CHAPTER 90: IF ONLY HEART COULD SPEAK

With both admiring different things at the same time, Jenna took the moment to savor what Rhane had built with nothing but what he had in his memory.

If she’d known Rhane had such knowledge of foreign things, she’d have had him build more. That way, she’d always have an edge over other traders. Jenna contemplated rubbing her finger on the bowl.

She couldn’t believe a man actually built something this unique. The men Jenna had ever seen didn’t have the time to look at things inside their homes. They mostly left it to their wives or concubines; it was rare for a man to fix things in Jenna’s world. She flicked Rhane a look the moment their eyes locked, she turned aside.

No matter what, he was still a man. One with strength, one who could break her in half if she ever provoked him. Or worse wake up one day and fall out of love.

Yet, deep inside, Jenna wanted Rhane to drag her by her hand and hug her closely, promising to never hurt her. If only... if only... Jenna bit on the inside of her cheek, deep in thought.

Rhane, on the other side, admired the woman that sat in front of him, the woman who had the power to light up his world with just her presence. If he could make any wish, it’d be to stay beside Jenna all day. Showing her things she’d never seen. Teaching her as long as she’d let him. It’d give Rhane the moment to watch her smile, hear her laugh, and even hold her tiny hands in his own.

Even with her just a breath away, he wanted to pull her close. Hold her until his scent clung to her skin and hers marked him in return. She really had a way of triggering his primal instinct to claim her without having to try.

Rhane wasn’t one to believe that there was a woman made for every man, but with Jenna, he would die on that hill trying to explain to everyone that she belongs solely to him.

"It’s good," Jenna began, trying to clear the awkward silence, sucking her teeth as she continued dipping one finger into the water, then touching it on her face.

Rhane stood up from her side and nodded, stretching his body. "I was worried you’d be bored the whole day. It’s a good thing I won’t be worried about that," he began drying his face, shaking the water off his hair.

Jenna finally let go of the tap and turned to look at Rhane with her brows drawn together.

"I’ll take maybe half of the day trying to convince those old men to let me have my family name." Rhane said the heavy words mindlessly, like it didn’t determine his future with Jenna. He paused and raised his face, "But I’ll be back before dinner, and we can go out to see the village. It’s always a sight to behold at night," he continued cleaning his face again.

Jenna drew her brows together, her lips pressed into a thin line. "I don’t care when you return. As a matter of fact, I’d love to spend my time alone today. A little air will do," she pushed the bed cover up to let her small toes show.

Rhane shaped his mouth in an O, though her words cut him a little. He gave a small smile and nodded, "Well, there you have it. A little air for my lady," he placed one hand on his stomach and bowed like a gentleman.

Jenna snickered at this gesture, using her hand to cover her face for a moment. "You don’t have to-" the door closed shut.

"Rhane?" Jenna stood up from the stool, her eyes wide with surprise. She hadn’t expected him to leave so fast. Padding her feet back inside the room, what Jenna saw was Rhane’s back before he closed the door to the room.

"He couldn’t wait to hear what I had to say," Jenna mumbled, her nose scrunched. She turned to walk back inside the bathroom when the door opened again, causing Jenna to grin.

"I knew you’d come back, were you trying to make me fall for you by acting co-" Jenna turned and froze when she saw who was standing at the door, and it wasn’t Rhane.

Kali held the door open with her mouth open.

"Damn, that’s one hell of a sour welcome. Never had a glare slammed in my face like that." She rubbed the bridge of her nose and sniffed. "Could’ve at least pulled a smile, love. Ain’t hard to fake a bit o’ cheer for poor Kali." She faked a sad pout.

Jenna licked her lips, "Oh... um... Kali... I didn’t know it was you."

"Of course," Kali entered the room before closing the door. "Bet you were hoping it was my brother. Just one day and you already look sick of me, whew." She wiped invisible sweats of a tough life.

Jenna playfully waved her hands, trying to sound casual. "Really, I’m glad you’re here."

"Actin’s not your strength, duck. Leave the play-pretend to the stage rats and stick to your trading." Kali scowled dryly, entering further inside the room. "Aye aye, I know you’d rather see him than my battered face. Too bad. I swore on my life to keep you breathing, and I don’t break my word."

Jenna turned and began walking back to the bathroom. This time she wasn’t so excited to watch the tap as she’d been earlier, so she walked straight to the bathing tub.

"I’ll be alright, you don’t need to watch me while I’m still in the mansion." She turned on the water in the tub and watched it fill up.

Kali scanned the room with a blank gaze. "I’d have loved to agree, really, trust me, but Rhane!" She stretched his name, her eyes gazing heavenward.

"Insisted I stay with you until I see him and only him. Even if your own father walked in here, I wouldn’t let you go without someone bleeding first." Kali assured with a serious tone.

Jenna peeked through the bathroom with her eyes wide, "Why?"

"Relax, it were a jest." Kali remarked with a half grin. "Go ahead and bathe, Rhane’s Princess, go on. Nobody is bleeding..." she coughed a little, " not yet."

Jenna shook her head and returned inside the bathroom. She wasn’t sure what to do the whole day without Rhane pestering her. Slipping into the bathtub, she let her head fall back and exhaled slowly.

She was almost slipping into the despair of boredom when she remembered something. Pushing her body to the side, she shouted from inside the bathroom.

"Kali."

"Aye," Kali answered.

"Can you tell me about Rhane’s childhood and the reason he’s always meeting with the council?"

Kali pushed the small stick she was chewing to the side and smirked. "Ah, so we’ve a way to pass the day without nodding off. Right then, ask away- I’ll spin you what I know."

Jenna fisted her hand in a victory raise. "Yes!" She didn’t want to be lost whenever Rhane spoke in riddles-

"And oh! Kali, does Rhane have eggplant attached to his name?"

The room stayed silent for a moment. Jenna narrowed her eyes, waiting for a response. She tried to stretch her body to see if Kali had left the room same way her brother did, but Kali entered the bathroom with her arms folded and her forehead greased with worry.

"He said that, did he?" Kali asked, and Jenna nodded. "And you don’t know what that means?" Jenna shook her head in response.

"Bloody devil’s always twisting words." Kali sighed tiredly, rubbing her forehead. "Best not pry that way. Let’s stick to his boyhood and council meddling instead." She replied, quietly closing the bathroom door and pressing her back on it.

"Saints spare me, these two ought to be locked in a chamber till they’re done mooning. Save the rest of us the misery."