Head in the Clouds

Chapter 18: The Lunch

The palace felt so unfamiliar after all that time away. The stone walkway down to the garden once painted in her blood was now perfectly grey, and the purple flowers Clyde would pick for her hadn't even bloomed.

With Ko by her side, the whole ordeal felt odd. She was so used to chatting with Clyde as they strode down that same path that she almost reached for Ko's arm once. She wished she held on to those days more- the days she spent with Clyde. She seemed to think those days would last forever when they were happening, but now they were just the good old days.

The Jericho Palace Garden was a large area right before the wall of the training grounds filled with all manner of flowers. Four paths lead to a single gazebo with the most beautiful view of the flora.

"This place is even nicer than the one in Callaco," remarked Ko.

Deidre ignored him until they neared the gazebo when she grabbed his arm and drew closer to him. Ko accepted the pseudo affection he got from Deidre in a way he accepted gifts from merchants visiting his father- with fake enthusiasm.

"Great, you're here!" Princess Anastasia's soft and feminine voice was so soothing it made Deidre feel physically upset.

"That we are," Ko replied. He managed to pick up a few tricks on how to appear proper before royals, "Princess Anastasia, its an honor to finally meet you."

"And you, Sir Suo," said the princess as they got to the top of the stairs and were lamped by the shade of the gazebo. Ko smiled in a mischievous way.

As the two exchanged formalities, Deidre and Clyde interacted simply by looking at one another. Deidre looked into those eyes she loved so much and saw something missing. It was like all the wonder and fun she felt looking into them was lost somewhere. She wondered if it was an effect of growing into a man, or if he was unhappy with his new life.

Clyde, though unable to recognize her feelings through her tone most times, could understand a lot about her by looking into her eyes. He thought she seemed distracted. It was the way she looked while focused on some random crease in clothing or flying objects. She had something on her mind for sure. Was it the lunch? Was she angry at him? Did she not want to be there?

"Lady Monte!" Chirped the chipper princess.

Deidre turned to her with wide eyes as though she'd just seen a ghost.

"What?" Deidre asked. The way she spoke you could swear she was horrified.

"Lady Monte?" Repeated Princess Anastasia, "That is your name right?"

"What my Dear here means to say is that just Deidre is fine," clarified Ko much to Clyde's dismay, "and you can simply call me Ko if you'd like."

"Oh," the princess responded, "well, Deidre it is."

Deidre nodded.

"I mean, technically it's Dame Monte," added Ko, "but I don't think many people know how to address a lady knight nevermind a warrior."

The princess went over to Clyde and linked arms with him, while Ko lowered his head spoke softly to Deidre.

"Are you deranged?" He hissed.

"Hush," she replied. She couldn't quite understand why she reacted to things in those ways, but she sort of accepted it as a personality quirk.

There was a rather long table set in the middle of the gazebo decorated with pink roses and white china. There seemed to be two extra plates at each end of the table. Deidre already figured who could be joining them.

"Are we waiting for someone?" Asked Ko in an almost tolerable tone, yet Clyde still wanted to dive at him.

"Yes," said Clyde rather abruptly. While the princess held onto his arm, Clyde couldn't be calmed by her presence.