When Angels Fall

Chapter 28 - The Mad Prisoner

Tristan

"So, the Southern States of Esseria have sent their response, you say?" Edward asked as he sat with Tristan and Cylia for dinner.

"Yes, they confirmed that they will be ready to send their forces shall the need arise," Tristan said. "That means we could manage to gather twenty thousand men."

"That's great! With such numbers we will surely crush those Northmen and their mercenaries." Edward said.

"I hope it wouldn't come to that," Tristan said. "If Mikal's plan goes as we agreed there will be no need for war in the first place."

"You really trust that fucker!" Cylia scoffed as she reached out for the plump roasted chicken sitting in the middle of the table, tearing out a big chunk.

"I have no reason not to trust him so far," Tristan said, snatching away the juicy piece of chicken from her hand.

"Hey!" Cylia cried out, but it was too late, and Edward snickered as Tristan devoured Cylia's treasured chicken in a moment.

"Asshole!" Cylia backhanded Tristan's shoulder while he and Edward laughed aloud.

But Tristan stopped laughing at once as Alina entered the hall. His heart pounded against his chest as she approached them, a large tray in her hands and a curious look in her round honey eyes. He straightened up and dropped his hands beneath the table, tensing up as she set the tray before him. He held his breath as he sat there watching her, and a long silence fell around him, until she left the hall.

"What the hell was that about?" Edward turned to Tristan with raised eyebrows.

"What are you talking about?" Tristan frowned in an attempt to conceal his nervousness. What the fuck! Why am I even nervous?

"That girl," Edward chuckled in disbelief. "You like her?"

"What girl..." Tristan's frown deepened. "What? No! Of course not!" Tristan scoffed as he realized what Edward was thinking.

"You do. You haven't seen yourself, man you went literally speechless."

"Pathetic," Cylia muttered as she picked up the ale and poured herself a large cup.

"Stop it. It's not what you think." Tristan defended. "I just got lost in some thought. I didn't even notice who the girl was." A straight lie of course. Tristan noticed all too well who the girl was.

"You're a terrible liar, do you know that?" Edward smirked and Tristan only clenched his fists in frustration.

"I don't like her!" Tristan muttered, more likely assuring himself rather than Edward.

Of course he didn't like her. He shouldn't like her. He shouldn't like any woman other than Olivea...

***

It was late in the evening and Tristan found himself still thinking of Alina as he sat alone in his terrace, absently stroking Beast's head. He silently cursed Edward for ever opening up that subject. But yet, even if Edward hadn't brought that up, Tristan knew he would have thought of Alina all the same. It had been almost a whole month already since the banquet and that stupid kissing game, and Tristan still thought of Alina every night... 

Beast suddenly whimpered and nudged Tristan's leg, sensing his unpleasant mood. Tristan sighed and patted the dog's head, before he rose and determinedly left the room, heading off to the castle.

He didn't usually go to the castle that late unless if there were some urgent matter. But needing something to get his mind off that girl, he decided to distract himself with a good game of chess. Well, he had been neglecting his chess lessons for the past few days, and Mikal wasn't an early sleeper, so he probably wouldn't mind Tristan's late visit.