The Lady Of The General's House

Chapter 11

At breakfast, Rey and Kylo smiled and touched each other repeatedly. Rose rolled her eyes at them both and blushed when she saw Armitage smirking at her from where he stood at the back of the room. She swirled her porridge angrily. Why did she have to agree to this stupid engagement? Sure it would give her the freedom she wanted, but why did it have to be to him?

"Rose, you should really be seen around the grounds with Armitage today," Rey whispered across the table.

Rose glared at her but stood and left the room. Armitage followed closely behind her. Rey pressed her lips together as she watched them leave.

As soon as they were outside, Rose took her frustrations out on her unwanted fiance.

"Why are there still no roses? Didn't I ask for roses to be planted?" she shouted.

Armitage walked beside her with a calm expression on his face. "They are being delivered later today...my dear."

At his words, Rose stopped marching and turned to look at Armitage. She narrowed her eyes, hands at her hips. "Don't get any ideas Hux, this engagement is fake and as soon as I find Snoke and kill him, we will never see each other again, got it?"

Armitage nodded. "Are you truly capable of killing a man?"

Rose laughed. "You have no idea what you're dealing with...my dear."

This time Armitage quirked his eyebrow at her and Rose blushed and turned away from him once more.

"Show me," he ordered.

The request caught Rose off guard. She turned to face him once more. "What?"

"Show me. Disarm me," Armitage ordered.

Rose looked around. "Now?"

Armitage shrugged. "Why not?"

Rose rolled her shoulders back and tilted her head side to side. "Fine."

She came at Armitage but he blocked her attack by grabbing her wrist. Rose growled and managed to land a blow to his side, Armitage's hands instinctively covered the injury and Rose feigned an attack on the same area to keep his attention there, then spun to his other side and freed his sword from his hip. She smugly stood before him with the sword pointed at his chest. Armitage put his hands up. He looked...somewhat pleased.

"I underestimated you," he conceded.

Rose smiled and returned his sword, their hands touched briefly and Rose tried to ignore the flutter in her heart.

"You are not the first and you will not be the last. Let's hope Snoke underestimates me too," she told him.

Armitage's eyes snapped from his sword to hers. He looked at her worriedly. "Rose, promise me, promise me, that you won't go after him alone."

Rose's lips parted as Armitage looked at her with a soft expression she hadn't known he was capable of. He took a step towards her.

"When the time comes, promise me, you will let me accompany you." He was almost pleading with her.

Rose opened her mouth to object but the words wouldn't come out. In the end, she closed her mouth and simply nodded. Armitage looked relieved. They continued walking in silence for a while until Rose once again began to complain about the lack of foliage. Armitage huffed out an amused breath behind her then came to walk at her side once more. He took her hand in his and when she glared at him, he indicated with his head to show that two soldiers were watching them. Rose quietly seethed but allowed the contact owing to the fact that they had an audience. Realising he had an opportunity that might not arise again, Armitage brought her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss into her skin.

"I promise you, my love. I will plant the roses for you myself this very evening," he announced loudly.

Rose's eyes widened but she didn't pull away. When Armitage did eventually let go of her hand, he didn't notice the little smile that Rose tried to conceal as quickly as she could so he remained unaware of the small flower bud he had already planted...within her heart.

Rey laughed as she watched them through the window. "Those two make an adorable pairing."

Kylo came to stand behind her and put his hands around her waist. "And what kind of couple do we make?" he asked, rubbing his cheek gently against her hair. Rey bit her lip. "I'm not sure yet," she answered. Kylo hummed and the sound vibrated through Rey making her shiver.

"Let me know when you have an answer," he said, before letting go of her and walking back to the table. "I have to go to the barracks now."

Rey turned and instinctively pouted. Kylo smiled at her, pleased to see her reaction to his announcement.

"What?" Rey asked innocently, unaware of her facial expression and wondering why her husband was looking at her in such a pleased way.

Kylo shook his head. "I'm just thinking about how beautiful you are."

Rey beamed at the compliment. "Will you be back this evening?" she enquired. Kylo nodded. He turned to leave but at the last minute came back to Rey and held her shoulders tightly. Rey looked up at him expectantly as he leaned down and pressed a kiss against her forehead.

"Be good," he told her.

Rey laughed. "I make no promises."

"I'm leaving Finn and Hux to guard you. Continue researching Snoke with Rose."

Rey nodded. Kylo rubbed her shoulders for a moment then reluctantly let her go. Rey watched Kylo leave with a heavy heart. She sighed and cocked her head to the side as she watched the closed door he had disappeared through for a few moments. She decided she could sulk about Kylo's absence, or she could try to improve their situation. Then she lifted her chin and left the room in search of Rose.

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