From the next day, Evelisse's training basically turned into a full military campaign under Mother's command.
Mother didn't waste a second. Etiquette, posture, courtly phrases, how to walk, how to breathe and poor Evelisse was absorbing all of it like a terrified sponge. But Mother? She was relentless.
I sat on the sofa eating sliced fruit while watching them, and honestly?
Yeah, I felt a little guilty. Privilege is hitting hard today, huh.
Evelisse bowed for the fifth time in a row, and her knees actually wobbled. Mother corrected her angle by two degrees like it was life-or-death.
I sighed and slumped back. "When is Kirill coming back..." I muttered to myself.
I had two brothers technically. But the younger one? Esther might as well be a forest spirit at this point. He appears once every few weeks, disappears again without warning. I never knew where he wandered off to. He was like a polite but feral cat.
I popped another piece of fruit into my mouth and watched Mother scold Evelisse about the placement of her hands.
Yep. I have definitely doomed that girl.
I couldn't watch Evelisse wilt under Mother's scrutiny any longer, so I blurted out the first distraction that came to mind.
"Where is Esther these days? I barely see him except at breakfast and dinner."
Mother paused mid-correction and glanced back at me. "He's been going out with Kaelen lately. Kaelen visited your father for some business."
Kaelen… wait, let me dig.
Right, Cessalie's younger half-brother. Thirty years old. Esther adored him because they were both chaotic in the same flavor. But Kaelen used to be a shameless flirt in his youth, but now he was married to a woman of lower status and had four kids clinging to him like ducklings. After Cessalie took over the duchy, he dropped the family name and built his own life from scratch. Impressive, actually.
"When did he even arrive?" I asked quickly as Mother resumed tearing into Evelisse's posture like it had personally offended her.
Mother snapped her gaze toward me, clearly done with my interruptions.
"Eri, either return to your room or find something productive to do. You are clearly disturbing me."
I pressed my lips together. That escalated faster than I expected.
I cast Evelisse one last sympathetic look, her fingers trembling as she tried to hold a curtsy, and quietly slipped out of the room before Mother aimed her wrath at me next.
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"Thank you for putting your lives in danger for us," the priest said, clutching the temple sigil—a pair of serpentine curves crossing in a tall, vertical infinity-like knot.
Kirill smiled politely. "It's our duty, Reverent."
The priest returned the smile. "Even so… I heard you were on leave, training the new recruits. And His Highness also joined the expedition. With the Crown Prince present, the threat vanished quicker than expected."
Kairan gave a silent nod, barely courteous, completely uninterested. The priest noticed and backed away with another bow before hurrying off.
Kirill exhaled loudly once he was gone. "Finally. Home."
Kairan shot him a sideways glance. "You're not going home. You'll be guarding the queen."
"I know," Kirill sighed. "But I'll still get to see my family. It's been weeks."
Kairan didn't respond. His eyes drifted away, jaw tightening. He was really not fond of conversations involving families or affection in general.
Kirill slumped forward. "I just pray Eri has forgotten about that swordsmanship idea. If she asks me again, I'll have to turn her down and it will crush her."
"You are insufferably dramatic," Kairan muttered.
Kirill rolled his eyes. "You wouldn't understand how it feels to refuse your baby sister."
At that, Kairan's jaw locked, his eyes shutting for a moment as though something in those words hit deeper than Kirill realized.
Kairan didn't respond right away. Their boots echoed softly against the ancient stone as they walked the inner corridor of Temple moss creeping over the walls, torchlight flickering like it was afraid of the shadows.
Kirill kept talking anyway. "Honestly, I hate it. She finally wants to learn, and I'm the one person who should teach her. There's no better swordsman for her to start with than me… except—"
"Except me," Kairan said, matter–of–fact.
Kirill shot him a sideways glare. "Sure, sure. You. Try not to sound so proud."
Kairan hummed, unbothered, gaze moving to the carved symbols along the corridor arch. "If time is the issue," he said lightly, "she could… learn from someone else."
Kirill scoffed. "From who? I don't trust anyone with Eri. She's delicate."
"Then perhaps," Kairan replied, hands clasped behind him, "she could train with someone competent."
Kirill stopped walking. "You're doing that cryptic thing again. Just say it."
Kairan paused two steps ahead, turning slightly, emerald eyes catching the torchlight. "If she is willing… I could oversee her training."
Kirill stared as if the prince had just offered to knit sweaters for everyone.
"You? Train Meredia?"
Kairan's brow lifted. "Is there an issue with that?"
"Uh—YES?" Kirill gestured at him aggressively. "You're… you. You train grown knights until they cry. My sister will combust."
"I am capable of restraint," Kairan said, continuing his calm walk as if the conversation were discussing tea options.
Kirill jogged to catch up. "Sure. And I'm capable of shutting up. We both know that's not true."
Kairan ignored him. "She wants to learn. I have the skill. And I will not allow her to injure herself."
Kirill squinted at him like he was trying to X-ray his intentions.
"…Why do you want to teach her?"
Kairan didn't break stride. Didn't look away.
"It would be beneficial," he said softly.
A short pause.
"For both of us."
That answer was suspicious as hell and Kirill knew it. But kirill knew better that kairan would not harm her so, consider Kirill was a great asset for the kingdom.
"Fine," he muttered. "If you're serious, then I'll tell her—"
Kairan cut him off with a raised hand. "No. Do not tell her yet that I would be teaching her."
Kirill blinked. "What why—?"
"Secret," Kairan said, "A surprise for her."
Kirill groaned. "You're unbelievable. You give riddles like some forest oracle. Whatever. Do your royal nonsense."
Kairan allowed himself a small tug at one corner of his lips, almost a smile.
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I decided to show Evelisse Meredia's garden. Honestly, it was starting to look like a forest revolt, and I had zero clue how to tame it.
Evelisse gasped the moment she stepped in, hands flying to her mouth. "Wow, my lady… this is beautiful."
I smiled. Good. That's exactly why you're here! to rescue it before it eats the house.
"You like it?" I asked, moving in front of her with my hands tucked behind my back. "Do you enjoy gardening?"
She nodded so fast she looked like a bobblehead. "I really do. Back when we still had our mansion, I loved taking care of the plants and flowers…"
"Then," I said, stepping back and gesturing to the wild greenery, "would you like to take care of this garden for me?"
Her eyes flew wide, expression flickering between disbelief and excitement, like she was scared to accept it. "What? No—this is your hard work. Are you sure? Really?"
I almost scoffed. It wasn't my hard work at all , but because it was someone's, it deserved respect, not neglect.
I nodded. "Yes. It's yours to take care of now."
She couldn't hold back her smile anymore. She drifted around the garden, touching flowers, brushing her fingers along leaves and branches.
"I really love this, my lady," she said, voice soft with genuine joy.
I settled into the chair while she wandered around, exploring every corner of the garden. It was too peaceful here for someone like me who couldn't keep a plant alive even if it begged.
But I could feel Meredia's attachment to this place… like the garden still remembered her hands. It made the whole space feel precious, almost sacred.
Evelisse finished her little spin and came back to me, cheeks flushed with excitement.
"Oh, my lady, are you bored?"
I shook my head. "No, Evelisse. I'm just waiting for my brother to return."
"Oh! Lord Kirill!" She lit up instantly, hands clasped. "Duchess mentioned during training that he'd be back soon. He even sent message birds three days ago."
"Really? Nobody told me about this."
Evelisse blinked, surprised. "You didn't know?"
I let out a tiny exhale, leaning back. "Apparently I'm always the last to hear about my own family."
She gave me a tiny, sympathetic smile before brightening again. "Well… now you do, my lady. Lord Kirill should arrive any time."
I hummed, pretending to be calm, but my foot was tapping.
And yes, by evening, Kirill finally returned. He went straight to Father's study to report whatever chaos they'd dealt with at the border.
I trailed behind him but didn't dare enter.Father would absolutely hand me another stack of work if he saw me. He'd already told me to re-analyse the points from his last meeting with the merchants. I was not signing up for Round Two.
So I leaned against the wall beside the door, trying to eavesdrop like some desperate spy. Obviously, the walls were too thick and my ears were decorative.
After a few minutes, the door opened and Kirill stepped out looking like someone who'd fought a war and then wrestled sleep for sport. The dark circles were almost artistic.
He spotted me and snorted. "Wow. Meredia actually came to see me."
I rolled my eyes and pushed off the wall. "Relax. I just came to check if you still have all four limbs."
He stretched his arms dramatically. "Still intact. Though I might've grown two horns. Father looked at me as if I'd just announced I'll remain celibate for life."
I raised my brows. "What did you say to him?"
Kirill didn't answer immediately. He just… stared at me with that unreadable older-brother face.
Then he shrugged. "Temple business. Nothing you need to worry about."
That. That right there. That "you don't need to know" nonsense. I hated it. I wanted to know everything.
I sighed. "Kirill, I swear, if you—Ow!"
He smacked my head before I could finish.
"Stop overthinking. Focus on your own mess," he muttered, grabbing my hand and dragging me away from Father's study. "Now tell me, how's your training?"
"Fenric tried," I grumbled. "But it felt like a kid teaching someone how to jump rope."
Kirill barked out a laugh. "Yeah, he's terrible at teaching. But he's a damn good soldier."
"That's nice, but when do you continue my training?" I looked up at him, hopeful.
"Oh… that." He dropped my hand and scratched the mole on his cheek, the tell he always had when he didn't want to say something. "I won't train for 3–4 days. My body's done. But… even after that, I probably won't be able to start again."
My stomach dropped. "Why not?"
"Because my vacation is over," he mumbled, looking exactly like a child being forced back to school. "I have missions to handle."
"So my training is just… gone?"
The disappointment hit me hard. I hadn't even learned the basics yet. And Kairan....just the thought of him....he could show up anywhere. Anytime. I couldn't stay unprepared.
Before the panic could spiral, Kirill's hand landed on my head again, ruffling my hair gently. I looked up, and he gave me that warm, irritating smile.
"Don't worry," he said softly. "I'll take care of it."
Strangely, that irritatingly confident smile of his brought a warmth I couldn't quite explain. I just nodded, letting the tension in my shoulders ease a little.
"No need to get all worked up, Sia," I reminded myself silently.
"I'll make sure the best swordsman in the kingdom teaches you," Kirill said, his voice calm, "but don't let my absence stop you from learning. Understand?"
I lifted my head and met his eyes, nodding again. "Yes… thank you."