Dinner

"Did you hear?"  Gossip could be heard from those watching around the Training Grounds that Eon had made a habit of visiting every day in the Knight Training Area.  Eon wanted to be familiar with fighting against many weapons, so he would train with the Royal Knights to get a good workout in. 

Wiping the sweat on a towel provided by Greg, he tried to ignore the growing number of ladies that came to watch.  "She met with the prince!"  an exclamation from one of the newly married girls came.  He frowned.  He despised the Prince of Autra.  They had clashed a number of times about the Prince's views on women.

"I saw it in the garden.  I told you she was being groomed to be his husband!"  That sentence caught his attention, because they could only be talking about one person.  He pointed at the crowd to Greg, who nodded.  Greg was a master at getting information.  He knew he could leave getting as many answers out of the young ladies as he needed.

Perhaps a little angry at the comments, Eon's next match went a little too well.  The other knights gulped, noticing his mood.  They silently saluted the poor knight who was next in their hearts.  Just as they suspected, the knight against Eon didn't fare well, and ended up being brought to the Healer's Area. 

Eon, having had enough exercise for one day, motioned for Greg that it was time to leave and put a shirt back on.  It was simply way too hot there to wear one.  He didn't know when this habit started, but since Rie never had come to watch him, he didn't think about it much. 

As usual, one or more of the ladies tried to speak to him on his way out, but he ignored them all.  There had been more and more gathering each day.  'Seriously, do they not have anything better to do?'  He sat down for his lunch as he listened to the newest gossip Greg had gathered.

"Apparently, the Prince approached the lady Rielen yesterday while she was in the garden.  Some ladies watched the exchange from a tea party not far away.  By all accounts, he offered her a red rose, but she left quickly after the exchange."

"So he started moving in on her."  Eon was gripping a knife in his hand, and made Greg start to look nervous.  "Master, perhaps you should put the knife down."  Greg was getting more nervous as his charge gripped the knife tighter.  The knife clattered to the table, and Greg let out a sigh of relief.

"Invite her over for dinner," Eon said.  Greg was confused.  Dinner?  How was that supposed to solve anything?  "Make sure someone sees her enter my room."  'Oh my,' Greg thought. 'Now I see what you mean, Master.'  Eon pushed the rest of his food away, and left for his private training room prepared by the Academy.

Greg was busy preparing the perfect dinner plan, and arranging 'witnesses' to Rielen entering his master's room.  Hyla returned the invitation with a favorable answer; now all that was left was to get his master ready for the evening.

He knocked on the door outside the private training room to his master.  "It is time to get ready, Master."  Eon nodded, and let Greg get him ready for the evening.  He had done extra training to let out the nervous energy he had accumulated thinking about having dinner with Rie. 

After his bath, Greg took extra care to recommend outfits for the night.  He described the dinner he had ordered for the night, and all the things he prepared.  "Master, I believe that this dinner should be between just the two of you.  To make the message clear."  Eon nodded, the nervous tension coming back.

"Perfect!"  Greg was ecstatic.  He had been silently cheering for the young master's success for a while now.  He had even secretly made preparations for other activities, if it came to that.  Of course, one of the other attendants happened to observe him doing such things.

It would be any moment now that Rielen would knock on the door.  "Now, Master, I have prepared special products next to your bedside so that there won't be any accidents.  Do you understand?"  Eon looked up in surprise.  He didn't plan on doing anything like that!  "Just in case, Master."  Eon reluctantly nodded, appreciating the lengths his attendant had gone for him.

Knock. Knock.  Greg opened the door to Rielen, who had no attendant behind her.  She had a slight blush to her face.  Greg hid a smile, and bowed as he left the room.  She looked a little surprised as she was left with Eon.  He took her jacket and hung it next to the door, as he ushered her to the dinner waiting for them at the table.

"I heard you had a visit from the Prince?"  He didn't want to ruin the mood that Greg had tried so hard to prepare for him, but he was curious.  "Yes, the flies keep getting bolder as the end of the school year draws near," she replied, knowing he was just jealous.

"I will have to squash a few, then,"  Eon replied back to her.  She reached up to grab his hand.  His heart was thudding hard.  He hoped she couldn't feel it through his hand.  She looked stunning in the dark blue dress she had chosen to wear.  "You look beautiful,"  he heard himself utter.