Luke walked away, his right shoulder drenched in water. As he distanced himself, he could hear the guards laughing at him and praising the one who had dared to ss with him.
"You did well by spilling water on him and sending that eyesore away," one guard said.
"True. He acts like he owns the place and always looks down on us," another guard added.
"He’s nothing but a dog that Lady Erin took in to play with."
"Once I get the chance, I’ll show him how we treat dogs here."
"I’m with you. Let’s get him when we get the chance."
The guard who had spilled water on Luke simply smiled at their words, though inwardly he thought about how these guards might regret their actions if they ever crossed his master. Pretending to be one of them, he kept silent about Luke.
Luke, now out of sight, stopped in a secluded spot where no guards could see him. He wasn’t bothered by his wet clothes; it was just an excuse to walk away. Free from Erin’s ever-suspicious gaze, it was ti to get to work.
He walked towards the rear garden of Lord Walys Ahren’s residence, where he saw the gardener lifting heavy pots filled with soil, struggling to carry them to their designated places in the garden.
"Can you help ?" the older man asked.
"I am not a gardener," Luke replied, removing his wet glove to dry it, ignoring the old man.
Another gardener working at a distance heard him and shook his head. "Young people these days are nothing but full of arrogance and have no respect for elders."
"Mind being one today, young man?" the gardener lifting heavy pots asked again.
Luke sighed and walked over to lift one pot. "Where to?"
The man walked with him. "Not far," he said, mumbling, "All of a sudden, the weather seems to be changing today."
"Is it good news?"
"Depends on what you make of it," the man replied in a low voice, ensuring no one else could hear. "This can be a good opportunity, but not the best one."
"I won’t know unless I try," Luke replied quietly.
"There can be no mistakes. Ahrens estate is like the King’s fortress itself. It’s difficult to get out without being caught."
"Inform the others as well."
They reached the designated spot, and Luke set down the pot before walking away.
When the old gardener returned to his work, the other gardener remarked, "That young guard is rather heartless."
"Who isn’t?" the old man replied, resuming his task.
-----
Sitting in the drawing room, everyone was chatting happily while enjoying the freshly brewed tea and snacks.
"I can’t believe how fast the kids have grown," Luis said. "The last ti we t, lady Erin was such a naughty girl, and now look at her—a fine young woman. Not to ntion your capable sons, Lord Ahren. I really envy you."
Ahren laughed a little. "You jest, Luis. Looking at Grace, I can tell you have nothing to envy. And who hasn’t heard about your son, the young Lord of the Northeast?"
"True, but my son is not the Crown Prince’s knight," Luis replied. "Rafal is comndable. I t him today when I was invited to have a al with His Majesty."
"You flatter , Luis. But yes, Rafal has carried on our family’s legacy as a knight, and we are proud of him."
"But I heard he is not Prince Arlan’s knight anymore," Grace comnted. "Soone as capable as young lord Rafal should be with His Highness. Assigning him to the Crown Princess seems unfair to his abilities."
Her words were not well received, and the Ahrens family looked at her with displeasure. Luis quickly spoke up, casting a montary glare at his daughter.
"My dear friend Grace," Erin, sitting opposite her, offered a light smile. "Are you questioning Prince Arlan’s decision?" Her gaze and tone turned playfully serious. "Our Crown Prince’s decision about his carefully chosen knights and their capabilities?"
Grace was taken aback. "I...I did not. I can’t dare..."
"Do you know the consequences if this reaches His Highness?" Erin interrupted sharply.
Luis intervened, "Lady Erin, Grace is young and sotis says things she should not."
Erin looked at Luis and smiled pleasantly. "Then, Lord Mortir, as she is here in the capital, allow , as her friend, to share so truths with her so she won’t mistakenly say sothing that could get her into trouble. Is that alright?"
"Yes, of course," Luis replied.
Luis quickly intervened, "Grace ant no disrespect. She was rely expressing her admiration for young lord’s abilities."
"Grace, here is the thing," Erin began. "My brother Rafal is the best knight Prince Arlan has, next to Captain Loyset. Everyone knows how much Prince Arlan values these two guardian knights, so much so that he wouldn’t give them up for anything; even if the deities offer him heavens in exchange he won’t ever give away his knights."
"Yes, we know," Grace replied.
"So, the question is, why did Prince Arlan offer his most cherished knight to the Crown Princess?" Erin continued. "It’s because he values his wife more than anything and adjusts according to her needs. As he loves and values her the most, he wants her to be under the best protection. And who else but my brother can offer that? This proves two things: One, Prince Arlan is madly in love with his wife, and two, he trusts my brother’s capabilities the most to protect her. Do you get it now?"
"Yes. I get it."
"Good girl," Erin said with a wide smile. "And don’t worry, this matter will be buried here, and Prince Arlan won’t know you questioned his decision."
"Thank you, Erin," Grace said and fell silent.
"Grace will learn a lot from you, Erin," Luis said, turning to Walys. "Lord Ahren, you have such a beautiful daughter. I believe many noble families must want her as part of their family."
"True. Who wouldn’t want to have a relationship with the Ahrens?" Walys replied, "not to ntion how capable and smart my daughter is among all the daughters of the noble families."
"I agree. I can see that," Luis said with a smile. "Marrying children is always thing to worry about for any parents. Now I have grace and my elder son to marry off."
"You do not have to worry, Luis. Grace is beautiful young lady to be admire by any young man and your son, he deserves the best girl," Walys said.
Erin looked at her brother who was sitting next to her, who offered her a light playful smile and told her to be calm. Both were aware where Luis was going to take this talk.
Luis looked at Erin, "So what kind of young man wish to marry, Lady Erin?"
"The one who should be from capital so I won’t be far from my parents. I can’t stay away from them for long," Erin answered, "Or if soone who can move to Ahren’s with after the marriage."
Luis laughed a little as if it was a joke she told and looked at Lord Ahren, "What do you think?"
"Whatever makes my daughter happy," Walys replied, "I only have one daughter so I would do anything to keep her happy."
"I can understand. As a father, all we want is our daughter’s happiness."
Luis and Walys engaged in talking about matters related to territories and business, Grace was kept busy by Lady Ahren. Erin turned to her brother who was listing to the talk between Luis and his father.
"Brother Euron, do you think he is considering for his son?" Erin asked in a low voice.
Euron raised a brow, "Simply considering?"
She raised a questioning brow and heard her brother leaning closer to her ears, "I think he had already pictured you as his son’s wife," he moved back and smirked playfully.
Erin frowned. "Are you enjoying this?" her voice was low, "just because you are already married, that makes you safe, you do not care for your sister."
"It’s not because I am married but he has plan to stuff his daughter into Prince Arlan’s already full arms," Euron replied calmly. "Moreover, we three brother have trained you enough to care for yourself. Do not ask for more."
Erin pursued her lips together and listened to others talk, she was grateful that Grace was occupied by her mother. She was not in a mood to teach this spoiled daughter of Mortirs.
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