Adriaan's P.O.V.
I stood very still from the sheltered corner. I couldn’t hear the words spoken, the meaning behind their conversing or what had sparked this conversation, what I did know is what I saw now before me. I saw King Seff pulling Lady Snow, the women I’d met yesterday, into a tight hug, that spoke years of friendship, and possibly more. I was so shocked, they stood hugging for longer than was appropriate to society. Who was this woman and how did she know Seff? Where they lovers? Is that why she did not wish to tell him her name? But as I watched all they did was hug then break apart. Seff bent down to stare into her eyes saying a string of soft words as I saw her nod solemnly. She smiled slightly has he picked up her hand and kissed her knuckles. He then picked up the folded blankets discarded on the ground and placed them back in her awaiting hands as he turned to leave. Then he quickly turned his head back and threw another string of words her way. If I wasn’t looking careful enough I might have missed the small blush that spread across her cheeks.
Jealously then started to reef at my stomach. King Seff probably knows her real name, while I don't. I guess the only thing I can do is to stop being jealous and go talk to her. I’ll aim for friendship for now. When she turned away from Seff I waited for her to take a few steps before I walked out of the shadows and pretended to see her only just now. I smiled brightly at her and partially jogged to her. I couldn’t help it. I just wanted to talk to her sooner.
"so Lady Snow, how’d you enjoy the fighting?" I started, she was a women, she probably didn’t enjoy the fights nor could she understand the skill behind it.
"It was quite excellent, there were many skilled fighters." she smiled politely trying to hide her enthusiasm over the games. I was surprised, most women didn’t enjoy watching men use the sword let alone had any interest in it.
"can I suggest something my Lord?" Snow looked at me dead in the eyes like she had important news that I may not want to hear.
"I have some advice for you if your willing to listen?" She paused again, see seemed afraid to tell me, like I might get upset or even angry with her. There’s no way I could be angry with her. Since she’s making the effort to tell me when she dislikes speaking so.
"I will listen." she looked at me and took a deep breath before exhaling slowly, she began cautiously.
"I believe that I understand why you lost. It was not due to a lack skill. I noticed you hold your grip about a thumb width to low on the hilt of your sword. If you moved your grip up you will have a better chance of defeating King Seff, my Duke." I stared at her shocked, she seemed to have spoken what she believed to be the truth. I was contemplating her words. They did seem to ring with experience. Experience? How did a young lady have experience in this field. Wait- she called me Duke. I looked her in the face shocked. She knew who I was now. She knew I was a duke. What did she think of that?
"I see you listened to the announcer calling our names?" I didn’t know why I was so hesitant over her knowing my name, I was the one who wanted to tell her my name originally. It was probably due to the fact that I still don't know her name. Snow just nodded her head and we both shared a long, heavy silence.
“I should introduce myself properly then. I am Adriaan Rosser, Duke of Willowdale, capital kingdom of Veritas." I bowed low, I was unsure of what her reaction would be. She curtsied low as I bowed and added,
"it is an honour to be in the presence of someone so powerful." her pleasant smile quivered. She seemed afraid of something, someone. Was she afraid of me? Why? Do our families have history?
"will you still not tell me your name?" she seemed to hesitate before replying.
"I fear you would not like me if you knew my family name." I cocked my eyebrow, what name could be so bad that I would hate her over it? She seemed really afraid to tell me. She was slightly shivering.
"how could I dislike such a kind Lady as yourself?"
"My family hasn't a very kind reputation." her face was serious, so she wasn’t proud to be apart of this family. Maybe I shouldn’t push her, she didn't seem stable when thinking of her family.
"I apologize, I won’t force you to tell me your name." I stared her in the eyes willing her to stabilize herself back into the carefree, kind young Lady I had met. She was still hesitating to tell me Something important. Then she seemed to decide to just force it out.
"My name is Asteria." she stopped, she did not seem to want to continue. She looked me in the eyes willing me to figure out who she was so she would not have to continue.
"Asteria is a beautiful name, you do not need to tell me the rest as of yet if you are uncomfortable." I spoke kindly for I have not heard the name before, well at least I thought I had not. It did ring a small chime of recognition in my mind somewhere. I just couldn’t think where.
