Chapter 65: An Ounce of Affection, A Pinch of Obsession

The sun is temperate as it shined its gentle light that bathed the length and breadth of the Empire in a halo of golden light. The grand white spires and towers stretched tall from the ground like spears aiming to pierce the heavens while the walls protecting the Empire gleamed with pride. Inside the splendid castle, the brave princess knight busied herself with her work, reading papers on and on and signing contracts one after the other after careful analysis. 

Sylvia sighed after finishing her work and stacking the last bunch of paper. She leaned comfortably against her chair, finally feeling a bit of relaxation before pouring herself a cup of tea and sipping it with delight. 

It was not long, however, when her peace had been broken by the loud banging of her door and in came her obnoxious younger brother, Prince Aurelius, who seemed anxious about something. Sylvia's brows furrowed due to her brother's obvious distress but frowned when she saw the variety of jewelry and treasures in his hold. It couldn't be about that again, could it? 

"Sister, I need your help." he voiced raising the items in his hold for emphasis. 

"It's not about what I think it is, is it?" 

"I totally need your help in selecting my next present for Ruby. She wasn't quite happy when I sent 54 summer stags to the north for our 8th weeksary slash 2nd monthsary. She said all they did was 'eat, shit, escape, and ruin the properties of her people' so she had them turned into coats for the hunters and provided a feast for her subjects which I think was very sweet and generous. My Ruby really has the capacity to be a great queen for the Empire. But then she yelled at me over the phone and called me an idiot before telling me to stop sending useless things which I guess I deserve. Right now she's kind of busy because she's leading a campaign to vanquish the rising monsters from the forests surrounding the Empire and stuff. She's so brave and mighty but her job is preventing us from having more bonding time." Aurelius narrated on and on adding to Sylvia's headache. 

The knightess rubbed her temples listening to her brother talk about his girlfriend. According to his accounts, they have been "dating" for two months already which was a month after he visited Cadmure. Somehow, Ruby ended up agreeing to date him but it was still kept secret from the public for reasonable purposes. Due to the vast difference of their location, the two were forced to have a long-distance relationship but sometimes Aurelius would sneak out of the palace and meet Ruby on the Igrain woods where they first met. 

Ever since they became a couple, Aurelius had made it a habit to send gifts to Ruby every month which the maiden doesn't seem to like that much. The Northern Lady seemed to dislike too much materialism or simply because her brother's gifts are just too bizarre or extravagant like the aforementioned stags and his previous lavish gifts of jewelry and clothing. 

"Anyway, which one do you think is much better: this Fiery Lava Ruby or this Crimson Sunset Diamond?" Aurelius asked, presenting her two shining pendants that look the same. 

"Ummh, the Fiery Lava Ruby seems more symbolic since her name is Ruby." Sylvia suggested. 

"Okay, Crimson Sunset Diamond it is. Now to ship. Can I borrow your courier? Mine got eaten by a giant bird along the way."

"Oh, sure. But Aurelius I think we need to talk."

"What is it about? I'm quite busy with my less important princely duties and my relationship with Ruby so can we talk about it later?" The prince said with distaste. 

"It will only take a moment. I promise I won't take too much of your time. Ten minutes is all I'm asking for considering you interrupted me in the middle of my break time."

"Fine." Aurelius sighed exasperatedly before taking a seat opposite her. 

"I, and the rest of the palace staff, have noticed your deep... obsession for Ruby increasing as time went on. You only talk about her, think about her, and dedicate yourself for her that you've neglected some of your duties just to sneak out of the palace to frolic with her and leave me alone to do all your job for you." There was a slight rise in her voice at the end of her sentence due to annoyance but Sylvia did her best to restrain her anger. 

"You even had Lord Varsil Karstein executed by framing him up for treason because your "girlfriend" said that she hates him. The Karnstein Family had been one of our most loyal allies providing lands and rations to help with our battle against the Abyssal Demons! Yes, he may be nasty as a person but he's a glorified general who provides 20% of provisions for our frontlines. Who will fill his role now? Ruby? God, they don't even have vast farmlands in the north because of the terrible weather and then you-"

"What are you trying to say? Just spit it out." The prince said dismissively before turning serious when a sudden thought crossed his mind. 

"Are you trying to tell me to break up with Ruby?" Aurelius' voice turned lower and more threatening as if telling her to choose her words carefully. Sylvia sighed in exhaustion. 

"I'm not telling you to break up with her. I'm telling you to do your job as a prince and decide what's best for our people and not what a pretty girl living three leagues away thinks about. I'm not belittling Ruby. I respect her as a warrior and as a person, but if you keep on pursuing her and forgetting your duties... then I'm afraid it will be Father's decision you will have to deal with." Sylvia warned in a low grave tone. 

"Fine. I will do my job. But you will never tell father about anything." Aurelius surrendered with a frown. A

"Good. And Ruby sent me a letter. She doesn't want you to visit the Igrain Woods right now or the next weeks afterward. She said "Don't see me right now. It will be best if you stop sending your gifts altogether as well since they are only nuisances. I have more pressing matters to attend to than to entertain you. Caspian, Ezekiel, and my other knights shall suffice to accompany me with the wild hunt you don't need to come here. Just do your job and I'll do mine. Take very good care of yourself and best regards. Yours truly, Ruby Edelweiss Pendragon." Sylvia quoted, reading the letter the maiden sent.

"It seems that at least one of you has some sense of responsibility. I must commend you. You have excellent taste in women. But I do wish that you catch on some of her senses." 

"What are you talking about? Ruby would never cancel our date to go hunting with other men..." Aurelius forcefully grabbed the letter from his sister's hand and read it. After reading it, he read it again and again and again and there's no doubt that it is Ruby's pretty penmanship, signature, and family crest. 

"Why would she... Drive me away again?" The prince asked mournfully. Sylvia's eyes softened. She might be annoyed at him right now, but she still values his feelings and she knows that Aurelius' greatest fear is being abandoned again... Especially by the Northern Duchess' daughter, Ruby. 

"I'm sure she's just busy. Ruby is an only daughter and she's the only successor of Regent Althreya whose job is to primarily neutralize the monsters spawning in the northern part of the Empire. Although they are independent of our command and control, their job keeps our people safe when we can't step in because of the war with demons." She reasoned but her words fell on deaf ears as her brother began to mumble. 

"She's leading a campaign alone filled with other men. Young, dashing hunters and knights. Some are even handsome. More handsome than me, she once said. Do you think maybe... they're... Stealing my princess?" He whispered bitterly. 

Oh, gods no. Aurelius is many good things and a few bad things but his most sensitive trait is that he's very jealous especially when it comes to Ruby. She is his first love after all. 

"Brother I know what you are thinking and you cannot go there right now. The blood moon is approaching which is why Ruby is doing what she is doing right now to keep her people, and ours, safe. I don't think that she has time to frolic with other men. Do you doubt her loyalty to you?"

"I trust Ruby with all my confidence. But I can't say the same for the men around her." Aurelius had a hard contemplating look. It was obvious that he is machinating a scheme but what it might be is a complete mystery to her but she's sure that it involves charging North to cure his poisonous jealousy with bloodshed. 

"Sister... I need a favor."

🌹

A large map stretched across a wide table where numerous intricately carved pieces stood in groups being moved by a nibble elegant hand whose owner shares her plans to the congregation surrounding the whole table. 

Ruby was dressed in a fine leather tunic and armor while her golden hair is braided nearly to keep them in place. Her beautiful face was serious and decisive as she discussed her proposal of attack to her hunting band, whose members are far older than her and their obvious distaste for her is clear mostly because of her gender and age, but she did her best not to let their prejudice affect her duty. 

"The Igrain woods connect to three other forests making it a large habitat for monsters to propagate. While my mother, Regent Althreya prepares the cavalry, the economy, the mitigation, the evacuation routes, and others we must find the monster nests and destroy as much as we can to minimize their numbers when the Blood Moon comes. Seerhaven and Dayton knights are assigned to the Sinclair Forest. Talwinn and Hailawyn hunters and huntresses accompany mine to search the breadth of Igrain Woods. Sir Ezekiel will lead the Cantherby soldiers to guard the borders of Igrain and Dark forest. Do not engage and just report if they pour into our territory. Lord Caspian will come with me to visit a few towns and see what they know about the monster movements, hunting grounds, and territory. Are there any questions, further suggestions, or any complaints, my lords?" Ruby asked, eyeing each and every lord and knight gathered with her in the tent. Most of them are men and there were only three women including herself and since she's young and a female, getting their respect and obedience will be difficult. 

"Why isn't Sir Gawain or Sir Percival the ones leading us? I don't mean to disrespect your mother's decision, but wouldn't it be better if seasoned knights are the ones to lead us instead of a young girl with no experience in warfare to give us orders in a wild hunt." Lord Pelinor questioned earning a scowl from her loyal knights while Ruby kept a collected bearing. 

"How dare you question our lady's leadership. You should be beheaded for simply implying such no matter if you are a lord of a small town." Ezekiel fired, completely enraged that this man is belittling his lady and friend.

"You've got some sharp tongue there young knight. Why don't I cut it for you?" Pelinor responded before putting his hand on the handle of his blade. Ezekiel also stood in front of Ruby, who had a blank calculating look in her eyes, shielding her from the Lord and gripping his own sword. Caspian gripped Pelinor's shoulder to warn him not to do anything brash in front of the Pendragon lady and whispered that Althreya's protection is what keeps his town safe and alive, making him back down. Ruby's eyes narrowed. 

"What my cousin desires to say is that we do not want to risk your life being harmed since you are the only successor. Please forgive his tone, huntress paragon. I completely believe in your skills and excellence." Caspian amended, bowing his head to the maiden. 

"It's okay Lord Caspian, Sir Ezekiel, Lord Pelinor. I take no offense. I was raised to be a sturdy blade, not a fickle flower. As for why I was the one assigned to this role, I wasn't. I took it upon myself to do it on my own. In fact, this whole hunt is my idea. This is the first blood moon in this century therefore it will be massive so we must prepare restlessly to battle what may come. Furthermore, I won't be able to accompany you on the cursed night for I shall be engaged with pleasantries down south in the capital. As much as I detest it, my mother wills it that the North establishes our stand as one of the players in the big game, thus sending me as the North's representative in the Blood Moon Ball to party and socialize."

"Then perhaps you should be focusing more on the dress you should be wearing for the Blood Moon Ball instead of here. The battlefield is no place for a young lady." commented Pelinor which pricked at her patience but Ruby did her best to put up the mask she wore for her family's honor. 

"You are really testing my patience. Why don't I-?" Ruby held Ezekiel's shoulder and sent him a small glare that instantly shut him up. The young huntress turned to the lord and spoke sensibly with him while her companion wanted nothing more than to strangle the audacious lord. 

"I understand your sentiment, but my gender and age won't be a hindrance. I am young but that's exactly why I will listen to the advice of those far more experienced than me before making a decision. I am a woman and a woman's job is to keep her family safe. We are less physically strong but that is why we are cautious. Rest assured that I will keep your people safe and everyone else here as long as you trust me or much less put faith into what my mother brought up. However..." Ruby's soft gaze turned hard and threatening as if challenging anyone else to speak ill of her. 

"Insubordination will be unforgivable and will be treated like treason punishable by death. This meeting is adjourned. You may rest now my lords and heras." Some of the lords obviously gulped at her menacing gaze that pierced the very ego they used to judge her with. It was then, that they can no longer deny that she is a dragon like her mother and one wrong move can turn their legacies into ashes, for a leader takes care of her people yet punishes insubordinate subjects. The men bowed their heads to her as well as the imprudent Lord Pelinor. One by one they left her tent until only two men remained.