Review Responses:
pretty-on-point: Thank you for validating me! (;´༎ຶД༎ຶ`) And Shun should be convincing for Fabia and Ren! If anything, he can pull the "I helped you end the war and marry Ren so it's only right that you help us out" card on Fabia, lol. Chapter-wise, I *think* 5 more chapters - including this one - until we reach the end! \^o^/
MagicxMusicxMelody: He's trying to show off to Alice, lol. But yep! Fabia and Ren are in for a ROLLERCOASTER of a story. (⊙ˍ⊙)
Innocent-Diamond: Ah, I apologize for the confusion! The place that they are going to is Neathia, but the 'somewhere only we know' part is referring to a place that they'll go to after the whole mess is over! Hopefully that makes sense! And haha, yep! Alice isn't going to be running away in something so eye-catching this time. (*/ω＼*)
cherry-tree-of-life: Unfortunately for Alice, she only took some jewelry in the case that they need money. It was explained in the last chapter that she didn't feel that it was right to take Klaus' money since it wasn't even hers - technically it is, but it was his money that caused this entire mess in the first place - so Shun and Alice are going to have to be stingy with their money. Which you will see in future chapters. And lol, I love how the usually responsible Shun is now the irresponsible one in this case. ヾ(≧▽≦*)o
Chapter 15
"Are you tired?" Shun's question jolted Alice out of her half-conscious state of mind. Which was a good thing it did, seeing how she was about ready to collapse onto the horse.
"N-No." She bit back a yawn as she turned her head slightly to look at her lover. "I'm fine."
Through her half-lidded eyes that she could barely keep open, she could still make out Shun's scowl of disapproval. "We'll continue on for a few miles and then we'll find an inn to rest for a bit."
"I'm fine - "
"No." His tone left no room for any argument, leaving the retort that was on the tip of her tongue to die.
"Fine." She huffed, trying in vain to sound upset when she was secretly relieved of the idea of finally getting some rest. If Alice had to do some calculations, she would estimate that they had left around ten at night and had been travelling ever since dawn broke over the forest and the sun rose. Which meant that they had been travelling with very little stops for nearly eight hours or so. For the first few hours, the thrill that they were really leaving Wardington was what kept Alice awake, excitement flowing through her body. It wasn't until the reality of the situation finally settled in that she sobered up. Because she wasn't just leaving Wardington and her family, she was escaping. And escaping was completely different from just leaving. Ashamed as she was to admit it, the doubts and fears that Alice was trying to push to the back of her mind came back. Because if she really had to think about it, what was she doing? She was innocent to all of this and yet...here she was, running away from her hometown like a criminal who broke out of prison. Was what she was doing right? Was what she was doing even doable? What was she thinking? And yet...
"Lean against me - it is much safer for you to sleep on me than on the horse." Shun coaxed, letting go of a hand on the reins to gently push her shoulders back so that her back was against his chest.
As she leaned back and her eyes fluttered shut, Alice couldn't help the smile that threatened to split her face in two. Ah, she remembered now. Why she was running away from everything she ever knew and into the unknown. Him. This was all for him. And she wouldn't have it any other way. Fear and doubt would always come back to her at her worst but so would he. Shun had seen her through her best and her worst, and that is enough for her. Because what is fear and doubt to his love? What does peace and content have that she can't find staying by his side?
...
"How many rooms, sir?" In the midst of her sleep-muddled haze, an unknown voice brought Alice back to a state of half-consciousness. She would have been more afraid of her unknown surroundings were it not for the strong, familiar arms that were carrying her and the voice that spoke up.
"Just one, thank you." A familiar voice answered, his answer rumbling from his chest and through her body as he pulled her closer to his chest to which she drowsily rested a cheek on the man's clavicle.
"And you are sure that your wife won't mind, sir?"
There was a short pause before the man spoke up. "No, my...my love won't mind."
"Very well then, sir. Alan here will show you to your room, and Kai will take care of your horse. Also, would you like any help with your bags or belongings..."
...
Alice had to fight to open her eyes as she stretched her arms up above her head. Her hands brushed upon cotton sheets, a stark contrast to the feel and texture of the silk sheets that she had grown used to when she began living in the von Hertzon Manor. The von Hertzon Manor. Her eyes opened with a start as she quickly sat upright in the bed, looking around the unfamiliar room to find any clue on where she was. The room was quite bare with the exception of a small table with two chairs, two nightstands and lamps. Alice furrowed her eyebrows as she tried to recall the events of how she got into this strange room. That was when the door opened, revealing Shun. At his arrival, she eased back until she was leaning back on the headboard of the bed. Ah, she remembered now. She and Shun had run away -
"You're awake." Her lover interrupted her thoughts as he smiled gently, approaching her with a tray full of food in his hands. "Eat. You must be hungry."
"What time is it?" Alice asked, taking the tray from Shun so that he was able to climb into the bed next to her. "Have I slept that long?"
"It is five in the afternoon. You slept since nearly nine this morning." Shun informed her. "I know that this isn't ideal, but we must continue with this odd arrangement for a little while longer. Just until we leave Wardington."
"We haven't left?" The redhead was taken aback, swallowing her spoonful of porridge with chunks of stewed meat.
"No - we are still on the outskirts of Wardington. I believe that we should reach New Vestroia in a few more hours of travelling." Shun answered as he began to eat from his own bowl of porridge.
"Will we leave tonight?"
"No. We must rest - we have been travelling for ten hours."
"But - "
"You are exhausted, and so am I. I have paid for two days for our room in this inn. We should take advantage of that, should we not? After all, who knows when the next time we have a bed to sleep in will be?"
...
"What happens after we reach New Vestroia?" Alice asked, resting her head on Shun's shoulder. They had just finished dinner and took baths, as they both had collapsed upon getting settled into their room at the inn due to their exhaustion from travelling for so long. They were sitting atop of the roof of the inn, wrapped in blankets and in each other.
"I heard that there would be a ship in New Vestroia that would take us to Vestal. And from Vestal, we would have to travel the same way we did before we finally reach Neathia. I would ask for refuge from King Keith, but I doubt that they'd allow me - I did turn down his offer of being his personal guardsman." Shun let out an amused chuckle, leaning his head on hers.
"How long would it take us to reach New Vestroia?"
"A few days. We would be travelling the way we did just now." A pause. "You must regret leaving with me, don't you? This is no life for you - "
"I am afraid, yes." Alice interrupted his self-deprecating thoughts. "But then I look at you and I know that there is no other place I'd rather be than by your side."
End of Chapter 15.
Note: Hello, my loves! Welcome to the second update of this work for this year! Let's get into it, shall we~? (°°)～
It is officially day(?) 1 of Alice and Shun being on the run! And despite travelling far, they are STILL in Wardington and they need to rest because health is the main priority...with escaping to Neathia uncaught, of course. And for any germaphobes out there worrying about Alice and Shun sleeping on the bed without taking their outside clothes or taking a bath first, the bed had layers of blankets and a ton of pillows, so before they took their baths, they got rid of the blanket and pillows they slept on. Hope that helps! ^^
As always, please let me know any thoughts, concerns, hopes, or dreams of this chapter and I will see you in the next one! Sayonara~! （*＾-＾*）