Charlie and Wanda arrived at the Everleigh’s training hall. They sat at a small table as the knights lined up in front of them with their swords pointed to the ground. Bryza knelt in front of the table with her head bowed lowly.

“My liege, an honor for your presence in the hall. How may your knights assist you?” The elf spoke loud enough for those behind her to hear.

Wanda sighed loudly, “My youngest brother invited us to watch his lessons with his instructor today.”

Bryza narrowed her eyes at Wade. Charlie got the sense that he annoyed every knight with a disappointed face behind her as well.

“How did he ever convince you?”

Wanda pinched the bridge of her nose, “After the last time he ran away, I agreed that my youngest brother needed to learn some basic self-defense.”

Charlie looked at the incredibly fit knights that were still waiting for Bryza’s command to resume their daily exercise. Wade trotted over with a sword in hand and grin on his face.

“I wanted to bring you when I finally showed some improvement!” He grinned, “I’m excited to ‘show off’ as you say.”

“Dame Bryza, when do knights typically start training?” Charlie asked almost innocently.

“Most start in their later teen years, Miss Charlotte.”

“So, he’s at least five years behind everyone else here?” She smirked.

He frowned at her teasing, “My instructor says I’ve come a long way in the last month.”

Wanda chuckled before waving her hand, “Dame, have the knights continue. We’ll watch Wade practice a bit before returning to the manor to prepare for the ball.”

“Of course, my lady.”

Bryza stood and turned to the knights behind her. She barked orders that were quickly followed. Another man approached them before he knelt. His salt and pepper hair traveled to the scruff on his chin. Charlie’s eyebrow raised at the thick muscles on his arms.

“John Neilson, my lady,” He held his sword towards her, “An honor to be hired as a knight under the Everleigh banner and an instructor to the young lord.”

“Sir Neilson, stand,” Wanda sipped her tea casually, “I hope you aren’t going easy on my brother.”

“Of course not, my lady. I put him through all the training every squire goes through. He’s naturally gifted,” His compliment put a smug look on Wade’s face, “I think he’s ready to show how much he’s learned today.”

Wade stood next to Charlie and grasped her hand. He brought it up to his lips for a quick kiss.

“You know, if I do become an official knight, I could pledge my services to any liege, including you,” He smirked.

She chuckled and looked at his sister’s disgusted expression, “Sir Neilson, I believe he’s acting pretty cocky for a squire. Please, kick his ass—I mean put him in his place.”

She squinted with a wide smile at Wade. His sister snorted the tea in her mouth and sat her teacup down with a cough. The older knight grinned maliciously.

“Of course, my lady! I never go easy on my students. Come now, young lord. It’s time to spar.”

Charlie wiggled her fingers as they walked away. Wanda wiped her mouth with a handkerchief.

“Miss Charolette, that was some foul language.”

“A slip of the tongue, I assure you,” She chuckled, “I don’t think either of us want him running into a fight because he has some training.”

His sister sighed, “That’s true.”

Charlie barely watched as she examined all the other men and women in the small arena. Swords clashed with other swords or training dummies. Knights ran laps around the outer track. Everything seemed in order for a typical day.

“Dame Bryza keeps them in top shape in case anything happens,” Wanda commented, “I hardly have to stop by. Maybe once a year to accept the fealty of any new knights.”

“That’s amazing. How does she do it?”

“She’s from the empire in Filigor. She trained there for quite some time. The emperor sent her as a gift to my father.”

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“Isn’t that weird?” Charlie narrowed her eyes supsicously.

“No,” She picked her teacup back up, “The Everleighs are a displaced countship of the empire. The emperor sends an elf to each future head of house to protect. Dame Bryza was my retainer since I was a young lady. She knew her role and was an apprentice under my father’s guard.”

“We don’t have anything like that where I’m from.”

“Speaking of, where exactly are you—”

“Oh my god!” Charlie jumped to her feet as Wade’s sword flew from his hand.

His instructor held the tip of his blade to his throat while Wade was on the ground. Noticing her worry, he smirked.

“I’m fine!” He called.

She sunk back into her chair with a groan, “He’s going to give me an aneurysm.”

“I’ve felt that way everyday for the past decade,” Wanda chuckled.

Charlie paid a bit more attention to his lesson. Knowing nothing about swordsmanship, he impressed her enough by blocking each strike from his instructor. After an hour of small conversation as she watched Wade practice, her eyes wandered around as many of the knights took their sweaty shirts off.

“Countess, I’m impressed you don’t visit too often.”

“Do tell?” Wanda’s brow raised.

“I feel like I need popcorn to watch the display of—” Charlie paused as she thought of the most appropriate way to say what she wanted to, “Masculine athleticism.”

The maids behind her giggled. Wanda smirked as well.

“My husband spent many days out here as well. I visit more then,” She said, “I’d bring snacks as well. I’m a bit too old to watch all these young men, though.”

“I would say mature, Countess,” She grinned, “Though, there is no age restriction on art appreciation.”

“Cheeky woman,” Wanda tutted, “Perhaps I should visit more to see how the knights are doing.”

“I’m sure the maids would appreciate that!” She laughed loudly.

The girly giggles behind her let her know they agreed. Charlie focused on Wade as he switched to offensive during his lesson. He peeled his shirt from his sweaty skin when he paused to drink water. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. She watched the beads of sweat roll down his chest to his chiseled abs. When he noticed her stare, a cheeky grin crossed his face.

“Too much like a damn romance novel,” Charlie muttered under her breath.

“I am sure that’s why my brother invited us today,” His sister motioned towards him.

She looked away from him, “I agree. It’s definitely a trap to keep me here.”

“A trap?” Wanda’s eyebrow raised.

“He’s showing off how wealthy your family is while also showing off his—” She cleared her throat, “Physique.”

“He is peacocking a bit, isn’t he?” She laughed, “I will say, I haven’t seen him chase after a woman before. It’s almost entertaining.”

“He’s getting better at it,” Charlie murmured.

“Most young ladies I know would have accepted his advances by now,” His sister raised an eyebrow.

“Most young ladies don’t have any experience in love or life,” She smiled, “I’m sure there’s a reason you haven’t remarried, Countess.”

Wanda waved the maids off. The women moved far enough to away to be out of earshot but close enough to watch the knights train. They both chuckled at the sparkling eyes of the giggling women. Most of the men that noticed smiled or waved to them.

She shook her head at them, “I hope they’ve already learned that looks aren’t everything.”

“You are a wise woman,” Wanda sighed blissfully, “My husband was an incredible, handsome. and doting man. I loved him dearly. It wasn’t unheard of but still rare to marry for love back in my day.”

Charlie nodded along as she reminisced over her husband.

“He only passed a few years ago from his illness. I still forget some days when I wake up and he’s not there.”

“I’m sorry for your loss, Countess,” She smiled sadly, “My husband died less than a year ago in an accident.”

She expected Charlie to continue to describe her husband as she had. When she didn’t, Wanda got the gist of the situation.

“You have my condolences as well, Miss Charlotte.”

The two sat in an awkward silence after the somber topic. The sister decided to speak first and give some advice.

“I’m well past the age of quickly falling in love. If I remarry, it’ll be political. There may still be some hope for you to find love. You’ll be ready one day,” Wanda chuckled, “I’m sure my brother will wait until you are.”

“I’ve told Wade that I’m not quite ready to start a new relationship, but he seems insistent, doesn’t he?” She clicked her tongue.

Her eyes traveled back to him as he blocked another strike from his instructor. Charlie finally admitted the situation to herself.

“I’ll admit he’s making it a bit hard on me.”

“The one thing my youngest brother always excelled at was wearing down anyone to make things go his way,” She huffed, “Speaking of, the dress he ordered for you arrived this morning. I’ll have to reprimand him when we return.”

“Oh, don’t go too hard on him,” Charlie laughed loudly, “Dena, I think was her name, threw a fit in the store we went into. She snatched up every bundle of fabric we looked at.”

“Denna Astra? I see. Her father sent a marriage proposal,” She mumbled under her breath, “But, white?! Why not any other color?”

“It was white or black,” She shrugged.

His sister huffed and crossed her arms. She hadn’t noticed that they spoke casually to each other nearly all morning but admitted she didn’t mind. It almost felt natural. She knew Charlie as an overly friendly woman with most of the servants in her manor as well.

“You’ll have to calm him down eventually, Miss Charlotte,” Wanda shook her head.

“Countess, please, call me Charlie,” She placed a hand on hers, “All my friends do.”

“You’d want to be friends with this old woman?” She chuckled, “Very well. Call me Wanda when it’s just us.”

“My pleasure.”

The countess pulled a pocket watch from the sleeve of her dress to check the time. She clicked her tongue before calling the maids back over.

“It’s later in the morning than I thought. Fetch Wade and tell him we have to get back to prepare,” Wanda ordered, “Miss Charlie, I hope you’ve enjoyed our chats as much as I have.”

“I have. Perhaps we ol’ widows can trade stories again another day, my lady,” She smiled as she stood, “At least I can complain about Wade to someone that won’t try to convince me to marry him.”

Wanda sneered, “Have the servants done that?!”

“What? My goodness, of course not. They can’t speak ill of their masters after all, can they?” She winked, “Only his older sister can tell me any embarrassing gossip about him and complain with me.”

She shook her head, “He’s a handful, after all. I don’t know where he gets that personality from.”

Charlie chuckled. She imagined that Wanda and Wade were more alike than the countess wanted to admit.