The next morning the Valen family greeted each other at morning breakfast.
Kilian and his grandfather had not had any reasons to eat breakfast together, but this was the first morning that his mother would be attending.
Kilian took the small fair hand in his and guided his mother to the table. She looked small even next to him, and a thought crossed his mind.
'Is this what my grandfather was thinking when he saw me the first time?'
Back then he had been scrawny too, but over the past couple of months with good nutrition and training with Dante, his body had become more healthy looking, though he was still on the smaller side for a man.
"I think you should escort Ameria to the North, while I will be gone."
Cratos was referring to him going back to the frontlines soon, the first dispatch would be that same morning, and Rayden had been one of the first to head back with his knights and the volunteering soldiers.
Ameria was sipping her tea but paused her motion while looking at her father.
"Would it not be safer to stay at the Capital." She asked. Her whole demeanor had changed since they had arrived at the Valen residence.
Her years of exhaustion seemed to have almost washed away after one good night's sleep.
The maids had helped her bathe and change into comfortable but elegant clothes, and her appetite even if small, was curious, and she tried a little bit of everything on the table.
She seemed comfortable with both Kilian and the Archduke, and Kilian felt like he saw a glimpse of a woman much different from the shy worn-out Countess of the Heathgraves.
'She must have been an elegant lady in her youth.'
Kilian watched as the little mannerism of her mother had not diminished over the years, and she held herself with poise and etiquette.
He could only assume that with the Archduke being the highest ranking noble right under the royal family, she must have had an extensive education provided.
It was just that it had not been appreciated, and it had only taken an old outdated law, that kept women to belong to their fathers or husbands, to ruin her.
"I don't believe it will be long before the capital will be included in this war."
There was a pause where nobody interjected.
"The North would be the safest place."
There was certain unrest to the mannerisms, but Cratos held up his hand, and Jasper was at his side before Kilian could tell where he had been hiding.
Jasper was already scribbling down things on a list, and Kilian assumed he was already working on organizing the trip.
"Yes, we will set out, after you have departed in 2 days."
Kilian nodded while replying, and only got a small satisfied grunt from his grandfather. They did not need many words to communicate.
"Ahh." The sudden exclamation from Ameria, had both Kilian and Cratos turn to her in surprise.
"Kilian, I heard you went to the ball."
She looked at him with wide eyes, and her tone was excited.
"Y..yes?" Kilian was baffled, unsure where the question was going.
"Did you go to meet someone? You went in such a rush right after we arrived."
Her smile was warmer than the sun, but Kilian's insides were in turmoil, and his mind was panicking.
"I.."
He could not lie to his mother, not about the first thing she had ever asked of him.
"Yes."
He did not say anything else, but found the bacon on his plate very endearing, and started to chew a piece.
His mother's eyes got even wider, and even the Archduke had stopped mid-motion when drinking his tea, followed by a small cough.
"Who?"
The brusk voice of his grandfather filled the room, and it sounded like it would have been followed by a 'dares', but the Archduke held it in.
Kilian sighed, knowing he could not be truthful about the next part to it, and decided half truth would have to do.
"A friend I met in the barracks with the wounded knights, I wanted to wish him safe travels."
Cratos cleared his throat and nodded as if Kilian had done something commendable.
"Good, you are not old enough to marry."
Kilian looked up and saw his grandfather look away at the same second.
'Is he embarrassed?' Kilian just smiled which seemed to make his grandfather even more annoyed.
"I only just got you and my daughter back, you will head back to the North and train."
The stubborn side of the Archduke was coming out. The demanding tone he would use with his subjects was now pointed at Kilian.
Kilian knew him well enough to know it was because a wife meant Kilian would find his own place and raise his own family, which possibly mean leaving the Valen residence.
He decided to win some brownie points.
"I have no intention of marrying any time soon, I need to make up for the years lost with you and Mother."
He gave one of his amiable smiles, and the Archduke nodded as if that was the only right thing to do.
Kilian greeted them both and left after he had finished eating, heading for the training area.
It was warm but the wind was still cool, and he steered towards the regular space where he would train.
He still used his cane but was faster and less stiff in his walking.
Usually, Dante would be there to help him with the exercises, but this morning only the regular knights were training in the area.
Kilian sighed, unsure what he had expected.
He had hoped to scold Dante for his rudeness the evening before, but he knew he had hurt him in a way.
"He must have heard us."
He said the words out loud and remembered the lips that had constantly made him breathless in the dark.
His cheeks felt hot, and he grimaced some to shake it off, concentrating on his exercises.
"Heard what?"
The voice carried in the wind, and soon steps came up next to him.