My Family

DARRYL

Even after all this time, taken in by the Prince, being trained by who I have come to find out is the best swordsman in the entire kingdom, also trained by the daughter of the Duke, I didn't consider myself a noble. I didn't dare to.

Our kingdom had strict hierarchical law. At the very bottom were the disabled, then the orphans, the commoners, the merchants, the lower nobles, the high nobles, the Dukes and finally, the royals. The hierarchy was strictly maintained and those who tried recklessly to ascend the hierarchy were put to death. However, the church came to upset that balance. The pope shared equal power to the King, and so a hierarchy was established in betwixt the existing hierarchy. The disabled, orphans and commoners were still at the bottom.

If one became a knight, a great one, they could hold influence that was equal to a high noble. That was why I was working so hard to become a knight. Winifred couldn't understand even though I was doing it for her.

Before I met her, I was just like the other hopeless children in the orphanage. Our only hope were the priests from the church, even though our future was uncertain. Every other day was unexciting and exhausting. Orphans had to work to exist, so we would spend our days toiling in the potato fields outside the town, bringing in harvest for the lower nobles in the area. All the money we earned goes to the orphanage. The sisters took care of us...sometimes.

My life was so bare until I met her. She was a scrawny little thing and her clouded grey eyes told me what I needed to know. She was quiet, clutching the necklace around her neck like it was her last hope. The sisters looked at me to take care of her. I didn't want to but defying the sisters came with severe consequences. I bore it on my face.

Taking care of a child was hard on a child like me. But each day I did it and the closer I got to her, the brighter my world became. I began to think of a future for the first time in my life, a future for the both of us. I would become a knight and take care of her in a big house she would never get tired of exploring. I would...finally see her smile.

That day she woke up and started speaking to me, I knew she was different. It was like the soulless doll following me around finally gained a soul. Even though she was different, I didn't complain. Anything was better than nothing. I would still continue to take care of her, no matter what happened.

"Darryl, why are you brushing my hair today? Where's the maid?"

"It's been a while since I did it. I'm trying to calm myself before I go for training today."

"You're always acting like a servant," she grumbled. She grumbles now. She has a lot of expressions and she can see a color now. She's constantly arguing with everybody but admittedly not without a reason. She had become brighter.

"Just let me brush your hair. It's hard for anyone else to tame, you know."

"Of course I do. I had to tame it for a long time. Oh, don't forcibly brush out a knot or you'll lose your hair too."

"Yes, ma'am."

She didn't remember her family. It wasn't like she could see them anyway. They didn't deserve her if they hadn't come back for her for so long. She was my family now.

"You're training to be a knight? Your hands are rough."

"I'm used to scars so they don't bother me."

"You have a scar?"

"Yes. It's an ugly one too."

"Let me touch it."

Winifred was regaining her sight, that was obvious. If one day, she could see like a normal person, she would be able to see my face. Would she...still stay with me, as family?

"Don't you have to go to training? Hurry up!"

I forgot how impatient she was. I raised her hand and placed it against my face. We were seated in front of the mirror and I could see her small hands sneaking up my face to touch my scar.

I usually avoided mirrors and surfaces I could see my face in. She touched it softly, tracing it to figure out the length.

"How'd you get it?"

"You don't really have to..."

"I'll cry, Darryl."

"Fine, I'll tell you! It was one of the sisters at the orphanage. I tried running away and...I was caught."

"She hit you."

"No. She burned my face."

"Ah, I see. So we can burn her like a witch?"

"No, no, no, no! It was a long time ago. Don't worry about it now. I have to leave for training now so I'll be back later."

"Tell me you love me, Darryl."

"...what?"

"You're late. You should go."

Sometimes, she didn't make any sense but today wasn't the day to figure her out. I had to reach the training ground before my teacher.

I didn't. He was already there, like he always was. He was shirtless, well, that was new and his sword was in his hand. He was breaking a sweat, which was again, new but I soon found out why.

My teacher was fighting Lord Silver. I would say it was a duel but it felt like he was physically trying to beat him into the ground. While he was breaking a sweat, Lord Silver wasn't. He wasn't even using a sword. It felt like he found a dagger in a hurry but was excellently parrying my teacher.

"Teacher! Lord Silver!"

"Shush, Darryl! It's getting very interesting!"

"Someone should stop them!"

"Do you want to get in the middle of that?"

I looked at the fight and shook my head. I would die getting in the middle of that.

"Why are they even fighting?"

"Lord Grace saw Lord Silver come out of Lady Freya's room this morning. It was absolute chaos after that."

Lord Silver...and Lady Freya? It hadn't even been a month yet. I doubt the prince would be happy with this. And if Winifred happened to hear...

"Well, well, well..."

Oh, no. That's her voice.

"Lord Sebastian Silver. Aren't we due for a lesson this morning? What in Oriel's name are you doing?!"

"I would've turned up for lesson if this man hadn't attacked me this morning."

"And who would be bold enough to do so?"

"Why don't you explain this to her, Lord Grace?"

"Children should stay out of adult matters."

Everyone gasped, including myself. No one had dared to talk to her like that after what happened last month. Lord Grace was the proud type so there was no way he would treat Winifred with deference. He, pitifully, didn't know what she was capable of.

"Lord Silver, why are you still playing? We don't have all day."

"My apologies, my lady."

Lord Silver threw the dagger in the air and rushed at Lord Grace. Lord Grace raised his sword to injure him but the sword never connected. I didn't even see what happened. I just saw the sword shatter and Lord Grace land on the floor with the most horrified expression on his face.

"Is it finally over?"

"Yes, my lady."

"Then carry me to my lesson room. I'm tired coming all the way here because Lady Freya urged me to break up this foolishness."

"I smell worse than the stables. Do you really want to do that?"

"Ew, no. Darryl, you carry me."

I looked back and forth from Lord Grace and Winifred. I eventually succumb to her call and carry her back to her room while Lord Silver followed behind.

"You're an idiot."

"You don't even know what happened."

"Freya told me. You knew people would talk and I know Lord Grace was trying to defend his fucking cousin's honor! Are you stupid? You know they were to be married once!"

"It's been done now. It's not like I can reverse time. Look, I was just trying to...forget it. You'll never understand."

"Next time, consult me before doing things behind my back. Just this once, I'll tell the Prince it was nothing short of a coincidence. He likes listening to my voice anyway, that pervert."

"What is a pervert?"

They spoke back and forth like adults. Sometimes, Winifred looked at Lord Silver like she could see him. Those times, it felt like I was invisible and she was far from my reach. I didn't like that. She was the only family I had and I couldn't lose her.

"Darryl is quiet. Are you worried about Lord Grace? I'm sure he didn't sustain any bodily harm."

"No, it's nothing like that. I just didn't know what to say. I'm sure Lord Grace is fine."

"Lord Silver must be jealous of us. Unlike him, we actually have a close relationship and no one would question us when we walk out of each other's room. It's perfect."

"Isn't it because we're children?"

"Sshhh! Don't ruin it."