Twisted Fate of the Knight

Welcome Back!

"Who cooks this dish?" He asks the butler after eating the fried chicken that I cooked.

"It is Sir Avy, Marquess Alfinus," He answered him as Ronan looks at me.

"Were you also the one who cooks the chicken last 2 years ago in the hunting?" He asks me and I remember the past where our camp became an instant diner and he came with Ian and I doubt that he knows I am the one who cooked the food back then.

"Yes, it is me," I answered him as I continue to eat.

"So, you the chef that Prince Renz and Prince Kilden are talking about that they cannot hire since you are her Grace's Knight, I didn't know that you have such talent," He said as he takes another bite of the chicken.

"You're flattering me, Sir," I said as I smiled awkwardly.

"I'm not flattering you, I am just telling the truth," he said so I turned to him because I did not expect what he said but he just focusing on his food.

" Then, thank you, Sir Ronan," I answered him as I give him a big smile when he looked at me as he suddenly let go of his fork when he saw me. 

"Are you okay?" I said as I stand and went towards him as I check his temperature since his face is a little bit red so I think he might have a fever. He immediately removed my hand and immediately stood up and left the dining room so we all wondering he acted like that and what happened there.

"Do you think he has a fever?" I ask the butler since he might closer with him and knows him better.

"I don't think so but I am sure that he is alright, Sir Avy," He said as he picks up the fork that fell earlier.

"Is that so? But incase, please take care of him. I know, he was a little hostile with everyone and he was afraid to trust anyone but please don't be afraid of him, and I know he is kind." I said to him as I smiled and continue to eat.

" Yes, we will. Thank you, Sir Avy," He said. I hope Ronan will change a little. 

After I left something before I left the Alfinus State, I didn't get to see him personally since he said that he is busy so he sends the payment to the butler and the butler gave it to me but I refuse since he helps me more than enough. He insists to gave me but I strongly refuse it as I told him to take it if the Marquess refuses to take it. I ride Ash and left and they even surprise when they saw Ash since it is a magical beast.

~~Ronan's Point of View:

I saw him left the mansion without facing him personally since when he was so caring and his smile is so refreshing that I want to have it myself. What's wrong with me? I scratch my head because of frustration and I stopped when the butler knocks before he went in.

"Yes?" I said as I act normally.

"He didn't take it," He said as he put it down on my table.

"Why did he didn't take it?" I ask.

"He said he receives much more so he didn't take it,"

"Then, take--"

"I refuse to take it, Sir Alfinus," He said to me as he bows a little before I finished talking.

"Then, give it to him if you refuse to take it," I said as I continue to work.

"But--"

"No, buts. You can go," I said as he gets the pouch with money and went out. I looked at the ceiling when he came out as I was thinking why would he refuse to take the money when he works for it since he finishes the job that I gave him ahead of time. Why would he be concern about me even though I am being so rude to him? I hate this feeling that I want to let him by my side.

~~ End

I was walking into the town to look for a carriage to rent since I can't ride Ash in his form for me to get closer to the Collins State. I rented one and immediately told me where I was going wherein an area that no houses or people around which is outside of the Collins State. The coachmen even asked me if it was really here since Collins State was far away but I said it is okay since I lacked the money I got and I declined the butler's offer to take me here since the carriage is so flashy that I cannot ride it.

"Ash," I called him when the coachman was not on the sight.

'Yes, master,' he said as he appeared in front of me.

"Let's go back to Collins State," I said so I rode with him and we quickly got to the front of Collins State.

"Why does no one guarding the gate?" I said since I cannot see knights so I open the gate and I went in. It's so strange, did Gin neglects his duties? 

~~Meanwhile, Gin sneezed out of nowhere so Sofie asks him if he catches a cold but he answered her that he is fine.~~

"Where is everybody?" I said as I look everyone and the mansion's door was opened but I can't see anyone so I went to the training ground and--

"Welcome back, Avy!!/ Welcome back, Commander!!" They greeted me as Ash steps back since we were surprised since as soon as we step into the training ground they greeted us. I looked at them with teary eyes especially Sofie who is already sobbing as soon as she saw me as she runs towards me and hugged me tightly. I hugged her back while apologizing and Gin just taps my shoulder as he told me 'Welcome back Commander,' and the Duke just nods as he smiles at me as if he feels relieved to see kicking.

"I thought, we will not gonna see you again," She said as she rubs her eyes when I let her go since she was hugging so tightly that she will never ever let go of me.

"Hehe, I am sorry," I said as I scratch my head and smiled awkwardly.

"Don't answer me with 'hehe'," She said as she scolded me, then she smiles as if she was glad to see me again.

"I assumed that you didn't forget what we left yesterday, Avy," Lady Miary said to me as she smiles at me. She walks towards me so I backed away because I knew I would receive punishment as I close my eyes while waiting for any punch, kick or slap from her but she just hugs me.

"Don't do that again, Avy," She said while hugging me. I hugged her back since I can feel her worries about me.

"I am really sorry," I said as I hold her tight, and I didn't notice tears streaming down my cheeks so I immediately wiped it when I let her go from the hug.

"I didn't think this is the day that I will saw you cry, Avy," Lady Miary told me as she wipes my tears while smiling so I smiled because I did not expect that I would cry since they still want to be with them.

"Thank you, everyone," I said to them as I smiled at them.

After the dramatic meeting, we ate and they were asking me why did I send a letter and I answered them that 'I can't tell my whereabouts when I meet my teacher'. They ask me who is my teacher but I can't answer them and why does my teacher doesn't want me to send a letter even though I tried to send a letter but he ended up knowing it before I could send it so I give up on sending it. When I am talking about my teacher, I am forgetting what he looks like even though we just part a few days ago and my head hurts when I tried to remember what he looks and sounds like. 

" Lady Miary, thank you for waiting for me," I said to her when we are on the balcony since the welcome party ended and I followed her instead of going back to my room.

"I just did my promise," She said while looking at the moon.

"I know you've been looking for me so I am really sorry," I said as I bowed down to her. 

"Look at me, Avy," she said so I looked at him.

"Don't be sorry, Avy since you are already here," She said as she holds my hands.

"I am back, Lady Miary," I said as I smiled at her.

"Welcome home, Avy." She said to me as we both laughed since our promise was fulfilled. 

"Since you are here, Avy. We need to help Prince Renz since he helps me when --" She said but stops when she remembered something.

"He helps you with?" I ask her since I feel that it is important.

"He helps me when I was looking for you even though he was in that condition," She said but I feel that she hiding something.

"Then, I should thank him too. I should help him this time by helping you and I will make sure that he will recover," I said and she smiles at me.

" He will be happy to know that Avy since he makes a fuzz when he learned that you didn't send a letter to us and when you didn't tell him that you will be gone," She said as she smiles but a bitter smile.

"Is that so? It is very like him," I said as I chuckled since he was fond of me as I remembered the time when he talks to Duke Collins if he can get me but the Duke refuses since I am Lady Miary's knight, and her Grace was annoyed at Prince Renz that he shouted at him when he went out to the Duke's office. 

"I didn't expect that Ian takes a vacation when he learns that a few days when it is unusual for him to take a vacation since he didn't take a vacation but he came back after one month exhausted." She said.

"Where did he go?" I ask her.

"He didn't tell us where but he asks for three months vacation," She said and I thought he might go to our hometown where Lady Layla's Restaurant but I left there weeks when I started to look for my teacher and I don't think I left some shreds of evidence. 

"Did he talk about it when he came back?" I ask her when she looks at me wondering why I would want to know but she answers me.

"He didn't say anything aside from 'she's alive but I don't know where she is'," she said so I admit he went there.

"Hmm. So, he was looking for someone?" I ask her even though I am the one he was looking for.

"Yes, but he didn't tell us who is she but he was less worried," She said.

"You should sleep already, Milady," I said.

"Rest well, Avy." She said as I left her and went to my room where it is clean as if someone is still using it.

~~Lady Miary's Point of View:

After almost three years, I see Avy at the Alfinus state and it is very unusual for Ronan to invite me late-night unless it is about Prince Renz's condition. I couldn't believe it when I saw Avy outside of Ronan's house and I thought I was dreaming when I saw him. I even pinch myself just to be sure that I am not dreaming or something but then I feel the pain so I am not dreaming as I called him. I cried when I was sure he was and we entered when Ronan saw us, and we immediately talked about the condition of Renz with Avy since he will be a great help looking for a cure with the Empress's tea.

I immediately went to my father's office to tell him that Avy's back and he stops what he was doing as he looks at me then looking at my back as if he was searching for Avy. I tell him that he was at Alfinus State, and we ended up setting a Welcome Back party tomorrow. The Duke was also happy to know that Avy is alive and kicking so we informed everyone to prepare a banquet for Avy and they are also happy to receive the good news even the knights.

We surprised Avy and we are also surprised with the magical beasts that became so big. Fortunately, it was tamed and does not attack people unlike the last 2 years ago when it was smaller. 

"Rest well, Avy," I said as he left me on the balcony.

Many things happen when he left a year when the Empress started to move with her pawns and we didn't know that she is with Ryah the Crown Princess and it was a good choice that Prince Renz delayed the wedding. It was also the time Prince Renz's symptoms showed up like coughing blood when he is using magic so he was not using magic when he is attending events. I stopped him from helping me since he can't strain his body without using magic even though we still argued because of that but he listened to me.

" I hope we can find a cure soon or--"