Free Web NovelChapter 15: Chapter 15
Hera met Niko waiting outside in a carriage for them.
"Well, well." Iris lifted a brown. "Your man is quite the charmer."
The carriage looked extravagant. It had gold wheels, a padded seat for the coachman, and curtains for the doors.
Hera rolled her eyes. "He’s a senator’s son." Her voice was flat, "If he didn’t show off a bit of wealth, then I’d have been surprised."
"The gentleman will be accompanying us," Iris addressed their escorts.
They gave her a curt nod and nothing more.
"Girls, please, join me," Niko said. He shifted so that they could get into the carriage. "So, where would you like to go?"
"Anywhere, honestly," Iris offered. "We’ve been locked up in that house since the first day we arrived."
Niko looked at Hera expectantly. "What about you, Princess Hera?"
"Like she said, anywhere."
"Alright then, we should start at the Agora."
Hera and Iris had a puzzled look on their faces.
Niko chuckled. "You’ll see it when we get there."
The streets of Erindros were alive with colourful clothes, grabby merchants, and angry wives.
Hera smiled at the sight. It reminded her of home. She would sneak out of the palace with her nanny daughter all the time and come back sullied with dirt and mud. Her mother would scream at the top of her lungs, chasing her until she got caught.
Agora was pulsating with life. The shouting, the laughing, the throngs of bodies pushing to get through. This was much different from Epirus, because the kingdom wasn’t large, everything seemed to be orderly, as orderly as it could be.
Here, there were performance stages with various plays going on. On one, some actors lampooned the royal family.
"We’re so delicate, how could we mingle with common people?" the first performer asked dramatically. He was imitating the king.
"Your majesty, these are your people; meet with them."
"How dare you question me!"
"Forgive me, your majesty, I only thought..."
"I don’t elect you to choose for me. Now shut up. "
Iris and Hera gave each other a sideways glance as they passed by.
Then there were snake tamers, slaves jostling and punching. Hera and Iris stared awestruck at everything happening around them.
"Why don’t we go see a play? We have excellent theatres with the best actors." Niko suggested.
"Of course," Hera eagerly answered.
Niko smiled at this.
They went to a place called the Odeon. It was already packed with people when they entered, but Niko knew the patron, and they were immediately given a private viewing space.
The performance lasted two hours, leaving both girls transfixed.
It had been a sad play that started comedically. Of two great enemies who loved each other but had to eventually die.
"That was amazing," Hera gushed. "I wonder if this actually happened or if it was simply just a story. It felt real, vivid. "
"It really was," Iris chimed. "Do they perform every day, my lord?"
"Oh, they do for a time," replied Niko. "But then they close down for a season. Like three or four months. I think it’s so they plan all the plays they perform for when they’re open."
"That’s actually brilliant," Hera said. "They want their customers satisfied it what I’m hearing."
Niko chuckled and nodded.
"So," Hera said, "where to next?"
"We could visit the temple?" He suggested.
"Yes!" Iris nodded. "I think it’s a good idea. It’s been a while since we visited one."
"There’s a vineyard not far from it, too."
"Really?" Hera asked, delighted.
"Yes," he replied. "We should leave now. I wouldn’t want you returning to the palace late."
The temple of Ilyros was magnificent. The large statues, the bells, the fountains. Hera felt at peace. She clasped her hands together and prayed desperately to the gods to spare her sister.
They hadn’t stayed long at the temple before they went to the vineyard.
There were rows and rows of grapes. Red and succulent on its stem.
"Wow." Hera’s mouth hung slightly open as she stared at the field. "Whoever takes care of this place does a fine job. Everything looks so beautiful."
Niko smiled, his grin wide. "I actually own the place. "
Hera and Iris stared wide-eyed at him.
" You do? " Iris asked.
"Yes." Niko nodded. "I wanted something to myself, something ordinary, " he explained. "I’ve always wanted to own a farm or a field for crops. I loved farming. I understand that my family is deeply involved politically in the kingdom’s affairs, but I didn’t want that for me. All my brothers had all gone down the same route as my father; I didn’t just love politics and all the dirty tricks one had to play to sit at the top."
Hera’s eyes softened at this. She’d always wondered what it would have been like if her family hadn’t been born or chosen as royals. How would they have lived ordinary lives without being weighed down with the enormous responsibility of ruling?
"I understand," she replied quietly.
Iris raised an eyebrow at the scene in front of her and tried not to burst out laughing. It was truly ironic. Two people born into royalty wishing they weren’t.
"I find it extremely hilarious that the people who always wished they lived ordinary lives and claimed that they would have been happier without the burden of being rich were always rich," Iris chuckled.
Hera glared at her. "That’s not what this is about..."
Iris held both hands up in mocking surrender. "Of course."
Niko smiled.
"Anyways," Hera said, turning back to look at Niko, "thank you so much for showing us all these wonderful places today. We were able to have fun only because you were here."
Niko grinned. "If you’re really thankful, why don’t you stop by my estate before you head back to the palace? It’s not very far from here."
Iris scoffed. He was a slick bastard. For someone who wasn’t politically inclined, he knew how to tilt a situation to his advantage.
"Ohh." Hera was stunned by the request. "Don’t you stay with your family?"
"On occasion," He replied. "But I have my own estate. It’s not as grand, but it is mine, and I love it."
"I mean... It’s getting quite late, and I don’t want anyone to worry."
"We won’t stay for long, Princess. I just wanted to show you where I lived. Plus, you’re with your guards and friends. It’ll just be a while."
Hera turned to look at Iris, who shrugged and said nothing. Hera sighed and nodded. "Why not. Lead the way."
His estate felt sequestered. Hidden from everyone. The path they took was enchanting. Trees lined both sides of the road, which strewed colourful flowers. freewёbnoνel.com
The estate itself was breathtaking. It wasn’t as gigantic as the palace or filled with gold and silver; however, it felt peaceful.
Right in front of the house, there were soil beds which were protected by a fence of scant shrubs, then a pen where he kept a few sheep and goats with two horses.
Hera was enthralled. A few chickens ran past them as they entered.
"You have a wonderful home here, my lord. Quite the sight." Iris commented.
"Thank you."
Hera stared at the estate, taking in its beauty.
"And you, Princess," Niko asked, "what do you think of my home?"
"I think it’s marvelous, " she replied. "It’s simply perfect." She gave him a big smile.
"Why don’t I give you a tour? It’s not much, but I would like to show you around."
"Please, lead the way," Hera responded.
He nudged them towards the house with a nod. There were three bedrooms, an airy kitchen, and a stone tub in one of the bathing areas, and a courtyard, which they sat in.
"The place is exceptional." Hera took small sips of the tea he had served them. "How did you even find this place?" frёeweɓηovel.coɱ
"It was unexpected, even for me," he said. "I had no intention of buying a house until I got married or there was an important reason to stay on my own, but when I saw this place, I could not lose the opportunity."
"So you stay here a lot? " Iris asked.
"Most of the time," he replied. "But when there are concerns which my father deems important or pressing, I stay at the house."
"Ohh... You mean like today? When you came with your father to the palace, you were staying with your family, which means that there were urgent matters you had to help your father with."
Niko smirked and looked down at his cup. "Not really, Iris. I attended the banquet with my father and decided that I had to find a way to meet the beautiful lady I had met again."
"I see." Iris nodded.
"Thank you for the tour, my lord, but I really think we should be going," Iris said. She would ignore his covert advances no matter how much he tried.
Iris shot out of her chair and placed the cup down. "Yes, Princess, we ought to leave. My lord, thank you so much again for the tour."
"It was a pleasure." He nodded at both of them. "I hope next time, we may have the chance to properly enjoy all of this," he motioned to the space around them, the house.
"Of course, my lord," Hera replied.
