"Whatever is keeping your sister?" the Duchess of Bearington asked at the dining room table.
Sitting beside the Duchess, Claire clutched Bunny closer to her.
Just as the Duchess was calling for a maidservant to fetch Airee, Claire stated aloud, "Airee went away."
"Went away? Went away where?" the Duchess asked, furrowing her brow when the Duke of Bearington—seated at the head of the table—stiffened.
"Per—perhaps we should discuss this after dinner," he suggested to the air, doing his best to avoid the Duchess's gaze.
"Last night, Papa and the knights took her away," Claire continued, paying no mind to the Duke's current predicament. She paused and furrowed her brow at the Duke. "If Airee hadn't woken me, I would never have said good-bye!"
The entire room stilled as the Duchess gave the Duke her full attention. "Duke…"
The Duke steeled himself internally.
"Where exactly did you send Airee?" the Duchess asked softly.
A fragile, moment of silence passed before the Duke quietly confessed what he had done.
"She was assigned to Knight Lyon?!" the Duchess snarled before recomposing herself as Claire hugged Bunny tighter. "…Isn't Knight Lyon currently patrolling our western borders?"
"…Correct," the Duke responded in a small voice.
Unsmiling, the Duchess uttered, "Airee only recently recovered from her illness alongside Claire, yet, with [complete] disregard to her current health and ongoing education, you assigned her to one of our head knights—the [vice-captain] at that?!"
"Airee will be alright," Claire spoke, breaking the tension in the room. "She told me herself before she left that she'll come back…" She paused. "…won't she, Mama, Papa?"
For a moment, the Duchess maintained her thunderous expression.
Then she closed her eyes and exhaled softly. "…Of course," she finally said.
Claire looked at the Duke, and his expression visibly softened as he gave her a comforting nod.
As the Duchess murmured something about meeting the Duke privately after dinner, Claire turned her attention inwards.
In her lesson today, her tutor had briefly mentioned about Jaf, their divine Goddess.
Jaf was supposedly kind and benevolent and was always listening whenever anyone prayed from their heart.
[I'll pray for Airee tonight.] Claire promised. [I'll pray for her not to get hurt. I'll pray with all my might that she comes back to us, safe and well.]
║║║║║║║║║║
"Same as always. You'll clean armor after cleaning these stalls, m'lady," Knight Bob informed me before leaving me in the stable.
Knight Bob was the knight currently looking after me.
I stood motionless, the shovel that I held and the wooden barrow beside me waiting patiently for horse manure.
…
When the Duke rushed me here in the middle of the night at this camp without much explanation, I was expecting immediate training of some kind the days after.
Not this.
Impatience flared through me, and I let it run its course as I began shoveling manure.
Wasn't I wasting time doing these tasks?! A month had passed since I arrived, yet all I did was look after horses and armor. I hadn't even met Knight Lyon, the knight I was assigned to yet!
These reoccurring thoughts clouded my head as I continued shoveling, letting it fuel my drive as I fell into the routine.
…
[Knight Lyon has yet to return with his men from their patrol], Knight Bob had informed me at the beginning. [They'll arrive soon, so hang in there, m'lady!]
…
[…I chose this path], I reminded myself as always. [I can't complain, not this early. Also…horses and armor are fundamental to a knight. As Knight Bob said, learning to take care of both is important, you restless dummy!]
…
I couldn't refute myself, so I continued my task, more calmly this time.
║║║║║║║║║║
After a long day, I washed up, stretched, rubbed ointment on my blisters, and laid across my blanket that also served as my bed.
I was exhausted.
…
[I haven't touched a sword at all…]
…
I slowly sat up and reached for my rucksack, the only thing the Duke allowed me to bring.
Inside contained several layers of clothes. I reached past all of them and grabbed…
A small, hand-sewn bear complemented by a golden ribbon.
Winston had gifted me the bear while Claire had gifted it the ribbon.
…
"One step at a time," I murmured, drawing resolve and alleviating my selfish impatience with the bear I held in both hands.
After a deep exhale, I placed the bear back into the sack. Then I rolled onto the floor and began my usual set of mediocre pushups and sit-ups.
║║║║║║║║║║
More days passed by similarly.
One day, I was in the armory cleaning armor when three familiar squires popped into the room.
"Having fun, milady?" Taz, the oldest of them lightly teased. Taz was fourteen years old with a dark, bowl haircut.
"Afternoon, milady," Tenth and Tin greeted warmly.
Tenth and Tin were both thirteen. Tenth had brown, neck-length hair while Tin had reddish brown, cropped, wild hair.
I shoved loose hair away from my face while wiping my sweat.
"I've just cleaned the last shield," I replied with low enthusiasm after greeting them back. "What brings you all here?"
All three shared a look before Taz asked, "We were wondering if you wanted to practice our swordsmanship together?"
"YES!" I boomed without hesitation, shooting to a stand.
All three laughed at my eagerness before grinning down at me.
From then on, after I completed my tasks and they their duties and training, we all practiced together with wooden swords.
My grip was clumsy at first when they taught me the basic stances and forms, but my body and strength gradually adjusted as I continued practicing whenever I could.
"You want to become an E-knight?" all three exclaimed when I told them one day after our session.
"Yes," I confirmed.
"You're not just playing around by coming here?" blurted out Tin in disbelief.
Tenth elbowed him, and Tin quickly apologized.
"…Becoming one is difficult," Taz informed me with a serious look. "You need to pass the Branch Trials before you can enter their academy. Those trials change every Trial, and, from what I've heard, [most] participants give up… Yet even if you pass your Trial, milady, the Branch Academy itself is grueling. Further still, you would then have to work your way up as a Branch knight before attempting to become one of their elites… Do you still want to be one?"
[…]
"We don't mean any disrespect, milady. We're only thinking about your safety and wellbeing," Tenth said earnestly. "As the eldest child to our Grace, you can live a life of luxury without lifting your hand or holding a sword. You shouldn't ever have to bleed or go through any pain, but you will if you become an E-knight!"
[…]
"…Thank you," I said quietly after a moment. "I greatly appreciate your kind concerns—and I'm thankful. But…"
An image of General Os flashed across my mind, his 2D features sharp and clear.
"…becoming an E-knight is something I must—something I [will] do," I said determinedly.
Surprise flickered across all three's faces.
Then Tin broke the silence, roaring with a grin, "I ADMIRE THE YOUNG LADY!!"
"ME TOO!!" Tenth roared in return.
Their sudden bursts of energy startled the serious atmosphere, and I couldn't help but grin.
Taz stood beside me, and I glanced up at him.
"We'll support you then, milady," he smiled down at me.
My heart strummed at their comfort.
"TIN AND TENTH, UNLESS YOU WANT DOUBLE DUTY TONIGHT SHUT YOUR ASSES!" a knight suddenly roared from the other side of the training grounds.
We all fell over, trying to smother our laughter.
=====
As the moon rose before the starry sky, several knights atop of horses rode into camp.
"Vice-captain," Knight Bob greeted as the leader of them slid off his horse.
Sprouting a dark mane of wild hair streaked with gold and having gray eyes that gleamed under the moonlight, the lean Vice-captain Knight Lyon greeted Knight Bob in return.
While they walked towards Lyon's tent, Bob reported about the happenings among the camp during Lyon's absence.
At the mention of the Duke's daughter, Lyon outwardly sighed.
"Ah, that's right… Has his Grace's daughter already returned home?" he asked with mild obligation and uninterest as they entered his tent.
"Quite the opposite. She has adjusted considerably well here among us, sir," Bob answered, causing Lyon to pause.
"Really…?" he asked doubtfully.
"Yes!" Bob beamed, his fondness for the Grace's daughter shining through his moustache. "She dutifully finishes her tasks on time and have even begun simple sparring with the other squires. Though it's only been two months since she arrived, her ambition and potential to learn from us is quite palpable!"
…
The last time Lyon met the young Airee Valguard was on her fourth birthday. Even at that young age, she domineered the party, ruthlessly rejecting "inferior" gifts after gifts. She did not care for anybody except herself, treating her toddler, younger sister especially harsh when His and Her Graces weren't looking. And regarding the servants and knights that were present, him included…the young Airee Valguard hadn't spared them a glance.
Though Lyon trusted Bob's assessment about the potential and ambition of Airee Valguard, he wouldn't yet believe her character to have changed.
Which was why Bob's fondness of the Grace's daughter was baffling.
Knight Bob would never be fond of such a spoiled young lady.
…
"I'll greet that child tomorrow," he informed Bob. "With my own eyes…I'll decide whether she's fit to stay or not."
He'd heard about children changing their ways to more virtuous ones like some adults did at some point in their lives. Perhaps the Grace's daughter had done so.
Doubtful.
But he would give her a chance.
[One] chance.
║║║║║║║║║║
"Vice-captain Knight Lyon," I greeted, steeling my nerves as the vice-captain's gray, cold eyes peered directly at me.
"Lady Airee," he greeted, his voice hard and unemotional. "How are you finding camp?"
"…Challenging," I said truthfully. "However, I am and will continue doing my best, Knight Lyon."
He assessed me with sharp eyes.
"Very well," he said tersely.
We then visited the stables, and I met Knight Lyon's usual horse, Leo.
Leo was a dark, tawny stallion with a grayish mane and an intimidating demeanor.
On Knight Lyon's instruction, I slowly approached Leo from the shoulder.
"Hello," I said tentatively, stretching out my hand.
Leo's ears flickered, and his head turned towards me, his nostrils flaring as he sniffed me.
Since he didn't seem alarmed, I patted his neck with both hands and said more calmly, "Nice to meet you. I am called Airee."
"Taking care of Leo is part of your duties from now on," Knight Lyon stated as we left the stables. "After you are both more acquainted, you'll be responsible for him."
"Yes, Knight Lyon," I shortly replied.
"Knight Bob informs me you've been practicing with the other squires," he swiftly moved on as we arrived at the training grounds.
We arrived at the rack of wooden swords, and he tossed me one which I barely caught.
"Let me assess where you are at," he said as he himself drew one.
As expected, all I could do was endure his barrage of attacks.
When my sword finally flew from my grip and I was on the ground, panting, he asked, "Aside from the sword, have you practiced with the bow?"
"No," I huffed breathlessly.
"Very well. Hereon, after your daily duties are finished, I shall see to your training. We will first work on your forms and footwork," he said, causing eagerness and excitement to rush through me.
He leveled me with a stare.
"I will not be lenient."
I dipped my head courteously, uttering, "Of course, Knight Lyon."
...
"…Very well," he finally spoke. "I'll see you this afternoon."