Chapter 54: Veils and Rides

Tras was the young man next to Kilian, they had hit it off right away, and the other young men and women were all engaged with them in a conversation about the war.

"I will be leaving in 5 days."

Tras was looking proud as he breathed in deeply, flaunting his chest for the women, who were all giggling.

He was not bad looking, and he had a very approachable atmosphere, that seemed comfortable and easy to get along with.

Kilian leaned against his cane, his feet were now complaining of the extended time he had been standing.

"Young Master Kilian, will you be leaving for the frontlines?"

It was Ashite that had asked, and her intentions had seemed pure, but the voices had dulled, and people in the group were now trying to look everywhere than at Kilian.

'The others must know I'm considered…weak.'

"My grandfather will be going for the Valen family, I will be taking my Mother to the North.

Kilian simply smiled as he always did in an awkward situation, trying not to let the lady feel as if she had said something wrong, and it eased the atmosphere again for others to chime in.

"I heard the lady for the Valen family, is the most beautiful noble lady, is she perhaps the rumored golden-haired 'The Lady' the rumors have been circulating about?"

"Snort."

Kilian almost choked on the sip of wine he had taken, hearing about the rumors of 'The Lady', but it seemed the noble kids were now convinced it had actually been the lady from the Valen family and not Kilian.

A handkerchief was available at once, and he took it without questioning the gesture and wiped his mouth.

"Thank you."

He mumbled and nodded to Tras who had offered it.

"I will make sure to return it later."

Somehow Kilian had expected the man to politely refuse since it was just a handkerchief, but instead, he seemed delighted at Kilian's words.

"I will look forward to seeing a Valen at my residence sometime soon. If I am gone, then it will still be an honor to my parents."

Kilian nodded at the words but did not refute or reply to them.

'I guess I should at least accept an invitation from his family if it arrives anytime soon.' Kilian thought.

Something big was casting a shadow, and Kilian could tell Dante had appeared beside him, without even looking.

The eyes of the ladies were now going from Kilian to the man behind him, and he knew at this moment they were being compared.

One had grown in to become handsome and muscular, while the other looked more delicate and elegant.

"Is there anything I can help the Lord with?"

Dante had cleared his throat and the voice was shaking lightly like he was afraid of being told off again.

Kilian did not reply, he wanted to be childish, and let Dante think he was still mad.

But in reality, there was no way he could really be mad at the puppy like Dante.

'He just gets carried away sometimes.'

The person behind him was shifting his weight on his feet, and the anxious behavior made Kilian turn around.

"Knight Dante, I appreciate your attentiveness, but I am ok, these fine nobles are not like the others."

Kilian made sure the whole group could hear him like he was praising them.

He made a point of lifting his fingers to correct the collar near Dante's neck, only to make Dante blush beet red.

The women fanned their faces, only Ashite and a lady next to her, which were wearing a veil, did not seem to be taken aback by the young men like the rest. p

Tras cleared his throat when Dante was too surprised to respond.

"Yes, we have been taking good care of the young Valen."

He was trying to placate this man who was twice his size of him, even if they were the same age.

It was not until Kilian's fingers let go of Dante's collar, that the redhead calmed down, and started to breathe again.

The lady with the veil snickered, and Kilian could not tell if it was malicious or well intended.

Ashite moved her arm to interlock with the veiled lady, and they both turned to leave the group after a courteous bow and farewell.

"Who is the lady with the veil?"

Kilian asked Tras, he had not remembered the lady introducing herself, but she had stood there in a slender dress with a veil that had stood out from the more feminine puffy dresses the other ladies were wearing.

"That is Lady Haldron, Samari Haldron, she is in mourning, her fiance died recently."

Kilian did not ask anything else, but Samari and Ashite had been the only female heirs that had been present at the war council.

"Is that amber." Tras tried to change the topic and was pointing at Kilian's cane.

Kilian smiled and lifted the cane for the man to inspect it.

"Yes it is, it has a soft smooth surface, and the amber colors stand out well."

Kilian knew it was a poor type of decoration compared to the jewels the men and women had adorned themselves with.

Regardless, Tras seemed to like the amber piece, and Kilian was hoping, he had finally made a friend.

The evening was getting chilly, and the many doors and windows that had been open to the outside were closing.

"Let's head home Dante."

Kilian finally said quietly, after having conversed with the group of nobles around him some more.

"Yes, Young Master."

The words were exemplary of an escort knight, and Dante took lead in escorting Kilian out of the hall.

The lips that Dante had licked earlier felt hot, and Kilian subconsciously rubbed them some.

His mind was a bit fuzzy from the alcohol, but he did not think himself drunk.

"Kil, can I get a ride with you?"

Whoever it was, it was rude to impose themselves on a ride, and Kilians stopped in his tracks while trying to enter his carriage that had been brough forth.

He knew who it was, by the nickname.

"Lord Rayden, I don't have the time to take you home."

Kilian felt a hand take his, and he was helped inside the carriage.

An annoyed-looking Dante was ready on his horse, and Rayden was standing at the door to the carriage, with one of his playful smirks.