Chapter 9

Derek thrusted his sword at Hansel and he parried in alarm. He tried to counter but his blade was easily deflected by Derek, who then extended his right foot forward and lunged at him. Startled, Hansel jumped back in alarm and blocked Derek's blade with his. He tried to counter-thrust but the strength he put in the attack was too weak and was easily parried by Derek.

"Tch." Derek clicked his tongue watching Hansel so out of sorts today. Usually Hansel would be the one who was attacking and Derek would be forced on back foot but it felt like the situation had reversed itself.

Derek, irked watching Hansel train half-heartedly, started throwing consecutive attacks at him. It was already hard for Hansel to cope up with him before but now he had even more difficulty in parrying. The fast movements were draining all the energy from Hansel's hand. He mustered up all his strength and thrusted at Derek but the latter twisted just in time to avoid the blow. He grabbed Hansel's hand which still held the protracted sword with force, spun him around pinning him to his chest.

"What is it," Derek asked Hansel as the latter panted for breath, "that's been bugging you?" He watched beads of sweat that travelled down his forehead and his cheeks that were flushed, both due to the exercise and the intimacy, which made him conscious.

"I, It's nothing." He stuttered and then fell silent. He could feel Derek's gaze boring into the side of his face. He decided to break free from Derek's clutch but it was too late for him to escape.

"Are you speaking the truth or are you looking for ways to get punished?" Derek's lips kissed his ears as he whispered into them, "I don't mind if it's the latter though, I have many ways in my mind to deal with you."

Hansel knew what Derek meant and he flushed even more, as if he wasn't already red enough before. Derek smirked, satisfied at bringing out an interesting reaction. His days were boring no more because he got off by watching Hansel get flustered at his words.

"I don't know…how to say this…" Hansel hesitated for a moment but decided to continue, "Some of us apprentices were chosen to accompany the knights to the southern states. They have to survey the fiefs there and the paperwork would be left to us apprentices."

"So, are you concerned that you'd miss me while you're away surveying?" Derek asked him jokingly but still anticipated the answer. Hansel's hand's which were trying to free himself from his clutches, hardened upon hearing it. Although originally it was not why he was worried, it would contribute to the cause now that he was made aware of it.

"Eh? N, No…It's just that I am illiterate. I don't know how to read…or write. But others don't know about it. So, I'd just end up getting embarrassed sooner or later." Hansel replied. His face was glum and his eyes lacked their usual shine.

Watching him disheartened, Derek didn't respond. Somehow, he had come to know Hansel's unfortunate childhood, but it wasn't him whom he heard it from. Even though Derek was happy that Hansel was gradually opening his heart for him, it wasn't enough. The desire to test Hansel came over him and he asked, "Why couldn't you learn how to read?"

"Because I am an orphan." Hansel replied. His insecurities resurface and his heart beat rose, anticipating how Derek would respond. Would he be shocked? Would he think lowly of Hansel now that he knew he was a commoner and with unknown origins at that? Would he not want him by his side anymore? Would this hug be the last time they interacted intimately with each other?

Contrary to his worries, Derek gripped him even tighter within his arms. He was satisfied that Hansel chose to trust him with this. Coming from a society that believed in strict hierarchy, it wouldn't have been easy for him to say this to a pure-blood noble. But he spoke nevertheless, and Derek was glad that he was relying on him.

"You have me now." Derek said, nuzzling his neck in Hansel's nape. The air was chilly even though it was spring already, but the words that Derek spoke and their bodies which were still attached were a source of warmth for Hansel. "When do you have to leave for the south?" Derek asked him breaking the silence.

"Next month." He replied.

"So, we have more than enough time. I'll teach you everything required. Don't worry." Derek said with a smile on his face. Hansel looked at him, wide-eyed, not believing the words he had heard.

Derek was taken aback seeing Hansel's eyes shine and his face brighten up. He flushed a little and his grip on Hansel loosened. Taking it as a chance, Hansel turned around to face him, his hands still about him. The sword Hansel held was dropped to the ground and his palms now rested on Derek's chest, unconsciously though.

"Really?" he asked Derek, still not believing his ears. Although it was no way to talk to a superior, Derek found it incredibly cute that Hansel had begun taking liberty with him.

"Yeah." Derek said unleashing a devilish smile and made the apprentice knight in front of him shiver. "But before that," He continued, "Let me reward you since you are being so cute." Finishing the words he had to say, his mouth captured Hansel's without a moment's delay.

Hansel's eyes were still open and watching Derek, shocked at what was happening to him out of nowhere. But then he lost to Derek's tongue which had found its way into his mouth. It rubbed his tongue and then caressed his upper palate.

"Nnh…" He moaned. It was one of his weak spot that Derek had found while kissing him earlier. Since it had been a while Derek had consumed himself in lust, he was naturally hungry for it. He kissed Hansel deeply, drawing out air from his lungs. His hands which rested on Derek's chest tried to push him away but Derek just tightened his grip around him. no matter how hard Hansel tried to break free, it did not faze Derek. After all, he didn't have 'Monster-Strength' for nothing.

Hansel's knee weakened due to lack of air and sudden exposure to pleasure. He caught Derek's shirt tightly to prevent his fall but Derek was already holding him in place with the arms that were wrapped around him. Just when Hansel thought he would faint from suffocation; Derek released his mouth.

He gasped for air and then coughed from choking on his own saliva. He clung to Derek, his head resting on his chest while he fulfilled his need for air. Derek's hands, which couldn't stay put at a place, found their way inside Hansel's shirt.

A shiver passed down Hansel's spine and he stood straight. He couldn't believe what Derek was doing to him in broad daylight while they were out in the open. There were other knights who were still practicing in the training ground and both of them were only shielded from their sight by a line of trees.

He grabbed Derek's hand which was moving up his back from above his shirt. "N, not here…" he pleaded Derek, "They will see us."

Watching his teary eyes, Derek wanted to tease him some more, but he decided against it. He would leave that fun for the next time.

"Okay, then." He spoke. His voice was raspy with desire as he whispered in Hansel's ears, "Let's go somewhere no one can see us!"