29 - After The Visit

When they got home, her mother went to see her father. They had been in the closed room of the study for a while now. Anemone had sat down to play chess with her brother. He took a long time thinking on where to move. He was too easy for her as she could predict what he did.

"Sister, can you tell me about your visit to the castle?" Cayden had finally made his move.

Anemone stared at his move and then took his pawn with her bishop. "It was uneventful."

Cayden frowned, deep in thought. "How can going to the castle be uneventful? Did you see any of the royal family?"

Anemone sighed at his question. The Queen had two sons and a daughter. No one knew what they looked like as they were under the age sixteen. When they turned sixteen, they would be introduced into society. Only the people who lived in the castle knew what they looked like.

"I did meet a boy," she finally answered. Cayden's eyes widen in interest. "He wore the junior soldier's uniform."

"A soldier!?"

"Yes, a soldier. He introduced himself as the son of Teolwy. Do you know what rank Teolwy family is?"

Cayden nodded, realizing she was quizzing him. "The Teolwy family is another Duke family. They have the same status as us except for two years ago. They were favored by the King and moved to the city."

Anemone watched him finally move a piece. She debated and decided to take the rook. He groaned in frustration. "The son seems to be really strong. What will happen if you were to go against him?"

Cayden moved his knight and finally took one of her pawns. Hearing her words, his face dropped. "Uh... why am I going against him?"

She moved a pawn. "Cayden, he already is a good magic wielder and already in the junior soldiers. When you become of age, are you going to be able to succeed?"

To be a junior soldier, you had to be ten years and older. Cayden only stared at her, his mouth gaping wide. Irritated, she shoved his pawn in his mouth. He choked as he took it out of his mouth. "Sister!"

"Cayden! I'm being serious too. You are the future Duke. You'll need to know how to make alliances and enemies. Don't do what you did to Lady Iris. No one will marry an idiot."

Cayden made a sad face but then perked up. "Sister, you would marry me, right?"

His words irritated her so she shoved another pawn in his mouth. "I said no one will marry an idiot. I wouldn't be that idiot who does," she retorted. He cried pitifully as she tried shoving the rook down his throat.

"Anemone."

Anemone turned to see her mother standing at the doorway. She stopped what she was doing and stood up. "Mother, is there something you need?" she asked. Her mother had a strange face, as if nervous.

"Your father wants to talk to you, Anemone," her mother said and then added," Alone."

Anemone gripped her dress tightly.