PBPGD

CHAPTER 107

They traveled through forest and field, plateau and wasteland, dirt and paved roads.

Lia held onto Claude's hand for the duration of the journey from Del Casa to Valencia. They looked out their respective car windows, a nuanced silence falling over them.

The anxiety that this might be the end and the excitement of seeing her mom coexisted within Lia's heart, tearing her to pieces.

These feelings were only intensified by her wistful longing for the man beside her, an emotion she knew would dominate her for the next month.

Her body swayed violently sideways as the car drove down an unpaved road.

Flustered, she clutched the door handle in a futile attempt to stop bouncing around.

"Hold onto me," Claude said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

"I don't want to burden you."

"You could never," he answered, pecking her cheek. She grinned, leaning comfortably against his chest.

They were nearing the Cayen-Gaior border, lined by a makeshift fence. Lia burrowed into his arms as the long wooden fence appeared over the horizon.

Claude patted her shoulders and back warmly. Never in his wildest imagination did he think they'd be separated like this. It felt natural to have her by his side, to do everything together as though they were already a married couple.

Lia shared the same sentiment as she fiddled with her hands.

If only Ian had sent one more invite...

Claude raised her hand to his lips, breaking her reverie.

"That's the border checkpoint," he said, pointing to a building in the distance.

"Once you pass it, Sergio's people will be waiting for you to take you to his duchy. From that moment on, you're going to be completely alone, without a maid or an attendant... Will you be alright?"

No, I won't be.

Camellia nodded brightly. "I'm ready. I'm just worried for future Camellia, who's going to be missing you so much."

"Are you just saying that to make me happy?"

"I mean it, Claude. I might come back before the month is up," she said, in part to console him, but surprising herself with how much truth she packed into her words.

He sighed, placing his forehead against the back of her hand. The driver slowed down, as if to prolong their last moments together.

Claude swiped a thumb over her lips. He knew as well as she did that the only way to overcome this anxiety was to trust each other.

He slid his lips against hers, the kiss quickly turning passionate. They kissed like they had never kissed before, despite not having spent more than mere minutes apart from one another for the past few days.

The car crawled to a stop in front of the border checkpoint. The officers stood in a single-file line, nervously waiting for Claude to exit the vehicle.

The attendants filed out of the car that followed Lia and Claude's, unloading her suitcases.

"I have to go, Claude..."

"I know." He kissed her one last time on her lips, then her neck.

He then stepped out of the car, holding out a hand for Lia. She stepped down lightly, throwing a thick cape over her shoulders to combat the chilly weather.

The checkpoint building was a long, stark structure, and a thick red line on the floor marked the border.

The people on the other side looked completely different from the Cayenians, from their attire to the color of their skin. Lia stepped forward, standing on top of the imperial Cayen crest.