Go Back Home

Riana couldn't believe the man in front of her, was he a cat with nine lives? Already knowing that his body was sick, he forced himself to continue the journey. Are all knights like that?

"Where are your friends? Aren't they looking for you?" Riana's question is a question too, Ivander often asks where his members are, are they safe?

"That's what I'm worried about too, I hope they're safe."

"Are you really coming back tomorrow?" Riana asked.

Ivander nodded, "Besides, I don't want to finish this young lady's meat."

"I told you not to make fun of me!" Riana hit Ivander's body lightly.

"Ah, it hurts." Ivander pretended to grimace in pain.

Seeing Ivander's reaction, Riana pursed her lips in annoyance, she was sure that her blow was very weak. The green bead studied Ivander's sturdy body which stood straight in front of her with clearly defined muscle curves. Are all men's bodies like this?

"Possible." Ivander said.

Riana blinked her eyes, wasn't she asking herself, then why could Ivander hear her?

"You said it clearly, I can hear it." Ivander mischievously flicked his finger at Riana's forehead.

"Can you pretend you didn't hear."

"I should."

Riana nodded, "Shouldn't a knight be nice to women?"

"Who said that?"

"My father. My father said that a knight would always be kind to girls, and I should not be afraid of them."

"Ha ha ha." It was really funny when those words came out of a girl's mouth, Ivander couldn't help but laugh.

"I used to be afraid of knights, aren't they scary to little kids?"

In front of Ivander, Riana looked like a child, "You're right." Ivander agreed quickly.

"You look like you're still a kid too." Ivander teased.

"Who's a kid!" Riana pouted in annoyance. "I'm already eighteen!"

"You're still very young."

"You too!"

"At least I'm older than you, I'm twenty-four years old, when I was fifteen I was already a young soldier." Ivander said he was proud of himself, in fact he only needed two years of education to become a young soldier.

"Can such a boy be a soldier?"

Ivander shook his head, "I'm not sure, but most young soldiers are seventeen, that is if they succeed."

Riana nodded, pretending to understand even though she was no longer interested in discussing knights, her head was dizzy because she didn't understand.

"Are you going to continue sitting here?" Ivander's question made Riana realize, hadn't they been there for a very long time, the sun was even rising.

Riana hurriedly stood up and without realizing it, her feet stepped on the black robe she was wearing, she immediately tried to reach for anything that could help her.

BRUCK!

A loud thud filled the room. Riana managed to grab Ivander's arm, but she didn't get safety but instead they both fell at the same time.

Riana closed her eyes, she was ready for the pain she would feel. When things sounded calmer, she opened her eyes slowly, the pain she was waiting for never came. Riana raised her head slowly, dark blue, that was the first thing she saw. Dark blue eyeballs and regular breathing.

Wait! What really happened?

Riana was on top of Ivander's body. She immediately lifted her body and immediately tidied herself and her clothes which were very troublesome!

"Hah! My body hurts." Ivander said.

"I'm sorry, I really didn't mean to harm you." Riana looked down.

"You have to take care of me."

"Yes."

"Taking care of me again."

"Yes."

"....."

"Huh! What? Taking care of you?" Riana widened her eyes after finding full consciousness.

"Don't make fun of me!" Riana hurriedly stood up and left Ivander, she even slammed the door a little harshly. How many times had Ivander made fun of her?

****

The sun was shining very brightly, an orange tinge slowly began to appear followed by the chirping of birds which brightened up the evening atmosphere. Tomorrow Riana has to go back to the garden to pick the peony flowers that have already opened.

"Your clothes are back to normal." Ivander observed Riana from head to toe. Hair that is braided in one braid extending to the back looks elegant combined with a pale yellow dress with sunflower embroidery decorating the edge of the dress, very beautiful.

"It's hot, I can't wear it in this weather."

Ivander laughed at Riana's words, besides who could stand wearing thick clothes in hot weather like this.

"You're making fun of me again, aren't you." Riana's gaze sharpened slightly, implying that she didn't like being made fun of.

Ivander immediately shook his head. "I'll be back tomorrow." He said.

"Back?" Riana thought for a moment. "Ah yes, I know." Riana replied.

Ivander took a deep breath, he felt it was hard to leave the woman in front of him, even though she was not family, but why did he feel it was hard to say goodbye? "Do you mind if I go?" Ivander asked.

"I'm used to be alone." Riana answered.

"But I'm worried about you." Ivander said honestly. After he lived with Riana, he felt that Riana couldn't live alone, let alone garden by herself.

"I'm not a kid."

Ivander was furious, he combed his hair back, "Be careful."

Riana was silent when she saw Ivander's face turn serious, it seemed like he was really worried about her.

"When you're alone, you have to be careful. Remember, there are no good men. Don't trust them easily and never open the door of your house to anyone!" Ivander is also worried about other things, especially this woman's innocence.

Riana nodded, she carefully listened to Ivander's advice.

"Except for me, you can only open the door of your house to me."

"Why only you?"

"Because I'm different, I can protect you."

"Can I open the door for the knights?"

"No!" Ivander shook his head quickly, not all knights were like him, sometimes they were even more bastards!

"Okay, I understand."

There was silence after that, they sat in silence while enjoying the afternoon breeze that brushed their faces. Actually, Riana hates this atmosphere, letting someone go will only make her remember her father, even though he left not only for war but forever.

"Are you really coming back?" Riana asked suddenly amidst the silence.

Ivander turned his head, "I don't know."

"Will we meet someday?"

"Maybe, I don't know that."

"Do you have enough money to travel?"

Ivander nodded, "Don't worry, you don't have to worry about me."

"REDIVAN!!" A man shouted Ivander's pseudonym loudly, stopping the conversation between the two. The familiar call must have come from one of the members, Galar.

True to his expectations, Ivander saw the figure of a man wearing exactly the same robes as his own walking over while leading a horse, behind which two other people followed.

"Who are they?"

"That's my friend, can you come inside the house for a moment?"

Riana nodded, obeying Ivander's orders, she entered the house immediately even though she didn't know why she had to enter the house?

****

This is where the five of them finally sat down at the dining table to eat a simple dinner. After talking at length about Ivander's search, they finally planned to stay overnight here, of course this had to be done with Riana's permission.

The members found Ivander's sword, armor and horse. They believed that Ivander was not dead because no body was found around them. They then searched for it until now. Ivander also knows that the traitor he has not had time to kill is already a prisoner of his members and he is being guarded by Harvis (one of the members who came with Ivander) who is interrogating him. They usually take him hostage to find out who is behind all this.

"Greetings, Lady. Thank you for allowing us to rest at your house." A sincere smile was given by a man with blonde hair with yellow beads. It was the man who had called the name 'redivan', Galar.

"Thank you for taking care of our stubborn leader, we know it must have been tough." This time the words came from the man sitting next to Galar, he had silver hair with bright gray beads.

Riana just smiled in response.

Another person with brown hair with green eyes like her just smiled sincerely, he looked younger than the others.

"Hey Robeth, why are you silent, where's your gratitude!" The silver-haired man exclaimed.

"Jack!" Ivander looked at the silver-haired man named Jack with a reprimanding look.

"Let us eat!" Riana exclaimed, breaking the tension that had almost occurred.

Riana looked down, she was busy eating her food slowly, while her ears heard the knights' conversation which she didn't understand.

"I suspect that they are collaborating with the eastern forces."

"Damn! Even that bastard wouldn't open his mouth until today!"

"Can't Harvis push that bastard?"

"Tomorrow I will ask him directly." Ivander said after hearing the report from his members.

"Yes Sir."

Riana felt increasingly cornered, she seemed to be one with the wall, her existence was not recognized, but at least it was better than being talked to about things she didn't understand.

****