The Demon King's Paladin

Chapter 42. Behind the Mask

                                                                     Asha Clearfield's Point of View

As I ate my breakfast of porridge and fruit, I was surprised to find Nicole, the maid who was assigned to me when I began to stay at the Royal Palace. She told me that Sarah had invited me to lunch. The morning went as it usually would despite my melancholy. After breakfast, I enjoyed a technical book on different magical components so I could have a deeper understanding of the spellcasting process, is what I would like to say! But to be honest I have been preoccupied as of late because of a certain man. My good friend Sarah's fiancé John. In one moment, my memories of him ignite feelings of irritation and in the next, that melancholy comes back.

I first met him a few days ago and he has continued to irritate me since! He completely lacks proper decorum! However, he had saved my beloved friend Sarah, as well as being gifted such a high noble ranking for his achievements even though he was from another world, so I tried to compromise the best I could. When it came to my attention that Sarah was going to join John in fighting the Hero Party, I immediately offered to help. But that man rejected me citing that it was too dangerous! How childish an argument from someone trying to do that exact thing!

Eventually Sharon and I received permission to fight the Hero Party. It was during our first day of training, that we were illuminated by Sarah about how hard of a worker John is. Quite honestly, it flipped my view of John. Because not only is he aware of what he lacks, but instead of being discouraged, he wants to do more in his packed schedule. it would eat into his already scarce time to sleep. A situation our teachers no doubt do not wish to happen. The fact he can do all of this for a month straight and improve instead of deteriorating in ability is almost monstrous. Sharon and I decided to help him in his training sessions and to better ourselves along with Sarah and John.

Another thing I had noticed was how observant he was. He reminds me of my mother in that way. Perhaps it is because of this connection, I noticed that I start to act selfish around him. Or perhaps it is because of his brazen attitude towards me and Sharon. Regardless, I can't help but begin to show my irritation to him. It seems this deeply unladylike behavior doesn't bother Sarah; in fact, she simply looks at me with a knowing eye as I speak to John. Why that is, I do not know. John on the other hand meets my stubbornness with his own.

The day ended without much fanfare. We watched John do his "Homework" as it were. Being captivated by his hardworking figure in the night is a secret I intend to keep. The next day was a rest day for us. Sarah and John went on a date, and I met my parents. The conversation was a simple one. My family simply spoke about the changes in our territory that had happened since we traveled to the Royal Palace. Everything was going well. Until I was informed that Sarah was kidnapped. Sharon and I met up and proceeded to head directly to the throne room, our worry reaching a fever pitch. After all, we just got Sarah back only for her to be taken from us again. It was too upsetting for us. We reached the throne room only for a surprise to be found there. Sitting in a chair, was Sarah. At this point Sharon and I were crying wildly, our emotions firmly out of control. We simply hugged our friend glad in the knowledge that she was safe.

The happiness we felt was short lived. You see, after Sarah reassured and calmed Sharon and me. We were quickly angered again. We sat and listened to Cynthia's recounting of events. All I could think about was how quickly everything could've gone wrong. The finishing blow was the reckless plan he had with a man who used a great sword, he bet his life on a barrier spell! In my mind I couldn't help but imagine what would've happened had it not held. It seemed Cynthia had similar thoughts as I. As I stewed in fear, worry and anger, Cynthia had left. Most likely to give a piece of her mind to John. The anger could not be subsided. Sarah gave me an invitation and I decided to go voice my opinion to him.

 On our way to John's room, Sarah began to speak to me and started to gloat about how important John must view her. Why do I feel irritated by this? I started to butt heads with Sarah. I found myself getting annoyed with her words. Were it not for Sharon's words, perhaps it would've escalated. Eventually Sarah pointed to John's room. Sharon and I entered soon after Cynthia had finished her lecture. We both spoke the first words that had come into our heads.

" You reckless fool!"

He responded in astonishment. it seems Cynthia had said a similar phrase when finding him. She was barely able to concentrate on her story, constantly looking at the door of the throne room earlier. Her worry was quite obvious to see. While Sharon and I started to lecture John, I felt he wasn't paying enough attention, so I started to pinch his cheeks. While this isn't proper, neither is worrying Noble Ladies with your actions. After finishing our lecture, John apologized, and we began to head out to have dinner. As we left Sarah and John were walking very close to each other, I felt annoyed at this for some reason. I assume because it seemed like he wasn't truly reflecting on his actions, so I began to speak to Sarah about spoiling him. Again, her words started to irritate me. We eventually made it to the dinner table; my family were sitting already, along with Sharon's family and Sarah's. The seating arrangement left John to my left side.

Of course, it didn't take long for John to do something uncouth, however it was done to make Sharon's mother, a commoner, who did not often tread into the difficult world of high society, feel more at ease. During the introductions, my mother began to speak to John. After having a more agreeable conversation with my mother than I have had with him after 3 days of being here, I again felt an annoyance. That feeling was doubled as I saw in his eyes that he was wondering why I didn't act the same way my mother was acting. I began to pinch his side in protest. He had noticed and began to whisper in my ear about it. I made excuses as to why I did it, as I was trying not to show how sensitive my ears were. His deep voice filled my ears for only a few seconds, but they echoed in my mind the rest of the night.

After dinner John began to explain his side of the events that had happened. My heart may have been moved a slight amount. But it was shaken as he told us of his hypothesis of why Sarah was kidnapped. If I ever find the men who cursed her or tried to kidnap her, I will do anything it takes to make them face justice. One part of John's explanation saddened me to hear about. That was the fact he assumed it was all do to him being here, as well as Sarah's fiancé, it was like he was blaming himself for it all. As he did, you could see guilt escaping through his untrained body language. This left me in a melancholic feeling for the rest of the night. I wondered if he thought my attitude was due to hatred of humans. I neither am hot nor cold on the subject of humans. But for some reason it bothered me to think that John thought I hated him. With these feeling's plaguing my mind, my sleep suffered because of it.

Now the morning had come, and I simply waited for the lunchtime meeting Sarah had invited me to. Perhaps she wanted to know what I thought of humans, considering my attitude the past 3 days, I wouldn't blame her for wondering. While waiting, I simply couldn't get that look of guilt from John out of my head. A few hours passed and I followed Nicole to Sarah's meeting. As I arrived, I was only a little surprised to find Sharon was there as well. Perhaps this meeting wasn't about my behavior after all. With relief I entered the room with Sharon to find a few surprising faces. My mother Penelope, Queen Aqua, Sharon's mother Tina, Sarah, Cynthia and John's maid Anna.

I was surprised by this group of women. It seemed Sharon was even more flabbergasted as she began to speak before me.

" Mom, everyone, why are you all here?"

To Sharon's question, Sarah began to speak.

" Because I had asked my mother to do this. I felt it is important for everyone to hear what I am going to be saying. What you all do with this information is up to you. So far, the only ones who know are myself, my mother, Cynthia and Anna."

To this, I begin to speak.

" What will you be talking about that requires our Mothers to be present?"

" John's past, as well as what we plan to do in the future with this knowledge. Once I tell you all this, I hope that you can understand why it is that I feel it is so important to not only be by John's side, but also why I so badly want to fight the Hero Party that is coming."

Sharon and I looked at each other, then back to Sarah and we both spoke at the same time as we began to sit at the table everyone else was at.