The Rumors

Ivander lay his body on the green grass, he had not rested all day until his horse went berserk from exhaustion. He was now opening his supplies, eating bread with honey jam plus a piece of bacon. His horse was also busy eating the grass that stretched out in front of it after a long journey without stopping.

The sun was already in the west, a sign that it was already evening. It seemed like they would soon look for a place to rest, resting near the river was not very safe, because this place was a source of water for animals in the forest. It was possible for Ivander to rest there, he didn't mind meeting wild animals but he was too lazy to fight them right now.

"If you're done eating, let's find a place to rest!" Ivander shouted to his horse who was still busy chewing grass.

Ivander did not name his beloved horse, he just called him 'horse', unlike his friends who gave names to their horses. "Should I give you a name?"

Only a neighing sound was heard as an answer that he didn't want a name, even the horse ignored Ivander since earlier and was busy with the grass in front of it.

Even though the journey had been taken for a day, Ivander still felt hesitant to meet Riana. "Hey, do you think it's okay for me to meet her?"

"Is she happy or angry?" Ivander asked his horse which he would definitely never get an answer from.

"I'm asking you, horse! At least give me an answer." Ivander was furious to see his horse ignoring him just like that.

The journey still had to take about two more days and during that time Ivander would continue to ask himself, should he meet Riana? Previously he had never felt attracted to women, he even doubted his feelings now, was this just a momentary feeling?

"Hey! Have you finished eating?" Ivander threw a bunch of grass that he had pulled out at random towards the horse that he didn't give a name to. He was annoyed with his own thoughts and instead took it out on the innocent animal.

****

Vilda's blue eyes widened after hearing Riana's story, she did not expect what Riana had experienced. Becoming the savior of a western knight who was full of wounds at the end of his life, it sounds excessive indeed, but that is the fact that Riana has saved the life of a western knight.

"So who is the knight from the west?"

"I can't say his name, I'm so embarrassed." Riana covered her face with both hands, her cheeks were still flushed even though she had finished her story.

Vilda took a deep breath, she never expected what had happened to her best friend, she had helped a knight, cared for him and allowed him to stay in the garden house until he recovered. Surely her friend was feeling homesick because she had not seen him for a long time and did not know how her knight was doing.

"So now my best friend has anchored her heart to a knight, then when will it be my turn?" Vilda asked herself.

"I'm still not sure about my feelings." Riana replied.

"You're just embarrassed to admit it, it's time for you to know love, Riana." Vilda assured Riana while patting her shoulder gently. "It seems like what my mother said was true, you will find a lover before me." She continued.

Riana shook her head, she was not even sure about her feelings. "What about your arranged marriage?" Riana asked.

"I ran away and now my mother is mad." Vilda answered weakly. "Will I have the same fate as the Duke's daughter?"

"The Duke's daughter? Do you want to tell me about her?" The request was not because Riana wanted to know, she was just trying to entertain Vilda by changing the topic of their conversation.

"Ah, I almost forgot that I came here to tell you about it, are you ready?"

Riana nodded.

"I will tell it from the beginning, you have to listen carefully. All of this started from a dispute between Count Montena and Count George that happened a long time ago, from the rumors I got they were enemies because Count George's great-grandfather stole Count Montena's belongings. There are other rumors that state that the one who stole was Count Montena." Now Vilda's face was cheerful again, Riana's efforts were successful.

The rumor about the families of Count George and Count Montena being at odds was true, they had been at odds since the time of their great-grandfather until now. When Duke Walterz, who was often known as Duke Zyra (the ruler of the Zyra City area) held a hunting party to introduce his eldest son to the social world, there was a rumor circulating that Count Montena offered his only daughter to the Duke, even though at that time Count Montena's daughter was still very young. Duke Walterz chose another woman who was still related to the king.

Hearing the news that Count Montena's proposal was rejected because his daughter was still too young, Count George tried to offer his only son to be matched with Duke Walterz's daughter. Duke Walterz accepted the offer, but when Count George's son held his social debut hunting party, he ran away and disappeared for seven years.

"The Duke's daughter is rumored to be unmarried because she is waiting for her prince to return." Vilda said ending her story.

"I have never seen Duke Walterz's daughter."

"Really? Ah, Lady Jeanna has indeed been missing for a long time." Vilda explained. Jeanna Walterz was the name of the daughter of the Duke who ruled the Zyra City area.

"But it seems like you will be able to meet her soon, because the Duke will be holding a party for the birth of his first grandchild." She (Vilda) continued.

"Am I invited?"

"All the nobles are invited, a baroness is no exception."

Hearing Vilda's explanation made her curiosity to see the Duke's daughter, Lady Jeanna Walterz even more intense. It seemed that she was now starting to get a little interested in the rumors about Duke Zyra's family.

"Will you come?" Riana asked.

"Are you still asking? Of course I will come to the banquet while I am still invited." Vilda replied excitedly.

"Then you must always bring me."

Vilda nodded. "Okay, as long as you tell me the name of the western knight."

"Don't tease me, Vilda!"

Vilda laughed. "When else can I see your face as red as a tomato."

"I don't want to tell you things like this anymore."

"Are you sure?"

Riana nodded, she was annoyed with her best friend who kept teasing her. Vilda laughed seeing Riana's very funny behavior when she was angry, there was a sense of joy in her heart when she knew that her best friend had found the man she loved, unlike herself who was still searching.

"But I envy you, you can like someone freely, unlike me who is almost matched every day." Vilda said wearily.

Riana immediately shook her head, disagreeing with Vilda's words. "I can only like him, but I'm not sure if I can meet him again or not."

"Don't worry, I will help you."

"You also have to be sure that I will always help you, Lady Vilda Varhadt." Riana exclaimed excitedly.

"Okay, so we will help each other, right?"

Riana nodded, they hugged like siblings who loved each other. Riana was lucky to have a friend like Vilda, even though her father and mother were gone, she still had Vilda who always helped her no matter what.

The sound of knocking on the door from outside the room was heard, Riana then rushed to the door and opened the door of her room that she had locked, she would be very embarrassed if the servants in her house heard her story. "What's wrong, Uncle?"

"Am I disturbing you, Lady? I think there is something important that you should know." Said Uncle Parlo while handing over an invitation stamped with the Walterz Family.

"Thank you, Uncle." Riana accepted it happily, was this an invitation to a banquet for her?

Riana rushed in and ran towards Vilda who was enjoying tea. "You have to see this," Riana showed off the invitation she had just received.

"Is that an invitation to celebrate the birth of the Duke's first grandchild?" Vilda asked.

Riana was a little hesitant, she then immediately opened the invitation and read the message very quickly. "That's right, I'm invited."

Vilda smiled seeing Riana so happy, even she was surprised by Riana's current behavior who was excited, was she really this excited?

"You have to reply immediately and prepare your best dress."

Riana nodded. "Do I have enough time to prepare the best dress, the event is in three days."

"I think your invitation came too late."

Riana was silent, her feelings turned into sadness.

"Don't worry, I will help you prepare this, I will introduce my family's tailor to help you."

Vilda was like an angel to Riana, she always found the best solution to help her. Taking the time to entertain her, showing her things she didn't know yet, introducing her to the social world, being the best informant and she was always there for her when Riana needed her.

****