Twisted Fate of the Knight

The Awarding Ceremony

When I look at my bandages there was a bloodstain so I check my chest and I had a wound as I said 'ouch' because of the pain. We didn't notice because I still had a shirt when I changed and we thought it was just stained with blood. I stood up and get the first aid kit to tend my wound even though I don't want to be treated right here but I have no choice so I turned my back on Ian.

"Ouch," I said when I slowly put the cotton with disinfectant on my wounds. I immediately turned to Ian who might have woken up but fortunately he did not wake up and just turn around so I kept from making noise. I put a patch on my wound and I was looking for something that I could use a bandage on my chest since I can't reuse the stained one but I can't find one. I didn't want to wake Ian but I ended up waking him up.

"Ian, wake up," I said to him as I stood close to him and he turned to me.

"What it is, Avy?" He said as he yawns while looking at me and immediately diverted his eyes so I was surprised and looked at myself and I don't think something is wrong besides that you can notice my chest since I didn't wear bandages, or anything else.

"Do you have any alternative that I can use as bandages or could you get my things at Prince Renz's camp?" I shyly said to him since I can't go out like this.

"I don't have. Is that all you need?" He said as he stood up.

"Yep, thank you," I said as I go back on the bed, and he goes out of the tent.

Ian's Point of View:

After Avy tells me what she needs, I immediately stood up and refraining from looking at her because I am not used to her appearance right now when you can notice her chest without her bandages. I am already here in front of his Highness tent when I saw Kerz coming out from the tent as I ask him where is Avy's bag, and he said that Lady Miary gets her things last night.

"Thank you, Kerz. I have to go," I said.

"Is Avy alright?" He asks.

"Yes,"

"Thank goodness," He said before I went to her Grace's tent.

I saw Gin outside Lady Miary's tent so I asked if I could get Avy's belongings as he calls on Sofie which was the maid of her Grace. I was wondering why would he calls for her, and he said that they are dating so I coughed in no time at what I found out.

"I heard that Commander Avy is in your care. How is he?" He asks me.

"Yes, he is alright. He just needs to have enough rest." I answered him while waiting for the maid to come back with Avy's things.

"Commander Ian, here are the things of Avy," Sofie told me as she handed me Avy's things.

"Thank you," I said.

"Can I come with you?" She said when I was about to go.

"...Fine," I said since I have no choice since she looks really want to come while Gin was signing that it's okay to bring her since they are dating.

"Thank you," She said.

We were returning to my tent when we saw Kerz outside so I was immediately nervous because Avy might be discovered. Why the sudden visit when he himself told the others (Lady Miary, Kerz, Dravis, Gin, Kil) not to visit Avy but he is here so early in the morning. 

"Why his Highness here, Kerz?" I ask Kerz who is standing outside.

"He said, he wants to talk to Avy about yesterday's incident," He said, and I thank him before I went inside.

~~End Pov.

I was waiting for Ian when I heard footsteps in front of the tent so I immediately lay down and pretend to sleep with a side view covered with a blanket to hide my chest. I can recognize their voices are Kerz and Prince Ian.

"Your Highness, it's too early to visit Avy," Kerz told His highness but it seems like he was desperate to talk to me.

"I know, I will just wait for him to wake up. I am not here to wake him up, okay?" He said. 'What?! he wants to wait for me to wake up?!' I whispered.

"But --" 

"Kerz, I told you. I don't intend to wake him up so lower down your voice we might disturb him," I can hear you idiots~~ 

"..Fine," Kerz answered as His Highness comes inside and I pretended to sleep. I can feel that he is seating near me even though I don't see him.

" I'm sorry, Avy. I should at least see you off before I go," He said with his voice so sincere. I can't see his face so I was wondering what face he looks like.

"..." After that, he didn't say anything and I feel like he is staring at me.

"Greetings, your Highness," Ian said,

"Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince," it's Sofie's voice who also greeted the Prince but I still remained sleeping since I need to greet him.

"How is he?" He asks Ian about me.

"He wakes up a while ago but I think he fell asleep again after he lets me get his things," Ian answered Prince Renz.

"Is that so? Do you think he can participate in the awarding ceremony later?" He asks him again.

"I'm not sure, Your Highness," He said.

"Then, inform me later when he wakes up, okay?" He said and I heard him stand up where he seated.

"Yes, Your Highness," Ian answered and I heard them leave since the sounds of their footsteps are gone.

"Avy, are you awake?" He said so I got up when he suddenly laid me down again.

"Lady Miary's maid is here, remain there." He said and I noticed that Sofie was not there since I can't see them a while ago and she went outside after she greets the Prince.

"It's okay," I said and he said "What's so okay?! What if she tells her Grace?" with his worried face.

"It's okay, she knows it and that's why she comes here," I said as I hold his hands to assure him that Sofie can be trusted.

"Fine, if you say so." He said as he pats my head. 

"Avy are you okay?!" Sofie asks me as she approaches me but then the baby wolf immediately went into my front as if it blocking Sofie from completely touches me.

"Yes, I am okay," I said as I pet the wolf while saying to the wolf 'she's a friend'.

"Is that a magical beast from the magical tree?" She asks me as she looks at the baby wolf.

"Yes, I don't know why it doesn't want to go back after it saves me," I said.

"I am thankful that you are safe Avy. Lady Miary wants to look for you when she learns that you didn't come with the Prince last night and even Sir Ian," She said so I looked at Ian who immediately averted his eyes while blushing.

"But the Prince stopped them since it is very dangerous to look for you." She continues to speak while I am just listening to her.

"I don't blame Prince Renz since it was really dangerous and I am thankful that he comes back unharmed," I said as I looked at my hands when she suddenly hugs me.

"You're so considerate Avy that it made me want to be mad at you but then I can't. You don't know how worried we are," She said while still hugging me.

"I agree with her, Avy. Think of yourself too." Ian seconded as he handed the bandages to me.

" I am sorry," I told them before I let go of Sofie from the hug.

"Sofie, help her to change since the Prince is looking for her," Ian said to Sofie as he goes out of the tent.

"By the way, Avy, I am eager to know what is your relationship with Ian?" She curiously asks me that I didn't think of it since she didn't ask me right away when she arrived.

"Ahm, he's like my big brother since we grow up together," I said as I wrapped my chest with the bandage and she assists me.

"Really? Then, what he is like when he is little?" She asks me as she looks at me interested while waiting for my answer.

"Why do you want to know? Don't tell me you like Ian?!" I said as she holds my mouth to shut me.

"Shh, he might hear you." She said, so I laughed at her.

"Well, nothing much since he was silent most of the time with his poker face, or most likely he doesn't smile that much," I said as I wear my uniform.

"Really? I didn't see him smile and I can say he will be more handsome if he smiles," She said while imagining Ian is smiling.

"Sort of," I said and I stood up.

"Where are you going?" She asks.

"Prince Renz," I said as I walk out and she follows me.

"Can you really move around?" She asks me.

"Yes," I said and stopped in front of Renz's tent as I inform myself before I entered and Sofie was left outside.

"Greetings, your Highness the Crown Prince. Good Morning," I said as I greeted him.

"I was about to go there but you are already here when Ian just informed me that you wake up." He said as he approaches me.

"I can't do that your Highness so I came here," I said because I don't want them to talk about us again especially since many eyes are watching here.

"Tsk, so how are you?" He asks me while he was examining me.

"I am fine, your Highness," I said while I cannot look at him in the eyes.

"Avy, what did you do when we are in the forest that made you late when I am sure that you run first before me?" he asks me. The question I knew he was going to ask me.

"The bear was chasing you so I attack to divert his attention but then it was chasing me," I said while looking at the ground.

"Why would you do that when I can handle it?" 

"Because you are the Crown Prince so I thought that I won't let you have an injury," I said because maybe when I come back without a wound and he has a wound, say I let the Prince injure.

"Even risking your own life?!" he said in a rather loud voice.

"Yes instead of being criticized by everyone," I said as I looked at him.

"..." He could not answer what I said and just looked at me as if he was trying to read what's on my mind.

"Your Highness, the awarding ceremony is about to start," Kerz said, he broke the silence and we looked at Kerz at the same time.

"Let's go Avy." He said after he sighed. We went out and went to the entrance since the stage was there.

All the participants and young ladies were there to watch out for the winners since they already confirm their harvest in the hunting. The spokesperson announces the winners and as expected Prince Renz was the champion and he goes in front. The first runner-up was Prince Kilden but I didn't even see that Prince so I look around who is looking like a Prince but then when I look in front and saw Kil beside Prince Renz. I looked a few more times because I might be dreaming but it was Kil and they were calling him Prince Kilden. 

"It can't be?! Am I dreaming?!" I said out loud so they looked at me and so did Prince Renz and Kil--Prince Kilden and he suddenly waved at me while smiling so I immediately averted my eyes.

"Our 2nd runner up were Lady Collins, Commander Ian, and Marquess Ronan," said the speaker.

"Our 3rd runner up is the Second Prince, Prince Hanz," and they announce that they will claim in the palace. I can't calm down after knowing Kil's identity and why they didn't tell me that he was a Prince.

I can't calm down because I remembered what I did to him and I told Kil but it was not my fault since I didn't know in the first place but that sounds like an excuse. I just scratched my head as I sat and looked at the ground thinking how I was going to deal with Kil. I did not notice that there were feet standing in front of me so I slowly looked at them and I almost sat on the ground because they were looking at me. I got up and immediately approached Kil.

"Your Highness, please forgive me!" I said while bowing.

"Pfft, ha ha ha ha, I didn't think you will gonna asking for forgiveness instead of payment." He said as he controls himself not to laugh. I would have to if you are not a prince with your price but then my life comes first.

"Don't say that, Your Highness. I don't dare you to pay me back as long as you forgive my rudeness," I said even if I try, I can do nothing since he was a Prince and I am just a mere knight. 

"It's okay, Avy. Here is your payment," He said as he handed his harvest that was converted into paper and the most expensive stone that can be used as a tool.

"I humbly refuse it, your Highness," I said as I refuse to receive it but then he gets my hands so I have no choice but to receive it since they are looking at me even the young ladies are glaring. 

"Are you sure you're giving this to me Prince Kilden?" I ask him since this suppose to be given to a lady, not a knight.

"Of course," He said as he taps my shoulder.

"Then, you should receive mi--"