Lovers Beyond the Mirror - Chapter 16

────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Chapter 16 – Ranua (2)

‘It might be a little dangerous.’

Vaisha thought so, but instead of thinking of dropping Seriana from his arms, he picked up one of the fruits again and tapped her lips.

It was cute to see Seriana licking her mouth as she swallowed the fruit he held in his hand, even though she couldn’t hide her reddened cheeks.

“There’s no way I’ll be attacking you blindly like I did yesterday. I promise.”

“…”

“It’s an excuse, but it’s my first time, so I didn’t know I would move so recklessly.”

“…That—”

“Yes?”

“It’s the first time…?”

At the sight of Seriana, who tilted her head, he shed a small laugh after reading some misunderstanding.

“I was the first, like you were the first.”

“Vaisha… is the Royal Family. But, how first…?”

Rajen’s royalty and nobles received education from an early age to leave their descendants.

Unlike women who called on courtesans and mimicked similar actions, it was common for men to hold them in person and learn how to do it. In the case of the Royal Family of Rajen, they secretly invited a lady, not a courtesan, to the Palace to learn how to do it.

Even if the method was different, Chaitun would also be educated to leave a descendant. In addition, Vaisha was a nice and beautiful man not only from Seriana’s eyes, but also from an objective point of view.

Although it was fuzzy, images of many women and men hovering around him in the mirror flashed through her mind and disappeared.

But, it was his… first time?

Of course, she heard from Chiarin that he had distanced himself from women. Still, Seriana accepted her words as if he didn’t have a particular woman in his heart, so she had no choice but to look confused at his words that it was the first time.

Vaisha pushed another piece of fruit into her mouth and said in a laughter-filled voice.

“I was educated. Although I swore before Helaim that I would not have any other woman besides my wife.”

He remembered the faces of the women who had relentlessly sneaked into his bedroom.

It was a side effect of tying the tribes of the desert into one.

The tribes that knelt under Kudra pushed their women into Vaisha’s bedroom to establish themselves. It was because of the calculation that if a woman from their tribe took the seat next to the King, they would be able to occupy an advantageous position over any other tribe.

The battle under the water turned into a three-way battle where the largest tribes in the desert, except for Chaitun, Sika, Barra, and Raom, knelt under Kudra.

Even though the number of women sneaking into the bedroom to watch out for the big tribes decreased, the tenacity grew even stronger, and Vaisha had to suffer for quite a long time.

‘I can’t cut off their heads.’

They were in the process of bringing together the scattered tribes.

At that time, Vaisha, who had to endure because he could not see blood, shouted loudly when Nurabi, Anulla’s father and chieftain of Sika, who had been targeting him the most tenaciously, gave the opinion that the princess of Rajen should be Ranua.

Of course, in the midst of that, he was doubtful because he couldn’t understand Nurabi’s true intentions, but anyway, at that moment, his joy was greater than his doubts.

“Seriana, you don’t know, but I am very grateful to you.”

“Yes…?”

“Well, there is something like that. It’s complicated to explain in detail… Instead, starting today, I’ll try to be gentle with that feeling of gratitude.”

Vaisha smiled contentedly as he looked at Seriana with her eyes wide open.

This time, he could see her light-blue eyes fluttering with fear and a little bit of anticipation as if she had understood it at once.

Having finished the meal with the shy Seriana in his arms, Vaisha moved back to the bed and enjoyed a brief nap. Seriana, who was stiffening her body as if she was uncomfortable in his arms, also fell asleep quickly because her fatigue from last night was less relieved.

After a while, Vaisha woke up from a sweet sleep and gazed down at his sleeping wife with a sigh. Even in the morning, her red, swollen eyes had subsided a lot.

Can he be a little less tonight…? He thought about it, but it was too much.

“It will get better once I get used to it.”

Since he was a quick learner of whatever he did with his body, he nodded his head, spewing words insignificantly. He then started tossing over and stroking Seriana’s hair, who was fearlessly rubbing her face against his chest.

It was a silky hair, as soft as thread.

“I want to attack you like this… What do you think, Seriana?”

“Uhh…”

Vaisha, who stiffened his body for a moment at the answer he heard in her sleep, covered his face with one of his hands and swallowed a laughter that was about to burst out.

She was cute, answering well-timedly in response to the unwittingly erupted question, and his laughter continued to leak out because he was absurd for spitting such a question out of his mouth.

“…This is really difficult.”

He swore to love only one person, his wife.

What if he was satisfied with the woman he should love according to the oath? Even now, if this is the case, he may not be able to come to his senses when the moment comes when he really loves her.

“Seriana, I wish I could love you even one day sooner.”

Vaisha, who barely swallowed a laugh, whispered as he kissed Seriana’s round forehead lightly.

Meanwhile, Seriana, waking up from a long nap, was able to get up as she saw his face staring down at her with a smile. As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw his face. Nevertheless, it was bad for her heart, which was beating so fast.

“Shall we go see an oasis?”

“Yes?”

“It’s boring to be stuck in the bedroom all day for the remaining three days. Of course, if you want to stay only in the bedroom, I’m in favor…”

“Go, go! Oasis!”

Seriana quickly replied as she watched Vaisha elongate his words with significant eyes.

Although her whole body ached from overusing her muscles, which she didn’t normally use, and the dull pain below her didn’t go away, so she couldn’t sit on a hard place. However, the time spent alone with him was not good for her heart.

Vaisha’s suggestion, which came out when she felt it was hard to breathe, was very welcome. He burst into laughter at Seriana’s reply, waved the little bell on the bedside table next to him.

She thought there would be a clear sound. Then, she could hear Chiarin’s voice from the door.

“Did you call?”

“My Ranua wants to see the oasis.”

“I will prepare.”

“Only you and Kayan will follow. The other will get in the way.”

“Yes.”

Shortly after Chiarin’s reply, the maids came in and started changing Vaisha and Seriana’s clothes.

Seriana, who changed from simple indoor clothes to a light outing, with one of the screens in between, finished preparing for the outing with a light dressing.

Unlike the white indoor clothes, her outwear, which was embroidered with colorful threads on a well-ventilated fabric, was in the form of a one-piece with top and bottom attached.

To protect her sun-sensitive skin, they draped over a long-sleeved white top, put a sleeveless dress over it, and tied it several times with a belt a little darker than the dress.

The veil on her head was omitted.

Chiarin even prepared a large parasol for her, but since she was married, she didn’t have to cover her face anymore. As she also felt uncomfortable with the veil that obscured her vision, she accepted the change very warmly.

Seriana shyly grabbed Vaisha’s outstretched hand, and as she was led by his hand, she began to move slowly.

And, after those two, Kayan and Chiarin followed.

The oasis and the Palace were very close together, so there was no need to walk for a long time. When they arrived at the oasis, a wide rug had been laid in advance, and a parasol large enough to accommodate several people was spread out.

Vaisha took a seat first, then Seriana took off the thin leather shoes and sat with her bare feet. There were large and small cushions that were clearly prepared in advance, so the two could sit comfortably and look at the oasis as if they were in a room.

“An oasis during the day has a different beauty than that of the night.”

“Yes, really… It’s really beautiful.”

The light of the sun shattered and glistened on the calm surface of the oasis.

She captured the image in front of her with her eyes and shed exclamations.

The other side of the oasis was full of green leaves, and with it as a background, various animals were drinking water from the spring.

Seriana’s eyes twinkled at the scenery that her eyes couldn’t capture.

On the other hand, Vaisha had her in his eyes, gazing at the oasis, which she loved. He felt a little bit drunk with the tickling sensation.

“Are other oases as beautiful as this?”

“All oases in the desert are beautiful, but there are few places as beautiful as this one.”

An oasis of this size was very rare in this desert.

In addition, an oasis surrounded by plants boasting fresh green leaves was even rarer.

Despite a space plentiful enough to grow crops in the desert was always noisy with those trying to occupy it, their ancestors always brilliantly defended this oasis. Therefore, this oasis was the pride of Chaitun and Vaisha.

“Do you think you will like this place?”

“I’m already in love.”

“That’s a relief.”

“I am so glad that I was able to live seeing this beautiful oasis.”

It wasn’t just something she was trying to say.

In Rajen, everything surrounding Seriana was gray. That was not to say it was the real color. It was just that she felt gray light and no vitality.

However, the oasis she saw now was different.

It was full of life, shining in all colors as if a rainbow had been poured out.

“I’ve only read this in books. After the sea, I was curious about the oasis.”

To be precise, she only looked at books and mirrors. Nonetheless, the limitations of the book were clear, and the reflections in the mirror were only a small part of it, so they were places that could not even be imagined.

But… Even if everything was shown, she wouldn’t have been able to pay attention because the brightest thing in the mirror was always Vaisha.

“Have you never seen the sea?”

“Yes, I only know that it is a place where huge rivers congregate.”

“If there is a chance, it would be nice to go to the sea together.”

“Is the sea close…?”

“Not close. You have to go through the white desert, so if you don’t make up your mind and move, it’s difficult to get there.”

“Ah… Then, it’s all right…”

“Although if my Ranua wants to see you, you can.”

Seriana, who was about to give up as quickly as usual at the words of the trouble, could not hide her surprise at Vaisha’s words that followed.

She was thrilled.

No one had ever said that or done anything for her. Still, Vaisha accepted her saying according to her own needs, if such consideration followed, he was free to take advantage of her.

‘No, you don’t have to do anything. Because I am by Vaisha’s side.’

Not knowing what she was thinking, Vaisha began to organize the schedule in his head.

Soon, there would be a rainy season in the desert. Though the desert rain didn’t last long. So, after the rain stopped, they would be able to move enough.

“Oh, by the way, was it a hunting contest soon?”

“Yes.”

“We will have to postpone the schedule for going to the sea a little longer.”

At the words of a hunting contest that flowed out of Vaisha’s mouth, Seriana’s gaze, which had been fixed on the oasis, turned to him.

It was because she saw the figure of him who was clearly hunting among the reflections in the mirror. Maybe, that was what Vaisha was talking about at the hunting contest now? She gazed at him without a word.

“Have Ranua ever hunted?”

Even in Rajen, hunting competitions were held in spring and autumn. However, hunting was exclusively for men, and even if the women participated in the same hunting competition, all they could do was drive a horse in a safe place or enjoy tea time while resting in a tent.

Seriana shook her head and answered.

“I never did. But why?”

“The hunting contest after the rainy season is yours.”

“Yes…?”

“Simply put, it’s a women’s hunting contest held in the name of Ranua.”

At Vaisha’s words, Seriana’s face turned white.

It was not just an event, but a hunting contest held in the name of ‘Ranua’!

“Li, live animals… Do I have to catch it?”

It was hunting.

Of course, it was a matter of slaughtering a living animal, though Seriana had no choice but to ask a question. Because she was Ranua, everyone else might be able to get out of it. Regardless, she couldn’t be absent from the event as she took the place of Ranua.

“Don’t worry. It doesn’t matter if you’re just pretending.”

“Yes…?”

If anyone else had heard it, they would have shouted that it really mattered.

Nevertheless, Vaisha thought it would be all right if Seriana couldn’t hunt. He accepted her as his wife because of her appearance, resembling the legendary Ranua. Nothing but the symbolism of her appearance was unnecessary.

If he had been thinking about her winning the hunting contest, he would not have accepted her as his wife.

“Still, Kudra… You said that the hunting contest was mine.”

“Because hunting is not what I expect of Ranua.”

At Vaisha’s indifferent words, Seriana was slightly hurt.

Realizing that she had been hurt, she almost burst out laughing. When was the last time she thought it was okay for her to be used by him, and it seemed that she had other greed in the meantime?

“…I might be helpful to Kudra if I had a little bit more of Ranua’s qualities as well as her looks.”

She wanted to be a little more useful to him. To that end, even if it were something she had never done before, she would try as much as she can.

With that thought, Seriana stared directly into Vaisha’s eyes with such a heart.

—

────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────