Free Web NovelChapter 293: Chapter 293
"I don’t see why I can’t," he replied easily, his grin unapologetic. "Especially when you look this radiant."
Circe scoffed, rolling her eyes though the warmth in her chest only grew. "That isn’t the word I would use to describe myself right now, not when my figure is hidden beneath so many layers of wool. It’s a good thing I’m riding in a carriage. Heaven knows I’d topple over like a stone if I tried to climb atop a horse dressed like this."
His lips twitched, betraying the effort it took not to laugh outright. "Even better," he said lightly. "Can’t have you freezing on my watch."
The journey carried them steadily toward the forest’s edge, the palace fading behind them as towering trees rose to greet the procession. Frost clung stubbornly to the branches, and the air grew sharper, filled with the scent of pine and damp earth.
Eventually, the party reached the resting spot, a wide clearing where the trees thinned and the ground flattened, marked by old, weathered stone posts left behind by past hunts.
Here, the group split into two: those who would remain behind, and those who would ride deeper into the forest to take part in the hunt.
The king and the princes dismounted first, followed by several noblemen. Orders were issued swiftly and efficiently. The men would press forward in coordinated groups, driving the prey toward a narrow ravine where the final strike would be made.
Circe barely registered the details as she stepped down from the carriage. The womenand those not participating in the hunt were instructed to remain behind with the guards and servants, sheltered and safe within the clearing.
Ragnar swung down from his horse and turned toward her. Their eyes met across the small distance between them.
"Don’t get injured out there," she told him seriously.
His lips curved, just slightly. "Why? Are you worried about me, Princess?"
He had asked her this question many times before, and her answer was almost always the same.
"Yes," she said simply. "Now go and try not to give me any additional reasons to worry." frёewebnoѵēl.com
His gaze lingered on her a while longer, before he finally turned away to join the others.
Circe watched him disappear into the forest, then forced herself to look elsewhere. Her eyes found Irah.
She stood beside the queen, but she was not alone. Elka was there as well, her posture straight, her expression placid. freēwebnovel.com
The men disappeared deeper into the forest, their voices fading, leaving the rest of them behind in the clearing.
The clearing felt markedly different once they were gone. Only a handful of men remained behind, most of them well past their prime. Servants moved quickly, lighting fires to catch away the cold while others unloaded supplies from the wagons. Wine and other light refreshments served, and the women settled into small groups.
Circe seated herself near one such cluster, close enough to hear their conversation, yet far enough to observe without being drawn into constant exchange. The noblewomen spoke of recent engagements and newest rumors circulating through court. Hairan and Elka’s upcoming nuptials were mentioned more than a few times, and Circe could not help but notice the genuine eagerness with which the match was discussed.
She responded politely when spoken to, offering nothing that could be twisted or used against her.
It did not take long for Queen Nheera’s attention to shift on her.
A moment later, a servant approached Circe, sent by the queen herself.
The man bowed as he greeted her.
"Her Majesty wishes for you to sit with her." He said.
As he spoke, Circe caught sight of sharp fangs peeking through his parted lips.
It was not a request, and she did not pretend otherwise.
"Very well," she said as she rose to her feet.
The queen’s summons did not surprise her. Circe had prepared herself for the possibility. She squared her shoulders and lifted her chin as she crossed the distance with measured steps.
Several women surrounded the queen, and once again, Irah was among them.
Irah wore a high-necked gown, no doubt to conceal the bruises left behind by how tightly Ragnar’s shadows had curled around her throat the night before. Circe’s gaze lingered on her for a tense second before Queen Nheera’s voice forced her attention away.
A few of the women straightened as Circe arrived, barely making an effort to disguise their interest in the interaction about to unfold.
Nheera looked down at her with a smile that never reached her eyes.
"My dear," the queen said lightly, "you seem quite at ease today. One might almost forget you were ever a stranger here."
Circe inclined her head and offered a practiced smile. "The kingdom has been most welcoming so far," she replied calmly.
"That is good to hear," Nheera said. "Come, sit beside me. You look well, marriage seems to suit you."
Circe lowered her gaze respectfully. "Thank you, Your Majesty."
She did as she was told, lowering herself into the empty space at the queen’s left. The bench was cold beneath her skirts, the chill seeping through layers of fabric.
Queen Nheera’s gaze drifted toward the dense stretch of forest where the men had vanished, swallowed whole by towering trees. "The hunt can be overwhelming," she said at last, her voice light, almost indulgent. "At times, I struggle to understand why they insist on dragging us along if all we are expected to do is wait for their return. In some kingdoms, women are spared the trouble of witnessing it altogether. But tradition must be followed at the end of the day, I suppose."
A ripple of quiet laughter passed through the women seated nearby.
Nheera continued, her tone conversational, though her eyes flicked back to Circe with calculated precision.
"You must find it strange, being surrounded by traditions that were never meant for you. Customs passed down through bloodlines that predate your arrival." Her lips curved faintly. "Poor thing. You must be quite out of your depth."
