Chapter 63: Awkwardness

Kilian resumed his training, and this time Dante helped him as he had always done.

No one spoke, and the set of exercises was ingrained into them both, so they did not need to.

Each one knew exactly what needed to be done, and soon Kilian found himself huffing on the ground.

He had done more than normal, and his legs were now complaining.

Still, he felt great, knowing he had come a long way since the time he had been confined to a wheelchair.

The knights were training, and they all took turns to steal glimpses of Kilian while he laid there in the grass.

"They have never seen a noble behave like you."

Dante was the first to break the silence and was the only one present not looking at Kilian.

Kilian sighed and ran his hand up through his hair, removing the sweaty bangs from his forehead.

The motion made some of the knights completely stop in their tracks.

"It seems I better leave, or they will not get anything done."

Kilian made a point of raising his voice so the knights could hear him, and soon all of them were concentrated on their own training.

Dante reached down, meeting Kilian's hand reaching up, grabbing it, and helping Kilian to his feet.

It was the closest they had been after the conversation earlier, and Dante awkwardly stepped back.

Kilian felt the urge to tease the man, as he had done so many times before, but this time he had to hold back.

'I almost went back on my own words.' Kilian thought, giving Dante an apologetic smile, which seemed to just add fuel to the fire.

'He is just like an open book.' Kilian could tell Dante only got embarrassed at the smile he was given, and Kilian tried to relax his expression.

'This is already tiring.'

Dante really was attractive, but they could no longer keep going as they had.

The wind became stronger and a maid approached them, bringing Kilian a towel and a drink. It was as if she had been ready to approach at any time, and Kilian was curious about where she had been hiding.

It was the same maid that had been staring at him the time he had changed for the ball, but he had forgotten her name.

He nodded a thank you and wiped the sweat off his face and neck.

"Kilian"

The voice was high and soft, and a woman dressed in a loose dress with a blonde braid running down over her shoulder walked towards them.

Her smile was the sun itself, and if the knights had paid attention to Kilian before they were now trying to get ahead of each other to see his mother.

She was no longer young, but she was incredibly beautiful, and her strides were filled with elegance.

"Mother."

Kilian acknowledge her, but still had trouble with how to act around this mother of his. She had started to give him love and affection whenever he was near her, but he was not used to it.

At times he would be short with her and leave, knowing she might be hurt, but he did not know how to be a loving son.

Ameria hugged her son in front of everyone, and Kilian stood in the embrace embracing her back halfheartedly, unsure if he was squeezing too hard.

"I heard something unpleasant happened."

Her voice was filled with concern, and she took extra time to study him, to make sure he was in one piece.

Kilian turned and stared down the knights, who all were suddenly back at training as if they knew nothing.

'Word traveled fast.'

Kilian sighed and smiled at his mother.

"I am ok, everyone here protected me."

He replied, trying to give the credit to the others, so she would have no more reason to question him.

"My Lady, should I set up tea on the pavilion?" The maid was gesturing in the direction of the pavilion, and Kilian's mother seemed to digest the word for a bit, then reluctantly followed the maid.

'She must know, I feel uncomfortable.' He did dislike his own behavior and hoped he could make it different between them, but for now, he just had to get used to her.

At least his grandfather mostly left him alone, it felt comforting, almost as if the Archduke trusted him to do what he needed to, or wanted to.

Kilian left the training grounds and headed for his room.

A warm bath had been set up, and he let his sweaty clothes fall to the floor, gratefully welcoming the warm water to surround his body.

A small chirp met him, and the golden bird flew in through the window and got comfortable on the edge of the bathtub.

Kilian stroked the golden feathers, this time knowing the feeling would be transmitted to Rayden.

His stomach felt like it was carrying butterflies, and he found himself smiling at an empty room.

'Do I like him?'

He had been busy and had not thought much of Rayden, but this little reminder of the man that had confessed to Kilian was now making his cheeks flushed.

Or was it the hot water?

He still wasn't sure.

The bird materialized a small piece of paper, and Kilian quickly grabbed it before it got soaked in water.

"Kil.

When you receive this, then I am already on my way to the frontlines. I am in charge of 45 well-trained knights and 60 volunteer fighters.

Our goal is to eradicate the cluster of monsters that have been reported at the smaller cities along the border.

I promise you, I will come back, so stay away from the war.

Stay safe.

Rayden"

Kilian read the letter out loud, then again slowly to himself.

He was supposed to head for the North, the safest place in the kingdom currently, but knowing Rayden had to fight the creatures who might be immune to magic, was making him anxious.