Standing outside Sufu I was admiring the beautiful exterior of it. I don't know when will I be coming here next time si admiring it won't be a bad idea. A lot happened in the past few days making me feel exhausted to my bone. I let out a sigh closing my eyes.
'' Your sighs will blow up my shop, Valentiara.'' A voice whispered next to my ear. I opened my eyes and turned my head a little to see Sabastian standing behind me lowering his to my height. The distance between us wasn't much, I could see his sky blue eyes clearly and it won't be a lie if I say he looks like an ice prince. I blinked my eyes and said, '' You have a nice eye,s Sebastian.'' He flinched and his cheeks started to turn red making him look like a normal shy boy. I chuckled and steped a bit far from him still my back facing him.
'' You aren't busy today?'' I asked him. '' Not really. I planned on taking an off day.'' He replied. I smiled and turned my head around, '' Will you mind letting me borrow your time then?''
SEBASTIAN'S POV
It was a lie when I said I am not busy when I am clearly having a hectic day due to the floating amount of requests for information about First Aster who appeared out of the blue but watching her, I couldn't say that. Valentiara smiled brighty making her look like an angel. I felt my heart pounding so hard that I found it hard to breath. She was dressing up differently than usual and the peony hairpin on her hair looked like they were made just for her. A soft sunray touching her face made her eyes shine beautifully. I parted my lips and said, '' You have to pay for me then.'' She giggled cutely, '' Of Course, I will after all this will be the last time we will be meeting face to face before I go to Dhakun.''
A numb pain spread all over my body when I heard that. My throat felt dry to speak yet I maintained a calm voice, '' What do you mean?'' Her bright smile became a painful one and an unexplained sadness was written all over her face as she spoke, '' I am going to Dhakun tomorrow, it will be illogical to stay in a place where I am not accepted as a family member.''
I didn't ask her anything more. Anger rose in my heart knowing the meaning behind her words clearly. I knew that Grand Duke doesn't care for Valentiara as he cares for Vivian when we proposed to introduce her to him and it became firm when he let her join the ball with First Aster which will eventually make her a target of aristrocates. I clenched my fist cocontrollithey anger showing on my face. I won't let her spend her last day in the capital city without making any memorable moments. I smiled and extanded my hand, '' Will My Lady allow this foolish Manto to escort you for today?'' Valentiara smiled brightly again and held my hand. '' That will be my honor, Sir Sebastian.''
Her rough hand felt just like a knight's who practiced hours after hours. I felt this when I held her hand last time but I am confirmed now. I know this kind of hand the best because my mother had exactly same kind of hand. I glanced at her and smirked, '' You wiea ld sword right?'' She didn'flinched and replied calmly, '' Even better than you.'' I widen my eyes looking at her confident self. Even better than me, is that possible for someone who didn't receive proper knight trainning? Curiosity kicked me and I ended up saying something that I didn't plan to, '' Then why not have a dual?''
Valentiara's face showed excitement that I never saw before in anyone's face before. She asked, '' Are you sure? You might regret it later?'' I smirked and flicked her forehead, '' We will see, Silly Girl.''
I took her to my house which has the best training ground in the capital after the training ground of Imperial Knights which is pretty close from Sufu. Maids and servents greeted us. The butler, Ivan ran toward us, '' Young Master, you are back already?'' I nodded and said, '' Tell all knights to leave the training ground. I am going to have some fun time with this lady here.'' Ivan glanced at Valentiara who was busy admiring the living room. He grinned and whispered to me, '' Is she someone special to Young Master?'' Special? hmm.... I giggled and replied, '' More than special, Maybe.'' Ivan's eyes widen and a warm smile appeared on his lips. '' I will be back in a moment.''
I turned around and saw Valentiara looking at the decorations in the room. '' Do you want to fight to wear this dress?'' She replied even without taking her eyes off, '' I am good with anything.'' I crossed my arms and leaned against the pillar, '' You talk as if you have fought a lot, Valentiara.'' She nodded, '' I have fought with 147 specially trainned men by myself wearing a dress.'' I shook my head and mumbled, '' Even you joke so seriously.'' She glanced at me without saying anything. I was about to say something but Ivan came back. '' It's clear, Young Master.'' Valentiara grinned and both of us walked toward the trainning ground.
Knights weren't on the field any longer. Valentiara took a sword so did I. I stood far from her and watched her tieing her hairs in a ponytail, putting the peony hairpin on the table.
I shouted, '' I WON'T GO EASY ON YOU,'' She exclaimed excitedly, '' SAME HERE.'' I gripped tightly on my sword. I don't know if she is baffering too much but being caucious won't harm. Valentiara took a deep breath and strike first. In a blink of an eye she was infront of me and I blocked her sword instantly. That was unexpected, she is so fast and her moves are so agressive that it was even better than the knights under our house knights of order. I attacked her but she avoided it skillfully. I don't know when was the last time I had such exciting dual with someone. I have speared with Vivian before and I have to admit, their skills are nowhere to be close. Valentiara is like a wild beast who knows about every dirty tricks of swordmasnship. While Vivian is like a perfectly designed knight who knows nothing about the tricks other than the lawful one. I panted heavily as I kept attacking her with all my might. Our sword crashed spreading it's loud sound all around. I don't think I can defead her without using my aura. I put aura in my sword and said, '' Save yourself from this.'' She grinned and nodded. I attacked her once again and I saw something I never saw before in my life, a golden sheild appeared on her left her blocking my aura causing any harm to her. Being salted by the blinding golden aura I accidently used the ice dragon's power to freeze her hand but her sword cut it and i lost my balaced by the sudden impact of it. Valentiara took advantage of it and hit my shoulder using the back of sword and my sword fell from my hand and she kicked my knee making me fall on the ground. The hard impact of solid ground made me groan in pain. I saw Valentiara pointing her sword at me while smiling like a victor, '' I won, Sebastian.'',
She was sweating and panting heavily but I knew the smile on her face was the most genuine smile she ever showed me. I couldn't utter a word at my defeat and I wasn't feeling bad at all. The smile she showed till now were either professional, fake, sarcastic or mixed with sadness which I couldn't differentiate from her real smile until I saw her honest happiness. And I knew that time,
I haven't lost her just in a dual but I have lost my heart to this girl named Valentiara.