The carriage moved along the narrow path with a quiet precision, the polished wheels gliding almost silently over the cobblestones. Asoka shifted slightly, adjusting the baskets beside her, trying not to appear awkward in a situation she had never imagined encountering. She had expected the path to be empty, her morning routine solitary, yet here she was, sitting in a carriage with a man she had only recognized a moment ago.
Her hands rested lightly on her lap, fingers brushing against the rough weave of her basket straps.
The morning air carried the scent of dew on grass, faint smoke from the village hearths, and the lingering sweetness of pastries cooling on doorsteps. Despite the calm of the surroundings, her mind raced. She told herself to remain composed, reminding herself of her lessons in modesty and restraint, the careful conduct of a young woman in society.
A silence had fell, She could feel the quiet rhythm of the carriage beneath her, the gentle sway of movement, and the occasional creak of the wood. Then, finally, he spoke, breaking the hush.
"You are well?" His tone was calm, almost casual, but with a gentleness that made her heart skip.
She hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. The words seemed ordinary, but there was an underlying interest in them that set her on edge."I… am," she answered softly, keeping her voice even, careful not to let curiosity betray her composure.
Another pause followed, filled only with the sound of the carriage moving. Then, "And your family? Are they well?"
Her fingers tightened slightly around the basket strap. She had never been one to discuss family freely with strangers. Even now, though his presence was calm and his tone polite, she could not ignore the intrusion into private matters.
She gave a small nod, vague words carefully chosen. "They are… well enough," she said, leaving the rest unspoken.
He did not press further. Instead, his gaze shifted slightly, a modest smile touching his lips. "You are well known among the women," he said casually. "Even my mother has spoken of you."
Asoka blinked, startled. She had never considered herself remarkable. A memory stirred—Eliza had asked her once if she had noticed the same, if she had seen how others spoke of her. She furrowed her brow, searching for connections she had never noticed. Her face must have betrayed her confusion because he let out a soft, modest laugh, warm and restrained, as though he found her expression genuinely amusing.
She forced herself to regain composure, straightening slightly, reminding herself not to appear too curious. Yet, emboldened by his initial questions, she ventured carefully. "And… the country?" Her voice was quiet, almost hesitant. She had long dreamed of the lands beyond the hills, but never known the name, the truth, or the reality of the people who lived there.
"Umbrathor," he said, as if reading her thoughts. "A country within the empire. These lands—the village—belong under its authority. Not all you've heard is true, though some is not entirely false. The acting ruler granted land to the church near the hills—you call it the countryside."
The words struck her, She thought of the limits of her own understanding. Illitracy had always seemed a quiet inconvenience, but now, she realized how much she had missed, how much she had never known.
He noticed the spark in her eyes, the subtle betraying of curiosity despite her efforts to hide it. She adjusted her posture, trying to maintain dignity, she did not want to behave as she had done earlier in the festival, or maybe a little. Her curiosity surged, sharper than ever. She asked about the lands across the hills, learning the Empire they where all in was called Morrogan, she had known Little of her roots, but had understand her village well, she had thought once, when she was very little, that her village was all that was in existence and gradually she had known better.
The ride moved slowly, as if time itself had lengthened to give her the space to absorb everything she had said. He spoke of himself then, of the royal military, of visiting the capital and his mother. Each revelation, casual as it was, made her pulse quicken slightly. Her curiosity ran ahead of her caution, even as she reminded herself of proper restraint.
When she asked more than she should, betraying her eagerness, he laughed again—soft, restrained, modest, but louder this time. The sound made her cheeks warm. She tried to hide her amusement, but the flutter of awareness was impossible to ignore.
As she thought of the teachings she had received as a woman—modesty, proper behavior, restraint—she recalled the lessons that extended beyond public decorum. The unspoken, delicate matters between men and women, the boundaries of propriety, and the things she had never dared to imagine now ran through her mind.
She had sensed him watching her, and she had found herself staring at him, He was difficult to read, restrained and disciplined. And she, despite her efforts to remain composed, had unwittingly made herself interesting to him.
Time passed in this rhythm of movement, observation, and conversation. The ride felt slower than expected, which she did not know why.
By the time the carriage reached the bend near her shop, she was both exhausted and exhilarated. Her arms, though free of the heavier burden, ached slightly from the baskets she had carried. Her mind, however, remained alert, buzzing with questions and impressions of the man beside her.
He stopped the carriage gently. "Here we are," he said softly.
Asoka moved to step down, carefully arranging her skirts and baskets. He halted her mid-step, giving a brief, polite farewell, his gaze lingering faintly on her face. She felt a strange mix of confusion and awareness, unsure whether to step down or remain, he seemed too curious, even more than her.
She reminded herself that men where men, that caution was necessary, and that she must preserve her composure. She didn't want to het ahead of herself,Yet even as she followed her usual routines, arranging baskets and adjusting deliveries, she could not help replaying small moments of the ride: the subtle humor, the way he had noticed her curiosity before she could hide it, but that wasn't what had mattered now because she knew enough of what she was looking for, and she was ready to take the risk for it..
The carriage rolled on, leaving her at the entrance of her shop. Her morning duties awaited: deliveries, errands, organizing supplies, assisting customers. Yet a quiet thrill remained in her chest, a reminder of the carriage, the ride, and the man who had offered her assistance despite her initial hesitations.