The Abandoned Princess: Promises Arc

Chapter 21

𝕾𝖔𝖓𝖌 𝖙𝖔 𝖑𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖓 𝖙𝖔: 𝕮𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖑𝖊𝖘 𝕮𝖗𝖚𝖒𝖇𝖑𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖇𝖞 𝕿𝖆𝖞𝖑𝖔𝖗 𝕾𝖜𝖎𝖋𝖙

***

The warmth of the sun became painful, but the cool breeze would always manage to sway it. I tried to wipe the cold water from my forehead and looked at Claudius. I could see that he was serious. I looked to where he was gazing and sighed.

"If you wanted to be a knight then you should know of the rules again," he said but his eyes never shifted to mine.

I narrowed mine but I did the same thing he's doing.

"Rule number one, never feel pity for your opponent," he looked at me after his words. Grabbed my hand and moved to other bushes until the knights we were looking after walked in the opposite direction

"Rule number two, look your opponent directly in the eyes without hesitation," his grip became tightened. All along, I'd been following him, while he was saying a knight's rules, in my sight all I could see was how he had grown so much.

His back became sturdier, though his skin was still fair as usual despite how he would train under the sun to become a knight.

I gaze down at our hands, and he never forgets how to hold mine. He just gestured for ours to be intertwined but it was enough to be simple and thoughtful.

Like something running through my stomach, I felt some butterflies flutter their way out. Observing him came out as a hobby, not as a mere part of the plans.

I didn't know back then that whenever he would be around, my eyes would follow him, and gaze at his every move, how he would talk, how he would act and he would look at me with a smile.

I should be used to it, but every time I looked at him, I could never get myself enough. He used to be my friend and Henry's as well, but observing him throughout those years, he also grew his circle and even managed to earn our household's trust.

My eyes looked at that sparkling hue of his hair and I couldn't get more to be amazed. As if I was looking at the jewels embedded in the night sky.

"Rule number 10, never betray your allies," I didn't notice, he was already at the tenth rule. Then he halted. I blinked a few times before knowing where we were.

It felt foreign, that all those years I've known Henry, he didn't invite me to come to his household except for that one night regarding his coat.

Shaking my head, I tried to narrow my vision and looked around. The coldness of the pillars with the white cements from the Vellitas' hallways couldn't get much more icy than now.

I felt Claudius tighten his grip on my hand and lead me somewhere. I trust his instincts. Yet, he led us to this narrow path.

"What are you thinking this time, Claudius?" I whispered. Right now, we were facing each other since there were knights that came our way so Claudius immediately pulled me into the nearest narrow path.

"I've just heard from one of the knights earlier that they're sending a physician under the basement," his words didn't contain any doubts. He looked at me and sighed but the dullness in his eyes remained.

As if he knew what was in the basement.

"Why would they need to send a physician in the basement? Isn't that some storage area?"

"It would be if it that was the case, Vestia. I think we should move first," he leaned in close enough to whisper to my ears before finally dragging me again. However, this time, we managed to sneak into one of the rooms.