When I was ten years old, I met a twelve-year-old boy. The Marquis introduced him after my parent's funeral. The first glance of him made my spine shiver.
His dull green eyes were terrifying when he looked at me. His clothes were all wrinkled and his brown hair was a mess. I think his father dragged him by his hair.
Nevertheless, he looked lonely so the Marquis requested his son to be my play date. Due to people's glances, I accepted his proposal. I took the boy to my mother's garden, located west of the estate.
We sat on a side table made for children my age and sat in silence for exactly twelve minutes. I didn't want to talk about dresses or garments that I used to discuss with my mother, nor did I want to talk about hunting or swordsmanship which I used to discuss with my father.
What I wanted was to cry, I wanted to shed tears but couldn't, not when I had to put a big girl's face in front of him.
'You want to play?', he asked breaking the silence.
'No', I replied in sorrow.
He looked up at me with his dull green eyes and said, 'You know, having your parents killed in front of you is not so bad if you think in a different direction'.
I was confused by what he meant. 'What are you saying, my parents are gone, who is going to take care of me now?'
'You are silly, think about it', he smiled, 'You get to do whatever you want, nobody can get in your way now'.
I was angered as he spoke, what do you mean can do what I want, do you have any idea how bad people want me dead.
With a polite smile, I said, 'I think you misunderstood, family is about love, protection, and warmth. Sure you get freedom but at some po_'.
'Oh god! don't tell me you are the one who thinks everything is fixed with love, If you are then you are just a pity girl who is now orphaned. I feel so sorry for you, no wonder Father took care of your family drama, you must feel relieved.'
'Wait... What did you just say? Could you repeat'.
'What? oh that you are a pity girl who is_'.
'No!, after that'.
'That my father took care of your family drama'.
'Yes that, could you tell me more about it'.
'Why should I, it's personal and not related to you'.
Is this boy dumb or what, of course, it's related to me, what does your father have to do in my family's business?
'Listen, If you tell me what I want to know, I will play with you'.
'Play with me, are you sure? I don't think you have the spirit to play or to do anything, you look weak'.
'If you tell me about your Father's interference in my family matter, I will do whatever you want, I can promise you that'.
There was a five-second silence, I wanted him to tell me what his father knew, just one clue about my parents' death, just one.
'When you say anything, I want you to keep your promise on that'.
'I swear'. Thank heavens he was speaking.
'Two days ago, my Father was talking to someone important at night, my mother was away due to some work and I was awake, I secretly sneaked passed my father's office to notice that someone important was the Emperor.'
The Emperor? Why was Jason's Father with the Marquis?
'I didn't hear all the gossip but did hear that my father agreed in the assassination of your parents, he said he hated your father for marrying your mother, and the Emperor, well he also hated him for marrying a foreigner from the enemy content'.
What am I hearing, I wanted him to stop but at the same time, I wanted to listen. Why would uncle hate father, he loved him, right? I don't understand.
Just thinking about it made tears fall from my eyes, and my sight was getting blurry, Mother and Father were gone, who was going to confront me now?
'Are you crying? you know it's not going to fix anything.
He is right, crying isn't going to bring my parents back, and neither it's going to fix my problems. I swiped my face with my gloves and regained my posture.
'If you excuse me, I need to be somewhere'.
'Hey where are you going, you said you would do whatever I tell you to do, you promised'.
I can't take this childish act anymore, 'Fine what do you want me to do?'.
He stood up and handed me a knife from his pockets, he said 'My Father always makes me do tough training but he would never let me spar with kids my age'.
I think I see where this is going, 'You want me to spar with you, right?'.
'Yes, you can even bring a condition if you want, if you splash my blood first'.
I looked at him once again and it seemed like his green eyes were brightening, he was looking more human. 'Fine If your blood first touches my blade, you will let me go and I will never want to spar with you'.
'And if your blood covers my blade', he walked forward, 'Then you have to play like this with me forever'.
I agreed with the terms, but I requested the battle to be held on my Fathers's sparing ground. I changed my black dress into a normal attire for male servants. I wore my mother's gripping gloves that she handed me whenever I went hunting with my father.
The boy was looking ready in his attire, he didn't need much to clean up, maybe after this, I could catch his name and maybe he could help me in the near future.
The match was set, I took my stance, and so did he. We invited a young servant to observe our match and to be our referee.
The match began, the boy was fast as he struck his knife at me, he aimed for my arm and lower waist, but I wasn't going to let him win.
Truth be told my Father never allowed me to meet boys closer to my age, he says that they are wolves in sheep's clothing who would eat your flesh and leave you without a penny.
My mother used to smack him in the head every time he uttered something nonsense. But I was having fun with this boy, I always wanted to play like this.
Almost ten minutes passed, and the boy looked exhausted, maybe it was because he kept stroking while I kept dodging. I don't know why but I was having fun.
'What the hell are you doing, why aren't you coming at me, shit, this was supposed to be exciting but you are ruining the mood Danewar', he said with rage.
I was slightly taken aback because of his remark but I didn't want him to get mad. 'This is a friendly game, if you wanted to end things fast then you should have told me'.
'Hey girl are you dense, fine, you are ten but just be sure my Father was involved in your parent's death, you should feel rage, have some anger boiling in you'. 'You know what, I thought this event would make you tough but you are just a big softie, good thing your parents are gone, or else who knows what would turn out'.
Wow, I was wrong, and for some reason he was right but he didn't kill my parents, his father did, there is no reason to hate him or to kill him. Wait, why am I wasting time on him, he already gave me the most valuable information for me to set my goal, but why do I get a feeling that I want this boy dead?
'Hey softie, you there or just daydreaming'. He asked holding his knife straight at me.
I politely smiled and said, 'Sorry to bore you, I just realized you are just a nobody, for your attention I will take you seriously for now'.
'Wha-'. He was interrupted by my blade almost stroke his eyes. Just have to cover my blade with his blood right? this is nothing compared to what my teaches me. I kept stroking in different directions, his legs, his arms, his waist, and his face; with every strike, my speed increased and his balance was disturbed.
'Hey slow do_', I didn't let him finish, I just kept striking and then waited for him to completely disbalance. Once he was, I kicked his feet till he fell, and my hands grabbed his wrist and snatched the knife from his hand. I fell over him and placed a small yet deep cut on his neck.
Just like that, the game ended. I placed my knife away from him and saw his red blood stained on the silver blade. I tried to get off him but he held me back by grabbing my wrist.
I looked at him and saw those dull eyes shining from his face, 'This is what I wanted, a perfect playmate, no, a perfect mate to spend an eternity, say how would you like me to be your lover?'.
WHAT THE HELL AM I HEARING, EVEN THE SERVANT BOY IS SHOCKED BY HIS WORDS.
'I'm sorry but I'm uninterested in you, never in a million years I want to date or have you as my lover, you are unqualified and are not good enough for me'. I said with my feet on the ground, I looked at the young servant and called for him.
'Listen, you are forbidden to tell anyone of what you saw today, tell anyone about this, it won't end for you'. I warned him with my blue eyes glaring at him.
'Don't w-or-y y-our grace, I pro-mise to never utter a word about this to anyone'.
I was glad by his response, looking back at my opponent, I had no feeling of excitement towards him, at first I was curious about him but now he seems nothing but trash.
He stood up and touched his neck, he saw his blood and smiled, 'You know I could really use a handkerchief for my neck, or else what would people say about it'.
My blue eyes glared at him with disgust, I was covered in dust and sweat and my head was hurting badly. I didn't think much and tore my shirt's sleeve.
The tearing caused both of them shocked and embarrassed. But due to all this heat, it wasn't a big deal to me. I gave him my sleeve and he happily took it.
I excused myself with my servant and was about to head back to the mansion when suddenly he called, 'Hey, sorry but I didn't catch your name?'.
I rolled my eyes thinking about the childish act of becoming friends, I looked back at him, 'Evelyn Danewar, what about you?'.
He smiled with his eyes intense, 'Wiliam Falcon'.
Wiliam, that damn Marquis son and my worst nightmare thinking about him being my friend almost caught me off-guard. Not that I hate him but because of his strict obsession I just don't like him.
After that day he kept visiting, but I didn't allow him in. He even got himself engaged with me, It was the former emperor's doing, he was really trying to keep me in check. Sadly he passed when Jason turned fifteen.
William was banished from the military for eight years because he revolted against my restrictions and killed a guard in my state. I thought I would not see this year and would enjoy my revenge scheme but here he is now, that damn Falcon's son who is much taller than me.
All I could say is the moment the match ended, we were made a beast by our blades.