Bind with Destiny

Chapter 59:

She said that since she can still feel that Sir Mao is still upset about what she did, even though he is not telling, his actions were giving.

"I am not angry," Sir Mao said quietly, his voice steady but firm. "But I am truly upset that you didn't think about how I would feel. Do you know how worried I was? What if you had encountered something dangerous?"

He lifted his gaze to hers, eyes filled with restrained emotion.

"I know I once told you that I stand beside you because your grandfather ordered it. But please... do not mistake my concern as mere duty. It is not only because I serve Marquis Bennett."

He slowly knelt on one knee before her, taking her hand with solemn reverence—the posture of a knight pledging his life to his liege.

"I genuinely wish to protect you. I want to serve you—not just as your grandfather's aide, but as your closest knight, Lady Davina."

Davina's breath caught in her throat. She had not expected this. Especially not after he had once declared that he originally belonged at her grandfather's side.

"Didn't you say you would return to my grandfather?" she asked softly, still stunned.

"I did," Sir Mao admitted. "But that was before I began serving you."

His grip on her hand tightened ever so slightly, not in force, but in resolve.

"Your grandfather intended for me to serve you as the future head of House Bennett. He did not force me. He told me to watch over you—and that the choice to remain would be mine."

Sir Mao rose to his feet, but before letting go, he pressed a respectful kiss to the back of her hand.

"Marquis Bennett would never bind me unwillingly. I stay because I choose to."

Davina found herself at a loss for words. She had prepared herself to be scolded. Instead, she received a vow.

And that was far more overwhelming.

"...Honestly, I didn't expect you to say something like that, Sir Mao," Davina admitted, a faint smile forming on her lips. "But I'm glad you did... because I was planning to make you mine anyway."

She said it so casually—as if claiming a skilled sword rather than a person. Even if she had once said she would let him return to her grandfather, that did not mean she wouldn't take him back when she needed him. Sir Mao was capable, loyal, and—most importantly—trustworthy. She had no intention of losing someone like that.

Sir Mao's smile stiffened slightly.

"Please refrain from using words like that, Lady Davina. Others might misunderstand you."

"What?" she blinked at him. "I said what I said. I want you. What's wrong with that?"

He sighed softly, scratching the back of his neck in mild exasperation.

"You did not say anything wrong about your intention. But... please avoid using the word 'want' that way if you are referring to a subordinate, Miss Davina."

She tilted her head. "Why? Since when is 'want' forbidden?"

"Because," he replied patiently, "it could imply something... romantic. If you tell others that you 'want' them, they might assume you mean it in that sense."

Davina paused, imagining how it might sound if she said those words to someone else. Her brows lifted slightly in realization.

"Oh. I didn't think of it that way. My mistake." She looked back at him curiously. "But you didn't misunderstand me, right?"