The Apathetic Knight

Chapter 2.1 - Kynareth

Chapter 2 – Kynareth

My father led me to my seat, taking my hand and kissing it before he went to his own seat.

My brother was announced, and I glanced to the entrance of the room as I saw him. He was a brilliant, beautiful platinum lion, hair tussled beautifully, looking purposefully windblown, and his shoulders had gotten broader as I noticed his red cape with black accents, overtop a black uniform with red and purple accents.

His eyes found mine, and they widened, a brilliant smile radiating on his face, as he strode toward me with purpose.

I found myself looking up at him a bit, and I giggled.

"You've grown taller, Astaroth."

He smiled. "You've grown more beautiful, Kynareth," he said, lifting my hand to his lips and pressing them to my skin, though the kiss lasted a bit too long. Father cleared his throat, and my brother gave an impish smirk as he pulled back to look at me. "The other noble ladies should be jealous of the Lioness of Severing."

"I am no Lioness, but you are the striking Young Lion," I smiled, and his face showed surprise.

I had greatly complimented him.

A throat cleared purposefully, a bit of a warning. "I believe the Lioness is actually ill today," father said from his seat, glancing over at us. "She was not well when I left our chambers. I shall probably retire early tonight to return to her."

"Mother isn't well?" I asked, concerned.

He waved it off. "Just womanly things," he said, though from the sad expression in his eyes, I didn't think that he meant her monthly cycles. It seemed far deeper than that.

Brother glanced at me. "If father is the Lion, mother is the Lioness, and I am the Young Lion, then what is sister?" He asked, looking back to father.

"Would she not be the 'Lion Cub', then?" We heard a voice speak up, and we turned to see a young man who looked to be a couple of years older than my brother and I.

Father stood from his seat and came to where we were before he kneeled, fist over heart, surprising us. "I greet the second-prince, Flaming Lee Ashland, the ash of the empire's enemies."

The boy laughed, and brushed back his dark black hair, showing bright hazel eyes. "It is nice to see you, Duke Severing. I take it that these are your children," he said, turning his attention to us.

"They are, your highness. Might I ask when the others might arrive?"

The prince laughed. "They are fixing to enter...I just hate being announced," he said, making an annoyed face. "We all know that I'm not the star of the show!" He laughed again; a bit strained.

Before we could say anything else, a trumpet sounded. "Announcing the arrival of his majesty, King Bright Fire Ashland, the Bright Fire of the Empire, her highness, Queen Biretta Ann James Ashland, the charming sparks of the empire. Announcing his highness, the Crowned Prince, Cinder Burn Ashland, the growing fire of the empire, and her highness, Princess Ember Leanne Ashland, the burning embers of the empire."

It seemed to me that all of the royal imperial families' names had to do with fire and flames, which was an interesting spin that I had not paid much attention to before.

However, hearing them announced this way...it made it really stand out.

They stepped into the room and came over to us, and we bowed to them.

"Duke Severing, it is good to see you again! I hope you have been well. This is quite a splendid display."

My father smiled. "Thank you, uncle—I mean, your majesty. I actually assigned my heir, Astaroth, to oversee the decorations, accommodations and all of the staff for this event and I assure you, he has been hard at work preparing for this for a while now. I pray you will enjoy your visit. It is good to see you as well, your majesty."

The king glanced at my brother and I. "Great work, young duke's heir," the king smiled. "Quite a good job for your age. You will be a great lord, indeed."

"Thank you, your majesty," my brother flushed from the praise as he bowed.

The king glanced around. "Duke Severing, I see your wife is absent. Is she well?"

"She is a bit under the weather at the moment, majesty, please forgive her absence."

"Not to worry, it isn't a problem," the king smiled sadly. "I will pray for a speedy recovery on her behalf."

"Thank you, your majesty."

"And who are these two?" The king asked, still looking at us. I knew that he knew who we were, but it was proper court etiquette to introduce ourselves formally to the king.

My father stood straight, glancing at us, and my brother went first.

Bowing deeply, my brother introduced himself. "I am honored to meet you, your majesty. I am the firstborn son of Duke Severing and heir to the Severing duchy, Astaroth Renard Severing."

"A strapping young lad, you look strong! You have a great Knight's aura about you as well, so I know that you will be a good soldier one day, and already running the servants with ease," he grinned. "Though, I hope you don't have to see war. You will be a good duke in the future." Then, he glanced at me.

I curtsied deeply. "It is an honor to meet you, your majesty. I am the daughter of Duke Severing, Kynareth Renna Severing."

He looked me up and down, his eyes feeling almost...too heavy upon me. Even my brother and father stirred at my side, noticing the long pause.

"You are quite a stunning beauty," he said, and I gasped softly, looking up at him in surprise. "Such bright eyes," he said. He glanced to his son, the crowned prince, before he looked back at me. "How old are you?" He asked.

I hesitated. "I-I am eleven, your majesty."

"I see," he smiled brightly. "Not far off from your coming-of-age and your social debut, correct?"

I felt my stomach drop, and my face felt cold.

I didn't know how I knew, but somehow, I knew what he was implying.

He was thinking of marrying me to his son, planning it before my very eyes without even asking me what I might think first.

I could see the calculation in his eyes, glancing between me and the prince. I trembled, taking a step back, my blood like ice in my veins.

Women didn't have a choice in our society.

It wouldn't matter if I said I wanted to fall in love, that I read romance novels that told of brilliant princes and princesses meeting and falling in love, overcoming odds to be with one another.

If he wanted to, he could just marry me to the prince at any time, with no permission on my part. I felt all the blood drain from my face.

He startled, looking surprised at my negative reaction.

"You seem to have a deep awareness as to what I was insinuating," he said, glancing at me with a slightly frustrated gaze. "Though, judging by how quickly the blood drained from your face, I would take it that you do not look fondly upon such a suggestion...That is quite insulting to the imperial family and very rude indeed, showing such a negative reaction to the idea of marriage to a prince in front of the king..."

The other royals looked at me with shocked and sneering expressions, and I felt my heart racing.

I saw the crowned prince cross his arms, huffing a bit, looking offended as he looked me up and down like I was trash.

I curtsied deeper. "I apologize if I've offended your majesty and your highness," I said, just above a whisper. "I am not in a mindset to consider such a thing with anyone, though of course I would never have the ability to refuse a direct command from your majesty."

The queen gasped, and I saw the annoyance that flashed across the crowned prince's handsome face. The second prince sort of chuckled under his breath and murmured, "he we go," even as the princess sputtered and looked at me indignantly, glaring daggers at me.

I'd basically just slapped the offer of marriage in his face multiple times, saying that I wasn't willing but also letting him know that I would obey the command, but that was all.

I knew, from his high moral standing and the laws he employed in the nation, that he did not favor discourtesy. I was a noble, the daughter of a duke and to freely offer marriage to not just a prince, but the crowned prince, the first in line for the throne, was considered to be the most extraordinary honor a woman could receive. She had to be one of the top beauties there was, with a highly desirable pedigree and bloodline and a good family background.

The second prince could have a bit more freedom in finding a bride, but the crowned prince? Only the best would do.

For me to blatantly spit upon the offer...if the king had wished it, he could have had me severely punished for such disrespect to the crown.

The king scoffed, before turning to my father. "It seems that she has a sharp wit about her," he said, glancing at me. "You have done well with her, but that sharp tongue of hers may get her into trouble in the future. I would suggest teaching her to mind herself a bit better before her care falls to her brother. She is lucky that I am such a forgiving king." He turned, walking away, and I felt the tension leave my body as I lost a bit of my footing, stumbling slightly over to the wall nearby.

"Sister?" My brother asked, concerned, but I waved it off.

"I'll be fine after some fresh air," I said, smiling, and I stepped outside onto the terrace, gasping in the air.

What was that?

Why would the king even consider marrying his son to me? He knew that I was only half-blooded.

I knew well enough to know that it was frowned upon to arrange marriages between knight's faction families and mage's faction families. Since I was half-blooded, it would be a negative thing to tie me to a knight's faction family through marriage.

Astaroth may have been half-blooded, but he had knight's aura to compensate for that.

I, however, did not. I had mage energy, or mana, as it was deemed. That was nearly unheard of in knight's faction families, and though a mage faction family would receive me pleasantly, a knight's faction family wouldn't.

The royal family happened to be a knight's faction family. For them to marry the crowned prince to a girl with mana...

The nation would be upset. I had surely incurred further wrath by being appalled at the notion, as well.

The air around the king, as soon as he was even marginally displeased, had gotten so heavy. It was a crushing weight, almost, and I struggled to breathe properly.

"The king can have that effect on people," a voice said, and I startled, turning and backing toward the railing a bit too quickly to see who had spoken. "Whoa, there!" He said, voice panicked, and he caught me just before I could topple backward over the railing. He let out a breath of relief, and helped me sit down on a bench close by. "Here, my lady, take a rest," he said.

I finally saw him under the lamp light, and I saw beautiful, ashen, bright blonde hair like a lion's coat.

He wore a white outfit with gold and black trimming, and a black cape. I glanced at his face, and I saw that, though half of his face was extremely handsome, the other half of his face was covered by a black, intricately designed mask with golden embroidery and lace integrated in its design. It looked extravagant, and I wondered if it was just for part of the outfit, or if he did indeed need it.

I didn't remember this party being a masquerade...

"I am sorry to trouble you so," I said, sighing. "Thank you for being kind."

He scoffed, crossing his arms. "Is it kindness to simply keep you from falling off the balcony to severe injury or possible death?" He asked. "Anyone else would have done the same."

I noted his frame, musculature obvious even under the clothes, and looked away. "Are you a knight?" I asked, glancing back at him.

He hesitated. "I see no obligation to tell you."

I bristled a bit, but kept my composure. "Oh, I am sorry...I just...wanted to know a bit more about you, since you saved me."

He gave me a slightly confused expression. "Most women see my mask and run the other direction, yet you attempt conversation...does your age make you ditzy? Or are you simply unaware of who I am?"

I was a bit confused. "Should I be wary of you?" I asked.

He glanced around. "Considering that a young noblewoman is alone with a strange man, out on the terrace, with no knight and no escort...you should be very wary of me."

I laughed. "I don't have a knight," I informed him. "And my father is my escort tonight, but since he is also hosting the party, he is a bit too busy to stay with me every second."

He flinched a bit, looking away. "You are the duke's daughter..." he said.

"I thought that you'd heard my conversation with the king," I said, surprised.

"Only the last bit. I had been about to come in from this place, when I had caught the last bit of the conversation and quickly returned here. You let the king know that you weren't interested in a royal marriage, right?"

I smiled, sighing. I knew I couldn't tell him about my mana. I had always heard it stressed to me that I needed to keep that to myself, unless it was my husband or personal knight. Outside of that, I needed to keep that information hush-hush.

"That's right. I am not strictly opposed to marriage to a royal, in particular, but I would rather let things develop naturally over time rather than pushing me into an arrangement." I sighed, remembering the strong knight's aura I had felt from the king and the crowned prince. Knight's aura versus mage's mana? We wouldn't get along very well, I was sure. "Of course, that isn't possible. I have recently been made aware that I to marry a high-standing man to bring power and wealth to my family, but...I don't want to do that. I want to marry someone who loves me, who I can grow in love with." I sighed. "It is a silly dream for a duke's daughter, I know. I really just want to run away," I said, and tears filled my eyes. I sniffled, laughing a bit at my own shameful behavior.

He glanced at me, a disdainful look on his face, and I blushed.

"I am sorry, I overshared...I apologize for taking up your time." I stood, making my way back toward the door.

"Seryn," he said softly, and I froze, turning back to face him. His expression was blank, but his eyes seemed to be liquid honey as he held out a handkerchief to me, a beautiful black cloth with golden designs and golden initials on the corner. "My name."

I smiled, giving him a deep curtsy before I took his handkerchief, wiping my tears and clutching the cloth to my chest. "I am Kynareth Renna Severing," I said, and then I turned, returning to the party after taking a moment to compose myself. I heard him chuckle softly as I reached the door and stepped back inside.

I couldn't place where I'd heard his name before, but it seemed familiar for some reason.

I quickly pressed the handkerchief into my gown, against my chest, feeling its warmth and blushing as I remembered how handsome he had been.

Seryn...

I would remember that name, and I prayed that I met him again.

"Sister?" My brother asked, taking my arm and escorting me back to my chair, a plate of food in his other hand. He set the plate down at my seat, and I realized he'd made me a plate of food.

"Oh, thank you, Astaroth," I smiled at him as he sat across from me. I took a few bites, enjoying the food, when I glanced to the balcony door that I had entered from, seeing Seryn step inside, and I felt my cheeks heat rapidly as I blinked down at my plate, taking another bite and trying to ignore his presence.