The Knight Commander's son

Chapter 2

Alden got escorted to Tyon's mansion while still holding the little boy. He didn't stop screaming all the way there:

"Get your hands off me now! I am going to cut your hands off! What are you doing? This is a k********g!"

Tyon couldn't take his cries anymore and hurried ahead. Once in Tyon's study, the knights finally let got of Alden. He turned to them furious and as promised he kicked them one after the other. He had more strength than you would have guessed and the two knights who escorted him grabbed their legs with a frown. Tyon raised a hand to calm everyone down but Alden was still glaring at the knights who touched him:

"Leave us. I'll deal with you later."

They left them alone shaking at the thought of being next and once gone Tyon turned to Alden his face cold as ice:

"You are going to be my nephew's, Amauri's mother for a few months.

-I beg your pardon?"

Alden thought he heard wrong and blinked a few times.

"Do I have to repeat everything I say from now on?

-Oh excuse me. Am I an inconvenience? I wasn't the one asking to be dragged here.

-You'll have to pretend until he is old enough to understand the truth. He is too young and even calls me Dada.

-What the heck are you talking about? Do you really think I will do whatever you want just because you asked? Well it sounded more like an order than you asking but besides the point."

Tyon's gaze was ice cold but Alden was really angry:

"Who do you think you are? Just because you want me to do something you think I will do so with a smile? You are no commander of mine. Do you see me wearing armor by any chance? I could interest you in a great ophthalmologist if you want."

Tyon wasn't used to people arguing with him and he wanted to make Alden stop talking. He couldn't stand his sarcasm. His knights would never dare argue back and everyone knew that he was the cardinal of Death. But this young man was looking at his with eyes full of defiance.

"I will give you whatever you want in return.

-I don't want anything from you.

-You'll have all the dresses you want.

-Who wants dresses? I have plenty."

Tyon was extremely surprised. Every time he saw him he was wearing an awful dress and smiling broadly as if oblivious of what people were thinking. How could he refuse dresses? Wasn't that what he loved most? He should be jumping on the occasion.

"I just saved your son, or nephew or whatever. He was crying in a dark alley saying that his father was at work. I am not saying you did something bad. I understand some people spend a lot of time at work that's how things are but he could have been in great danger. And despite everything I did you dragged me here and treated me as a criminal ordering me around as if I should be happy you gave me a chance? Just how full of yourself are you?"

Heering the young man scream, the little boy started crying:

"Mommy don't fight with Dada! You shouldn't fight. Give him a kiss!"

Alden wanted to faint but did his best to smile and raised the child high in the air:

"Sweety look at me. I am not your mommy, okay? This is your family."

Alden tried giving Amauri back to Tyon but the young child started kicking the air shaking his head violently. Alden almost dropped him, having way more force than he would have thought.

"No! You are Mommy and Dada! Don't fight!"

Alden had to admit that the little boy was adorable despite him crying and having liquid everywhere around his face. He started rubbing his cheek with a gentle smile:

"We are not fighting, darling. But even adults can make mistakes, you know and when they do, they have to be reprimanded just like children."

Amauri opened big curious eyes forgetting about how sad he was just seconds before:

"Like when I break Dada's cup?

-Yes exactly like that. It is okay to make mistakes. Everyone does but we should be punished when we do so that we won't do it again next time."

Amauri smiled happily:

"Understand! Amauri understands!

-You are really a smart boy, darling."

He started giggling and Alden almost forgot Tyon was there. The knight commander was staring at Alden as if bewildered. This man went from deep anger to such a soothing voice in a matter of seconds. He was really good with Amauri and managed to calm him down immediately. Even Tyon wasn't this good with him and was often feeling overwhelmed.

"One year."

Alden frowned. All the gentleness disappeared from his gaze when he looked at Tyon. It was written all over his face that he didn't like him.

"What?

-Stay as his mom for a year.

-Still no. What don't you understand with that word? Two letters. Pretty simple.

-I'll give you one million gold coins."

Alden froze. How many did he say? He didn't want to be tempted and did his best to shake his head. However Tyon did see the hesitation and decided to jump on the occasion:

"I'll give you two million gold and as long as you live here will pay for everything you want. Food, dresses, books... Whatever."

Alden bit his lip. He was really tempted despite himself. He thought about it and signed. What could he do? He would be paid graciously beside being fed and lodged. He grunted for multiple seconds before hitting the ground with his foot:

"Three million."

Tyon almost laughed. He never saw that expression on Alden's face. Did he really think he was keeping up his act? He was showing a range of emotions Tyon never saw on him and Tyon almost thought him cute for it.

"Deal."

Tyon reached for a paper and pen and wrote a contract that he gave to Alden to read before they both signed it. The contents were simple: Alden would be staying at Tyon's manor and take care of Amauri for a year. He would be fed and lodged and could buy anything he wanted during that period of time. Alden wouldn't but into Tyon's life and would never enter his wing leaving him his privacy. The same went for Tyon and they would only see each other during meals when Tyon was at home. And so Alden became Amauri's mommy. Realizing that Alden frowned:

"Is that all?"

Tyon looked at him:

"What more were you expecting?"

He shrugged.

"Don't know. It just seemed too... Simple."

Tyon frowned.

"I don't know what kind of life you used to live but simple is usually the best answer."

Alden rolled his eyes for some reason but didn't elaborate on what he thought. Seeing him still there, Tyon pointed at the door:

"Janyn will escort you to your room. If you have any questions, turn to him.

-I have a question.

-As I said, turn to Janyn."

Right on cue, the door opened and a butler Alden never saw appeared. he looked at him and waved with a smile:

"Hello there."

The butler bowed before smiling back at him with warm eyes. Alden didn't hold back from commenting:

"I like him."

Tyon saw enough of Alden for a whole life and was getting impatient. Unfortunately for him, Alden turned back to Tyon:

"I have a question.

-What?"

His tone was cold and irritated and Alden had to breathe to forget about it.

"Do you really have that much work? You never have time for Amauri outside of breakfast and dinner?

-My personal schedule is no matter of yours.

-Fair enough. No surprises yet."

Alden nodded before turning to Janyn and following him outside.