Javier's POV
What had I expected? That she would remain where she was told?
My guard took a measured step back as she swayed, barely managing to brace herself against the carriage. I exhaled sharply, dismounting in a single, fluid motion. As I strode toward her, she turned to face me, grinning.
Grinning.
A preposterous reaction for someone who had nearly been crushed beneath my stallion's hooves. But then, I should have known better than to expect sense from her.
"Why are you out of the carriage?" My tone was cold, measured.
She flicked her gaze toward me but did not answer at once, preoccupied with spitting out strands of hair caught upon her lips.
Before she could respond, the carriage door swung open, and her maidservant stepped out, head bowed. "Eure Majestät, ich bitte um Verzeihung in ihrem Namen, ich sh…" ("Your Majesty, I beg your pardon on her behalf, I sh…")
"Ich erinnere mich nicht, euch die Erlaubnis zum Sprechen gegeben zu haben." ("I do not recall granting you leave to speak,") I cut in, my voice like steel.
My gaze did not waver from the girl before me.
Her smile faded.
"D-Do not speak to her in such a manner, you insufferable brute!" she snapped, stepping forward with all the fury of a tempest. The movement sent her stumbling yet again, though I made no move to aid her. She caught herself against the carriage, fuming.
Then, with narrowed eyes and a glare sharp enough to cut, she declared, "I was the one who chose to leave that death trap."
I arched a brow and cast a glance at the carriage.
"Trampa mortal," (Death trap) I echoed, unimpressed.
She nodded sharply, sending loose strands of hair flying.
"Sí, no estoy cómoda en esa cosa y necesito salir de ella. ¿Cómo es justo que tú puedas cabalgar un caballo mientras yo tengo que estar en esa cosa?"
("Yes, I am not comfortable in that thing, and I must be free of it. How is it fair that you may ride a horse while I must remain confined?")
Her arms crossed over her chest, chin tilted upward in defiance.
I merely observed her in silence.
This girl was devoid of any sense of self-preservation.
I could have forced her back into the carriage. Could have seized her by the arm and thrown her inside, kicking and clawing as I knew she would.
And yet, against all logic, I found a thrill in the fire of her rebellion.
But another thought occurred to me.
She refused the carriage? Very well. Then she would have a horse of her own.
It was a reckless notion, yet she had a way of making reason flee from my mind.
Without breaking my gaze, I spoke to Gonzalo, Capitán de la Guardia Real.
"Fetch the lady a horse."
Silence. A moment of hesitation.
"Y-Your Majesty..." Gonzalo began cautiously.
"Must I repeat myself?"
From the corner of my eye, I saw him shake his head before rushing off to do as commanded. My lips almost twitched, but I held them firm as Annaliese's eyes widened.
I knew she could not ride. Her kingdom would never have permitted their precious princess atop an animal that could harm her.
She met my gaze, then quickly looked away.
"Stop staring at me like some ghoul," she snapped in that foreign tongue I could not understand. Anger flared in my chest, but before I could act upon it, Gonzalo returned, leading a white horse by its reins.
I barely spared the beast a glance before turning to her. "You wish to ride, then go on," I said, motioning toward it.
Her eyes went wide, and I expected her to refuse, to claim she no longer desired it. Perhaps she would approach, attempt to climb, and humiliate herself. But what I did not expect, what I could never have foreseen, was the slow, delighted smile that graced her lips.
"Damn, you have no idea how long I have wished for this, it was even part of my bucket list" she breathed.
I did not understand her words, only watched as she stepped toward the horse, trailing her fingers along its flank as though she had longed for its touch. The sight irked me.
"Get on. We have little time," I said sharply.
She turned with an annoyed look but did not argue.
Gonzalo knelt behind her, hands cupped, ready to assist.
She glanced at him, brows furrowing. "What are you doing?"
He hesitated, glancing my way, but I merely observed. "I am to assist my lady on horseback," he explained.
She regarded him for a moment, then, before any could react, she placed a hand atop his head and ruffled his hair.
"Funny," she mused.
Gonzalo froze, his eyes wide, his face burning.
Before either of us could respond, she placed her foot in the stirrup, gripping the saddle, and, without any further aid, swung her leg over the horse.
I could only stare.
The ease with which she mounted, without hesitation, without fumbling, was not what I had expected. A woman of her standing should have struggled, should have required assistance. Yet there she sat, straight-backed in the saddle, hands resting lightly on the reins as though she had done this a hundred times before.
She turned her head slightly, glancing down at me, and the corner of her lips quirked up.
"Well?" Her voice carried an unmistakable note of amusement. "Are we going, or have you changed your mind?"
I tamped down a growl, shifting my gaze to Gonzalo, who still looked faintly dazed from her touch. Fool.
With a practiced ease, I swung onto my horse, guiding it ahead of hers. I did not spare her a glance as I spoke. "Try not to fall and break your neck. It would be… inconvenient."
She let out an indignant huff before nudging her horse forward, closing the distance between us with ease. "Oh, do not trouble yourself," she said airily. "I intend to live a very long life… and make yours a misery while I do."