Roses

The roses drifted down around her in an elegant, mesmerizing dance.

I held back their force, letting them swirl harmlessly around her, but in an instant, the petals sharpened, turning into edges as thin and deadly as razors, slicing through the air.

She noticed immediately. Her movements shifted as she dodged each petal with fluid, near-flawless precision.

Her graceful turns and steps kept her just out of reach, her agility more of a dance than anything else, each motion flowing seamlessly into the next.

I had to admit, the poise was breathtaking, her movements carrying an elegance that kept me watching, momentarily entranced.

Then she halted, her eyes narrowing. She lunged toward me without warning, her blade flashing forward, aimed straight for my neck.

I barely had a second to react, parrying her strike just in time and following with a quick counterstrike.

She blocked with ease, meeting my swing with her hilt and shoving my arm aside in one swift motion. Her strength was unyielding, breaking my stance.

I twisted, spinning to regain my footing, but her boot caught my side, knocking me to the ground.

Before I could recover, her blade was plunged into the earth beside me, her hair falling around us, a silken curtain framing her gaze.

Her blue eyes gleamed, a satisfied smile playing on her lips as she looked down at me. "I win."

She lingered, just looking at me, and then, without a word, leaned down and kissed me, quick and warm, before pulling away and standing.

That same mischievous smile lingered on her face as she looked down at me.

"You've improved," she said, extending her hand. "But not enough. I can't have you going off to fight if you're still this weak."

With a sigh, I accepted her hand, letting her pull me up as I brushed dirt from my clothes. "You shouldn't say things like that. Weren't you the one who said I shouldn't train at all?"

She threw me a mock glare, her face breaking into another smile. "And now I'm saying you will train. And grow."

She settled into a relaxed stance, her blade resting on her shoulder as she looked at me with a playful glint. "And each time you lose…" she pouted dramatically, "…I get to kiss you."

I raised an eyebrow, copying her stance. "Is that supposed to be a punishment?"

Her smile deepened, and before I could react, she dashed toward me. "No. Just know that if you win, you might get something more."

***

After ten more sparring sessions, I still hadn't found out what that "something more" might be.

Sighing, I stamped another document and slid it to the growing stack on my desk. "Sixty down."

I glanced at the remaining pile, all still untouched. "One hundred and forty more to go."

I read through each document carefully, a grim picture forming of the place's former governor.

The man had been more than incompetent, his mismanagement almost guaranteed to break the kingdom.

No wonder he hadn't been able to marry—not that I was one to talk. I'd definitely gotten lucky with Aubrey.

The desk wasn't even mine. Sitting here felt odd, almost like an imposter in someone else's place.

It was different from my small, cramped room and the well-worn desk I was used to.

Bookshelves lined the left wall, heavy with leather-bound tomes.

To the right, a wide window overlooked the training grounds.

The desk, crafted from rich maple, was centered beneath a curious lamp with delicate, rune-etched glass that seemed powered by magic.

I wondered idly why the world's technology mixed the medieval with the industrial and, strangely, the magical.

To the left, a brown leather couch and a small reading table gave the room a cozy, if formal, feel. But something told me that peace wouldn't last.

The door flew open suddenly, and Aubrey strode in, her face lit up with a wide grin. "Ah, my dear husband, the knights have arrived!"

"Really? Let's go greet them, then."

She led me down to the training grounds, where lines of knights had begun to gather, standing rigidly as they assessed us with cautious expressions.

They wore black iron armor with the kingdom's sigil—a griffon clutching a sword—emblazoned on their right breastplates.

Swords hung at their sides, and they carried their helmets under one arm, opposite their weapons.

These knights looked different from the one who'd come to summon me when Rosen had first called. They were more hardened, almost as if they'd seen and survived more.

One of them stepped forward, bowing slightly. His short black hair framed a face rough and scarred, his brown eyes sharp but polite.

He looked rugged and severe, though his tone was surprisingly respectful.

"Are you the new governor here?" He glanced at the papers I'd been carrying. "Caelum Ashbane?"

"Yes, I am. You can all be at ease," I said, trying to ease the tension in his face. "I promise I won't be like the last governor."

The knight raised an eyebrow, relaxing just slightly. I extended my hand, feeling the awkwardness in the gesture. "And your name?"

"Rowan," he replied, clasping my hand with a firm grip. "Knight-Captain, here to ensure the peace."

"Good to meet you, Rowan," I replied, letting go of his hand and glancing around at the other knights, their cautious looks lingering. Aubrey stepped forward then, a confident smile on her face.

"These knights are to serve under us," she explained, addressing the gathered group. "We'll need all of you focused and ready. Things are going to be different here, and we'll all be busy getting this place back on its feet."

Rowan inclined his head, clearly listening closely. "And what exactly are our duties starting now?"

Aubrey nodded, arms crossed.

"Starting today, you'll oversee training new recruits while patrolling the outer villages. The local garrisons haven't seen much reinforcement in years, so we'll need to rebuild. Caelum and I will also be conducting our inspections, so you'll work directly with us to ensure any issues are handled immediately."

Rowan nodded, glancing over his shoulder at the other knights, who each acknowledged the order with a slight shift in their stance, the wariness ebbing just a little.

"I understand," Rowan said, his tone now resolute. "We'll get to work on preparations for the villages right away."

Aubrey's smile grew, her eyes glancing at me with that familiar spark of determination. "Excellent. We'll all be working closely in the days ahead."

She looked over the group, her voice ringing with authority. "I trust none of you will hesitate to bring any concerns to us directly. This is a new start for all of us."

With a final nod, Rowan motioned to his men, who began dispersing in efficient, practiced movements, while he lingered a moment longer.

"Governor, Lady Aubrey," he said with a slight bow, before striding back to his unit.

As the knights filed away, Aubrey and I exchanged a look. "That went well," I said, managing a small smile.

She nudged my shoulder playfully.

"Don't get too comfortable. We've got a lot to prepare for." She glanced back toward the grounds, watching the knights as they moved into formation. "This is only the beginning."