Knightress

Chapter 23

After dinner Andreas found himself pausing within castle hallways as if he were a stranger. He was angry at himself, his intention wasn't to offend Laura, he had just said whatever popped into his head to defend himself as the prince he was.

He had planned to tell her how Rose would love to meet her and start a conversation about her first wilderness experience. He noticed she didn't look well, he could hear how nasally her voice sounded. Which is expected as it was their first one and also 'cause the weather wasn't too good the entire week.

"Prince Andreas?" Called a voice.

He turned sharply, startled, to see Phil exiting a room. "Yes?" He blurted.

"What are you doing in this part of the castle?" Phil questioned.

"I'm going to Xavier." He replied, uncertain.

"Are you? You've just been standing there."

He lowered his eyes to the floor, Phil seemed to understand and fell into step with him as they strolled. "What's the matter?" He asked in a fatherly tone.

"I went to see Laura an hour or two ago." He started through a sigh, "she somehow found out where these rebels are located, it's hours away from the village of Koora. She also got pictures of their centre, their army, and also figured out where the missing people from kingdoms are located, which is the location of the rebels."

Phil lifted his brows, widening his eyes and grinned, "wow, isn't that incredible!" He admired, "how did she do it?"

That's when he realised he hadn't asked, he dwelled on the magnitude of the information she had acquired, allowing himself to applaud her.

"I don't know." He shrugged.

Phil looked down at him, his grin shrinking into a small smile. "You don't look to happy about it."

"Well, since we now have an exact location of where these rebels are, I say that we attack first thing tomorrow morning and end this growing threat. But she says we should wait! Wait for what exactly, I don't know, but we should wait!" He burst, his earlier annoyance returning.

Phil hummed as he thought, "You both have a smart look on the situation. It would be convenient to attack them immediately before they grow into an even bigger threat."

"That's what I'm saying!" He exclaimed, a glimmer of hope in his heart at finally having someone agree with him.

"But," Phil added, quenching the little hope. "We've never faced such a thing like this before. It wouldn't hurt to be a bit more patient and see what we're truly dealing with."

He huffed out an exasperated sigh, gazing at Phil with disappointment, "even you Phil." He grumbled.

He chuckled in response, "am I right in saying that isn't the only reason you're upset." He pressed further.

"How'd you know?" He murmured, casting sad eyes at him.

"Kingdom matters don't get you looking like this Andreas," he replied softly.

"I messed up Phil, Laura's mad at me." He confessed. "We were arguing...well...not really, she was mostly quiet which made me even more mad. I said somethings that I shouldn't have, I could tell she wasn't happy, she told me to get out."

Phil shook his head, "oh Andreas," he breathed.

His guilt increased at the weary tone that accompanied Phil's words, Phil was fully aware of how much Andreas clings to the respect he receives or ought to receive. He knows how defensive he gets when it feels like someone is breeching his authority. He's warned him to learn to control his anger for years, he never really put in much effort to do so.