A Nobleman's Honor

"What the hell happened to you?" Victor demanded as soon as Juno stepped onto the dueling field.

Juno awoke to half of her face swollen and a split lip. Dried blood had coated the inside of her mouth and turned the water she spit out into a dark pink. She looked like she had already fought a duel and lost.

"I had a rough night."

Victor scoffed but he didn't have any time to protest. Juno's opponent was already walking across the field towards them. Victor muttered a quiet swear before turning his attention onto the Marquis, giving him a large conman smile.

Cesare Rusteau looked exactly how Juno imagined him to. Tall, handsome, and intimidating as all holy hell. He dwarfed her in comparison. He looked like he could snap her neck with just a clench of his fist.

Juno rolled her shoulders back nervously, giving her sword a few swings. Now was not the time to lose her head. He didn't look like the type of man that would kill her, but Victor had gravely insulted his family, and that was a family built on pride. It was always impossible to know how someone would react to such insult.

Cesare bowed to her and kissed her hand politely, as any royal knight would do to a noblewoman. His eyebrows raised a fraction of an inch when he looked at her face, but he didn't say anything.

In her mind, she scoffed. When had it last been since someone bowed to her?

"Cesare," Victor said jovially as if they were meeting for a meal and not a duel. "I see you've met my fighter."

Cesare gave her a gentle smile. "We have met before."

Juno looked him up and down. She had no recollection of him. "You have?" she asked.

Cesare frowned, obviously not pleased that she didn't remember him. "At the parade last week. You dropped your handkerchief. Though you are much different than our first encounter."

Juno pressed her lips together. He probably met her sister. "Perhaps you've mistook me for someone else."

She didn't mention that someone else was her twin sister.

"I'm sure it was you unless there are two of you." That earned a dark smile from her. "I'm sorry but I don't remember your name."

Juno wanted to laugh. He was so offended at the thought she had forgotten him, but he couldn't even remember her sister's name. She realized that the Rusteau's were not only built on pride but vanity as well.

She rolled her eyes and drew the starting position. "Let's just get this over with."

Cesare frowned at Juno's response to his flirting, clenching his jaw ever so slightly. He brought his sword to her.

Juno leaned in closer. Lowly, before the judge called the start of the fight, she spoke so only Cesare could hear her. "If you kill me, please send the money with the letter in my breast pocket. Don't give it to Victor."

His easy smile fell from his face. His eyes widened. "I have no intention of killing you, my lady."

Juno laughed bitterly. "You may have to."

As soon as the judge called the start of the fight, Cesare lunged towards her. She realized how little regard he had for her skills by how easy it was to parry the swing away. Cesare raised his eyebrows.

"You are more skillful than I thought," he said through swings, his breath becoming labored. "Why are you fighting for someone like that man?"

"I owe a debt," Juno replied simply. Normally, she wouldn't have bothered to answer. But it made her skin crawl to think she would continually be associated with a man like Victor.

Cesare's face brightened. "Then come, I'll cut your arm as painlessly as possible and we can put this whole nasty business behind us." Juno's anger flared and she swung her sword with more force, forcing Cesare to step back.

"For someone dueling over their family's honor, you seem to have little regard for mine."

Cesare's eyes glistened with amusement as he lunged towards her again. Juno parried the attack, but just barely.

"My, I intended no such disrespect. I merely thought that our time might be better spent over a cup of tea, getting to know each other."

Juno saw an opening. With two hard blows, she knocked his defense aside and held the point of her sword to his throat.

"If you keep speaking to me in this manner, we'll end up seeing each other again soon." She lowered her sword after her veiled threat. Cesare's blue eyes held her own. Victor's cheering at her victory sounded miles away.

"Maybe that's what I want."

Blood rushed to Juno's cheeks in anger. "Then you are going about it the wrong way. If you wish to see me again, you can just go to the brothel on Main street. An hour is ten gold."

She bowed to him, ignoring the look of disgust on his face upon realizing she was a whore. She snatched the bag of gold from Victor's hand as she passed him, leaving the dueling field and everyone on it without another glance.

In her head, Juno scolded her sister for her choice in men. If Cesare had been the man that Venus had so excitedly talked about Juno would have to sever the connection as quickly as possible.

That man was too conceited, too arrogant, and too rude to be with someone like Venus. Venus was too sensitive. She would need someone that would be gentle with her.

Juno doubted that man had even an ounce of gentleness to him. Even when he politely kissed her hand, it felt clinical rather than chivalrous.

She weighed the gold in her hand. She would buy new clothes for the kids with it. It would be a nice treat for everyone. She couldn't help the smile that invaded her face when she imagined the kids' expressions when she presented them with the gifts.