Raised From The Wild-Chapter 53: An Intimate Moment

"Grandpa, now that you have seen the future owner of your estate, can you now state your conditions for you to sign the documents?" Dave asked the old man in a respectful manner.

"I want to keep the land where the Anishton castle is and I should have access to the roads, port area, and the bridge."

Marx thought that the old man’s demands will be unreasonable but he was mistaken. "There is no problem with that, Earl Anishton. We will have that stipulated in the contract. Dave will send you the revised document."

The three were preparing to leave when Amaya remembered she did not give the gift she prepared for the old man. Their encounter earlier was a hostile one so she has forgotten about it. If the old man continued to act like an enemy, then Amaya will not give the gift.

"Grandpa Earl..."

"His name is Alberto, Amaya. Earl is a title for a Lireyan nobleman." Dave interjected.

"Grandpa Alberto," Amaya corrected herself. "This is a gift for you. It is a wine fermented by my father. This is made from wild berries and Daddy added tiger bones to it. Dad said that tiger bones are good for ailments of the elderly." Amaya said frankly as she passed a paper bag to the old man.

The three left the castle. Amaya did not get into the wrangler but she continued to walk following a cobbled stone pathway until she arrived at the meadow, where she has a clear view of the two mountains not so far away. Marx stood closely by her side.

"I want to explore the mountains, Marx." She said while scanning the surroundings. Her feet were itching to run and to hear the rustle of the leaves that carpeted the forest floor. Her hands were itching to hold onto vines as she swings from tree to tree.

"Just wait a little while, Aya. Once the papers are signed, you can do whatever you want." Marxk reached out and patter her head, while they continued walking.

"Do you think there are wild animals in those mountains?"

"Some snakes, rabbits, hares, and boars. That’s what the Earl told us previously."

"Do you think there are treasures like what Daddy found in Miraga?" Amaya’s eyes sparkled like the stars in the dark night.

Marx looked down at her and tucked a strand of hair that covered her face. "I don’t think so. The Earl will not sell the property if there are treasures in it."

Amaya looked disappointed.

"Hey, don’t be sad. You already have a lot of treasures." Marx comforted her.

"Donello wanted to go treasure hunting and I wanted to make his wish come true."

Marx thought for a moment. "Well, you can bury some sort of treasures in that mountain and lead him to it."

Amaya gave Marx a quick hug. "You are so smart, Marx. I never thought of that."

Marx stiffened for a second when Amaya hugged him but he relaxed immediately after. Amaya let him go and she started doing cartwheels and back flipping on the grassy meadows.

Marx sat down on the grass and kept watching her. His gentle gaze followed her every move. He took out his cell phone and took a video.

Amaya felt that she was released from a cage and she could breathe freely. She felt suffocated in the last few days that she was in the castle. She did not like the etiquette lessons she has with Clarissa. She hated the way she was asked to wear high heels and walked with a book on her head. She did a few more back flips before she lay down with her back on the grass, her arms stretched in a v shape above her head and both her legs were bent. She has been inactive for a while and she was panting. She needed to do a lot of running even when she is at the palace.

Amaya looked at the clear blue sky that canopied her. The sun has traversed three-quarters of its invisible pathway in the sky. It was October so the temperature was cool even if it was mid-afternoon.

A blue butterfly hovered above her face before it glided and rested on a floral print of her blouse near her stomach. Amaya stayed still while she observed the butterfly which seemed to be attempting to suck the nectar out of the flower on her dress.

A long shadow fell on Amaya covering her whole body lying on the ground. The butterfly fluttered its wings before flying away.

Amaya laughed heartily. "Did you see that? The butterfly thought I am a flower."

"Perhaps you are a flower," Marx said quizzically.

Marx was standing a few centimeters from Amaya’s head. Her hair which was the color of copper spread on the green carpet. Her face has a pink blush on it after doing a few cartwheels and backflips. Marx swallowed and his adam’s apple bobbed. He was in a daze for a few seconds.

"Hey guys, we need to get going."

Marx came out from his daze when he heard Dave’s shout from where they parked the wrangler.

"It’s time to go, Aya." Marx moved to her side. He bend down and extended his hand to help Amaya up. He hasn’t planted his feet firmly on the ground when Amaya grasped his hand and put her entire weight on it.

Amaya gasped when Marx fell on her and pinned her body. His face was above her and it was too close that she could feel his warm breath on her face. Their gazes locked for a few seconds. Amaya could feel her heartbeat quicken and hammer on her chest. Or was it Marx’s heartbeat that she was hearing?

Marx was mesmerized by a pair of dark amber eyes that seemed to suck his soul. Her long black eyelashes were fluttering like the wings of a butterfly. He could feel her body heat radiating to him. Both their thin clothes were not of help to prevent the heat from seeping through.

Marx slowly lowered his lips, his eyes never leaving the two eyes that were wide and unblinking. He could see his face reflected in her eyes which were now the shade of light brown. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

"Marx..."