Chapter Thirteen

Special mass release of Easter Day!

※※※※

KATE HAD THE BASKET OF COOKIES with her already when we met, so we didn't stop at the kitchen to talk with Yoostaf about it. That way, we headed straight to the training grounds, where Sir Thorin and Asher were sparing as usual. And it didn't take long until their heightened senses warned them about my presence and they came to me as if I had summoned them both. The other Knights around greeted me as always, respectfully.

"Good morning, Your Royal Highness," Sir Thorin, my swordsmanship master, said while bowing respectfully. As polite as I remember him to b. Oppose to others, he died but it was while fighting in the war.

"Hey, Nat," now Ash spoke as relaxed as always, without bothering with titles, which is quite comforting. "I'm smelling the scent of cookies," his eyes landed on the basket that Kate was holding. "Mhm," his honey eyes turned to me, suspiciously, "You brought this to us? Are you coming to ask for something?" Well, he knows me better than most people.

"Morning, Ash," then I turned to Sir Thorin and bowed in respect. "Good morning, Master!"

"Have you eaten yet?" Kate questioned and they turned to her.

"Miss Quinlan," they spoke together and I couldn't help but catch the blush on Kate's cheeks when her eyes met Thorin's. Hmm, did they have something going on in 1st timeline? I don't remember.

"Sir Kingston," she bowed to Ash and turned to Thorin with her face suddenly turning bright red. "Captain Meelany!" How adorable, she must have a crush on him. I ship it. She's like a mother to me and he's like a father as well, so I wouldn't mind at all. "So," Kate began, looking straight at Sir Thorin's face, even though the question was for both of them, "Have you eaten?"

Is that her way of flirting? I smirked and so did Asher, understanding the situation just as I did. "Oh, I've eaten," he spoke and pointed to our master. "But Master didn't!"

"What?" Oh dear, is she going to activate her motherly mode? "Why haven't you eaten? Do you know how bad it can be for your body and mind to skip breakfast, Captain Meelany? You spend your whole day training those kids and exercising your body, how can you dare to skip any of your meals?" Sighing, she handed him the basket of cookies. "Here! Eat all of it."

When Ash was going to take one, she slapped his hand. "You've said it yourself, Sir Kingston, you've already eaten. Let him have it, don't act like a glutton!" Yeah, mother-mode activated for sure.

"Thank you, very much, Miss Quinlan. I appreciate your kindness," he took them and bowed to her slightly, showing respect. "I'll eat of it," then he turned to Ash and grinned. "All alone!"

The boy, a head taller than me, rolled his eyes, annoyed, "And I am the glutton..." He muttered, making me laugh. "So," his attention turned to me and his eyes met mine. "As you aren't dressed in training clothes, I don't believe you are here to spar with us. Then what are you planning this time, little dragonfly?"

I didn't know how much I missed he calling me that, as much as I know now, hearing him call me by that nickname he created again. It hurts to remember that he also died by my hands, and worst than that, in the same night as Val. Meaning that I ended up killing my two brothers in the same night. "Two things," I started and they all focused on me. "First, I want you to take the oath to me on the Knighthood Oath ceremony, Ash!"

Sir Thorin messed Asher's light-brown hair up in a fatherly way and smiled at him, "That's why you've been training until now and why you are my second in command in our Grand Duchy brigade, boy. I'm proud of you," coming closer to me, he gave me a bear hug. "Of you both." Was he always this emotional? Even though, I've missed him a lot. He was always a special person to me, always protective and caring in a way I always dreamed my dad to be.

"It will be an honor, Nat," Ash declared with a big smile and hugged me. "I'll do the impossible to protect you, even though I know you are good on your own and can obliterate most people who dare to mess with you," I laughed, feeling refreshed. "Did the Grand Duke agreed willingly?"

"Of course, he did. You are still his pupil, Ash. Even if he doesn't have much time, he'll probably talk to you about it later!" A nod. "He kind of already knew I would choose you. Probably because I grew up with you, we always trained together, I trust you and you are as strong as I am," in this body, I mean…

Because I can feel the annoying lack I stamina, which I've last sensed years ago, dragging me slightly down. "So it was quite obvious that you would be my choice. And, for Mikla's sake, you should have seen what happened while we were eating just now. Dad ended up unconsciously making the octopus mad by saying that you were a big model of an outstanding boy and that Octavian would be more skilled if he had spent more time around you, like I did!"

Even Sir Thorin burst out of laughter at that, once he finds my older brother a nuisance. "Fuck, I wish I had seen that!" Ash exclaimed with a vicious smile on. "Even though I'm probably strong like this because I trained with you, and not the other way around," true.

"As if any of them, besides Val, would realize such thing," I rolled my shoulders as I said that, to show them that I didn't really give a damn about that anymore. "With that big pride they have, they would never admit that a magic less girl like me is possible of such a thing. My dad my acknowledge me on some matters, but even him wouldn't do so."