"Apologies, my lord! The usual route is blocked due to some repair work, so I had to take an alternate route. Unfortunately, this road isn't quite smooth…"
Which was proved yet again as he turned the carriage around a sharp corner a little too fast. Zerath was thrown to the side, his shoulder pressing hard against the door. For a moment, his breath got knocked out of his throat.
"Clearly," Zerath muttered his agreement to Ril's assessment.
He straightened his slipped posture and exhaled a breath. Just as he picked the scattered papers, the carriage screeched with a pointed right turn, forcing water from the nearby puddle splash across his face.
"..."
"My lord, are you okay? That was quite the bumpy turn!" He gasped.
With closed eyes, Zerath sat still. Droplets of water from his hair fell upon his coat, and his wet face felt the dance of the cool wind across it.
He took out his handkerchief and slowly wiped his face. "Indeed, it's turning out to be quite an adventurous ride."
"Thank God my lord is unharmed! The road had some puddles, so I thought you got splashed or something."
He smiled calmly. "...No big deal."
Zerath exhaled another small breath and rested his elbow against the window sill. It was clear to him that it was impossible to get any work done when he would be just thrown left, right and center the whole way. He looked out the window, appreciating the scenery outside.
"Hearts are black, minds are vile…
This harsh love plays with your feelings like a trash pile."
Zerath - "..."
"The innocent blossom is lost somewhere far away.
Wh-where no light…sh-ines upon doomsdayyyy," Ril's voice choked.
The sniffling and heartbroken singing voice echoing from outside made the corner of his lips twitch. It was evident that Ril wasn't quite aware that his tragic song could be heard inside the coach.
Zerath asked, "May I ask what happened between you two?"
Ril stopped singing and leaned backward. "Between who, my lord?"
"You and your lady. Why did it end? If you don't mind me asking."
Ril's voice choked further. "What can I say, my lord…she just fell out of love. J-Just like that. Saying that she didn't feel the same way as before…"
Another bump on the road jolted Zerath's head backward.
"Apologies, my lord! M-My eyes…are blurry with the tears…" he sniffled. "I-I mean I loved her so sincerely with all my heart. I gave her flowers whenever I could. I'd sing for her too…"
"Evidently," he commented plainly.
"But her love just faded," he sobbed with all his heart. "What did I do to deserve this harsh fate?"
Zerath was deeply concerned in a different way. "...Is it okay for you to keep riding?"
"Of course, my lord! I'll take you to Bellor safe and sound!"
It has been far from safe and sound actually, Zerath didn't express his grievances out loud.
He then asked, "Aren't you worried about meeting her again?"
"Yes?"
"Bellor is your home city. I assume you both met there, so there is a high chance you'd cross paths with her."
"A-Ah that's right..! In my quest to dutifully serve my lord, I completely forgot about that."
"Huh."
"Rest assured, my lord. I'll make sure to not even look at her face! I've my dignity, after all," he sniffled.
"Indeed," he smiled, resting his elbow against the window again. "Let me know if you see that lady today. As your lord who has always watched you work so honestly and dutifully, I feel like I'd like to talk to her and explain what kind of a gem she has lost."
"My lord…"
Outside, Vivia - or 'Ril', who was effortlessly riding the stallions without a sweat, ended up crying for real now. The whole story about Ril's breakup was a dramatic act. But Zerath's heartfelt words to defend a humble, hardworking coachman in front of a cruel woman who broke his heart made her heart swell with tight emotions.
Zerath is such a kind Crown Prince, she sniffled. No wonder he is so adored by the people.
As they reached Bellor's city gates, Vivia's entire demeanor sparkled as she began to see the faint outline of the city's architecture inside. She could barely contain her excitement at the prospect of being able to tour a demon city when a loud gong of a bell pierced through the air straight from her ears to the inside of her brain.
Vivia almost lost her balance from the reins she held, but she recovered in time, or at least she thought she did because her heart was still thundering from the after effects of the resounding bell that threatened to snatch her hearing capacity. As she regained her composure, she held her right temple, stunned, lips parted into a gasp.
What was that loud sound? I thought the earth broke apart!
It was when the carriage stepped through the city gates that Vivia witnessed the city's marvel that greeted her emerald gaze with a stupor. As far as her eyes took her, only one thing stood out among all.
Bells.
Lots of bells.
Lots and lots of bells.
Actually, a hell lot of bells - more than Vivia had ever seen in her life altogether at once.
So naturally, the next thing that followed after seeing a plethora of bells hung in every corner of the street or at the windows of every home was their sounds.
Chimes.
Lots of chimes.
Lots and lots of chimes.
Actually, a hell lot of chimes - more than Vivia had ever heard in her life altogether at once.
So much so that even the sound of her very breathing faded away in the never-ending tsunami of the bell chimes. The chimes would quiet at times but never completely stopped. Them hitting her from all sides almost numbed her five senses, and it wasn't helping when for some reason, the city folks were passionately screaming with joy and exhilaration which only added to her dizziness.
Wh-what is with this place…? How come there're as many bells as there're stars in the sky!
"Is something the matter, Ril?"
"Ah!"
Vivia's hand flew to her chest as a deep voice and a warm breath rang too close to her ear, which, as she turned, saw that it belonged to none other than Zerath. She swore she could hear the tremors of her heartbeats even amidst the roaring bell chimes.
He leaned closer until there was the barest distance between his lips and her ear.
"You seemed dazed there? Are you okay?"