ISEUL
I got up on the carriage and forgot that I had Cape-guy inside. All these roller coasters of events made me forget about him. He was looking out of the window just like my brother did hours ago.
"Ahem!"
He looked at me.
"Monsieur Sylvan, where do you intend to make your way now?"
"Anywhere you see fit to leave me, My Lady. Whether it be the grandest road or the most forgotten corner, I shall go without complaint."
Ughh, I cannot listen to 'My Lady' anymore. I have a thing for this word!
"Then, Monsieur, may I claim the honor of inviting you to the Delacroix Dukedom?"
"Do as you will." he was about to look out of the window when…
"Ahhhh-" I got disbalanced and my hands landed on his knees, his hands holding my shoulder.
"Forgive me, milady. The path lies marked with depressions," the coachman signalled.
"Are you alright?" asked Sylvan in a somewhat stuttering yet caring tone.
"Yesss..", I mumbled slowly and then we both started looking out of the window.
We reached home after two days. Sylvan still with me.
My father, the duke and my mother were out in front of the gates with knights behind them.
I got off the carriage and rushed to hug them as they reached out their hands. However, my father's hand slowly moved away as he stood straight, looking at a stranger getting off my carriage.
My mother, too, looked up and gasped.
"You came unchaperoned with a man who is no knight of our dukedom?! Why, then, does he wear that uniform?"
Yes, women or ladies are not allowed to be with other men or boys unless they are relatives, close associates, engaged or guards. I asked one of our knights to lend me an extra pair of clothes so that he could turn from a Strange Cape-guy to Delacroix Knight.
"He is my savior, Mother. I shall give you and Father a full account of my journey with my brother, and he shall send the same from the academy. But before all else, pray grant him entry. A savior must not be made to turn away from our gates."
"Is that truly so, young man?" my father said, walking up to him, moving me towards Mother.
He bowed.
"Well then, you are welcome to remain at this estate for a few days."
He bowed again.
A weird tension grew between them, which was broken by my mother.
"Tell me at once what has transpired, my dear. Are you harmed in any way? And where is your fichu?" my mother inquired. Both of them looked back and my father gestured him inside. They both walked towards me.
"Let us go inside, Mother. I shall recount everything to you."
NARRATOR
Ruelle gave them the details of her travel inside the salon and the Duke was astonished by the bravery they put up.
"You shall begin the practice of sword and magic from this day forth. A tutor is what you stand in need of. You have made me proud, just as I once was, when I stood as the Valedictorian of the Royal Academy."
"You must n— no… my lord. She is yet so young. Perhaps embroidery or dance would be a more fitting pursuit for her at this age."
"'Tis not a hobby of which I speak, and you know that well too," said the Duke in a convincing tone.
"I know, dear. Yet she is far too young. And what if she begins to turn away from the pursuits expected of a lady? Society may not look kindly upon it…"
"It is well. I shall speak of this again after souper." The duke crossed his legs and folded his arms. Leaning on the cushions, he asked Sylvan, "Sustainance?"
As the Duke conversed with Sylvan, the Duchess nagged Isuel to join one of those newly popular stitching communities.
"I am but a mercenary," He bowed.
"So young?"
"Yes. I was orphaned in my youth, and in later years taken under the care of a mercenary, who raised me thereafter."
"You need not be so nervous in my presence." He called for the intendant to bring in some refreshments. "Do you belong to a guild?" he then asked.
"No, my lord."
He was pleasant and polite while he spoke to the Duke. However, he would eye Ruelle mid-conversation. Sometimes they even made eye contact and swiftly turned away. So it was not only Sylvan but Ruelle too was intrigued by this stranger.
The next day, Sylvan was spotted around the training guards. He sat on a bench and watched the knights practice their sword skills. The knights felt a bit uneasy and some even felt disgust at the presence of an amateurish mercenary among them. However, the ones who accompanied Ruelle and fought alongside him were aware of his capabilities. They approached him and greeted him.
As they were conversing, the duke entered. He looked around and found the atmosphere to be uneasy. When he spotted Sylvan, he knew the reason. He walked up to Sylvan and the knights surrounding him made way for the Duke.
At night,
"I have come to a decision," informed the Duke as he opened his tie.
"What?", the Duchess paused.
"I have resolved upon this. I shall appoint Sylvan as my daughter's guard. She will travel often, and it is time she be granted her first knight."
"It may be acceptable for a knight, but why should she be allowed to go out at all? She has yet to make her debut."
"So what? We are not behind arms anymore." He rested both of his hands on her shoulders. "I know well what troubles you, but society itself has changed."
"Do as you will, but I shall not remain silent should harm come to my child."
"That shall never come to pass again. I give you my word," he embraced her.
The duke looked outside the window and started recollecting what happened in the training grounds.
One of the best knights stepped out by himself, thinking he could defeat Sylvan easily. He took up the sword and walked towards the ground.
Action!
The fight was head-on. Knights of House Delacroix were not to be underestimated.
However, the knight had a hard time dodging Sylvan's attack. He lacks defense...
The sword of the knight flung towards the Duke. Sylvan dashed towards the Duke and caught it before it could touch the Duke. But the Duke had not flinched the slightest. Sylvan realised that he was floating in the air. Both the Duke and Sylvan stopped the sword at the very same time! Now Duke Delacroix had made his decision...