Chapter Seventeen: Raven's True Feelings

"Why do I feel this way?"

"It doesn't make sense, but every time I see him, it's as if butterflies are in my stomach."

"Why are feelings so complicated?"

Raven was in her room alone, sitting on her bed, preparing to sleep.

For awhile now, Raven has been acting weird around Alex, trying not to talk to him much because she got anxious too quickly. Raven was having trouble sleeping because of her thoughts.

"He's my brother; why do I feel like this? It's not right....but why do I get upset thinking that it may not happen?"

Raven had tons of thoughts running through her head. She knew how she felt wasn't right, but she couldn't shy away from her feelings.

However, she then noticed something strange from her window. Alex was walking outside to the training fields with Veronica.

"What's going on?" she thought to herself.

"Is it possible....I mean, he does talk to her a lot after all....I should follow them; yeah, that's what I should do just to make sure nothing weird happens."

She convinced herself that she had to follow them.

As she trailed behind the two, they both went into the woods.

"No way...are they sneaking out to do ...stuff together?" Raven thought to herself.

Raven put her hand on her chest, feeling as if it were tightening.

"I need to find out the truth."

Raven continued to follow the two, but they both stopped in a small grove.

However, things didn't go as she expected. Alex drew a sword she wasn't familiar with; it had a curved, long blade and seemed a lot thinner than the swords she was used to seeing.

"Where did he get that?"

"Where did you find a tachi, Alex?" Veronica asked.

"Oh, so you know of it?" Alex asked in response.

"I do, but they don't make those in the Empire, so how did you get it?"

Alex smiled and explained, "Well, long story short, I lied to mom about my training; in truth, I've been receiving help, and he gave me this sword to help me."

"How so?" Veronica asked.

"Watch"

It was then that Alex channeled his mana into his sword and used it to shoot a precise lightning strike at the tree.

"What the hell was that?" Raven thought to herself. "Since when could he use his magic with a sword?"

"You're a magic swordsman now; interesting," Veronica said. "So why did you invite me out here to see it and not someone like Eve or Raven?"

"Can't it be because I like spending time with you?" Alex teased.

"It could, but that's not, or at the very least, not your only reason." Veronica replied.

"Well, you're not wrong; although spending time with you is nice, although I do want something from you." Alex stated.

"And what would that be, young master?"

"A duel"

"You want to duel me?" Veronica asked.

Alex explained, "Just an exhibition match; you are the best fighter among the maids, and I don't want Mom or Raven to know about my abilities quite yet, and also, my master would automatically wipe the floor with me. So you are my best option to get some one-on-one training with."

"And you don't think I can "wipe the floor with you" like your master?" Veronica asked.

"You could; I may be young, but I can tell you have combat prowess; you leave no opening no matter what. Even while doing something menial as the dishes, you seem always ready and alert." Alex said.

Veronica smiled slightly. "One must always be alert; one never knows where threats could come from after all."

"Fine, I accept. However, we'll duel for the first landed strike."

Alex smiled and said, "Deal!"

"So this is why he went out into the woods and not because they were up to something? Now I kind of feel bad." Raven thought to herself. "However, I kind of want to watch this."

Alex and Veronica created a 10-pace distance between each other, with Alex having his tachi at the ready and Veronica having her small twin blades out. They were well crafted with steel blades with blue handle grips.

"Where did you get those?" Alex asked.

"Maybe one day I'll tell you, young master, but not now." Veronica said.

The duel started without warning, with the two parrying each other's blows. Alex is mostly on offense, with Veronica defending and counterattacking. However, the duel ended quickly after Veronica hit Alex in the chest with her second dagger.

"It looks like my win, young master." Veronica said.

"Yeah, that it does." Alex responded.

"Now will that be all? Or do you have something more to ask?" Veronica said, looking at Alex in the eyes.

"Yes, I have one last request from you. Will you train me how to fight people?" Alex asked.

Veronica looked at Alex with a raised eyebrow. "And why do you want to know how to fight people?"

Alex sat down and said, "Well, look, in order to protect mom, Raven, you, and the other maids, I know I will have to do things I never expected. I don't plan on letting that bastard sell myself or Raven off to these noble families like we're not people. He plans to marry Raven off to the Tarren family soon, and I refuse to let that happen; I will stop the marriage by any means necessary."

"And are you willing to kill in order to stop this from happening?" Veronica asked.

"Without question, I will kill anyone I need to; I just need experience in live combat." Alex said.

*Badump Badump Badump*

Raven's heart felt like it was going 100 beats per minute.

"He is willing to do all this for me? He is even willing to kill for me?" Raven thought to herself, blushing.

"Fine, I will help you; meet me at this spot every other night; however, if you miss one day, I'll stop. Understood?" Veronica said, looking at Alex.

"Understood!" Alex said.

After the two went back to the house, with Raven following, they all went to sleep. Raven smiled as she went to sleep with a blush on her face.

The next morning, Raven heard a knock on her door as she was waking up.

"Wait, I'm coming," She said, thinking it was one of the maids at the door.

However, she was wrong.

"Oh uh, hey, good morning." Alex said awkwardly.

Raven had answered the door, thinking it was a maid, while wearing her sleepwear, a near-see-through black lace night gown.

Raven slammed the door immediately in Alex's face and ran to get changed.

"Huh...well that was something." Alex thought to himself.

After a few minutes and some panicked noises, Raven opened the door again, wearing a t-shirt and some pants she found in her drawer.

"Yes, Alex?" she asked.

"Hey, so I've been wondering, have I done something wrong to you?" Alex asked.

"What do you mean"? Raven responded.

"Well, lately you haven't talked to me much, and whenever I try to talk to you, you shut me down pretty quick, so I thought I did or said something to upset you." Alex explained.

"No, you haven't. I'm sorry if I've been weird lately; just a lot going on, you know." Raven tried to explain.

"Well, I was wondering." Alex said as he reached into his pocket. "Would you like to go out to have a picnic today? Just us, nobody else."

"A picnic! That sounds wonderful. But where would we go?" Raven asked.

"How about our spot, or anywhere else you'd like?" Alex said.

"No, our spot is good; I can't wait." Raven said while blushing.

"Good, I'll come get you later so we can head over. See you soon." Alex said as he walked away.

However, after Raven closed the door, she was still blushing.

"Just me and him?" She thought to herself.

"It's perfect."

*Meanwhile*

"Is the proposal to Oliver Tarren done yet?" Edward asked his butler.

"Yes, it has been officially accepted; it is planned for the coming weeks." the butler said.

"And how about the Goldburn proposal?" Edward asked his butler again.

"Unofficially accepted your grace. Henry Goldburn wants to make sure Alex is the right fit for his daughter." the butler replied.

"Right Fit? He has been over to their house a few times now; how can she not know, and why does he need his daughters to say so? Just accept it and be done with it." Edward said.

"I do not know your grace; however, everything is in place for the right moment; according to you know who, his visits have been going pretty well over there." The butler explained.

Edward smiled "Good, tell her to meet with me soon; after all, I have what she wants, so she'll follow my orders. The Carrot and stick method still works perfectly."

"Soon all my plans will be coming together. Tell my son to stop messing with those whores already. He's supposed to be getting ready for his marriage in two months to the Valentine family first daughter."

"Yes, my grace, he is currently with...company however." The butler explained.

"Well, tell him to zip it back in his pants and meet me at the office. He needs to grow up already."

"Yes your grace."

"Alex, if only you were my blood, at least you take things seriously."

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