Kaelan walked through the Winchester estate, his maid Elara chatting beside him. The rustling wind and distant birds created a peaceful atmosphere, but Kaelan's mind was elsewhere. As they passed the garden, filled with colorful flowers, statues of Winchester heroes stood tall, silently watching over the greenery. He paused briefly, taking in the calm, before moving on.
At last, they reached the training grounds, where the clanging of swords filled the air. The knights of the Winchester family trained here, honing their skills day after day. Kaelan's eyes scanned the yard until they settled on two figures locked in combat. One of them was his older brother, Cedric, moving with a grace and precision that came from years of training.
The person Cedric was fighting immediately caught Kaelan's attention. He had black hair and striking red eyes that seemed to burn with intensity. He appeared to be the same age as Cedric. The two were locked in a fierce sword fight, their movements fluid and synchronized as their blades clashed in a dance of steel.
Kaelan recognized the man watching over the training session: Baron Lionel Everhart, the knight commander of the Winchester family and Cedric's personal mentor. Tall and imposing, he carried a well-worn sword at his side. His eyes softened slightly as he saw Kaelan approaching, and he made his way over to him.
"Young Master Kaelan," Baron Lionel greeted him warmly. "It's been a while since I've seen you around the training grounds."
Baron Lionel had once been the teacher of the original Kaelan, who had always been afraid of swords and showed no talent for wielding them, which led to the lessons ending prematurely.
Kaelan nodded politely. "I was just taking a walk," he replied, glancing back at Cedric and his opponent.
Baron Lionel motioned to the young man fighting Cedric. "That's my son, Rowan, who's sparring with your brother. He's been training hard to follow in my footsteps."
Kaelan's eyes shifted back to Rowan, watching as the two young men exchanged blows. Rowan moved with remarkable speed and strength, matching Cedric's skill blow for blow. Suddenly, in the middle of their fight, Rowan's gaze drifted toward Kaelan, and for a brief moment, he froze. That hesitation gave Cedric the opening he needed, and with a swift move, Cedric disarmed Rowan, ending the match.
Baron Lionel let out a soft gasp at the abrupt ending, clearly surprised by his son's lapse in concentration. Cedric, looking equally confused by Rowan's sudden distraction, wiped the sweat from his brow and walked over to where Kaelan, Elara and Baron Lionel stood, Rowan trailing behind him.
"Kaelan," Cedric said, sounding slightly out of breath. "What are you doing here?″
"I was just taking a walk, brother. I don't have a new teacher yet, so I have plenty of time on my hands," Kaelan said.
Cedric nodded as he glanced at Rowan, who was looking at Kaelan with a flustered expression. Cedric's eyes narrowed slightly, a protective look crossing his face as he glared at Rowan.
Baron Lionel, sensing the tension, quickly stepped in. "Young Master Kaelan, allow me to introduce my son, Rowan. Rowan, this is the second son of the Winchester family."
"Rowan's face turned a deeper shade of red as he bowed quickly. 'It's an honor to meet you, Young Master Kaelan,'' he said in a deep voice.
Kaelan looked up at Rowan, who was taller than him, and returned the greeting with a soft smile. "The honor is mine. I saw you fighting. You're very skilled."
Rowan stammered something unclear in response, clearly not expecting such direct praise. Meanwhile, Cedric glared at Rowan, his protective instincts taking over. Baron Lionel raised an eyebrow, noticing the tension between his son and Cedric, but he said nothing.
After a few more pleasantries, Cedric gently placed a hand on Kaelan's shoulder and motioned for him and Elara to walk with him away from the training grounds. "Come, Kaelan. You shouldn't be in the sun for too long."
As the brothers walked away, Baron Lionel turned to his son, who was still staring after Kaelan with a somewhat dazed expression.
"What's wrong, Rowan?" Baron Lionel asked, folding his arms across his chest. "You've never been distracted during a fight like that before."
Rowan hesitated, his eyes darting nervously between his father and the path where Kaelan had just walked away. Finally, he let out a deep sigh and asked in a low voice, "Father… how did you know you loved Mother?"
Baron Lionel blinked in surprise, his stern expression softening at Rowan's unexpected question. A warm smile spread across his face, revealing a glimmer of nostalgia in his eyes. "How did I know?" he asked, his voice gentle. "Well, it was love at first sight, and I knew she was the only one for me. Why do you ask? Have you fallen for someone?"
Rowan nodded, his gaze still distant. "Yes… I think I've fallen in love."
Baron Lionel furrowed his brow. His son was not the type to be distracted by romance, as his thoughts were only on training. Was he talking about the maid accompanying Young Master Kaelan? "She's quite a bit younger than you, Rowan. You should take your time to get to know her before jumping to conclusions."
Rowan blinked, clearly confused. "She? What are you talking about, Father?"
Baron Lionel looked back at his son, equally puzzled. "I thought you were talking about the maid who was with Young Master Kaelan."
Rowan shook his head. "No, Father, I'm talking about someone else."
Baron Lionel's confusion deepened. "Who, then?"
Rowan took a deep breath, his red eyes filled with a mixture of determination and fear. "I've fallen in love with Young Master Kaelan."
For a moment, there was only silence. Baron Lionel stared at his son, completely taken aback. Of all the things he had expected Rowan to say, this was certainly not one of them.
"You've fallen for Young Master Kaelan?" Baron Lionel repeated, as if trying to make sure he had heard correctly.
Rowan nodded, his expression serious. "Yes, Father."
Baron Lionel let out a long, deep sigh, rubbing his temple as he processed the revelation. "I didn't know… I had no idea you were interested in men."
Rowan looked at him, his voice steady. "I didn't know either. Not until I met him. And it's only him. There can't be anyone else."
Baron Lionel's gaze softened as he looked at his son. He knew how protective the Winchester family, especially the Duke and Cedric, were of Kaelan. If Rowan truly intended to pursue these feelings, it wouldn't be easy.
"Good luck, son," Baron Lionel said at last, clapping Rowan on the shoulder. "You're going to need it."
Rowan looked up, surprised by his father's calm acceptance. "Are you… are you alright with it?"
Baron Lionel smiled sadly, thinking of all the challenges that lay ahead. "Yes, Rowan. As long as you're sure about this, I'll support you. But just know that loving someone like young master Kaelan won't be easy."
Rowan's expression shifted to one of determination, his resolve strengthening. "I know, Father, but it will be worth it."
Baron Lionel nodded, feeling a blend of worry and hope. He quietly prayed that Rowan would find the strength to face the challenges ahead. He also wished for the Duke and Cedric to treat him kindly and, most importantly, that one day, Kaelan might return Rowan's feelings.