The Apathetic Knight

Chapter 2.2 - Kynareth

I saw Astaroth jerk his face up at my sudden blush, and I prayed that—oh, no, he had already done it. He had followed my line of sight and seen who I had looked at.

He glared a bit, looking at me with an amused expression as he snickered under his breath. His eyes spoke volumes to me.

'Oh, just wait until we can talk alone,' he said through his eyes.

I blushed, glancing down the table again, and looking quickly back at my plate when I saw the handsome young man look in my general direction.

I had been too obvious.

*

After the party had concluded and our guests were set up in their rooms to stay overnight, my brother met me in the courtyard, at a spot where we had played a lot as children, by a small stream that flowed through the courtyard, and continued through a grate that had been built into the castle wall to let the creek continue on its way into the forest.

His knight was with him, of course, and his knight followed us as we walked quietly through the courtyard.

"So?" He asked, glancing at me.

I blushed. "So...?"

"Who is he?" He asked, smiling at me. "How did you even meet him?" The smile was strained and tight, and I could see the tense set of his jaw. Was he...jealous...?

I sighed. "I don't really know. I went out on the balcony because I was upset, and I was trying to compose myself and stop crying...he happened to be out there already. He told me that I needed a knight or an escort, and after offering me his handkerchief, he insisted I return to the party."

He looked approving. "Good, that was proper of him. Do you still have it?" He asked, looking at me.

I flinched, but blushing heavily, I pulled out the handkerchief and held it out for him.

He took it, glancing at it. "High quality cloth, beautiful embroidery and lace detail..." He startled when he saw the insignia and design in the corner. "He is from a Knight Family," he said. "There is a sword beside of his initials."

"He said he wasn't a knight," I said.

"He may be a body guard," my brother said, contemplating. "There is only five available occupations for the sons of Knight families; The Head of the family, who has the same rank as a Duke, they can become a military soldier and climb the ranks in that occupation. They can join the Knight's Order, which leads to the other occupations: Palace or City knight, Personal Knight, or body guard to someone in the royal family.

"Unlike when a lower family gets a personal knight, announcing their knight to all of society as a peacocking, status symbol as well as advertising how well-protected you are, the royal family keeps the identity of their knights and body guards a secret. Their bodyguards are like shadows, training going above and beyond even that of the Knight's Order, as an extra measure to protect the imperial family."

"I see," I said, thinking about it. "He did have a mask on his face."

"That is the most likely outcome, then. Strange...he looked rather young, though. He didn't seem old enough to have earned a position that high. Oh well," he said, shrugging his shoulders.

I smiled, and he bent, giving me a small bow before he kissed the back of my hand. "I just...I want to run away."

"Kynareth," he said, anxious, glancing around to be sure I wasn't heard, but I waved him off.

"Don't worry. I know my place, brother. I am to be a good girl, and sit quietly until my time of usefulness arrives. Then, I will be sold off. I will play my role well for you, brother. I know that my behavior will reflect strongly upon father and yourself, when my care falls into your responsibility." I gave him a kiss on his cheek. "Goodnight, Astaroth," I said as he dropped me off at the bottom of my tower.

"Goodnight, Kynareth," I barely heard as I walked inside.

*

The following morning, I stretched, yawning as I sat up in my bed, and I pulled the handkerchief out from beneath my pillow.

I wasn't sure why I was so attached to it; I hardly even knew the owner...but something drew me to him.

I had dreams about him all through the night, walking with him and having him follow me.

I got dressed in a simple gown, and peeked out of my window—and immediately flung myself back against the wall when I saw the very subject of my thoughts, walking in the courtyard down below.

He stood with a man who looked a lot like him, loading up a couple of horses from the stables.

"The king reminded me that you have to get back by the end of the day," the older man said. "You realize how gracious it was, that he allowed you out for the day?"

Seryn groaned, looking irritated. "Yes, father, I am aware of how miraculous that is...I realize that I am lucky to have a day in the sunlight. Now, back to the dark hole."

"Show more gratefulness, boy. You shame our house."

Seryn rolled his eyes, and the father strode over and back-handed him across the face with a loud crack; I flinched.

Seryn hesitated, before he gave a bow, kneeling at his father's feet. "I am sorry that I am such a disappointment, father. I will strive to remedy this in the future."

"You had better. If you get lucky, the king may allow you to have another chance to swear fealty and possibly even be chosen, which would be a miracle considering your background."

"It would be my greatest honor in life," he said.

"I know you detest the idea of service, son. Perhaps, after a few months on the war-front, maybe you will change your mind."

Seryn startled, standing at attention. "What?" He asked. "I am the only heir to our house—"

"And you are also our greatest disgrace," the father scolded. "I can father another heir if need-be. You cannot fix your reputation in only a day. If you go to the battlefield, you will prove that you are not a traitor. It is the best choice you have. You don't hate everyone, do you?"

He glanced at his chest, and I saw him rest a hand over his heart—over the very pocket he had pulled his handkerchief out of to give to me. He smiled softly. "No, I don't."

His father paused. "I've never seen you smile..."

Seryn flinched, brushing off his chest. "Just remembering a silly dreamer," I heard Seryn say, chuckling.

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

"Nothing, father," he said, giving a bow. "I am ready to depart, now. Send your orders to the facility, and I am sure they will see it through...but I hope you are happy, sending your only son to the battlefield before he even turns eighteen."

The father scoffed. "We both know how gifted you are. Rather than dying, you will likely bring great glory to our house. That is the best path for you, for now."

"I understand, father."

"Don't die."

Seryn mounted his horse and, glancing around the courtyard again, I froze when his eyes met mine, and I saw his widen fractionally.

His father followed his line of sight, and I smiled, giving a curtsy and he gave a bow.

"Good morning, my lady," he spoke at a higher volume up to me. "Please, excuse us if we have disturbed you."

"Not at all, good sir. I was simply taking in the beautiful seascape this morning," I said, motioning off to the ocean a small distance away through the forest.

"Of course, my lady," he said. "It is a rather beautiful morning for this time of year."

I smiled down at them. "Well then, I will head on my way. I wish you a good journey," I spoke to Seryn, and I could see him smirk up at me.

"I wish you well, my lady," he said, and he nudged the horse on, trotting out of the castle.

I smiled after him, and I glanced back down at his father below, who was observing this interaction with wide eyes, mouth slightly ajar.

I gave one last curtsy and he gave me another bow, before I backed away from the window, just in time for the maid to come in and escort me down to the banquet hall for breakfast.

When I arrived, I noticed that the Crowned Prince was already there, along with the second prince.

The rest of the royal family, however, was absent. They mindlessly ate on their plates, but when I stepped into the room, they both gave me a slight bow of the head.

"Good morning, my lady," they both murmured.

I gave a curtsy. "Good morning, your highness the crowned prince and your highness the second prince," I smiled, sitting down as a servant brought me a plate. "I do hope you fared well last night?"

"It was a restful night," the crowned prince said.

"Your father is a gracious host."

"I am well pleased to hear that your night was pleasant," I smiled.

"Good morning, your highnesses the crowned prince and the second prince," my brother's voice entered the room, and I stood, going to him to give him a hug, and he wrapped me in an embrace and pressed a warm kiss to my cheek. "Good morning, my sister," he smiled warmly at me, his hug lingering.

"Good morning, brother," I beamed at him.

The princes glanced at one another, before smirking at me. "Quite a warm welcome between siblings," the crowned prince said, his tone a bit critical.

"Are you and the princess not close?" I asked.

The second prince laughed. "Oh, not really. She is haughty."

"And overtly dramatic about everything," the older brother said, rolling his eyes.

"I am sure my sister and I are especially close because we shared a womb," my brother smiled. "We are twins, after all."

"I see," the crowned prince said, seemingly lost in thought. "I heard that you two had to be separated because of possible concerns, with just how close you two are..."

"I don't suppose you two know who the noble son with the mask covering his face is, do you?" My brother asked suddenly to change the subject, and I nearly choked on my orange.

The crowned prince's interest piqued at the question. "Why do you wish to know?"

"I saw him, but I didn't recognize him. I was just wondering who he was."

"Believe me, he is someone you likely won't ever see again!" The second prince scoffed. "He's a disgrace to his house right now. He refused to swear fealty to father, so he was placed in isolation. He's being sent to the war-front next week, so he'll probably die."

My brother startled. "So, he is from a Knight family, after all," he said. "I thought he looked a bit on the muscular side for a noble."

The crowned prince nodded. "He is the son of the head of his family, but when he was about to go from being a squire to a knight in the Knight's Order, he refused to swear fealty to the throne. It's been six years, so father decided that he could have another chance to prove himself. He got to attend the banquet last night, as a sign of good will, before he is sent off to war."

"What is his name...?" I asked softly, glancing at the floor.

I could see both of the princes exchanging glances, before the oldest chuckled. "It isn't as if it'll make a difference. He will likely die."

I glanced up, and the second prince sighed when he saw my face. "His name is Seryn Von Leonhart."

"The lion slayer!" My brother exclaimed.

The older prince nodded. "That's right. As you know, when a squire from a Knight Family is fixing to go into the Knight's Order, they are expected to swear fealty to the crown, before they are put into a pit of the animal that their house name represents. Each Knight Family represents a different beast, of course. The knight-to-be is usually armed, but because he didn't want to swear the oath of fealty to father, father demanded he be placed in the pit unarmed. Somehow, he managed to fight off the lion and even killed it with his bare hands. Father decided that his talent was too much to just throw away, so he put him in prison. Now, he has the chance to climb his way up the hard way. It would have been easier if he hadn't been so stubborn in the first place."

"Why didn't he want to swear fealty to the king?" I asked.

The second prince shrugged. "Well, that requires a special magic that supersedes subjugation."

"What is subjugation...?" I asked.

The crowned prince was taken aback. "Oh, I see. You haven't learned that yet, then. You will learn it soon, but I will tell you. When you come-of-age and you are brought to the Knight's Order to choose a personal knight, a sorcerer will go with you. When you make your choice—"

"—You both have to choose each other," the second prince interrupted.

"When you choose each other," the crowned prince corrected. "The binding sorcerer will use your blood in a magic seal to place a subjugation spell onto the knight, so that they will obey you absolutely...with the exception of the king or a member of the royal family."

"What does that mean?" I asked.

"It means that even if you give an order...if a member of the royal family orders them to stop or to do something else, they immediately follow the order of the royal first."

I startled, appalled. "So...if a member of the royal family ordered a personal knight to kill their master, then they would obey?" I asked.

The crowned prince paused, seeming to sense my disgust, and he sneered at me.

"And what would I do, my lady, if say someone had a personal knight and they wished to take over the throne? Should I just do nothing as they have their knight ordered to kill me?"

"But you have body guards, your highness," I said. "If you were murdered, then your guards must not be up to par."

The second prince spat out his eggs, laughing and slapping his thigh as he howled in laugher, and the crowned prince scowled at me, a dark look on his handsome face.

"So, you don't agree with the fealty oath, my lady? That could be taken as a traitorous statement." I felt dark, sinister rage swarming around him as he glared at me, and my blood ran cold. I felt the need to flee, and my own energy in my belly rolled, making me nauseated.

I startled. "I don't mean it to be that way, your highness—"

"You're just a stupid girl who will never be able to understand the complexities of being a member of the royal family. And by the way," he said getting close to me so that his face was almost touching mine. "You had better change your attitude if it is decided that we shall marry. It is almost certain that we will be arranged, and I don't intend to tolerate such insolence from a mage-blood brat," he spat, standing with force and storming off toward the guest room hall.

I stared, open-mouthed and stunned, in the direction that he had disappeared.

"You must be careful, sister," brother said, soft. "The royal family is particularly sensitive, especially when it comes to safety, and it could be taken in such a dangerous way if you say opposing statements as such. Especially because of your mana," he whispered. "You are only the daughter of a duke...a duke, may I remind you, who took over the throne of this dukedom from his father at the order of the very king you are trying to defy..."

I gaped at him. "But I—"

"I know, but this directly relates to their way of life. Be careful with your words, Kynareth," he said, before he, too, stood and left.

The second prince glanced at me. "It is a rather touchy topic," he said. He shrugged. "I know it sounds wrong, but this has actually happened in the past. We implemented the Fealty Oath in an attempt to keep more members of the royal family safe from upstarts. We have only ever ordered the death of a Knight's master if that noble was directly threatening or trying to harm a member of our family. We wouldn't ever just demand them to kill their master for no reason."

I wanted to say something, but I knew that I shouldn't say what came to mind in that moment.

As sensitive as your family seems to be, you could find a reason to have a master executed even if they simply breathed in a way you dislike, so how could I feel better after hearing you say that? I thought.

I sighed, wiping my mouth and standing. I gave a curtsy. "Please forgive me, your highness, but I no longer have an appetite. I will retire to my chambers. I wish you a pleasant day," I said, before turning and rushing back to my chambers before he could even speak.

I took all of my meals in my chambers for the remainder of the holiday season, avoiding them with everything that I had...little did I know that, while I subjected myself to isolation, the king was busy discussing a new arrangement with my father.