New World with Four Husbands-Chapter 660: Taking a detour

Cleora studied her daughter for a long moment, eyes searching for any sign that would say Coco’s only kidding around, but when she found none.. She sighed.

Why does she feel like she’s the one being protected at how worried Coco is?

Cleora shook off the feeling and stepped forward, cupping Coco’s face in her hands, the gesture was startlingly gentle for a woman known for her ruthlessness.

Cleora smiled faintly at her daughter, her eyes softening for a moment. "My abilities are.. Complicated, but I won’t put myself in danger or anyone else for that matter, I promise you that."

Coco held her mother’s gaze, searching for any hints of hesitation or dishonesty, but finding only quiet certainty.

Slowly, her tense shoulders relaxed, the knots in her chest unravelling almost imperceptibly, causing her shoulders to finally lower, and she nodded— a silent display of trust.

"Okay.." She murmured, the word almost whispered. "I trust you, mama."

Cleora hummed softly, her attention shifting to one of her men who had just returned from scouting the abandoned station.

He approached her, his expression serious.

"The station is empty, but there were traces of mana, madam." He reported, eyeing the surroundings with a cautious eye. "Do we still take the detour? Or are we going to use his station?"

Cleora considered the information, her gaze narrowing into slits. "We do, so go back to the wagon."

The man nodded, his expression solemn as he turned away from Cleora and Coco, striding back toward the other men— who were already jumping back inside the wooden vehicle, their postures tense and stuff.

Coco shifted on her spot, her attention bouncing between her mother and the men.

"What are you planning, mama?" She asked, unable to keep the question from slipping out as she stared at the last man that entered the wagon.

Cleora turned back to Coco, her lips curving into a small smile. "I’m planning to keep you safe, sweetie. Even if it means taking the longest, most winding road to reach my territory."

Coco blinked, her breath evening slightly at the words.

She nodded slowly, accepting it, before she turned away from her mother’s steady gaze, heading back toward the wagon.

She pushed the curtain aside and almost immediately, Renaldo and Jonathan extended a hand to help her back inside— of course, she took it gratefully, trying to ignore how her hands were shaking faintly.

As she settled back into the wagon, she took a deep breath, trying to ease the tension in her chest.

The wooden vehicle started moving and she focused on the sound of the horses’ hooves thumping against the ground, the rhythmic sound grounding her.

Coco decided to settle down between Heiren and Quizen, her head coming to rest gently on Heiren’s shoulder.

There was a quiet comfort in the closeness, in the warmth of their presence and much more when Quizen’s fingers started to absentmindedly brush through her hair, while Heiren wrapped an arm around her— pulling her closer.

Jacques cleared her throat, drawing everyone’s attention.

Her gaze flicked between the people inside the wagon, settling on Coco with a furrowed eyebrow.

"I have a question." Jacques croaked out, her voice slightly heavy with worry. "Correct me if I’m wrong, but the place we stopped at just now is the transportation station, is it not?"

Coco nodded in affirmation, opening her eyes just enough to make eye contact with Jacques before letting them slip shut again and snuggled impossibly closer to Heiren, enjoying the comfort of his body heat.

"Yeah.." Coco murmured, sighing. "I guess Mama’s men sensed something.. Off, so she wants us to take a detour, just in case."

"They sensed mana traces, didn’t they?" Jonathan guessed, voice sharpening with interest.

Coco cracked one eye open again, nodding tiredly against Heiren’s shoulder. "Mhm.. It was dangerous. We couldn’t use it after sensing that."

Quizen’s fingers paused in her hair. "Does that mean someone was waiting at the station?"

Silence settled heavily over the wagon— no one had an answer for that.

Coco’s body went rigid, the words sending a sudden chill down her spine. The thought that someone might have been watching them.. Watching her.. Waiting for the right moment to pounce..

"Probably." Coco grumbled under her breath. "It makes sense. No trace would be left behind if there was no one there."

She buried her face in Heiren’s shoulder, breathing in the familiar woodsy scent of his shirt and it helped calm the sudden surge of anxiety somehow. Though, she still felt guarded at the thought that they were almost attacked again.

Everyone’s gaze lingered on Coco, eyes shadowed with sympathy.

The Baroness’ cruelty was no secret, but to go this far.. It left a bitter taste in everyone’s mouth and though Cleora was here now, fierce and protective, the damage had already been done.

But Coco was still stubborn as ever, so she pretended not to notice the looks.

No one knew what to say. Really.

Then, the wagon lurched, making a sharp right turn, causing everyone to tense, bracing themselves as the vehicle bumped over small potholes and loose gravel.

Coco sighed heavily through her nose before shifting positions and draping herself over Heiren’s lap.

She curled against him, face pressing into his chest, arms winding around his waist— Jacques, Renaldo, and Jonathan exchanged glances, amused and exasperated, but none of them commented on Coco’s blatant display of affection.

Heiren chuckled under his breath, adjusting his hold on her, fingers brushing gently through her hair.

He didn’t mind, but the others did.

Zaque and the others couldn’t do anything else, but simply shook their heads, saddened by the sight of Coco so shamelessly seeking comfort from their friend instead of them.

Taking a detour seemed to be their best decision so far, but it seems like they will regret it because their wife didn’t choose their lap to sit on.

And the smile on Heiren’s face? Oh, they just know that he’s gloating.