Under The Night's Aegis
Chapter 02 - S1
"Sir Yves! Tell me, do I look weird?! I'm still pretty with mud on my clothes and some on my face right?" Astrid asked.
The brown haired knight looked at her, and let out a soft laugh looking at the princess who was a mess due to her tripping on the mud earlier. But even so, her beautiful figure as well as her eyes stood.
The knight nodded his head with his thumb raising when he saw the princess glaring, more of shooting daggers at him using her eyes. But soon the princess playfully rolled her eyes and let out a laugh.
As the princess also participated in the expeditions and raids, she had became closer to the knights. As much she was admired for her bravery, she was also the victim of having other people meddling with how she lives her life. Of course she tried to befriend the nobles for them to know who she is and why she does that but... after that incident where she heard them talking bad about the people around her. She grew further estranged from the nobles as a result since she dislikes people who put on a frontal smile while stabbing her in the back.
"The princess participating in a monster raid? You've must be kidding!"
"Princess Astrid fighting in the war? I know she enjoys swordplay, but the fact that she chose to do that instead of carrying out her royal responsibilities... Is she even deserving of the moniker 'The Emperial Princess'?"
"A princess should stay in the empire and support her brother who will one day be the emperor of the empire. What does the princess think she's doing?!"
Princess Astrid this, princess Astrid that! They talk as if their words doesn't reach her ears.
Astrid just shooked it off and kept distance to them. After that she rarely engaged herself with people who only show her a rictus when she's in front of them, and engaged herself more into people who accepts her as who she is.
It was what her mother taught her or told her. Something she buried deep inside her soul. "Do not push yourself to people who cannot accept you for who you are. Know your worth."
Near their camping is a river. She had a bath in mind because she needed to clean up and was filthy. She can't rest in such a way!
Astrid stopped her steps when she saw a red haired guy with a pair of dark eyes staring at her, and seem to be waiting for her.
Astrid had the impression that the cat had gotten her tongue. The knight who appears to want to speak to her has left her unsure of her feelings. Astrid has a sense that he waited precisely here especially to speak with her about something she had always refused to talk about.
"During the war, we never got to talk. I mean, you never talked to us. If I may, I wish to talk to you, Solana."
"Do not call me Solana, Sir Cadmus." Astrid's tone of voice was stern. "I do not like involving personal feelings while we were in war. I'd just get distracted."
Cadmus slowly nodded his head and let out a soft chuckle. "Princess Astrid, would you please hear me out ? I-"
When Astrid's face twisted into a frown, Cadmus ceased speaking. He picked up on the princess's hints that she isn't ready to talk about past events just yet. Cadmus averted his gaze. Astrid looks down at the surface.
"I see. Then, I shall take my leave, your highness. I apologize for taking a bit of your time, if you'll excuse me."
Astrid didn't spat an eye on Cadmus who slowly walked away from her. Her eyes remained on the ground, Her entire body appeared to be frozen.
Unaware, tears began to fall and hit the dry ground. Her head immediately began to fill with memories. A flashback on the night when she was hugging her mom's lifeless body.
The truth is, up until now she was still blaming herself.
Up until now, she knows that a part of her is still waiting. Does that explain it? Does that explain why whenever she looked at the people she cared the most in the eyes, she always felt this unstoppable and almost unbearable yearning in her heart?
She had wished... She had wished that at least even one of them would reach out their hand to her. She had wished that someone will come into her dark room and pull her out.
'Why is it that even after years... It's like I'm still stuck in the past?'
"Did you talk to her?" Kaiser asked.
Cadmus shooked his head 'no' as a response. His eyes fixated on the ground, feeling conflicted. Kaiser then just nodded and headed out of the knight's tent.
Cadmus groaned and took off his armor one by one. The knight couldn't help but to think that if he had only... If he had only at least gave her at least a hug during those times, would things be different?
Would he be able to laugh at her and listen to her stories and rants like before? Cadmus felt a pang of guilt in his chest reminiscing the past.
He weakly chuckled. 'Right... That day when Solana told me the story of something about a knight and a princess. She was even acting like the ones in the book. Her acting was hilarious. I wish I could see her like that once again.'
Cadmus let out a laugh and put his palm in his face. Until he heard someone clearing their throat. Adlai was looking at him with an unpaintable face. No, it was more of like he was looking at his fellow knight as if he's gone crazy.
"What?"
"Have you ever thought of seeing a doctor? I think you should see one right now." Cadmus gave the knight a stare at knight who said that in satire.
Astrid threw a pillow at Kaiser when she realized that it was him who opened the door. Kaiser effortlessly caught it with his big, veiny hands and put it on the bed.
Kaiser stared, feeling agitated. He was always conscious about himself around her. Always making sure that she's comfortable and that she's always healthy.
Whenever he observed that the princess was not eating much during the war. He would sneak into her tent and give her foods that she likes in secret. He would mostly give her boiled potatoes which is one of her favorites. He knows that breaking into a woman's tent or room is improper, but he can't and won't stand by and let her condition deteriorate.
Astrid flinched at the sudden touch Kaiser gave her on her cheek. His thumb caress her cheek that soon went on her eyesbags. It was quite red from the crying.
Astrid stared at the man's green eyes. She certainly loved his wolf cut hairstyle as it made him look like a soft gentleman. She wants to touch it... One of her hand moved up to his head and when she reached it Kaiser's head unconsciously leaned into her hand.
But then... Astrid noticed the bowl he's holding with his other hand and came back to her senses. Hunger took over her. She removed her hand and pushed him away from her.
Kaiser sighed and reach out the bowl to her. "It's rabbit stew, Astrid. When I come back here there should be no more in the bowl left."
"I don't have that much appetite Kaiser."
"You have to finish it, Astrid. I do not want you starving yourself."
With Kaiser leaving her alone, Astrid felt incapacitated. An unknown tingling sensation crept, as her face turn red, blushing. She covered her face using the back of his hand before recollecting herself and started eating the soup.
The princess stared at the knights fixing their things as they are about to depart. She planned to stay in the carriage for today. She feels too disinclined to ride a horse because of Samuel's nagging earlier.
"Princess Astrid, we'll be in Aurothoria in a few days thanks to you having no complications on travelling." Adlai smiled at the lady and gave her a flask of water.
Astrid received it and gave the man a brazen grin. "Good heavens, Adlai! You know I do not like troubling anyone and I also do not like travelling for long."
"I know, my lady. It was actually surprising that you haven't vomit after travelling for a week. I wonder how did the Ardenial Knights handled that."
"How could you, Adlai! From what you are seeing now, I have improved you know!"
The knight let out a laugh at what the princess said in her defense. Adlai is a knight that came from a noble family. Three years after her mother died, Adlai met Astrid alone in her mother's garden. She was hugging her cat on the swing.
It was a vivid memory. That was the first time they had met each other. Both of them remembered offering her a handkerchief to wipe her tears with.
The lady smiled brightly at him. Her golden eyes shined as the sun hit it as she accepted the handkerchief he gave.
"Your highness, is that a drink in your hand?" Astrid heaved a sigh as she hear Samuel's voice, her chaperone. "Your highness, I'm sure you know how bad drinking is for your health. If you could please refrain yourself from drinking-"
"Samuel, this is not a wine or ale or whatsover, it's a water! You always see me as someone who drinks every now and then!"
"Because you do, your highness! You do remember that drinking too much isn't a proper etiquette specially for a woman. You should set an example to younger ones as the royal princess."
"Samuel! These etiquette are making my head ache! And so what if I'm from the royal family?! I'm not gonna let my title hold me back from what I wish to do!"
Before Samuel could say another world, Astrid stood up and put her hand on Adlai's shoulder. She pulled her away from there and went to where Zyair and Yves is. When she arrived there, she sat beside Zyair and folded her hand on her chest. The knights sweat dropped at the princess, and Samuel was stuck in his position, jaw dropped when the princess left him there.
Zyair laughed "Have mercy on your chaperone, Princess."
The group then began their journey. Astrid decided to ride a horse so that they could get at Aurothoria quickly.
Samuel had been taking care of her since she was 8 years old. He taught her everything she needs to learn to be an imbodiment of a fine and elegant lady and just so she won't be look down by anyone. He always do his best to protect her. However, as Astrid grows, she started having things she likes na dislikes.
When her highness said that preferred to study magic and swordplay above royal etiquette and other things required of a royal princess. Samuel didn't think twice about discarding the lessons he was intended to impart to the princess, he was happy and proud to find that she had interests of her own. He supported the princess of what she desires to do and to be, yet he makes sure that he's still guiding her.
Samuel knew Astrid more than anyone else as after her mother died. And she had already sees Samuel as someone who's part of her family.
"Samuel, do not leave me... alright?"
Samuel smiled. "I won't leave you, Astrid."
Frightened. When Samuel saw an arrow fly inside the carriage, he swiftly sat by Astrid's side and gave her a bear embrace to protect her.