I sighed once more as I thought back to the mist of dark wisps and the words from 'God' on how I had to stop the person from uniting with the power of darkness... or something like that. That just sounds so fictitious... but I guess it makes sense since he brought me here to account for my terrible luck in the past... And how nothing actually makes sense in this world...
I stared out the window of the heavily guarded carriage as I blanked out at the view of my tired expression in the window. I guess... it has been a long day...
I was about to drift off to sleep when I sat up firmly and opened the carriage window. "Xavier! That girl! Delia! Did you find her?!" I practically yelled as I stucked my head out the window, nearly bumping into his stomach.
"Ah, Miss Lily! Don't do that! It's dangerous!" Xavier exclaimed as he moved a little more farther from the carriage, urging me to move back into the carriage if we were to converse. I did just that and peered out the window, watching him calm his horse and moving closer to the carriage.
"That young lady you rescued... We couldn't find her anywhere. Your safety was our priority as Knights of the Lacroix dukedom. Anything or anyone after that... comes after. Also! We didn't see her whilst searching for you! So..." Xavier trailed off as he noticed the grim look on my face.
Noticing his anxiousness, I smiled and bid my thanks as I shut the window and drew the curtains in my carriage. Thinking of Delia as my eyelids grew heavier and heavier before I was lulled to sleep by the gentle rocking of the carriage.
***
Small streams of light escaped into the carriage from the crack in the curtains, blinding me momentarily as my eyes fluttered and squinted to adjust to the darkness. I pull the curtains open to find that it was evening and that we were back in the Lacroix estate. A soft rap at the carriage door pulled me back from my thoughts as I shook myself awake.
"J-just a minute!" I answered as I evened out my sticking out hair and checked my reflection in the window. A noble has to look their best at all times, after all... it's the... etiquette.
"I'm ready." I replied as I stared at the door. Watching as it opened slowly. "Oh! Xavier! Did... did you wait for me to wake up?" I asked as Xavier bowed his head, holding out a hand for me to take as I stepped off the carriage.
"It's fine. I'm sure it was tiring... it's been a long day after all." Xavier said as he smiled softly catching my eyes with his hazelnut coloured eyes which shone red in the light from the setting sun. His calm demeanor and mature expression as well as the glistening hair which looked as if dyed a blood red, gave him a different feel from his usual cheerfulness and energy making me feel awkward.
As he walked behind me, escorting me back to my chamber I burst the bubble; a little anxious from his weird behaviour. "Xavier! Wh... why are you being so weird?! Say something!" I urged him as I slowed to his pace and placed a hand on his shoulder. Xavier flinched as he stiffened under my touch.
He didn't reply for a long while as I watched his usually cheery face scrunched in deep thought. As I was about to say something, Xavier grabbed my hand and got down on one knee.
"I... Today... When we couldn't find you... I was so anxious... I was also very angry... not at anyone... just myself... If I was stronger... You wouldn't have had to be separated from us... And we would have been back here by noon... But just as regretful and anxious as I was... I was also grateful and happy... that the first person who found you and was called out by you... was me." Xavier said as he glanced up at me with a confident look on his face and his signature cheerful smile. I mentally slapped myself as I thought about how he was crazy to want to be strong when he already has pretty monstrous strength for a kid and would grow into a brave knight sworn to protect his liege.
I unconsciously hugged him and patted his head as I said " I'm also glad that you were the one who found me! It was a huge relief when I saw your face! It was reassuring to see the face I thought of when I was panicking and worried for my life... So... Don't say you were weak. You were strong enough to overcome your own fear and rescue me earlier after all!" I said as I grinned at him, noticing the tears streaming down his cheeks.
"Ack! Wh-why are you crying Xavier?! Do-does it hurt somewhere?!" I asked, flustered as I flailed my hands about before settling on my handkerchief that I had kept in my pocket. "It might be dirty but... Its all I have at the moment..." I said, wiping the tears from his cheeks. "Th-this isn't... THIS ISN'T TEARS! I'm not crying! They're sweat! It's been a hot day!" Xavier said as he stood up and grabbed the handkerchief from my hand, wiping off the tears before stomping in front of me. "... What are you doing? Let's go." Xavier asked before grabbing my hand, leading me to my chamber.