Chapter Seventy-Two

Lucan Trinigad.

As we rode on our horses through the scenic forest, his words from earlier lingered in my mind. "You look really beautiful today," he had said with a warm smile. It was a simple compliment, yet it echoed in my thoughts, making my heart skip a beat.

I stole a glance at him, his strong profile etched against the backdrop of the leaves. The wind tousled his hair, and I couldn't help but notice the faint frown lines on his forehead. What was he thinking about? I wondered, my curiosity piqued.

The ache in my heart deepened as I watched him, and an overwhelming desire to be closer to him surged through me. I yearned to reach out and touch his ruggedly handsome face, to erase that frown and replace it with a smile. But I hesitated, unsure of how he would react.

Lost in my thoughts, I found myself falling deeper into a daydream, where our horses moved effortlessly through the grasses, and he and I were alone, sharing a moment filled with unspoken words.

Suddenly, his voice jol