Hello, I would just like to quickly point out that this has officially been six straight weeks of me actually managing to regularly update a book and not having a mental breakdown.

I always wondered what that felt like.

Now I know.  🤩😊😁

Aside from Jack's profuse apologies for the simplicity of his wagon, and Arissa near-constantly flirting with him, (it makes me ill, really) the trip from forest road to brightly-lit ballroom passes by in what seems like an instant.

Mr. Jenkins sits quietly beside me, his slightly wrinkled hands tucked neatly in between his long gangly legs. He squeezes his knees together tighter, sandwiching his palms betwixt them in an awkward manner. He reminds me of a trapped grasshopper, all hunched over in the way that he is, all lean and leggy. He glances towards Jack, who's directing the ponies in the driver's position, several times. "My, my. I am certainly not accustomed to this." He tells me.

"To what?" I ask. "Sitting back here while someone else takes the reins?"

He nods slowly. "It feels.. Odd. Not unpleasant, simply odd." He smiles ruefully. "I suppose that I should be enjoying this more?"

I return his smile. "Maybe you should merely think of this as a temporary break from your duty. Just for once, see the world as a passenger, not a coachman. Everything will become normal again soon enough anyway, won't it?"

Mr. Jenkins nods once more, mulling over my statement. "Yes.. Yes, you could most certainly be correct in that regard. Though life with Lady Arissa would definitely not be considered 'normal' by any stretch of imagination." He half stands, adjusting his lengthy opalescent coattails behind him, so that they will not be crushed underneath his body. His weight, which under any regular circumstance would be considered inconsequential, would, without a doubt, be creased by even the slightest mistreatment of the highly damageable fibers.

Silk, imported from the glamorous and often over-the-top nation of Enveera, is usually quite strong and sturdy. But, when subjected to the chemical compounds necessary to render the matte strands fairly luminous, the entire fabric's structure becomes weakened by the rigorous treatment process. Hence, the increased level of vigilance and care required when wearing it.

I never have that issue with my clothes. I think, longing to slip back into my comfortable boots and tunic once more.

Mr. Jenkins leans over the side of the cart, resting his chin on his knuckles. "I had forgotten how wondrous the night was." He admits. A tiny firefly drifts over and settles on the bridge of his nose.

I giggle as he goes cross-eyed, straining to see it clearly through slowly failing eyes.

"I am glad that you are so amused by this sight, Miss Evelyn, but my nose is beginning to itch rather fiercely, and I should like to scratch it with a greatly increasing sense of urgency. Mayhaps you would like to help me remove my miniature guest?"

"Of course, sir. Please hold still." I stretch a hand out towards the insect as Mr. Jenkins tries his hardest not to move or sneeze on the bouncing wagon.

The firefly alights onto my extended finger, then flits away into the velvety darkness of night to join its fellows.

Mr. Jenkins rubs his nose thankfully. "My appreciation heartily goes to you, Miss Evelyn. I was not sure for how much longer I could bear the itch."

"It was no problem, really."

"Oh, look! There's the town!" Arissa exclaims, happily dangling off one of Jack's generously-sized biceps. She points ahead of us as we start to pass by an increasing number of cottages, and a small townhouse or two. Businesses begin to pop up along the path once it opens up onto the main road. "I haven't been to town for nearly two months! Ooh, is that a new millinery shop I spy?!!" She squeals with delight. "Eeheehee!"

Jack grins at her enraptured expression. "Don't get out much, do ya?"

Arissa shakes her head vehemently. "No, not usually, because-"

"-Papa." Mr. Jenkins and I both state, along with Arissa's accusing tone.

She glares at us, then continues. "Papa doesn't like me taking the risk of mixing with the 'common people.'"

"That's kinda overprotective, isn't it?"

"He's always been like that. A gang of vagabonds once tried to kidnap me and hold me for ransom when I was a little girl, and so..." She gestures at herself helplessly. "I feel like a princess locked away in a gilded tower, Jack. I need more freedom. I need the kind of liberty that only marriage to a good man can attain." She pauses, as if noticing Jack properly for the first time. (It's all an elaborate act, I can assure you.) She clings to his simple shirt and directs perfectly upturned, beautiful emerald-green eyes towards him from her place at his arm. She wastes no time, does she?

Jack smiles shyly back at her, red tinting his cheeks once more, as Arissa adds. "Someone like, oh, I don't know... You."

She flutters her eyelashes at a monumental speed, making Jack choke up. She then scoots closer to him, (more than humanly possible, I'd have thought) and lays a hand on his chest. "Ooh, Jacky!" She croons. "You're so strong."

Mr. Jenkins turns his head away, pretending not to notice what she's up to. He whistles a little tune underneath his breath.

"ARISSA!!!" I bark. "Jacky boy needs both eyes on the road."

The ponies just barely swerve in time to avoid running over an extremely fat raccoon sitting on the cobblestones outside of the tavern. It blinks blearily after our retreating wagon, then promptly topples over with a yawn.

Jack pulls up on the reins once we reach the Town Hall. "Whoa!" He calls out. "Dewdrop, Mina, stop here!"

The ponies immediately halt their strides, though Mina gives her halter an excited little bounce and prances in place for a moment before settling down. Dewdrop emits a cautionary nicker, and Mina glowers at her, clearly offended.

At once, Jack drops the reins and vaults over the side of the cart to stand between them. He throws a well-muscled arm over each equine, hugging them close. "Hey, you two. Don't make me look bad in front of the Lady, okay?" He mutters, ruffling their manes affectionately.

The ponies flash each other apprehensive looks, no doubt imagining how easily he could throw them both over his shoulders and head home, publicly shaming the two shaggy equestrians.

Dewdrop nips Mina accusingly.

"Hey!" The boy tightens his hold on them ever-so-slightly. "Behave!"

They flick their ears in acknowledgement as Jack lifts them just enough to let them know that he's the one in charge.

"Ooh!" Arissa whispers, a hand over her mouth. "So much brawn in one perfect package..."

I raise my eyebrow at her, but she doesn't even notice, so wrapped up is she in admiring Jack's physique. A faint blush colors her cheeks as well now. She sighs a dreamy sigh.

Jack puts down the ponies. "Staaay." He warns them, authority in his voice now.

The ponies make as if to leave, then obviously think better of it and stay put.

"Good girls!" Jack praises them. "Extra carrots for you tonight!"

Mina whinnies triumphantly, and Dewdrop subtly steps on her front hoof to quiet her. They both stare up at him hopefully.

"Whaddaya want, girls?" Jack asks, feigning confusion.

Dewdrop huffs impatiently and sinks her teeth into his pant leg, giving it a tug. Mina sniffs at his pocket balefully, grunting.

"Oh, you say that you want a treat now?"

Dewdrop looks about ready to kick him.

Jack chuckles. "Okay, okay, I got you." He produces an apple from his pant pocket and grasps it in both hands, tearing it clean in half with a loud crack. He then presents a portion to each pony. "This is all that I've got on hand right now. I'll pay you the rest later, I promise."

The equines direct pleased yet calculating looks his way, which he fails to notice.

"Come on, everybody. I'll help you down."

Jack releases a set of wooden pins on the back of the cart, and the entire rear panel drops down on concealed hinges to become a substantial ramp.

"Behold, the technological advances of the modern age." Mr. Jenkins says. It is plain to see that he is awed by Jack's engineering brilliance. "Magnificent."

We all stand up, while Jack stands by and waits to assist us.

"Yay, me first!" Arissa hurriedly rushes about a third of the way down the ramp, then conveniently trips (lunges, more likely than not) straight into Jack's open arms for the second time this evening.

The second time!!!

"Ohh, I fell." She gasps, feigning embarrassment. "I am such a klutz."

She's persistent, I'll give her that.

"Yep, so clumsy." I add, in a bored monotone.

"Please forgive my ungainly bumbling, Jack." Arissa pants her words lasciviously into his ear.

A bead of sweat forms on his brow, and he licks his suddenly dry lips. "Uh, that's okay, I don't really mind at all. That is to say, you're really nice to hold... Um, I mean that you-"

Arissa places a finger on his lips, her eyes hooded. "Hush, handsome. I know." She leans in close.

Jack's eyes widen. "Ah-!"

"JUST WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING WITH MY DAUGHTER?!! UNHAND HER AT ONCE!!!" A powerful voice booms, from the direction of the Hall's steps.

Lord Lumos has arrived, and he does not look pleased to see his daughter in the arms of a complete stranger.

Tall, though not quite as tall as his daughter, Lord Lumos his a slight belly, a commanding presence, and an even more powerful voice. Though normally quite jolly, he is immensely protective of his one and only child, who, as mentioned before, nearly came to harm at one time in the past because of a moment of inattention on his part. It seems that he tries to rectify that near-disastrous occasion by becoming overly volatile whenever an unknown person approaches her, as is happening now.

A shining white suit makes its home on his person, accentuated with gold on his cuffs and collar, and wherever skin and suit should happen to meet. His auburn hair is perfectly combed back, and an expensive monocle is clipped to his suit front, rimmed with that same famous Lumos gold. Well-polished evening shoes round out his formal attire, and he taps one foot on the top step even now, a rumbling growl echoing from the depths of his throat. If he sounds like he hasn't worked a day in his life, then you'd be almost correct.

He hasn't.

Well, not physical labor, anyway.

He imports things, keeps things in town in order, invests in things...

Yes, he deals in many things.

It's made him quite wealthy, really.

..It also helps that he's descended from yet more bearers of great wealth, many generations of successful Lumos's, who have helped to shape the entire town and surrounding area from whence many of the locals originate into what it is today.

And yet tonight, here he is, on the Town Hall steps, out for blood.

It's a delightful evening in Miria, isn't it?

Jack squeaks, nearly dropping Arissa, who glares at her father indignantly. "I-I'm sorry, m-my Lord! I-I was just helping Arissa-"

"-Arissa?!!"

"L-Lady Arissa out of-"

"-Is that a wagon?!!"

"With ponies!" Arissa pipes up.

Lord Lumos turns his blazing eyes upon her, and she goes momentarily silent.

It won't last, though.

"You-!" Lord Lumos marches down the steps to scowl menacingly at the boy, who takes a step back, trying to shield Arissa from him.

Jack isn't to know it, but he needn't worry about her.

"It's alright, Jack. I'll handle this." Arissa murmurs. "Put me down."

"I, uh... Okay." He whispers back.

Arissa slides off of his arm and calmly smooths down her gown's skirt, puckering her lips as she does so. Then she raises herself up to her full height and stalks over to her father, towering over him in her heels.

Lord Lumos stares back up at her, unfazed. "Child, what were you thinking?!! You finally arrive here over an hour late, and then I catch you in the arms of a- a-"

"Lumberjack." Arissa supplies helpfully. "..He's cute, isn't he?"

Lord Lumos cocks his head. "Hmm, yes. I suppose he is, at that." Then he frowns. "Confound it all, child! You have no business consorting with the rabble!!!" He barks, red-faced.

Jack hangs his head, ashamed. "I- I'll go now..." He mumbles despondently.

"You're not going anywhere, Jack." Arissa grabs his arm, and he stands there, unmoving. "Nobody is going to put you down, and certainly not my own father." She inhales deeply, puffing up her cheeks in anger.

Uh-oh.

"He can't help not being born into a wealthy family, papa." Arissa fires back. "Fie on you! He's saved all of our lives tonight, you know! Where's your sense of gratitude?!!" She bellows. "You should be down on your hands and knees, thanking him and begging him for his forgiveness, not insulting his position in life! He's a thousand times the man that that idiot Earl will ever be, you mark my words! All the Earl wants is more money, and your connections! I simply cannot respect someone so obviously scheming of nature. That low-down, slug-sucking, convoluted-"

"Alright, alright!" Her father raises his hands in surrender. "This boy saved your life?"

"We all nod. "Lives." I correct. "Thanks for caring."

Lord Lumos nods, then notices Arissa's garment. "Why is your gown so short?"

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