Thalia spend her childhood on training swordsmanship and casting magic. Right after when, Sir Adair agreed to be part away from her children.
Clang. Swish. Clang.
"I adore your fighting skills, Duke Albert." Albert grinned.
"Yours too." Thalia sped up her pace, hitting Albert sword, twisting it, making Albert lose his grip on the sword, and dropping it on the ground.
Thalia had just win the bet.
"I win, I get to ride on the horse!" she hop in joy. Duke Albert never allowed her to rode on the horse. Even Killian was against it, saying , "You are clumsy Thalia, you might fall."
"Gosh Thalia. You know how Killian is against of that." She just ignored him. And ran to the horses.
You always control me whenever it comes to training. Gosh, I'm now 16, can't I just ride once on a horse? Still, isn't riding on a horse is part of my training? She thought.
"Thalia." Shivers. I know this voice. I turn around seeing pissed Killian.
"Killian... It's not what—I mean.." Dammit, why do I keep stuttering?
"Killian, can you just let her ride once?" Yes, Albert is defending me.
"Duke Albert, I'm the one who's in charge of taking care of her, not you." That made Albert shut. Aren't you a bit rude, Killian?
"Killian, I won the bet-"
"You're not calling me brother, anymore?" What's with him? He just got back from Crusthane City, shouldn't be he happy from coming home?
While on Killian's mind. I just got back from that annoying city, I was super tired, just wanted to receive a warm welcome for you, yet seeing you having fun with that Duke Brat. And doing the thing that I didn't allow which is horse riding.
Back on Thalia's mind. I can read his mind just by his expression. Well, I know the readers know how Killian don't like Duke Albert, to be honest I don't know what's making him dislike Duke Albert. I mean look, Duke Albert is nice, he has those shiny ruby eyes, Dark brown hair, the jaw is perfect, well-built body—I only get to saw it once on a training with his Knights.
"What the heck are you thinking? You're disgustingly smirking." Killian scoffed.
"Nothing. Duke Albert, please help me on this horse." Albert nodded and followed Thalia.
Killian watched every Albert's movement, but when Albert was about to hold Thalia's back, he quickly pushed Albert and hold Thalia.
"Killian!" Thalia shouted.
"Put me down, Killian."
"No. You badly wanted to ride a horse, right? So, I'm letting you, but I'll be the one who's teaching you." What is wrong with him? I saw Duke Albert groan. I just whispered 'sorry' and he nod.
This brat, wait till I get down from this horse. You'll get a piece of me.
The horse riding ended when the sun's about to set. Killian was so annoying, telling me that I'm dumb that I can't do this or that. Why can't he just teach me nicely, maybe I'll understand.
"There it is." Albert said. There is what?
"Your eyes, it never fails to fascinate me." I blushed. Duke Albert always compliment my eyes.
"Yeah yeah. Well, for me it looked like lava. You'll die by staring at it." I punched Killian's arm.
"Ouch, that hurts, brat!"
"Well, I'm more hurt than you, you damn brat!" Thalia shouted and ran to her room.
"You shouldn't have speak like that, Killian." Albert said.
"Don't mess with Thalia, Albert." With that Killian left to catch up to Thalia leaving Albert sighing.
"I'm already messed up by her." He tightly hold his chest, where his heart keep beating fast.
Killian went to Thalia's room, he heard sobbing. He can't stand Thalia crying when the cause is him. He was bout to knock, when Thalia suddenly stopped crying.
He open the door, seeing Thalia sleeping on the bed with puffy eyes, he wiped the tears left on Thalia's face, then caressing her. He smiled a bit, nobody knows how he loves Thalia.
"Keeping you safe is the only I can do for now, Princess."
"What?" Killian was shocked when he saw Albert behind him.
"What are you doing here?" Albert ignored him.
"She is who?" Albert asked.
"None of your business." Killian saw how Albert is getting pissed.
"Don't you dare hide it from me. She is the Lost Princess?" Albert asked again, this time Killian shushed him and nodded silently.
Albert scoffed in disbelief. He couldn't believe that the Princess is in his Estate.
"Let's talk privately. We don't want to wake her up." Albert nodded. They all went outside to talk, back at the garden.
"Tell me everything." Albert said. Killian then told all, except for her magic.
"You shouldn't tell this to anyone."
"But, the King must know this!"
"I know, that's what I thought about first, when I knew she was the Princess, but Lenria is in great danger, she is a target of dark sorcerers" Killian continued.
"We can't just expose her identity to the outside, threats may increase." Albert nodded.
"I'll help you protecting her." Killian hesitated.
"No thanks, I can protect her myself. You lack physical training." Killian smirked.
"What? I do not."
"Oh yeah, saw you lost against, Lenria."
"I-I just did that on purpose!" Albert's face is now turning tomato because of embarrassment. I laughed.
"I'll just send out a letter when I need you for her." Albert saw Killian's face went sad.
"I need to go out again... then please protect her with all your life." Albert was determined on protecting Thalia.
"I swore with all my life that I will protect, Princess Lenria." Killian smiled, he felt an assurance from the Duke.
And the next day, Killian went to Thalia' room, she was still sleeping.
"I'll be back, my Princess." He kissed Thalia's forehead and went out.
He met Albert at the gates, he lend out his hand. Killian grabbed it and shake.
"I'm putting her in your care, until I come back." Killian grasp tightly.
"Count on me." Killian left.
After hours when Killian left, Thalia woke up, feeling uneasy. She didn't know why she feels like this. She did her morning routine and went to training ground, seeing Albert training.
"Duke Albert, Good morning." Albert stop training and smiled at her.
"Thalia, dropped the honorifics. It's just us, remember." Thalia nodded.
"You're looking for Killian, right?" She nod.
"Where is he?" Albert sighed.
"He went back again."
"To Crusthane City?" She asked unbelievably. Albert nodded.
Killian went to Crusthane City in search for his father, who went to this city along with the King. But they didn't they were going to ambush by the dark sorcerers. After the incident, only King Ainsley got back alive along with the other Knights, but Sir Adair was nowhere to be found. Killian got a letter from His Highness, and told him about the incident, he didn't told Thalia, because he know that Thalia will force him to let her come.
He only told Thalia, that some Knights needed him for offensive magic. And, Thalia believed, he did promised to Thalia that he'll come back.
"I promise that I'll come back safe, for you." She trust on those words, she wanted Killian to keep those words and he did, but he's going back again. It doesn't matter as long as he come back.