Chapter 20

My blade clashed against Lucia’s as I swung at her. I focused intently, searching for any opening in her defenses. We exchanged a few more blows before I suddenly sensed an attack, but not from my opponent. A rock flew over my head as I ducked, but my sparring partner struck out at me again, and my crouched position caused the momentum from the strike to knock me over. Lucia’s wooden blade rested on my shoulder, and if it had been a real sword, I would’ve been dead.

“That was a good performance, Audrey.” Sir Theodore said as he walked over to join us. “Now, can you tell me what you did wrong?”

Lucia took my hand to pull me off the ground, and I dusted myself off. “Crouching left me vulnerable to my opponent. I should’ve moved back, giving myself space to evaluate the situation and locate the new attacker.” He nodded at my response in agreement.

“A battle is an ever-changing beast, and you must stay aware of everything around you to stay alive. Death will always breathe down your neck, even against less-skilled enemies.” His words were ones I’ve heard countless times in the last six months, but I always took them to heart. There is no guarantee I can protect them as I am now.

“Yes, Sir!” I said with a salute, and the burly man smiled at me.

“Have you decided what you’d like to do after the school year is over?” He asked, and I looked away nervously.

“Yes, I think so… but I haven’t discussed it with Lydia yet.”

He put a hand on my shoulder, and my eyes met his. “I’m sure if you are honest with her, she’ll understand.”

“I hope so.” After discussing some pointers for a few minutes, Lucia and I began to leave the field, but Sir Theodore gestured for the knight to stay, so I ended up walking alone.

“I have to say, if you could use magic, you would definitely win,” Aurora said in my mind. I stopped on the sidewalk and changed direction, deciding to visit the council room instead of returning to the dorm.

“That would defeat the whole purpose of the training. It wouldn’t be good if I were defenseless in the event my magic was unusable.” I smiled and nodded at a few female students as I entered the main building. Their faces flushed, and they burst into excited whispers as I passed by.

“Honestly… That princess of yours better keep her guard up.” I tilted my head in confusion.

“What do you mean?” I sensed my goddess rub her temple at my response, which only deepened my confusion

“Nevermind. Back to your training: In a real fight, there are no rules; you should be training to utilize all of your skills simultaneously.” I nodded in agreement at her statement as I climbed the stairs to the next floor.

“I will, eventually. But if I master the fundamentals of magic and sword alone, I’ll be even stronger when using them together.” I scratched my cheek as I arrived in front of the council room. “That’s what Mr. Tressum and Sir Theodore say, at least.”

“Hmm… I understand. I still think you should start practicing now, however.” I told her I’d bring it up with my instructors, then knocked on the door and pushed it open.

***

“What is your opinion on Audrey, Dame Lucia?” The captain asked me as we watched the girl in question leave the field.

“Sir!” I saluted before answering. “Honestly, in only six months, she could give the second-year knights a run for their money.”

The captain rubbed his beard in thought. “I’m inclined to agree. I wonder if her divinity is the cause for her rapid development; not even the most talented knights learn as quickly as she does.”

I nodded. “It’s quite astounding. Although…” I trailed off, unsure if I should continue, but he gestured for me to proceed. “I don’t believe she’ll master the blade, at least not anytime soon.”

“Every person has natural limits. Even if she doesn’t, she’s still skilled enough to defend herself against the average opponent with a sword alone. She would certainly struggle against a talented veteran, but her magic would more than make up the difference in a real fight.”

“Especially if she fights like she did during the tournament…” I muttered to myself and shuddered as I remembered the lake’s worth of water Audrey had casually threatened Lady Yuzuki with. “And that’s not even including her new magic.”

The captain nodded thoughtfully. “The only issue is that Audrey is set on becoming a full-fledged knight after graduation.” His words shocked me since Audrey had never mentioned it to the rest of us.

“Wait, Really?”

“Indeed. She said she wants to be strong enough to protect the rest of you, especially Her Highness.” Silly girl. Is she trying to rid me of my job? I knew that wasn’t what she intended, but ever since the assassination attempt and my utter failure to protect the princess and Leah, I couldn’t help but feel a bit of jealousy toward my friend. All three of us would be dead had Audrey not arrived when she did, then she effortlessly defeated the enemy.

I’m jealous, yes. But more than that, I’m absolutely frustrated with myself. I have spent my whole life training, yet in the aftermath of the attack, it felt like I had never taken it seriously. Maybe this was a revelation that all knights went through after experiencing actual combat for the first time, but ever since, I’ve doubled… no tripled, my training.

“I-I see.”

That was all I could say, but my emotions must have shown on my face because the captain had placed a hand on my shoulder.

“I understand how you’re feeling, Dame Lucia. Trust me, I really do.” His usually confident gaze was replaced with sympathy. “A knight's greatest enemy is not fear, but doubt. You lost, and while that fact will remain forever, all you can do is everything in your power to ensure it never happens again.” He turned his back to me and waved over his shoulder. “Be kind to yourself, and keep moving forward as the princess’s chosen knight.”

***

I glanced up from my desk as the door opened and smiled warmly as my girlfriend entered the room. Today had been particularly rough, and that scarlet hair seemed to rejuvenate me.

“Should I request that all your wardrobe be red from now on?” Leah leaned in close and whispered to me. I jumped as she accurately read my thoughts. I don’t understand how she does that…

“Not if you want to keep your job…” I shot back as I stood. Leah didn’t let it show on her face since we had company, but I knew she was smirking at me.

“Lady Audrey!” Sasha said as she stood from her chair and walked over to her. That reaction from her had become a common occurrence whenever Audrey stopped by, and Yuzuki, Brandon, and I all smiled at each other knowingly. Sasha did her best to perform the perfect noble act, but it always cracked with her sister around.

“Hello, Sasha! How’s today going for the council?” Audrey asked.

“It's been busy! But I think we’re managing.” the younger girl replied. “Did you come to help?”

“Of course!” Audrey let her sister lead her to the chair next to hers. Where she took some of the papers Sasha had been working on. Then she looked up and greeted everyone else.

“Hello, Yuzuki. Brandon,” she said with a nod.

“To you as well, Lady Celestine.” the ever-formal Yamadian said, but her tone was friendly.

“Hello back, Lady Aud—” Brandon suddenly froze with a glare from Sasha, then corrected himself. “L-Lady Celestine.”

Then, the redhead finally turned to me. “And hello to you, my Lydia.” The sweetness in her voice made my head spin.

“Hello, my Audrey,” I responded with a smile. We made eye contact for a moment before Sasha pulled her attention to the documents they were working on. I decided to let them have some time together and waited about an hour before stealing my girlfriend away from her sister.

“I apologize, Sasha. But Audrey and I have an appointment, so I’ll have to steal her away for today.” I said as I stood from my desk. Audrey seemed just as confused as her younger sister was, considering I hadn’t told her yet.

“Appointment? Where are we going?” She asked as I pulled her from the chair.

“It’s a secret,” I said with a wink. “But I promise you’ll love it.” I glanced at Sasha, who nodded her understanding.

“I wouldn't want to hold you, then.” Her voice was a bit sad, and usually, I’d be fine with her tagging along, but not today.

“Don’t worry. I'll visit again soon.” Audrey said to comfort her, and then we left the room, our hands still entwined. “But really, what are we doing?” she asked again with that cute head tilt she does when confused.

“Like I said, it’s a secret; just be a good girl and follow me,” I said, lacing my voice with mock sternness. Audrey’s face flushed, and her gaze hit the floor in response.

“O-Oh… Alright…” I’ll have to remember that. I led her by the hand through the halls until we made it to the front lobby. I purposely ignored the curious looks of the other students, and it seemed my girlfriend was too in her head to notice. I wonder if she’s talking to her goddess? We left the building and headed out to the carriages, where the attendants soon met us, and we began heading into town.

Once again, Audrey was glued to the window, her eyes sparkling in fascination. She looked like a young girl, bringing a smile to my lips. But a pang of guilt also hit me as I thought about her little socialization since escaping her family home. When everything is settled, I’ll give her the best life… We finally arrived at our destination after a short travel through the town.

“Ah! This is that boutique we went to before, right?” Audrey asked.

“Indeed, I thought picking out our outfits for the upcoming gala together would be fun.” I eyed another carriage that had already been in front of the storefront. “Let’s head inside. We don’t want to keep our guest waiting.” I enjoyed the puzzled look on her face as Lucia helped the rest of us down from the carriage.

“There’s somebody else?” The redhead asked as we entered the building, only for her question to be answered soon after.

“There are my daughters! Hurry in! I’ve already picked out some things I thought would suit you perfectly!” My mother said as soon as her eyes landed on us. She excitedly grabbed each of us by the hand and pulled us deeper into the store. Leah and Lucia trailed behind and joined the few servants Mother had brought with her.

“Aunt Bella! I’m so happy to see you!” Audrey said. She had been stunned by the Queen’s sudden appearance but soon broke into a grin. “You're going to help pick out clothes? How fun!”

“Of course, I wouldn’t miss it for the world!” Mother replied, and I couldn’t help but chime in.

“She basically threatened me into it…” I muttered, which earned me a glare from her.

“I wouldn’t let my own daughter pick out clothes alone, and now I get to dress up Cecelia’s daughter as well?” We finally stopped in front of the private dressing rooms, where a literal tower of clothes sat upon a nearby bench. “Sleep eluded me all night because of how excited I was!”

I loved my mother to death, but shopping with her had to be one of my least favorite activities. She just goes so overboard. Audrey inspected the giant pile of clothes in wonder, not understanding what was about to happen.

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“Are all these for you, Aunt Bella?” my girlfriend asked naively. Her eyes were as wide as my mother’s smile.

“Of course not, silly girl! These are for you and Lydia!” Finally, it dawned on Audrey what was about to happen, and when her frantic eyes met mine, I only shook my head slowly in acceptance.

“It may take a few hours, but we’ll find both of you the perfect outfits for your final formal gala!” Mother snapped her fingers, and the staff brought a couple of dresses that weren’t even on the pile. “Let’s start with these. Get to it, girls!”

We were pushed into separate rooms, and Leah entered mine behind me to assist. “Is someone helping Audrey?” I asked while she helped me out of the academy uniform and into a yellow ballgown with white lacing.

“I believe Lucia went in with her, but I asked a staff member to help as well since wardrobe isn’t exactly a knight’s purview,” she said with a small smile.

I examined myself in the mirror, doing little turns to see the dress from different angles before Mother called us to ask if we were ready. I heard an affirmative come from Audrey’s dressing room, and Leah peaked her head out to do the same. After a moment, I stepped out and looked over to see Audrey. She was in the same gown I was, but her dress was in a vivid red with black lacing.

“Hm,” Mother hummed in thought while staring at us. “Not bad, but it’s not perfect. Next one!”

I sighed as I stepped behind the curtain once again. I wonder how Audrey’s doing…

***

“This is so fun!” I thought to my goddess while once again changing outfits.

“I’m glad you’re having fun, my guardian,” She said, and I could tell she was smiling. Lydia and I have been doing this for nearly two hours now and have tried on different styles and colors of dresses, yet nothing seemed to please the queen.

“Of course I am! I love getting to see Lydia in all sorts of clothes.”

“Ah, that’s what you mean.”

A staff member helped me remove the most recent article: a sky-blue dress hanging loosely off the body. Lucia entered with the next set of clothes and laid them out.

“Huh?” I said as I examined them. “Aren’t these for men?” When I picked up the dark blue suit, it felt smooth. The black trim around the collar, lapels, and cuffs broke the color up and gave it a mature look.

“Men most commonly wear the style, but Her Majesty requested that this be tailor-made for you.” The staff lady informed me as I moved to the matching slacks and black dress shirt. The slacks had a black half-skirt attached that fell behind me, giving my silhouette a feminine look.

The suit took a little longer to put on than the dresses, and they even styled my hair a bit, braiding it loosely around the sides and letting the rest fall over my shoulders. Once everything was on, I examined myself in the mirror.

“W-Woah, is that really me?” I asked dumbly. I struck quite the image with my scarlet hair contrasting against the dark suit, but then I realized something was missing. “Isn’t there usually a tie?” I said as I patted my empty collar.

Lucia gave me a broad smile before pulling a neatly folded tie from her pocket and handing it to the staff member, who tied it around my neck. I gently laid a hand on the finishing touch. The tie was golden, the same shade as Lydia’s hair.

“I love it…” I said, breathless.

“You look incredible, Audrey,” Aurora said with love in my head.

“I think we might have a winner here. Let’s show Her Majesty,” the staff lady said as she peered her head out. It looks like Her Highness has just finished as well!”

Wait… is Lydia in a suit, too?! My head spun with potential images of her, and I couldn’t help but get excited. I bet she looks incredible… I stepped out behind the curtain just as my girlfriend did and froze.

She wasn’t in a suit but in a dark blue off-the-shoulder dress with intricate designs in black lace that matched the color of my clothes. The sleeves stopped and flared open just below her elbows, and the skirt hovered above the floor. But the beautiful red shawl she held around her shoulders made my heart stop. It was slightly transparent and allowed for subtle glimpses of her collarbone.

“Audrey… please breathe.” My goddess prodded, and I slowly inhaled to clear my amazement.

“Absolutely stunning…” The words escaped me, and I saw Lydia’s face flush slightly as she looked away.

“You as well, Audrey… You look incredibly handsome right now…” She bit her lip as she paused. “Maybe handsome isn’t the right word… but wow.” We continued to stare at each other until Aunt Bella broke into laughter.

“Well, I think we have our winners!” She turned to the manager with a massive grin. “We’ll take those.” There was still a veritable mountain of clothes left, but it seemed the queen had decided. We were ushered back into the changing rooms and put back into our academy uniforms. Yet, when we left the store, I couldn’t help but think of how beautiful Lydia had been in that dress.

Before I realized it, we were on the carriage heading through town again, but we were still with Aunt Bella. “Are we not heading back to campus?” I asked, and the queen smiled at me.

“We finished earlier than I thought, so I figured I’d take the opportunity to have tea with my daughters.”

“Wouldn’t the queen showing up at a cafe in town cause trouble?” She reached into her bag and pulled out a hand mirror in response to my question.

“That’s why I brought this!” Her blonde hair darkened to a dull brown as she stared into it. Her blue eyes also changed into green, matching her husband and daughter. “Nobody will recognize me like this!”

“That’s amazing! What is that?” I had never seen magic like that before. When we dyed my hair for the tournament, we did it with regular dye!

“It’s a magic item created by our most experienced magicians and something that she most likely snuck out of the castle…” Lydia said, and her mother evaded her accusation by pointing out the window.

“Ah! That cafe looks nice; let’s stop here!” She called to the driver before disembarking as soon as the vehicle stopped. “Let’s go, girls.” And I couldn’t help but giggle at my girlfriend’s bothered expression as we followed Aunt Bella into the quaint building. The attendants stayed with the carriages while Lucia and the knight escort the queen had brought all dispersed and blended into the crowd while keeping eyes on us.

“Shouldn’t you change your appearance as well?” I asked Lydia as we sat down near a window. The sunlight filtered through the glass and reflected off her golden hair as she looked at me.

“I don’t make nearly as many public appearances as the rest of my family, so it’s doubtful anyone would recognize me. Not among the common folk, at least.” The waitress soon arrived at our table and took our order.

Lydia and her mother ordered green tea, while I ordered camomille tea. I’ve always loved the tea Sasha made for me. We also ordered some cakes, and a few moments later, our table was laden with everything.

“Are you having a good time at the academy?” Aunt Bella asked as we took small bites of the sweets.

“I am. Everyone I’ve met has been incredibly lovely, and my instructors are reliable.” I said.

“She loves training much more than a young lady should.” Lydia chimed in, and my face flushed in embarrassment as the Queen laughed gently.

“That is no surprise. You take after Cecilia in more than looks, it seems.” My head whipped up at the mention of my mother, and I could see Aunt Bella’s eyes getting a little misty. “Honestly, She loved to beat up Stephan under the guise of ‘sparing.’”

I remember when I first met the royal couple. She also mentioned how talented my mother had been with the sword. The image of my sickly mother bullying the king made me laugh. I was also saddened that it was a part of her I’d never know.

“Audrey…” my goddess started, but I shook the thoughts away.

“I’m alright, I promise. I just miss her.” For the first time in a while, I clutched at my pendant. The familiar shape comforted me as I listened to Aunt Bella reminisce about my mother. I laughed at her recounting the outrageous things my mother did while a student and teared up when she described the events leading up to the fall of the Mays household and her marriage to my father.

It was in much more detail than when we discussed it previously, but I still couldn’t help but wonder. “Why did Duke Rose want to marry my mother? They clearly didn’t love each other.” I asked.

Aunt Bella winced at my question but answered anyway. “My husband and I believe it was so he could inherit the Marquis’s land, which is precisely what happened. Back then, the Rose Dukedom didn’t extend all the way to the border, and the Mays had a few mines for precious gems and metals, which I’m sure was a good enough reason on its own.” I couldn’t help but voice the painful thought that hit me.

“Then why have me?” I asked quietly. “I never existed for my father, even while my mother was alive. Why have a child at all, then?” Lydia grasped my hand in hers to comfort me, and the queen looked at me in sorrow.

“Because your mother wanted you. That’s all there is to it.” Her simple declaration shocked me. “As I mentioned before, Cecilia wanted to be an adventurer and travel the world, but that wasn’t all she wanted.” Her eyes grew distant. “She had a more… realistic dream. She wanted to find an excellent partner and raise a loving family, and when her adventuring dreams were cut short, she clung to the last one she had.” Her eyes met mine as she continued. “And that was you, Audrey. Before she passed, we exchanged letters frequently, much to the Duke’s displeasure.” She said with a sad smile. “Her letters always conveyed her loneliness, and it broke my heart that I couldn’t help her. Yet, after she had you, those same letters were filled with warmth and excitement as she talked about you.” Aunt Bella reached out and laid a hand over mine as well. “I was never able to rescue her from that place, but even if it was for the last few years, you did.”

Tears began to well in my eyes. I knew my mother loved me, and I loved her, but I never understood the true extent of her feelings. Aunt Bella reached into her bag again and retrieved a wrinkled envelope. “I was meant to give you this when we met, but you were going through so much at the time I decided it would be better to wait.” I took the paper from her and gasped as I read who it was addressed to.

Audrey

“She snuck that with one of her usual letters to me and asked that I give it to you if we ever crossed paths. I haven’t read it.” I couldn’t bring myself to read it right then, as we were still in the cafe, so I carefully snuck it into my pocket dimension by pretending to put it in my pocket.

“Are you alright?” Lydia asked worriedly, and I did my best to reassure her.

“Of course… I’ll take a look at it later.” I subtly gestured around us, and the other two seemed to understand.

“I apologize about the timing, but I wasn’t sure if I’d get to see you again before the end of the year.” the queen apologized, bowing her head slightly, and I waved my hands frantically.

“N-No, I completely understand and appreciate you doing that for me.” An awkward silence passed between us before she spoke again.

“Well, I think we should finish eating and be on our way then, yes?” she said, and Lydia and I both nodded. My thoughts were stuck on my mother’s letter, so I couldn’t even taste the rest of the sweets on the table as I numbly ate them with the other two. Finally, after another fifteen minutes or so, we left the cafe and prepared to go our separate ways.

Before we left, I gave Aunt Bella a tight hug. “Thank you,” I said simply, and she returned the embrace.

“Anything for you. You may be Cecilia’s daughter, but it seems you’ll be mine in actuality soon as well.” She teased with a wink. “Family takes care of family, and both you and your mother are a part of mine.” I nodded happily, and we let each other go. I waved her off as the carriage pulled away. The letter still weighed on my heart, but I’d read it as soon as we returned to the dorm.

“Shall we head back?” Lydia asked, and I nodded.

“Lead the way, my Lydia.”

***

The carriage rolled along the cobblestones, heading back to the castle, where the rest of my family was waiting. Spending the whole day with my daughters was refreshing, and I was ready to get back to work.

“I wish I could’ve just taken them back with me,” I said mindlessly with a hand on my cheek. There were only two months left in the academic school year, and then both girls would be back where I could keep an eye on them.

Before I arrived at the castle, however, I had a problem to deal with. I signaled for the driver to pull over before exiting the carriage again and walking into a deserted alleyway. I knew this city like the back of my hand and was confident in navigating even the maze-like backroads. My knight escorts followed behind me, warily watching the surrounding rooftops and doorways.

After a few minutes, we arrived in a deserted courtyard between a few defunct buildings. “Come on out,” I called out, listening as my voice echoed off the buildings. “No need to hide. I know you’ve been watching me all day. Here’s your chance!” I was grateful they didn’t strike while I was with Lydia and Audrey. They won’t get any mercy from me, regardless.

An arrow shot towards me, and one of my knights shouted a warning, but the arrow fell to the ground, frozen solid before he could finish his sentence. Eight assassins appeared on the rooftops and jumped onto the ground to surround me and the three knights I had brought with me.

“Your Majesty! Please get behind us!” The leader of my knights said, but I waved him off.

“There’s no need for that. None of these men are as strong as the one who attacked my daughters. I can handle this much on my own.” The assassins hadn’t moved since hitting the ground, and I leisurely walked to the nearest one. Even when I stood an arm's breadth from him, he still didn’t react.

I reached out, pulled his mask and hood off, and stared at his frozen face. A thin layer of ice encased his whole face and body, leaving only his eyes moving in fear.

I leaned in close. “Scared, are you? Now you know how it feels.” I pulled my arm back and punched into his chest with all my might. His body shattered into a hundred pieces, still frozen in ice. I carefully stepped around the red chunks that now littered the ground and moved to the next one. I shattered each assassin, one by one, until only a lone man was left in the courtyard. I ignored the awe-struck and somewhat horrified looks my knights were giving me as I pulled back the hood of the last one.

His eyes were panicked and bloodshot as they met mine.

“I’d rather not kill you as well, so do you promise to cooperate?” I asked sweetly, but judging by his tears, my attempt to console him didn’t go as intended. I unfroze his mouth and allowed him to speak.

“P-Please. S-Spare me.” He stuttered.

“Be. Quiet.” I ordered, and his mouth closed. “I asked you a question. It’s in your best interest to answer honestly.” My voice was low and monotone, which seemed to scare him more.

“I-I’ll do as you say!” he screamed.

“Good.” I leaned in to whisper like I did with the first one. “I know who your master is. Be a good dog and give him a message.” I glared as I spoke. “Tell that bastard to stay away from my family, especially my daughters, or he’ll decorate the castle hall as a permanent ice sculpture.” I turned and walked away. “You’ll thaw out in about an hour… well, the parts of you that don’t succumb to hypothermia will, at least. Consider it your queen's judgment for your crimes.”

I didn’t stop to revel in his reaction. I genuinely didn’t enjoy hurting people, but I had a duty not only to my country but to my family as well, and I’d throw myself into hell if it meant protecting them.

I returned to the carriage, and we continued to the castle as an idle thought crossed my mind. Maybe there is one person I wouldn’t mind hurting… I’ll wait patiently for the day I get my hands on him. For Cecilia and Audrey.