Chapter 19: Forgot about Jonathan.
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Nearby Inn: Vins Inn.
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Meanwhile…
The said right hand man and most trusted friend of the crimson general, Jonathan Smithers is eating his feelings away in the inn room that he rented because he wasn't invited to stay in the special guest rooms after the party.
Only Rowan was invited after getting her new status, she's a full fledged noble now with a princess for a wife.
"Sniff… oh how to be alone and single- boohoo. My best friend got the girl of her dreams and here I am eating a wonderfully cooked delicious steak, no maidens to comfort me while I cry." (Jonathan) was happy for his friend, that's for sure but damn. "I will sing sad songs until someone hears my cries for desperation."
For some people who see Jonathan one would think that he's overreacting, but he is not.
In their history of friendship, the crimson general is well known around the military camp and even in their former military school in nightwind.
There are only a few women who enlist every year, yet- why is a woman like Rowan not realizing that she magnetizes women as well?!
"I can't let Rowan know that she's better at pulling the ladies than me. I've tried to figure out how she does but I'm just out of the loop." (Jonathan) sighs, as he talks to himself feeling a little lonely.
He takes a piece of his steak and stuffs it into his mouth.
Knock! Knock!
"Who is it?"
Jonathan yelled, scratching his hair feeling a little annoyed that his lunch time was disturbed.
"I came as soon as I could, Jonathan." (Rowan) stood in front of the door looking haggard. "I'm sorry for forgetting about you for a while."
Jonathan places a hand on his waist, "Finally! Ugh- Rowan I know the lavish life is good but come back to me, sister! The crown princess is taking you away from us, your brothers. I'm happy for you but please don't forget your humble beginnings."
He jests but Rowan doesn't get that what he was saying is just a joke and takes it seriously.
"My apologies, Jonathan. I was having too much fun with the crown princess and I didn't manage to keep track of time-"
Rowan takes off her cloak before stopping.
She sees Jonathan with the biggest smirk on his face looming closer, "So ahem… did you two umm…"
"...?"
"Did you two hold hands or kiss while I was cooped up in here? Made some progress, you know." He really wanted to know the tea, after all being gone for three days would make a man insane with the current happenings in the palace.
A General that's a woman gaining not only a royal status but a pretty princess?! No man cannot survive such a temptation. They will make a move one way or another.
"...!"
Rowan says nothing but only hides her face. That one action alone is all the answer Jonathan needed.
Jonathan points a finger at his friend, feeling excited that at least she's getting some action. "Aha! That reddened, embarrassed and flushed face of my friend means that's a yes! Look at you tiger, way to go!"
Rowan coughed and composed herself, "...thank you."
"Man, after five years. I can't believe you did it. You made your dreams come true buddy, come here I have to process everything because damn you stayed loyal for that long. I don't think I can do what you just did."
"She… The princess has made a deal with me regarding our marriage, I have professed my love for her the moment that I could." She indeed confessed and has told the princess of her love yet she has not once heard the same answer. "I have not heard of the words that I was waiting for."
"What words were they?"
"I was waiting for her to tell me that she loves me too."
Jonathan awkwardly scratches her head, back to sitting down at the chair and eating his steak. "Well I guess from what the stories you told me before. She saved you from your ass pricks bullies and you fell head over heels for the princess. That was years ago."
"I guess she still needs some convincing. You can sit down by the way. I feel like we'll be here a while." He offers the crimson general a chair and Rowan takes it gratefully.
"...Mm, thank you." (Rowan) stares at Jonathan's food as she plays with her hands. "I just really like her highness and I don't want this chance to slip away. I am glad that the King has rewarded me with this because… the crown princess would've been wedded to a foreign old man."
"Ugh." (Jonathan) groans hearing that. He's not one for arranged marriages, he understands the importance and advantage it gives for the nobles to establish an alliance between two families but is it worth it?
"A foreign old man? Man, isn't that something! Nobles and their age gap arranged marriages, when will that stop?"
Rowan groans too not wanting the crown princess to end up being married to an old man she's never met before- it gives her the chills because…
She was almost married off to a man that's way older than her too. Her father arranged everything, if she didn't escape to live the military life, perhaps she would have regretted it.
"She'll be safe with me and once I go back home I'll take this opportunity to get to know each other better. I… If she will not accept me as a lover then a safe place would be good too."
Jonathan smiles giving his friend a thumbs up. "Well then you're in luck buddy. Call me Jonathan the maiden gatherer because I will teach you how to make girls fall in love with you in a matter of seconds."
"Jonathan… I am not too keen on taking your advice when it comes to women. I trust you as a friend but as for women- perhaps no." (Rowan) remembers their encounter with a few pretty ladies that were working on a bar.
Of course, Rowan couldn't drink alcohol and just tagged along to take care of Jonathan who was known to drink until he threw up and passed out on the street.
When he flirts with girls… let's just say he's not the best and Rowan had to apologize saying that he meant none of it, having to save the day.
In the end Rowan got free apple cider and a kiss on the cheek.
"Tch, you hurt my feelings Rowan. Are you saying I can't get a girl easily like you do? I swear every time that I take my eyes off of you, you unintentionally make girls fall for you left and right." (Jonathan) has seen it, they've been dropping down like bees on sweet honey!
Rowan shakes her head, not remembering a time that a girl has fallen for her charms. Mostly all of her memories were all about girls being way too friendly for her taste but nothing more than that.
"I don't think that's true." She replies, making Jonathan whimper in pain and give up on explaining.
"Sigh… anyways I can't beat you when it comes to getting women so you might be right, they prefer you than me when I ask anyways."
Rowan blinks looking down at the table, sensing that his friend must've been lonely after three days of being absent.
"Jonathan, you're one of my most trusted allies, my best friend and my bonded brother." She takes a folded hibiscus flower from her pouch, placing it on the table. "I hope one day you'll find love like I did too. Someone who you'll want to protect, someone who'll be on your mind almost everyday- and… someone who makes your heart beat so loud you'll mistake it for a drum."
"Someone who'll accept you for who you are. You do not need to beat me on who gets the most women- I just want you to find the right one for you." She truly wishes to have her friend his one true love.
Jonathan couldn't believe what he was seeing and hearing.
Is this the new and improved Crimson General full of wisdom when it comes to love?
"God you're so in love with the crown princess it's scaring me. I have never seen our great General this smitten." He slams the table as he laughed but soon stopped making a soft and thankful expression on his face. "But I'm glad you're happy, thanks, Rowan. I'll find my beloved one day like you did."
"Mm."
The whole time they were inside the inn was nothing but wholesome talk and Rowan telling about her day with the crown princess.
"I excused myself the moment I remembered that I still had work to do left in the office." (Rowan) explains, no longer feeling depressed on leaving.
"When do we start leaving for the village? You have a lot of paperwork to do and a house for the princess to start building." (Jonathan) wonders how big of a mansion will the crown princess need.
He knows General Rowan well and this girl doesn't like anything big or flashy.
"We… I suppose we will leave in two days." The crimson general's face completely reddened as she stuttered continuing her sentence. "W-With my um… my wife."
Jonathan stands up from his seat taking his empty plate, planning to return it into the inn's kitchen. "Mm, mm let's leave in two days-"
He stops so suddenly, slowly turning to his bestfriend looking pale. "Wait… did you just say- with your wife?"