Walter on the other hand, was truly at the Steinhouse mansion; he was in the study reading up all he needed to know about the emperor’s shed. His body stiffened when a shadow appeared before him. He had heard of skilled martial artists, but he had never seen one. The lady had made it known that she was sending him an aide, but she never said who it would be.
“You must be the one sent by Lady Wickshire,” Walter said.
“Yes. I will be leaving with you tomorrow,” the man Walter could see clearly in the lantern light, said.
“What should I call you?” Walter asked.
“D’huile,” he said and Walter nodded.
“Are you in any way acquainted with war? At least, how to handle two hundred soldiers?” Walter asked.
“You aren’t,” D’huile answered and Walter nodded.
“This is but a cover and I have no intention of spending too much time on it; yet, I must still do the work,” Walter said rubbing his temples.
“I was told to not interfere in your work, just to aid you,” the man said and Walter nodded. There was a knock on the door and Walter looked away for a second only to look back to find that he had vanished. With a sigh, he called out to enter. A maid curtsied after entering.
“My lord, the king and my lady have requested to see you, and are coming up,” she said hurriedly, before making way and four people entered the study and took seats without asking. He recognized them all. Lady Teel, the king and new queen and Helen, who seemed in thought even as she sat.
“Did something happen?” he asked at their tense expression.
“Lady Wickshire’s father was under attack this night. Our guards went to save him, but we are yet to hear news,” the king said hurriedly and Walter raised a brow. And they came all the way to see him? Why?
“Could you find out how the lady will react to this? That way, I know if to take my daughter and leave!” Lady Teel said and Walter almost sighed out loud. He had too many things on his mind to worry about their fear.
“Who did it?” he asked.
“Lady Beaumont,” Queen Raine answered.
“Why don’t you wait to find out if he is fine first, to know whether to go see her yourself?” Walter asked.
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“And if he is dead? By then, it would be too late for me to take away my daughter,” Lady Teel said.
“It is at the moment, too early,” Walter sighed.
“Do you not find her dangerous at all? Are you not aware of what could happen if he dies?” Lady Teel said and Walter frowned.
Oh, he knew she was dangerous. He just did not believe she would allow such a loophole to exist against her.
“Oh, I know,” was all he said.
“But you know you will not be harmed it if comes to it and neither will your family,” Queen Raine almost snared at that blank look on Walter’s face and Walter sighed again. He seemed tired and did not want to argue.
“You are stressed so, you are not thinking straight,” Walter said and received no response to his comment, so he continued.
“You know I will not be harmed because there is a need for me to go to Northern Lan. Have you forgotten that you are the one supposed to get me there? Juhntt is still important. Nothing will happen,” Walter said and the king seemed to feel a weight let off him.
“You know this, how?” Lady Teel was unconvinced.
“It matters not how I know this. But seriously, do you think Lady Wickshire will let something happen to her father? Or do you think the people around her are not good enough?” Walter said.
“You take this too lightly!” Lady Teel fumed.
“You take her too lightly. You were in such a state of panic, that you forgot who she was. Think again. Do you think it possible to happen?” Walter asked and Lady Teel went quiet.
Soon, they all left, as Walter had reassured them that all was well. Since Lady Teel had no reason to withdraw her daughter yet, she would wait.
Lady Steinhouse had said nothing when they were talking and remained in her seat long after they had gone. Walter had ignored her and returned to his work. She stared at his reading form and wondered what it was he was working on. She was angry at first, but when she saw how tired he was, her anger dispersed and was instead, sad. Sad that, he was too busy to spend time with her and that he planned to go somewhere, never caring to inform her.
“Stop sighing so much, Helen. What is it you want to say?” he asked.
“You are going somewhere?” she bit her lips.
“Mn,” he answered.
“War?” she asked.
“Mn,” he answered.
“Tomorrow?”
“Mn,”
“You said you’d take me on a honeymoon,” she said and he paused.
“Helen, I never said when,” he answered.
“But what about me? What if something happens to you in the war? Have you ever gone to war? Why do you even need to go?” she threw out questions after another.
“ This war will not take time; I’ll be back before you know it,” he said and she frowned.
“What happens if you don’t keep your promise?” she asked.
“Well, I’ll be dead,” Walter said and she got angry.
“Walter!” she scolded.
“Come here,” he called her and she hesitated before getting up and approaching him. When she was just beside him, he pulled her onto his lap, placed a necklace and secured it around her neck. She stared at it. It was cast in solid gold, in a not-so-flattering crest; a symbol of some kind.
“You must not go anywhere without this while I’m gone,” he said and she nodded. He understood it did not look good and she may want to take it off, but this was The Religion pendant Lady Wickshire had given to him and was nothing fancy; he only strung a gold chain on it. This was for her safety so, she had to wear it.
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