The Knight Commander's son

Chapter 1

Alden was one of the first people to arrive at the tea party. He was wearing a purple dress which looked like it was made of book covers. Hundreds of titles decorated his thighs and arms and Alden seemed quite proud of it . He twirled around multiple times telling people what the books on his dress were about. Most of the people present seemed to find the dress lacking taste being too flashy and believing men should only wear discreet colors. They talked about it behind his back with huge grins. Alden did as if nothing but he knew perfectly well how people reacted when seeing his creations. He didn't care about others' opinions and liked wearing what he wanted. It was really important to him and somewhere he was even relieved to see people bad mouthing him. If they didn't then that would mean he was wearing a dress those gossip eating birds liked and he couldn't have that.

As he was continuing twirling around, a surprising guest arrived rather late at the tea party. The man had hair the color of dried blood and was always wearing his knights uniforme. He seemed really depressed at the idea of being present at this party and everyone was just as surprised seeing him attending. Tyon was the commander of the 3rd division of knights and had multiple medals testifying of his contribution to the country's peace. He was so valuable that the Emperor himself rewarded him with the title of Duke. Tyon Farroworb was a talented knight and all his talent and life seemed to have been invested into knighthood. He didn't like socializing and rarely came to events. When he did he stood in a corner and drank looking at people menacingly. Then why was he present at this tea party? No one had any idea but the few curious who dared approach him quickly gave up. It was impossible speaking to that man.

Alden didn't pay any attention to Tyon. He was way too absorbed into his new dress and danced on his chair happily. Tyon noticed the strange movement and rolled his eyes. He really hated noble men who thought about only their appearance. If a monster came to attack them, Tyon would have to protect them while they were screaming at the top of their lungs, scared that their dress would get damaged. He couldn't stand that and ignored Alden for the rest of the evening. Alden wasn't hurt at all, on the contrary. He hated knights more than anything in the world and Tyon wasn't an exception. He crossed paths with him two or three times in his life and he witnessed himself how cold the knight commander was. Who would be dumb enough to approach him of their own vollition?

Tyon looked at the clock a lot and stood up the second it was acceptable to leave. He rushed to the entrance but Alden decided to breathe some air at the same time and they collided, Alden spilling his drink on his dress and he let a little scream escape his lips, really sad about his dress getting ruined. Tyon looked at his armor getting spoiled and was really pissed too. He looked at Alden feeling his blood boil:

"Look where you're going."

Alden would have apologized if Tyon's tone wasn't so irritating:

"We both collided. It is not only my fault."

Tyon frowned. Being a commander he wasn't used to people talking back to him. Usually he only heard : "yes commander" or "as you wish commander". Hearing someone question his innocence made his blood boil:

"We wouldn't have collided if you hadn't been so hung up on that awful dress."

That was too much. Alden went red with anger ready to scream. He didn't care if people didn't like his dress but the dress just got ruined and Tyon criticizing him openly made him want to punch someone:

"My dress was just fine until you spoiled it completely.

-No one decent would wear something like that. I pity your parents for the shame you must put them through."

Alden scoffed:

"My parents have nothing to do in this conversation but I could understand how someone like you might think otherwise. You don't seem like someone who likes to think for themself. Is that why you became a knight? From your parent's to the Emperor's authority? It must be relaxing having so much free time for your brain."

Tyon was fuming too and every guest thought they would jump on each other any second. Alden's friend came to calm him down and Alden signed:

"You're right. This is useless. Your life must be really sad, commander knight. I sincerely hope that you will be happy in the future with nothing to ever worry about."

And with a bright smile, Alden left. Tyon was really pissed off and he went straight to training to forget about all of this. A few days passed and Alden completely forgot about what happened. He didn't know why he got so angry. He usually didn't care what people thought but Tyon was a knight and he brought up his parents... Alden pushed back what happened to a corner of his head and completely forgot.

Alden liked visiting hidden places in town and going to the market. He still wore his different dresses there which got him some stares. That day he was wearing a blue dress which was decorated as if being a peaceful lake with a few flowers on it. It was one of Alden's favorites and he felt quite in a good mood that day skipping and whistling. He bought a few books as well as some DIY tools when he heard a child crying. He followed the sound immediately worried and found a little boy of almost 4 years sitting alone at the end of an alley. Alden was really surprised to see such a young boy alone and his heart acked thinking about what would have happened had he been found by someone bad. He bowed down in front of the child and tried being the most gentle possible trying to calm his shaking:

"Hello there. Are you okay?"

The little boy raised his head and looked at Alden before jumping in his arms:

"Mommy! Mommy!"

Alden fell backwards but wrapped the young child in his arms to protect him from the fall. When he stabilized he started stroking the crying child's hair gently:

"Everything is okay. Don't cry, everything is fine now. I'll help you. Have you lost your mom?

-Mommy! I want to go home. I want Dada.

-Don't cry. Everything will be fine. I am here now."

Despite everything, the child calmed down and hugged Alden even more. He got up, the child still in his arms, and left the alley looking for a similar adult. The child had short black hair and round brown eyes. Therefore Alden started staring at everyone with black hair waiting for someone to claim the child but no one did.

"Where was your mom the last time you saw her? Do you know?

-Dada is working... He is always working.

-But then how did you end up here? Did you run away?"

He shook his head vigorously. Alden signed. Of course such a little kid wouldn't run away. At least he hoped so. He had no idea what to do but decided to help the child calm down before everything.

"Do you like chocolate?"

The little boy quickly nodded and Alden bought him some chocolate before sitting on a bench. The child ate the chocolate happily as if having forgotten he was lost. He smiled and even started dancing slowly. Alden wiped his hands with a smile:

"Do you like chocolate that much?

-I love mommy. Mommy is the best."

Alden frowned understanding that the child was talking about him:

"I am not your mommy, darling."

But the child didn't seem to hear him. Alden wanted to explain to him but the next second a ton of knights appeared and started running towards them. Seeing them, the young child jumped into Alden's arms and hugged him with all his might:

"No! Don't want to leave mommy! Don't want to!"

He hugged Alden so tightly that he stared at the knights suspiciously. If the child was this scared to be separated he couldn't let them take him:

"Mister, please give us the child."

Alden hugged the child to his chest and shook his head:

"What do you want with this child?

-That is none of your concern. The child should come with us."

Alden took a step back determined:

"He is going nowhere with you. I will only give this child to someone safe. If he doesn't want to go with you then there must be a reason."

The knights started to get impatient but there was no way to convince Alden. He didn't let the child go for a second and seeing the commotion some people started staring at them. Alden took advantage of the situation to have witnesses:

"These people want to take the child with them but he is crying saying he doesn't want to follow them. Call the authorities. What if you aren't real knights?"

At this they started panicking:

"No, please. We promise you he is under our care. We don't want our commander to hear what happened. Please just give him to us.

-No! Call the authorities!"

Some passersby did as Alden told them and they waited there for the authorities to arrive. The knights started panicking which was even more suspicious:

"You don't understand. He entrusted him to us. We should have been watching him 24/7 but only for one second and he was gone. If he discovers what happened he'll never forgive us. We are going to lose our jobs.

-I don't care. This child doesn't want to go with you so he won't. End of story."

One of the knights started losing patience and tried grabbing the child by force. Alden kicked by reflex and the knight fell to the ground grabbing his d**k with a painful expression.

"Don't you dare touch him!"

The spectators were all on Alden's side thus making it impossible for the knights to do anything more. Soon after a second group appeared next to them. Alden immediately recognised one of them: Tyon. He was really tall and people called him the cardinal of Death because of all the lives he took. Alden's eyes became really round at his sight. Of all the knights, why was it him? Tyon looked at Alden slowly, his eyes not showing any emotion. Seeing the knight commander, the young child somewhat calmed down and smiled:

"Dada!"

Alden thought he would faint. What?

"Oh so you are this child's father?"

Tyon stared directly at Alden. He stared so much that it started to be annoying.

"Give the child back."

Alden smiled awkwardly:

"I didn't know this was your son. He was so scared of these knights that I didn't dare leave him.

-You can, now."

Alden frowned. He definitely hated this man. Couldn't he be at least polite? He did find his son after all. Wasn't this worth a little recognition? Well, he shouldn't have expected anything in the first place.

"Got it you don't want to see me."

He wanted to give the young child back but the little boy started clinging to Alden suddenly:

"No! Mommy! Don't leave, mommy!"

Alden frowned:

"Sweety, I am not your mommy..."

But the little boy was unstoppable and he started crying again. He cried so much that Tyon told the knights to take Alden with them. Alden started protesting but no one listened to him despite his cries and he was dragged away with them.