Kill The Prince, Steal The Crown // Private rp

Rhydar's smile grew as his eyes bounced along the dancing trees passing by and the racing clouds in the sky. He could hear close to how much that statement meant to her—how happy she was that she was so close to the real feeling of flying. With their hands still laced, he pulled hers up to his lips and pressed a light kiss to her knuckles, letting her know he heard and was glad she was so happy because of him. It lasted only seconds, and he dropped their hands back down to where they originally were around his waist.

Rhydar turned onto the road, keeping their mare at the same pace but focusing his attention on people going past. It was surprisingly busy this time of day, but he didn't seem to mind as he smiled and waved at people who greeted them both as they passed, though he never let go of Lily's hand. The sun was setting at a rapid rate, which called the stars to take its place just as quickly. Rhydar found himself allowing his gaze to linger on the sky as it switched faces, a small and content smile on his face.

Rhydar turned his face back to the road, then thought about Lily after a brief second. He had forgotten that she might not like the attention of the people they were passing, and he glimpsed back at her to make sure she was okay. His eyes softened when he saw her waving back and not looking too overwhelmed by the attention. He caught her gaze, and his smile split into a grin as he added a mischievous wink before. He turned around and tapped Nevarra's neck in a command only he and the mare knew. She snorted and slowed to a canter, and Rhydar completely released the reigns.

He didn't answer her right away, feeling slightly guilty about possibly freaking Lilly out. But it was fun, and it was also a test to see if he had successfully integrated this trick into the mare's arsenal. As a warhorse, she'd need to have the ability to keep with her progression without the guidance of her rider some of the time. He was just…helping with that—with the added bit of fun for him.

Rhydar shifted his weight, swung his one leg to the side so he was sitting side-saddle, then turned again so he was facing Lily with bright eyes and sparkling grin. "Hm?" he hummed, arching his pierced brow.

He held up his hands in surrender, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "No risk, no reward," he said calmly, then chuckled, knowing he would get hit lightly by her for that, and amended, "It's fun, and I know what I'm doing, so does Nevarra. Warhorses have to be able to run without their riders, so I took it upon myself to teach her early. I spend a lot of time in the stables, it would seem."

He leaned forward, hands braced on her knees without actually leaning on her, and pecked her nose with a cheeky smile. "I'm not safe, but I appreciate your concern. I know what I'm doing, Lily darling, however uncoordinated I might seem at times." He couldn't help but add, "And you look more adorable than stern. Just saying."

"Sweetie, I am drama," Rhydar said with a smirk as he raised his hand to tap her nose, then her hand. "And yes, you do. You know it with that blush you're trying so hard to hide from me." He pulled back from Lily, letting go of her knees to lean back and brace himself with the saddle.

"It's an expression and exaggeration, my dear, however much I'd like to think of myself as the King of Drama." He grinned and swept his hand in an exaggerated bow. "But one can be drama if they incorporate dramatics into everything they do. See example A for reference." He gestured to his face, grin twisted into a lopsided smile.

He stuck his tongue out at her, then licked his lips and adjusted his position so he was sitting side saddle again. "Fine fine. Be that way," he said playfully, his smile clear he was just joking. He then leaned over and kissed Lily's forehead before turning around and taking the reigns once again.

He chuckled and reached back for her hand, shaking his head. "Alright, but only because you asked nicely. And because there's a fork in the road, but that's totally not why I turned around." He lightly kicked the mare into a gallop and kept an eye out for said fork.

He wrapped her arm around his waist again, keeping a hold of her hand as he did so, and adjusted the reigns so he could use them with just one hand. Nevarra snorted as the fork in the road appeared, as if warning her rider, and Rhydar barely twitched the reigns, and she was already headed in that direction. "I wonder if the farm has blueberries this year," Rhydar mused, changing the subject to the farm they were heading to. "They do it sometimes, and I make sure to have a batch shipped from them every time they grow them."

"Wolf is the one to go to for desserts, but I'm sure Cinthia wouldn't mind offering a set of hands if you knew what you were doing. I'm always down for some taste testing though, so count me in." Rhydar smiled to himself, knowing she was mainly talking to herself and finding it rather cute, especially paired with her excitement over fruits and baking.

He detangled his fingers from the reigns to reach back and poke Lily. He wasn't aiming anywhere specific, so he couldn't see where he was poking. "Hey, I did no such thing. I don't know what you're talking about." He fell silent as she started talking again, listening to her story, a smile twitching onto his face when she talked about her sister stealing the pie. "Cassia sounds like an amazing woman."

He lightly squeezed her hand in reassurance. He couldn't think of much to say, and he figured whatever he would say would just make her feel worse, so he kept his mouth shut and nodded to let her know he was listening. He focused on the sound of Nevarra's heavy hooves hitting the dirt road at a steady rhythm. He got slightly distracted from it, briefly zoning out as the sound took over his senses.

Rhydar jumped slightly when she hugged him, but he quickly recovered, glancing behind him in an automatic reaction to the sound of her distressed and quiet voice. He hated hearing her sound like that, especially when she's talking about her family. "They're alive, Lily," he said quietly, the first thing he could think of to say to her. "And you'll see them again."