Precious bride [WattAwards2019]

Love at first sight

2045 words

"I think that dinner went rather well, don't you?" Cecila asked her niece on the carriage ride home. "I'd say Lord Cristian is greatly interested in you".

Floarea stroked her cat as she reflected on the evening. She was glad her aunt had allowed to bring Snow for comfort, as long she stayed in the carriage. "He's nice, I suppose" she replied, "and quite the gentleman, but?"

Cecila raised an eyebrow. "But?"

Floarea bit her lip."We don't really have that much in common. I mean we barely talked".

"That's not important in marriage" Cecila huffed, waving her hand. "You'll be too busy bringing up children to talk".

Floarea didn't like what her aunt was implying with this. She did notice Lord Cristian stealing glances at her all evening, and he was kind enough to ask about her, but their conversation never went anywhere. In fact, her aunt had hardly let her get a word in, and she would occasionally made adjustments to her hair and posture and harshly whisper for her to smile.

Was that what courtship was all about? Standing there and looking pretty? Did men only care about looks, wealth and social status? From what her aunt was telling her, Floarea was starting to believe this.

While she did sometimes think about having children, she'd always thought the husband with would be...she wasn't quite sure kind? Caring? She at least wanted someone she could talk to. She wanted someone to confide in, someone who would confide her in troubles, she didn't just want a husband. She wanted a friend.

A long howl interrupted her thoughts.

Snow's ears perked in alarm. Cecila jumped at the sound. They all looked at the dark, foggy forest.

Cecila shivered. "This forest always gives me the fright".

For once, she and her aunt argree on something. Cecila leaned out the window and called to the couchman at the front.

"Pick up the pace! I don't want to get eaten by wolves!"

"Yes, doamnă!" Explained the driver Nicolas Bresen.

There was another howl in the distance, which made the cat quiver in Floarea's lap.

"C-calm down, Snow" she said shakily. "It's just a wolf. He's too far away to-".

She gasped at another howl and before she knew it the cat was was out the carriage window.

"Snow!" Floarea cried as she swung the door open.

"Floarea, what are you...?"

But Cecila wasn't quick enough to stop her from jumping out of the carriage to race after the cat.

"Floarea! You stupid girl!" She addressed the couch driver. "Stop the carriage! Go after her!"

By the time Nicholas had got off the carriage, Floarea was already deep within as she was determined to get her cat back.
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Somewhere in the fog wandered a lone brown goat, until one saw his red and black eyes. The goat then transformed into Count Codrin.

"Crap, has it been an hour already?" He grumbled. "Are all the animals hibernating early this year?" He was hoping taking the former of a goat would lure out some predators, but they didn't seem particularly active tonight, except for the wolves. He couldn't harm them, for they always travelled in packs.

He considered infiltraty a farm again to steal a goat or sheep. He rarely Did this, as missing livestock often aroused supicion. Still he couldn't go back empty-handed.