Twisted Fate of the Knight

The Talk

"Stop it, Avy," She said as she forcefully gives me the silver tray with food. She pushed the trolley as she went out of the kitchen so I just followed her.

We were close to the bedroom and I went ahead to open the door since I have one free hand to open the door. I knock before I opened the door and they all looked at me when I went in and their expression is very serious as I can feel the atmosphere is a little bit awkward.

"Just in time, Avy," Prince Renz said as he looks at me that I arrived just right so I feel something bad will happen to his smiles when he sees me enter since they have all stern look on their faces when I saw them.

"Eh?" I said because I was puzzled about what they are talking about since they entered.

"But, first let's have a dinner," Prince Renz said while smiling as he breaks the intense atmosphere from Ronan, Ian, and Miary.

"I agree. We should eat dinner first," Ronan said as he adjusted his eyeglasses since he was holding a paper in his hand as he puts it down on the table since he was standing near the window. 

"Fine, Sofie come in and serve the dinner," She said after she sighed and her expression is relaxed now unlike a while ago that she is a little bit scary if she is so serious. Sofie went it as she excuses herself since I am still blocking her way so I walked closer to the table since I am holding the silver tray as I serve the food.

They seated properly when we started serving the food since the table is good for 5 persons. Actually, it is a round table so their position is from right to left: Lady Miary, Prince Renz, empty, Ian, and Ronan. 'D*mn, why do I have to seat beside Renz when I want to seat with Ian and Miary' I said in my mind while I seated between Ian and Renz. I feel so awkward since Renz is beside me and I can feel he is observing me even if I don't look at him, and what's worst I am facing Ronan and Miary. Although, I was comfortable with Miary but not with Ronan since he was glancing at me from time to time.

"Are you okay, Avy?" Ian asks me as he looks at me with a worried look.

"Yes," I said even if I can't eat well.

"You two become close? How?" Prince Renz said as he looks at us with a questioning look.

"You don't know that they grow up together?" Lady Miary said casually to Prince Renz so Ian and I both looked at Miary because of what she said. Although, we did not say she can not say and we also did not say she could say. 

"Wait.. what?!" Prince Renz said as he looks at Miary and us as he was waiting for a response from us. Even, Ronan's expression shows a surprise because of what he found out while looking at us.

"What?" Lady Miary said when she notices that Ian and I were looking at her in shock since she was busy eating when she said that.

"It's nothing," Ian said as he massages his forehead and I sighed.

"Hey, it is true?" Prince Renz asks me as he holds me in my shoulders and shakes me. 

"Yes, so stop," I said as I stop him since I feel dizzy so he stopped and let me go.

"Hm, I didn't know that Ian has a family since he didn't tell anything aside from he has one but didn't tell specific even after being with me for how many years now so I am really curious," He said with excitement and satisfaction as he looks at Ian while Ian was just quiet while eating.

"Ah, they are the same, Gabriel. Avy said he doesn't have a family when I ask him," Lady Miary said to Renz. Then, Renz looks Miary with excitement as they talked about us, about what are the similarities that we've done while Ronan was so quiet that you thought he wasn't listening since he was eating peacefully but I know he was listening.

Sofie and I clean up the table since we are going to use that when all of them suddenly become serious when we finished cleaning. They all looked at each other and looked at me so I suddenly get nervous by their looks even Ian who can't look at me straight. 

"W-hat?" I said nervously as they looked at me.

"Avy, do you remember what we've talked about a few days ago?" Prince Renz said to me as he looks at me.

"Yes, why?" I ask him. I feel like it is bad news because I can't read his thoughts since he doesn't look concerned or not.

"You remember what was the worst-case scenario if they know, right?" He said as looks at his nails then casually looked at me as if he just didn't care at all. I remembered the talked about the Empress know I am the one who treated him and that would be a bad omen.

"Don't tell me she knows it?" I said firmly even though I was nervous about his answer.

"Not really," He said casually so I'm annoyed because it seems like he just doesn't really care about it when I was in a bad situation for saving him. Now, I am regretting saving him when he can't act well.

"Not really? what do you mean?" I ask him with a questioning look as I tilted my head while controlling myself not to be annoyed with him since earlier I controlled myself from shouting at him.

"Well, she tried to ask the maids that were present that day so she was investigating all the people who went to visit me but other than the maids who saw you were mentioned," He said as he pats my head.

"So? What do you want me to do?" I said since he has not yet told me exactly what he wants me to do.

"You should be careful and don't show your ability especially it is related to medicine since she might invite you sooner or later," He said as he sits down on the chair. D*mn. What would I do if she really invites me? What if the Crown Princess attends also? Although, I am not scared anymore of her. Why does she seem to be quiet now? when she was persistent in getting the Crown Prince's attention for the past years. 

"Alright, I keep that in my mind. Thank you, Your Highness," I said as I looked at him.

"That's not all," Ronan said so I looked at him.

"You should also be wary of the gifts you are receiving especially if it came from her or any nobles from her side," He said as he looks at me seriously. Well, he is back to his old self since he talks so seriously to me as if I didn't stay with him for a few days.

"Don't worry about that, he was with Ian so it will be checked before he receives it," Lady Miary said so we looked at her.

"I think so, too," Prince Renz seconded. I was puzzled so I looked at them since how did Miary know that it was checked before Ian receives a gift.

"Then, there will be no problem if they live together," Ronan said as he fixed his eyeglasses.

"Wait... What?! They live together?!" Prince Renz said as he looks at me and Ian in shock.

"Yes, Avy just recently lives with him," She said casually with a bored expression.

"Ian, why didn't you tell me?" He said as he looks at Ian with a slightly angry expression.

"Your Highness, I am not obligated to tell you what's going on in my daily life," He said with his poker face so I kind of laughed as I looked at them both.

"I treated you as my own? Why did you do this to me?!" He said while acting with teary eyes, and Ian looks away from him as if he doesn't hear anything. Prince Renz stands as he walks towards Ian but Ian walked away so they are running now.

"Hey, stop it the two of you!" Lady Miary said while looking at the two of them badly because Prince Renz had hit her earlier while Ronan *facepalm* after seeing Prince Renz acting like a child.

'Someone please tell me that I am dreaming,' Ronan murmured as he watched Ian and Prince Renz still chasing each other.

"Stop it," I said at the same time blocking Ian so he stopped but because Prince Renz pushed him so we both fell down. 

"Ouch!" I said since the pain in my back hit on the floor because Ian supported my head I didn't get hurt so he was on top of me as he is kneeling while one of his hands served as the support so he would not fall on me.

"I'm sorry! Why did you st-- Are you okay Avy?!" he said when he saw me from Ian, he immediately pushed Ian away from me as he helps me to stand up.

"I'm sorry, Avy. I didn't notice that you are in front of him," He said as he brushes off my clothes and checked me if I have a bruise or something.

"Your Highness, you don't have to push me really hard and it is your fault," He said before he stood up.

"Is that so? I didn't push you hard though," He said while smiling while Ian just smiles even though he was annoyed. I looked at Lady Miary who was laughing while Ronan looked at us with mixed expressions of being surprised and could not believe what he saw.

"Really?" Ian said to Prince Renz as he looks at him. Geez, is these two is really a Crown Prince and a Commander of his knights? I just said it in my mind while looking at the two of them.

"Alright, it's time to wrap up and go home since it's already late," Lady Miary said as she claps o we looked at her. I check the time with my pocket clock and it is late. 

"I agree," Ronan seconded as he puts back his pocket clock in his suit and fixed all the papers that scattered on the table.

We talked seriously about the things that the Empress movements such as gathering more ally in her side and aside from that she was planning to adopt a niece that she recently taking care of it in her residence according to Ronan. I'm still not sure if the woman that Ronan is referring to is the woman in the prophecy since they didn't know what she looks like and I think that the maids are commanded not to talk about it or she is hiding her. I need to know if that girl is the one they found in the lake of the Tower so that I can take her away from the Empress. I am also not sure if the Empress and Ryah are allies or not since they are not talking to each other often but the Empress invited her when she has a party.

"Why does the Empress suddenly wants to adopt a niece?" Lady Miary commented as she sips her tea since Sofie arrived earlier with tea and snacks.

"I agree," Prince Renz agreed as he looks so serious thinking what might be the reason.

"Well, we are not sure what she is planning but we need to be careful," Ian said.

"Yes, so we just need to watch her for now, and also we need to investigate the girl when she is officially adopted by the Empress," Ronan said.

"Then, that's it for now," Prince Renz said as he stands up.

"Yes, you guys can go now, and take care on your way," Lady Miary said as she walks with us outside the house.

"Thank you, Lady Collins," Ian said as we go to our carriage while Ronan and Prince Renz walked first towards their horse and put on a coat so they would not be recognized.

"No problem, Commander Ian," She said while smiling then she bids goodbye to us.

We arrived at the state of Ian in no time since we didn't talk to each other since he closes his eyes the moment we seated in the carriage so I think he was tired. I called him to wake up when we are going to get down since he seems didn't notice that we've arrived. We went in and his butler greeted us. I said that I will go to my room to rest and he just said okay as he walks to his office. By the way, my room was changed near to his office and room while Ash's room is still the same so he is also quite close to me because his room was not far from Ian's office. 

"What an exhausting day," I said as I lay down on my bed after I change my clothes. I looked to my side because something was moving and I saw Ash in wolf form sleeping since I didn't notice because it was dark and I couldn't see very well.

"Ash, what are you doing here?" I ask him as I woke him up.

'Master, why didn't you brought me with you?' He said as he looks at me while seated in front of me.

"Well, it's not that I will be endangered, and Ian was with me so don't worry," I said as he frowned then turned away from me and lay down. Geez, my pet was sulking so I hugged him and said 'you can sleep here,' but he did not speak so we went to sleep.

"Avy.what.is.--?"