Vow Of Silence

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

1st PERSON: Pelomina Lorenzo-Capiz

Having it done as he said so, my attendants, Java, Eustace, and Keion, appeared. Unlike the usual case of them fussing over the dress, they already have one prepared. I guess they already decided before getting here instead of dragging me out wearing nothing but a thin strand of paper as an outfit.

And one thing I also noticed they have was… their faces.

I could see just how it lit up with knowing looks and hushed teasing, as they worked, in all while I couldn’t peel my hands off my neck, I kept it there like I was able to hide such a thing; they assured me there’s no reason to hide my neck,

“My lady, who do you think you’re hiding it from?” Java asked with a huff. I could see her smirk even without looking. She was busy trying to straighten the dress that they brought. It was brown, simple as that. It’s a simple flowing dress. There’s nothing much to say about it other than it’s brown.

‘They might’ve chosen this as per Lykus's advice,’ he did tell me that he’ll note to my attendant to dress me accordingly,

Is this brown dress… hunting material? I thought I’d wear trousers or anything else that a person can hunt with. But that would’ve been too ambitious of me. Why would I wear hunting clothes when the most I could do, and probably the only thing I could do, is spectating?

Keion sat me down on the bed as she started working on my hair, “Did you have a good sleep my lady?” she asked, the only one in these three that even bothered to ask, but no, Java went straight for the jugular,

“I… did, thank you, Keion, uh—h-how about you?” I asked back, and she chuckled,

“I also slept well my lady,” she began, “Last night, the castle was washed over with good news that all of the servants retired early for the evening,” she followed and I hummed, clearing my throat,

“T-That’s good,” I replied,

Just in time that Eustace was done preparing whatever it is that she’s doing with the basin with brought in and started wiping me, fussing over to eagerly join the conversation, “Well, my lady, as you should know, last night was rather lax for everyone, the lord acted as if he’s in an especially good mood,” she said as she hastily wiped my body,

The amount of jeering I received from Java and Eustace is not half as much as I thought they would. They did not stop at acknowledging it, but they didn't want to delve into real detail, then again, even if they did I am not someone who’s able to do that.

Just as she was done, Keion also finished braiding my hair, it was a simple hairstyle from what I see but it sure keeps the hair out of my face when I move around, Java slid the dress on me and tightened up the corset for a bit, as I requested, and I supposed the whole thing was done.

Bless Pelomina Vaustero’s face, he’d look good on everything. They also brought along boot-like shoes, and once I slipped them on, we were done. If I had to guess, Lykus also told them that we were leaving in an hour. Everyone moved faster than they usually do. They led me out and down to the castle entrance, where Lykus stood in the middle of a circle of men. I’m not sure, but I think these were the knights. There were some familiar faces.

And once this man saw me… his face lit up.

‘He’s making it so hard for me to restrain EVERYTHING.’

He didn’t beam, per se. On the contrary, it looks like he was fighting a smile. He gave me a curt nod as he finished whatever it is that he was briefing the knights with, having them disperse as he started walking towards me.

“Are you ready?” he asked, and I nodded as I looked around. Unlike how they were when they headed to Okuzal to drive away from the bandits on the border, they looked tame now. In place of the full-metal ones, some of their ‘armor’ is made of thick leather material. The other knights already mounted their horses, yet I don’t see a vacant horse for Lykus or me, not that I’d know how to ride one—

‘Wait,’

He’s not going to take his dragon, isn’t he? I turned to look at him and just as I thought, Lily, the dragon, made her second appearance. Brough in by another man. He carefully handed Lykus the reins, and I watched as this humongous thing nuzzled against Lykus.

He ruffled the dragon’s fur on its neck, mane for simpler terms, and I clutched my hand to my chest as I looked at how big it really is once I’m next to it.

'I... am scared to the bone right now. '

It didn’t help that this dragon seems to know me because right after it was done nuzzling Lykus; it approached me and for a quick second, my heart stopped beating; it was startling and frightening but once I looked at its face, its reptile-s***h-lion-like face was looking at me with wide eyes and that cute little look your cat gives you when it wanted to be petted.

I can’t believe I used the word cute to describe this thing, but what can I say? It sat as it patiently waited for me to pet it, its tail swinging side to side on the floor, dragging the soil and leaving its scaled ail tracks behind. Lykus chuckled at the sight and placed his knuckles on his hips. “Looks like this little girl missed you,” Lykus said, and I couldn’t help but look at him funny.

‘Little girl? Please, he’s not fooling anyone in here,’

The dragon’s name is Lily, right? They’re really catfishing with that sound. Lykus looked at me and nodded to Lily and I gulped, slowly reaching my hand out, to touch her on the snout at least, and I think everyone expects me to be nice to the dragon. Am I really close to her?

Before I could broadcast the fact that I’m scared of her, Lily met my hands halfway and rubbed her forehead on my palm, her scales felt cold yet smooth in my hands if not for its inherent texture, “Aw~” I cooed at how gentle she was when she did it, it reminded me of that children movie I loved about dragons.

If I think about it that way, this whole experience didn’t appear as scary as it is, Lykus chuckled and I turned to look at him, I was about to say ‘I did it!’ but I remembered that he expects me to do it, it’s not my first time doing this as far as he’s concerned, I just gulped and in a quick motion, his hands wrapped around my waist and I was lifted off the ground on onto Lily’s back.

I grabbed onto the handles to balance myself and before I could even shift to a more comfortable position, Lykus also climbed up and over Lily, and yet once again, we shared a saddle. He pulled me close, making sure that we were both properly mounted, and I was able to settle into a better position. He was handed a bow and a pile of arrows that was then placed on Lily’s saddlebag, or pouch, whatever it’s called.

On that same saddle bag was a rope, and I think I saw a knife, a big one at that, and I suppose with all that prepped, we’re

set. He looked to the other nights that are also in this whole hunting thing and with a flick of the reins, Lily galloped ahead out of the castle, ready to seize the day with her wide webbed feet ready to take on the world and hunt wild animals.

I giggled as the wind blew past my face and with a simple glance behind me over my shoulder, I could see Lykus’ stern face as he rode with such confidence. He caught me watching him and gave me a sly smirk as he flicked the reins harder and Lily ran faster, as we ran the opposite way of town.

Towards the green green forest.

"Like my rules with the beer, I'd want you to tell me if you feel any discomfort," he yelled, over the sound of the gushing wind,

"Yes!" I yelled back in response, looking at the scene further behind him where the loud but muffled thuds on the ground seem to shake the ground as a plethora of knights followed close behind us.

"Hold on!" Lykus yelled, and before I could even ask where to and why, he took a sharp right into the forest, getting off the wide path and entering through a narrow one as we pushed through the dense woods.