Twisted Fate of the Knight

Get Together

"You really love chocolate," I turned to the one who spoke and it was Ian as he sat in the chair in front of me.

"They are my happiness," I said as I smiled before I scoop my parfait.

"Did something happen?" He asks me as he looks at me worried. I don't know why does he know if did something happens to me even though he was not with me.

"It's nothing," I said as I smiled to hide it,

"Don't lie, Avy. There's evidence in your eyes even if you soak your face with cold water. It's visible," He said.

"I just remember something bad," I said.

"I know it's not bad but more than bad, right?" He said as he pats my head just like when we were a kid to comfort me as he gave me chocolate. 

"I remembered something yesterday but I am okay. Ash was there for me," I said. He was smiling but then he looks so serious and immediately smiled as well.

"That's good," He said as he also drank his black coffee since he really doesn't like sweets but he can eat if I gave him.

"By the way, how did you know that I am here?" I ask him since I was early.

"Well, knowing you. I predicted that you will come here since this shop is famous for its sweets and I was right to check it since I am a little bit early." He said as he eats cookies since it's not that sweet.

"Oh, Is that so? hehe," I said as I eat my cake while Ian just watching me eating just like before.

" It's delicious!" I said while savoring the taste of the cake.

"Pfftt. haha," Ian laughs at me so I immediately feed the cake on him. It's my revenge for laughing at me so he stopped laughing as he glared at me. I just smile widely as I looked at him chewing.

"That's too sweet. How can you eat that?" He said after he drinks his coffee.

"Well, the taste is just right, and you just don't like sweets," I said to him as I eat another bite.

"That habit of yours never change--" I was surprised when he suddenly stopped what he was going to say and his expression looks serious as he was in deep thoughts.

"Hey, are you okay, Ian?" I said as I waved in front of him, he looked at me.

"I'm okay, let's go?" He said since I finished eating my food.

"Sure," I said then stood up, and when I was about to pay he stopped me as he paid for my bill too with his bill.

"Thank you," I said,

"No problem since this is why I am a knight to give you what you need," He said, as I remember when he promised us to have a good life.

~~Flashback~~ 10 years ago...

"I promise that Avy and Liz will be having a good life when I grow up so that we will not going to ask for help or begging. I will build a house that not so big as long as we are together," Younger Ian said to Avy and Liz.

"Of course, you can Ian," Liz told Ian as she pats his head.

"Then, let me help you," Younger Avy said to Ian.

"No, you should grow up healthier and a man should not let a woman work," He said to the little Avy as Liz was smiling at them.

"But you are only a kid, and I can do it too, right Liz?" Little Avy said to Ian as she also asks Liz.

"Of course, both of you will help other, okay," She said as she pats their heads.

"I'm older than you and I can work earlier than you so wait for me and you should treat your scars," He said as he looks the scars on Avy's feet.

"It's okay, don't worry about me," She said while smiling, and that time Ian was really determined to fulfilling his promise.

~~End Flashback~~

"Still, Thank you, Ian," I said as I smiled at him.

"Are you happy being a knight, Avy?" He asks me while looking at the road.

"Yes, why?" I ask.

"Nothing, I just wanted to know, by the way, you are always welcome to come to our house," He said, as he hires two horses.

"Then, I will come on my day-off," I said and took the horse as I ride on it and he also rides on it.

"That's great. Follow my lead we will be going somewhere," He said as he ran the horse so I followed. We are out of the kingdom and we are in the vast expanse of land which is quite far from the Winter kingdom. He stopped at a big tree and got off the horse so I got off as well.

"This place is beautiful," I said as I look around and take a deep breath.

"It's one of the places when I want to be alone. Did you like it?" He said.

"Yes, it's peaceful," I said as I lay on the grass and looked at the blue sky.

"I glad that you like it," He said as he looked down at me since I was laying on the ground while he was standing.

"Of course, I was with you again after how many years," I said as I was smiling at him and suddenly he left in front of me and sat down next to me.

"Why did you not approach me when you saw me that day? ( he was talking when Avy escorted them back to the kingdom)" He said while looking at the sky.

"that, I don't know how to approach you that time and you look so serious that I feel like you are a different person," I said which is true since he was so serious just like a loyal knight in the palace.

"Is that so? Well, I didn't just know that it's you even though you're name rings the bell when Sir Alfinus send a message that you will be escorting us," He said as he closed his eyes as the wind blows his hair.

" hehe, well, I changed my hair color, eye color, and hairstyle so it is understandable if you can't recognize me right away since I was trained hard back then, "I said while remembering my training with Lady Miary that I almost cut my arms, my feet, and many bruises all over my body and I was so lucky to make it out alive and kicking.

"Yes, that's one reason so I was having a hard time when you even told me that you don't want to become a knight but to become a merchant so I didn't think of you would become a knight," He said,

" I, myself didn't expect that I would become a knight. It's just that Lady Collins is kind since they treated like a family, not a knight so I decided to become her knight even though at first I refuse to become one," I said which is one reason why I decided to become a knight aside from my personal reason which is looking for the book and if I can go back to my world.

"Well, I'm glad that they are treating you well. So, if ever you have a problem you can come with me, and I will sure to give my time," He said as he was smiling at me. A smile makes me feel different though I think a few times I think of him as a brother but I can't help but think that we are not really brothers.

" Same to you, I am here for you Ian," I said to him. 

"Of course, by any chance, did Lady Collins knows that we grow up together?" He suddenly asks me.

"Nope, since I told her and the Duke that I was alone," I answered him.

"Hmm, then should we meet up secretly, or do you want them to know?" He said while looking at me seriously.

"I think it is better to tell them since Lady Miary might think otherwise such as I'm dating someone if I sneak out the state," I said while remembering when she accused me that I'm dating a woman.

"Really? Lady Collins did that?*chuckled*" He said.

"Yes, she even followed me to investigate so it's better to tell her, geez," I said as I hug myself while remembering the feeling of being followed by someone like something is staring at my back even though I had never seen anything before.

"Haha!" He just laughed at me.

"Don't laugh, it's not funny," I said since he was laughing at me.

"Okay, sorry, sorry. Anyways, did you happen to go back to the village?" He said so I looked at him.

"Yes," I said and looked at the grass.

"Did you know where did they go?" He asks me. I can't tell him the truth that on what happened to Lady Layla but I don't know why to them (the chef and the others) when I came there since they don't give information aside from they leave the village.

"Yes, they said that they leave the village and did not say where did they go even their families," I said since that was the details that accumulate for the few days I stay there.

"I hope they are in a safe place," He said so I looked at him as he looked up at the sky.

"I hope, too," I said as he looked at me so I smiled.

"Let's go back since it's nearly evening," He said as he looked at his pocket clock. The speed of time because it was already afternoon and it was nearly night so we got up and got on our horse.

At Collin's State...

"What you two are brothers?!" Lady Collins said when we talked to her when we arrive at the state and she was surprised when Ian is with me.

"Yes, I am sorry. I lied to you and the Duke. You can punish me if necessary," I said as I bow down.

"Avy, you don't have to do that," She said as she telling me to sit down since I was kneeling in front of her.

"We are sorry, Lady Collins. He has his reason why he lied to you. I not telling you to forgive him but please give him a chance to explain," Ian back-up me as he kneels down also. 

"Ian, you don't have to kneel down," I said to him while I said to him to stand but he did not stand as he accompanied me.

"Both of you, enough and sit down at the chair," She said while not knowing what to do with us because she was holding her forehead so we both sat down on the chair.

"I don't need to punish you Avy since you didn't harm me or the state and Ian said you have reasons so it's okay," She said while looking at the two of us.

"Thank you, Lady Miary," "Thank you, Lady Collins," We both said since she's so kind to me.

"So, what is your reason?" She asks me.

"Well, I lied to you since I was sure that I'm going to travel, not to be a knight so I think that it's better to hide it. Also, I was planning to just escort you back here and that's all but then it happens that you are going to help me so I agreed to be your knight, and I didn't have the opportunity to tell you the truth," I said to her as she looks at me.

"I see, it's okay since I was the one who dragged you here so suddenly," She said as she smiled so Ian looked at me smiling too so I smiled too.

"Tell me that I am not dreaming?! Seeing Ian smiling?!," She said while unbelievable in what she has seen as she is looking at Ian so Ian lost his smile.

"Haha, you are not dreaming, Lady Miary," I said as I chuckled since Ian really doesn't show expressions easily so Miary really couldn't believe what she was seeing.

"Is that really you, Ian?" She said as she looked at Ian.

"Yes, Lady Collins," He answered.

"Now, I know why Ian acting like that in the Hunting," She said as she looks like the question on her mind answered.

"But, why did you(Ian) told us that she's alive and you don't know she is?" said Miary so I looked at Ian because of what Miary said. Don't tell me he looks for me too and he accidentally spoke them.

"Ah, that? It's my dog went missing when I went on a vacation but one of my colleagues someone picks it up," He said when I was controlling myself not to laugh since Ian doesn't like dogs so why would he tell it was his dog. He glared at me when I was silently chuckled since I was worried for nothing.

"Oh, then, did you found your dog?" She said as if she believed in Ian.

"Ah, yes," He answered as he puts his arms in my shoulder as he leans down on me, 'I hope you should be ready for laughing at me,' he whispered at me before he again removed his arm around me.

"That's great. Anyways, what are you planning to do Avy?" She asks me. 

"Plan?" I ask in confusion.

"Yes, since Ian has a house not far from the Crown Prince then you two should catch up. I am not telling you to leave here but you are free to come here whenever you want," She said to me. 

"Oh, I don't know, actually. hehe," I said as I scratch the back of my head since I don't know what to do.

"You can decide, Avy," Ian said to me as he sips to his tea.

"Since both of you live as a family then it's better for you to live together since you (Avy) lived with us for how many years, of course, I will be sad but Ian has not been with you for several years," She said. She has a point since I was with her since I leave the village and Ian didn't have me for how many years but I don't want to leave Lady Miary. 

"You can take your time Avy," Ian said as he looks at me, and Miary nods. I know it's hard to choose but I need to decide since I can with them even if I live either of them since they are important to me.

"I've decided, I will--"