Chapter 91 – Two Rascals
“Well, isn’t today another amazing day…”
“You bet so…”
A few feet away, Leyrian and Buer were hiding from sight, watching Alexcent and Athyst at their supposed ‘sword practice’.
“By the way, when do you think those two will be over?” Leyrian said as they watched the couple wrapped in each other’s arms.
“Hopefully soon.”
“Not by the looks of it. Shall we make a bet?”
“On what?”
“Whether it will be over soon or not.”
At Leyrian’s words, Buer thought for a mont and said, “Then I bet it won’t end at all.”
“There isn’t an option like that!”
Instead of answering, Buer hit Leyrian on the chest with his elbow, jokingly.
*
“Hm…Alec,” she said between kisses. “You should be teaching .”
Alexcent pulled away. “Tell ,” he said softly, “Why are you so eager to learn swordsmanship and shooting?”
“Because in a year, or maybe a few months, I will no longer be the Duchess,” she said feeling drunk on his kiss that she had said aloud what was only in her thoughts.
“What do you an?” said Alexcent sharply.
His steely voice brought her back to attention. “What do I an?” said Athyst, “Alexcent, we are under a contract marriage. When the contract is over, I will no longer be a Duchess. I need to learn to protect myself! I can’t spend my life depending on others for safety.”
“I see,” he said bitterly. Then he went silent. It was true, but truth can be difficult to digest.
Well, it’s out in the open now, thought Athyst, trying to gauge Alexcent’s reaction. He seed distant and aloof. She had expected this to develop into a scene but seeing Alexcent taking the news so silently unsettled her.
“Well,” he said after a long silence, “That’s it for today’s lesson.” He turned and walked away. Athyst lifted the sword that had fallen to the ground.
“Alec!” she called. He turned and their eyes t for a brief mont. “Your sword,” she said holding it forward.
“I told you,” he said in a steely tone, “You can keep it.” He then left the field.
*
Athyst spent the afternoon resting in her bedroom. She lay down and tried to make herself not think too much on the coldness in Alexcent’s tone when she had told him about her reasons for her eagerness to learn swordsmanship and shooting.
His cold tone of voice pierced at her heart. No matter what she did, it bothered her. Her mind was in a state of disarray. What is up with him? She wondered. Usually, the heroine in the novels moved to the next level when they died or went into another body. She had thought she was trapped in space and would soday be able to go back. She also pondered if she went back, would she appear at the sa mont she had disappeared from another world? She wanted to live a free life. She was so sure that it was only a matter of ti till she could go back. So, she had agreed to Alexcent’s conditional proposal, despite not wanting to marry. He knows about the one-year deadline, so why does he have to act so bitter?
She sighed and traced the embroidery across her blanket. I can’t take this anymore! Maybe if I move a bit, or do sothing, it will help calm down. Alec does have a knack for making people nervous and disturbed!
She got up from the bed and changed into sothing comfortable. She picked Alexcent’s sword and headed outside. She walked to the field. She could see that the training was over and only a few knights were loitering in the field.
Leyrian noticed Athyst walking towards the field with sword in hand. He approached her. “Forgive , Ma’am, but why are you here at this hour,” he said, “Didn’t the training end this morning?”
“Oh, I am just here to practice what I learnt today,” said Athyst, then frowned, “Wait, how do you know I was training this morning?”
“Well, I had heard that you always train in the morning with his Lordship,” he said hurriedly. “I, too, train in the mornings.”
But Athyst saw his nervous reaction and sort of guessed what was happening. “That early?” she asked, narrowing her eyes.
Buer approached her too, sweating after his training. “I see,” she said, “And I would be right in assuming Sir Buer would have been present too?”
They both looked guilty as sin. “Madam,” he said apologetically, “We didn’t an to peek.”
“Peek?!” asked Athyst, aghast, “What did you see?
“We are so sorry, Madam,” said Leyrian.
The way they looked, Athyst could have forgiven them until she noticed Buer elbowing Leyrian on the ribs.
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