eyes trailed down to his open neck. There were tiny dark spots like freckles surrounding his neck; she wasn't sure if it was freckles, though. Raelyth Thalor was handsome—more handsome than she had ever thought.
Remembering Malorie, Valerie took a chance to ask, "Have we crossed South?"
Raelyth turned to look at her. He stared at her for a beat, then answered, "No. Do you wish to stop by at a place?"
"Yes." Valerie slowly nodded. She didn't know if his kindness was his everyday behaviour, but she would take advantage of it while she could. "I'd love to see my sister." Valerie called out the address, and when Raelyth nodded, she released a breath.
Raelyth opened the small squared hole at the opposite side of where they sat. "Make a stop at Angel's Haven, Mario," he ordered, and when he got a verbal acknowledgement, he closed the opening and sat back.
"Thank you," Valerie murmured.
"You have nothing to thank me for. You are my wife, and I would do whatever you wish for." His words made Valerie's cheeks heat up. She nodded shyly and looked back at her lap.
Raelyth sighed; he used his other hand to raise her face to stare into her eyes. "I love your eyes," he said.
Valerie didn't know what response to give. The way he stared at her and held her was all too much from someone she was expecting to be just a bloody cold jerk. It was a new experience. "Thank you," she whispered.
"And you need not look down whenever you are with me. You are my wife; I am in no way higher than you."
Valerie inaudibly gasped at his words. "Of... of course you are. You are the Grand Duke, so you are most certainly higher than me."
Raelyth's lips tilted at the corner. He used his thumb to brush her cheek. "So soft..." he murmured. "You will be my wife soon enough, Moonflower—the Grand Duchess. So yes, we are equal."
"Moon... Moonflower?" Her brows furrowed; she had never heard the word before.
"Yes. You remind me of a moonflower." After caressing her cheek one last time, he pulled away, taking his hand away from hers and staring at the window. Valerie suddenly missed his warmth.
★
"Valerie!!" Malorie rushed out and enveloped her sister in an embrace so tight they almost toppled to the ground.
"Mal!" Valerie pulled away, checking her sister from head to toe. "Are you well? Did anything happen yesterday?"
Malorie chuckled, shaking her head. "Lady Priscilla is nothing short of welcoming. I am enjoying my stay." Malorie looked at the gate as though she was expecting someone else to come through. "What about... did it still happen?"
Valerie nodded with a small smile. "He is outside currently. He allowed me to see you."
Malorie frowned. "He did?"
"Yes. He is kind, not like what the rumours say. I think... I think I'll be okay with him." Malorie widened her eyes, and Valerie shook her head immediately. "I do not mean I am in love with him; I am not," she said vehemently. "But he is a nice man, tolerable until I can finally leave."
Malorie nodded, then squeezed Valerie's arm. "I will letter you whenever I can. I am certain Lorien would arrive soon."
Valerie nodded, then placed a kiss on Mal's forehead. "Take your time. And tell Lorien I said hello."
"Okay." Valerie let Malorie hug her once more before she turned on her heels and left the compound, but not before waving at her the last time.
As she stepped outside the gate, she found Raelyth leaning on the carriage. Feeling suddenly aware of herself, she rubbed her hands and said, "Thank you for letting me see my sister."
Raelyth gave a small nod. "She is your sister. Any chance you get to see her, make use of it." Something sad crossed his eyes, and if Valerie hadn't been intently looking at those beautiful eyes, she would have missed it.
"Thank you," she appreciated before she climbed back into the carriage.
★
Valerie's eyes widened when the carriage stopped directly in front of the large brown iron gate. If she had thought Father's gate was huge, she had another thing coming. The gate was pulled open from the inside. Valerie noticed there were no guardsmen stationed outside the gate, unlike her father's.
The gate was pulled wide open, and the horses stepped into the vast compound. She had to remind herself that Raelyth Thalor was a Grand Duke, not a king who owned a bloody castle—because the building situated at the far end of the vast compound was nothing less than a castle!
"Oh my goodness," Valerie whispered in marvel. She was impressed with the whole architecture, and she hadn't even seen the rest of it.
"You like it?" Raelyth asked; there was a tinge of pride in his tone.
"Like it?" She gaped at him. "I love it! It is so beautiful."
Once she noticed the horses had stopped moving, she opened the carriage door and alighted on her own, running through the vast compound. When the coachman jumped down from the horse and came to the carriage to find Valerie was there no more, his stunned gaze looked up at Raelyth, who was trying to stifle a laugh.
"She's wild. I like it," he whispered before he handled the door and stepped down, slowly making his way towards Valerie, who twirled in the midst of green pastures. God, he had never been more appreciative of his home.
He watched her continue twirling with a smile on her lips, and he wondered how a human could be so celestially beautiful. She looked nothing like a human at all.
He wanted to have her—he was going to have all of her—until at least his dark side came out.