54 Dinner (2)

Their dinners together seemed to become something of an unspoken tradition.

Amelia didn't recieve word of it beforehand but at dinner the following evening, as well as the evening after that, Dario was once again there to join her. By the thrird day she naturally expected him to be there on her way to the dining room.

She didn't dislike having him there, rather it was nice having someone to converse with while she ate.

Each day she became more comfortable around the man and she slowly began to indulge in her curiosity about him. At first she tried to be subtle about het questions as to not appear imposing, but as the days past she became more blatant.

Dario had no problem of telling her what she wanted to know. He patiently told her of his time during the war, about he came into contact with the king and of how he recieved his title. Meanwhile he seemed to be just as curious about her and Amelia did her best to be as transparent as possible while at the same time not having to mention the marquis, her mothers death or William.

Something that became clear that week was that there were things that both of them avoided talking about. Dario seemed to intentionally avoid speaking of anything in his life before he became a knight and Amelia had enough common sense not to ask. In return Dario did not ask her anything of the topics that she tried her hardest not to mention.

"You must be jesting" Amelia giggled as she had a sip on a glass of white wine.

It was their fifth day of dining together. The mood had become even lighter than before thanks to the bottle of wine that was served along with the exquisitely cooked fish.

"Are you accusing me of lying?" Dario asked with an amused smirk.

"Of course not. However, you must hear how bizarre it sounds. Did the king really wear only a towel the first time you met him?"

"Yes. And if you hade met the man yourself it wouldn't sound as bizarre."

From the paintings Amelia had seen of the king it was hard to imagine. To her he seemed like noble and dignified, though his views were a bit unorthodox from an aristocratic perspective.

"Well, if it's indeed true, how did it happen?" she grinned and leaned on her elbows over the table, paying no regard to the proper etiquette.

"It's simple. Even though the man is a good leader he remained a snob even during the war. He sometimes snuck off to bathe in a nearby spring and insisted not to bring any guards with him. It wasn't a well hidden fact, however no one wanted to go against his orders so we ignored it."

Amelia stared at Dario with immense interest in the peculiar story.

"Then one night I happen to see him doing so. I obviously didn't dare to follow the prospective king against his wishes. However, there was an enemy attack to our camp only a short time after. While the other soldiers defended the camp I ran to Wilfred, who as I reached him had just gotten out of the spring wearing, as aforementioned, only a towel."

Amelia nearly spit out her drink at Dario's ridiculously dramatic telling of events.

"That is absurd, I can't even imagine it" she laughed.

"Then what about you? You only swept over the story of how you put a pair of underwear in that man's pocket."

Amelia felt herself blush. She had only mentioned it because she got caught up in the moment, quickly realising how undignified it sounded even though she had only been a child when it took place.

"I'd rather not..." She murmured while avoiding Dario's eyes.

"No, no, no. I have told you plenty of things already. Hence you have a debt to repay."

Amelia quickly glanced across the room to make sure that there weren't any servants nearby, then cleared her throat.

"Well, he was a nasty man to say the least. At the time I only thought that his wife ought to know of his weekly visits to the brothel. It wasn't a big thing to slip a pair that I found into his pocket on his way out" she stated matter of factly.

Dario leaned back in his chair with laughter and while Amelia wanted to sulk at his reaction she couldn't help but to join.

They stayed and talk consideribly later than usual, and as they left the dining room it was pitch black outside.

"Hey?"

Dario turned to her as they walked through the corridor.

"If it's alright, wold you come with me to my room for tonight?'"

Amelia wasn't surprised by his question as it had already been a while since she last came to his room. It was only natural that he would ask this of her so that their relationship wouldn't arouse suspicion.

"Yes, of course. That was our agreement in the first place after all."

Dario smiled and held out his arm to her, and like a reflex Amelia held onto it just like she had during the banquet.

A peculiar feeling immeadiatly followed, as she realised how closely they were really walking next to each other. She tried her best to ignore it.

"About that... Would you like to have the bed tonight" she asked, without looking at him.

"It is just that I've noticed that you don't seen to sleep very well on the sofa. I can sleep fine almost anywhere so I truly don't mind."

"That's not necessary since it has nothing to do with where I sleep. The bed would be wasted on me."

Even though Dario had been speaking lightheartedly of the war the entire night, in that moment it became clear that the war had left more traces than he let on.

"I see..."