Chapter 85: A Gentleman In A Wolf's Den
The full evening sky had already deepened into navy blue, and within that darkness some faint signs of stars had begun to whisper across the sky. The magic lights that lined the stone path glowed with a soft and patient shimmer, illuminating the way forward without ever breaking the stillness of the night. Kael walked with his hand buried inside his pocket, his steps neither hurried nor slow, but steady as though his thoughts were wandering more than his feet.
He was already close to the Knight Orders Office, a place where he was now almost certain that Arwyn was no longer waiting for him. Even though he could have met her tomorrow, he didn't walk away. Actually, he just didn't wanted to get scolded by Seraphina. That was the reason he was still checking, trying to somehow manage to escape her anger.
When he reached the office, his gaze fell on the gates, and to his surprise, they were still open. The heavy iron stood wide and unmoved, and the office that should have been guarded was strangely quiet. There should have been knights stationed for the night duty, there must have been... but when he looked again, his eyes caught nothing but emptiness. At last, he let out a sigh that carried both relief and resignation.
"Ugh... I messed up once again. There is no way Seraphina is going to let me inside the house tonight. I am certain she must be furious with me since I did not listen to Arwyn's words as carefully as I should have. This is just terrible."
He shook his head, muttering as though his complaint might ease the weight of his thoughts, and then turned to continue walking forward. But before he could move, before his steps could leave the Office behind, a voice suddenly cut through the silence.
"Good evening... what a fine hour to appear. Truly you should not have taken the trouble to grace us so early, sir. You could have delayed your arrival for a day, or two, or even a week, and it would have been no less amusing." The words were drawn out with mocking sweetness, each syllable carrying a hint of play.
Kael turned, his eyes narrowing in surprise, and there behind him stood a woman clad in armor. She gazed at him with an expression that was both dark and cold, a smile curved upon her lips though it lacked warmth.
Kael's breath caught slightly as he saw the anger burning beneath that smile, and though he felt its weight he simply scratched the back of his neck and forced a polite smile, his voice calm though awkward. "Uh... I am sorry, Lieutenant. I never meant to keep you waiting for so long. I was occupied with a quest that demanded more time than I had expected. I thought you would have already left by now, so truly I am sorry."
She exhaled lightly, the sound almost like a sigh, and answered with a faint nod. "Hm... it seems you speak the truth. Perhaps it is fine, since you had your own work, and I was the one who forced expectations upon you. Still, you did well not to depart without at least checking."
Kael tilted his head, a small nod to acknowledge her words. "Thank you, Lieutenant. But may I ask a question?"
She inclined her head ever so slightly, granting permission.
"Why did you wait for me all this time? You could have left without the slightest concern, could you not? I mean no mockery in asking this, I am only curious."
Her silence lingered for a long moment, as though she measured the question in her mind before giving it weight. Instead of answering at once, she began to walk toward him, her steps slow and deliberate, and Kael found himself watching without thought. He noticed, even against his will, how her bearing was entirely different from Seraphina's, how every gesture and movement carried another kind of strength. Yet before the thought could take root he dismissed it with a breath.
She stopped just before him, her body angled slightly to the side, and crossed her arms lightly over her chest as she fixed her gaze on him. "No true reason, actually. To speak the truth, I am not always a woman of my word. However..." her tone shifted as her gloved hand rose to touch his chin with an almost playful grace. She touched him softly and gave him an intense look,"...it seems I have found a certain interest in you. That is all."
Kael's eyes narrowed as he looked at her coldly, his voice calm though edged with suspicion. "What do you mean, Lieutenant?"
He tried to sound composed; however, beneath his dark expression, anger crawled its way back. Inwardly, he thought, "What are you trying to do here? Touching my chin as if you have the right? Who gave you permission? Move it away… move it before I break that hand of yours. Move it now."
At first she lifted his chin even higher and looked at him with a strange expression, her teal-green eyes seeming to glow. Soon, her fingers moved slightly toward his lips, but she withdrew her hand at once as if the touch had meant nothing, a smile spreading across her face. "A jest, nothing more. Do not take it too seriously. Yet even so, there is truth hidden within it. Each time I meet you, I find my interest growing a little stronger."
Kael did not answer. He only stared at her in faint confusion, waiting to see whether she would end the matter here or continue. Yet she did not fall silent, instead her words carried on.
"You stand before a beautiful woman, one who touched your chin without hesitation, and yet you did not blush in the least. Not once did you look caught off guard, nor did you step back. And how can I ignore the way you once rejected me so directly? From these things I learn that you are not like other men, Kael. You are different. It is strangely difficult to make you falter, even harder to make you blush." She touched her chin lightly, as though amused by her own thoughts.
Kael remained quiet at first, weighing her words. In truth, she was not wrong. He did not blush easily, he did not stumble before women, and more often than not he simply had no interest in them at all. Even when he admired their beauty or spoke of it, it was as though his words came from habit or observation rather than from any real stirring of his heart. Perhaps it was his past, or perhaps it was something else entirely, but in his own view there were very few women in this world who could truly make him waver. At last he cleared his throat lightly and answered.
"Is that so, Lieutenant? I have never given much thought to it before. To me, women are simply human beings, and that is how I regard them, nothing more and nothing less." He chuckled softly.
She let out a small laugh of her own. "What a peculiar way to phrase it. Most peculiar indeed, yet I find it impressive. However, since you asked me a question, it is only fair that I may ask one of my own. And please, Kael, call me Arwyn."
Kael tilted his head, then gave a simple nod. "Very well, Arwyn."
She seemed slightly startled by how easily he accepted, but soon regained herself and faced him directly. "Then tell me truthfully, do you have any interest in other women at all? I know you carry interest in one, but in the presence of our Captain I could not dare ask such a question. You must understand, she is very sensitive on these matters, and punishment would not be beyond her. So I held my tongue then. But now I ask you freely."
Kael tilted his head again, a faint smirk curving his lips, and his voice came low and smooth, "Which way?"
For an instant she appeared startled by his reply, though quickly she composed herself with practiced grace, her expression settling once again into that air of quiet nobility. "I suppose I must explain myself more clearly. You see, throughout my life, from observing both soldiers and civilians alike, I have learned a rather unpleasant truth. Most men who already hold in their arms a beautiful lover or a devoted wife are still not free from wandering eyes. Perhaps it is not love they feel for others, perhaps not even true desire, but when such men encounter a woman of greater beauty their composure falters. They blush, they speak foolishly, and worse, they dare to say inappropriate things even though they already have a partner who trusts them. That is why I asked you, Kael. Do you, too, carry such interest in other women?"
Kael lingered on her words, his thoughts drifting for a moment as though caught in her meaning. "Why does it feel as though she is describing one of her own subordinates, as though she has seen such betrayal with her own eyes? And those inappropriate words… does that mean these men spoke of her in that manner, even though they belonged to someone else?" His gaze narrowed faintly before he dismissed the thought with a quiet sigh.
"I cannot claim that I do not," he answered after a pause, his voice calm, his honesty without hesitation. "Yes, I certainly do. But it is not the same kind of interest you speak of. Mine is of another kind entirely. I have always carried interest in every beautiful woman I see. In fact, I even hold interest in you, Arwyn. Not only you, but even in our Captain as well."
Arwyn raised an eyebrow at this, the faintest flicker of curiosity playing across her features.
Kael continued, his tone steady, his eyes reflecting a strange calm clarity. "To me, women are like flowers. I admire them, I observe them, yet I have no wish to pluck a flower from its garden. I have no intention of marring its beauty, no desire to ruin it with my touch, nor to lower myself with base thoughts. It is simply my curiosity, a habit that has followed me since childhood. I have always been strangely observant about women, about their fashion, their manner, their beauty. You may call it a habit, though to me it has long been natural. And yet, in all this world, there are only four women, whether they still live or have already passed, who have ever been able to truly make me blush."
At this, Arwyn clasped her hands together, her eyes narrowing in interest. "Well, that is something I have not heard before. Had I not tested you with my own eyes I would have never believed such words. But I do now, for you are not like the others. You are indeed a gentleman, Kael, and you have at last passed my test."
Her words caught him off guard entirely, his eyes widening slightly despite himself. "Huh... test? And what kind of test was that supposed to be?"
She cleared her throat lightly, her tone composed though tinged with satisfaction. "It was quite simple. I wished to test you, to see how you would react before women. And truly, you have surprised me."
Kael studied her with a silent gaze, his thoughts curling into quiet suspicion. "What kind of lunatic devises such a test? Who speaks so directly of things like this, as though love or attraction is a field for experiments? Oh, that's right… she despises men. Of course she would test me, to measure whether I was of the type she loathes or not."
And yet, he smiled faintly, hiding the edge of his irritation, and asked in his calm voice, "So... since I have passed your test, does that mean you will finally begin teaching me something? Time does not wait for us, you know."
She lowered her gaze slightly, then lifted it again, her gloved hand rising once more to touch his chin and raise it ever so lightly.
"Don't you dare do it once again." he groaned inwardly.
As though she had heard the storm beneath his calm face, Arwyn withdrew her hand and allowed a faint smile to touch her lips. "You are right, Kael. Since you already possess the gift of healing magic, I will begin by teaching you to master that. It will be most useful to you. Once that is settled, we shall move onward to other things. Do you understand?"
Kael gave a slight nod, his tone cool as ever. "Yes. But you do not intend to train me here, do you? Where is it you plan to take me?"
She rested her hand lightly against her chin in thought before answering. "Of course, I cannot train you here. If someone were to see me with you, rumors would begin, and the last thing I want is for you to suffer for such talk."
Kael's eyes narrowed slightly, his thoughts biting back with irritation. "The last thing, she says. Last thing, my ass. Who was it that took me to eat cake, drawing all eyes and making me the enemy of the town? Who, huh?"
Arwyn continued, her tone smooth and deliberate. "Why not at my mansion? It is quiet, free from prying eyes, and no one would disturb us there. What do you say, Kael?"
At her words Kael froze as though struck by a sudden blow. His thoughts scattered, disbelief echoing through him. "Her mansion? Did she just say her mansion? Why would she take me there of all places? What else could it mean but to seduce me? I cannot stand women who play such games. And even if I passed her so-called test, how could she trust me so easily? In the end I am still a man, and no matter what I say that fact does not change."
After clearing his throat, he forced a calm reply. "Uhm... Arwyn. Would that not be troublesome for you? And would your parents not be angry if you brought a man into your home?" He asked with feigned ease.
She turned her gaze sharply toward him, a dark smile curving her lips. "I have no family. There is no one to scold me, no one to be displeased. I live alone, Kael. And do not trouble me with apologies, for I despise them."
With those last words she stepped past him, her armored form moving forward into the night. He watched her back for a moment, and a faint sadness stirred within him. He did not wish to press her further, not after those words, and so he held his silence.
Then her voice came again, sharp and clear in the quiet. "What is wrong? Come with me... we are already late."
Kael sighed and followed, his steps falling in line with hers. No, not truly beside her.
Yet after a while, as the streets turned familiar, another thought struck him with sudden unease. "Wait... this path, this is the way to my mansion. Why in the world are we heading toward my mansion's path? Does she live there as well? Damn it…"
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After walking for a long stretch beneath the deepening silence of night, both Kael and Arwyn finally passed beyond the edge of the town. It became clear then that their paths in life were strangely closer than he had expected, for their mansions stood along the same long road, though not side by side. Kael's home lay far in the outskirts, remote and detached from the busier part of the city, while Arwyn's mansion rested just beyond the town's border, a simple left turn leading toward it. This difference alone was enough to ease him greatly, for at least their houses did not share the same path, and not only that, but he also realized he could continue easily from her place to his own without unnecessary detours.
A brief thought brushed through his mind, half uneasy and half relieved. "What if her mansion had been across from mine? I would have had to walk hours just to reach it. Velhart might not appear too vast at a glance, but its streets stretch farther than one might think. I should be thankful."
The path guiding them forward was almost unnaturally still, but not without beauty. Plants lined either side, standing in quiet grace beneath the glow of faint starlight. The air was clean, scented faintly with leaves and earth, and Kael found himself noticing such things more than he usually would.
At last, they reached the gate of Arwyn's mansion. A magic lamp glowed softly above, casting its light over the ornate metalwork. Unlike Kael's mansion, the entrance was adorned with curling vines crowned by clusters of Petrea Volubilis flowers, their deep violet and purple petals stretching downward like silken curtains. The blossoms seemed to spill light of their own, creating an almost ethereal impression that lingered in the night air.
Kael lingered in thought, his lips pressing faintly together. "These days, I keep finding nature more and more beautiful. Strange."
Arwyn's sigh cut through his thoughts as she stepped forward and opened the gate. Her voice was calm, though touched with a faint curl of amusement. "Come along... there is no need to stand there as though shy. This is my house, after all."
Kael gave a small nod and moved forward behind her. Yet his composure faltered slightly when he stepped through the gate, for the scene within the grounds stunned him far more than he had expected.
The path leading toward the two-storied mansion was lined on both sides with a variety of trees, each one chosen and planted with deliberate care, their presence lending a quiet majesty to the place. At the very center of the courtyard a fountain stood, water glimmering faintly in the lamplight. It was a symbol of nobility, the sort of thing one expected to find in a mansion of status... something his own home lacked.
When at last he crossed the threshold into the house itself, Kael's eyes moved across the hall in silent appraisal. The interior was no less striking. The ground floor, though wide, was half-emptied of clutter, leaving open space that seemed to emphasize grandeur. Here and there a few carefully placed sofas stood with a large ornate table set to one side, and beyond it a heavy door leading into some other chamber. At the very center, a staircase rose and twisted back toward the second floor, its curve elegant, its presence commanding.
"Damn... now this is what I would call nobility," Kael thought, the corner of his mouth twitching faintly with reluctant admiration.
Arwyn gestured gracefully toward a nearby sofa, her tone calm but carrying command. "Sit there, and wait for me."
Kael tilted his head slightly, his eyes narrowing. "And where exactly are you going?"
Her lips curved into a faint smile, as though she enjoyed drawing out the answer. "You see, Kael, I am truly exhausted from the day's labor. I must refresh myself, must I not? And besides..." she glanced down, gesturing lightly at her armor, "...this armor weighs heavily upon me. I have no desire to wear it while training you. Of course, I also intend to bathe and change into something more suitable."
Kael stared at her for a long moment, though the look on his face was not so much confusion as reluctant acceptance. "A bath, now of all times? Well, I suppose even she is human in the end. Still..."
Arwyn, catching the shadow of his doubt, leaned forward ever so slightly and reached for his ears. Her lips seemed to almost brush against them, her ponytail swayed lightly, nearly touching his face but never quite doing so, and he felt her soft breath as she whispered, her voice dipping into playful sharpness. "What is that look, Kael? Do you wish to join me, perhaps?"
Kael's heart gave the faintest skip at the bluntness of her words, though he kept his voice cool and calm. However, a smirk curled up on his face. "Sure, why not?"
She leaned back again, but so fast for his eyes to notice, composed her posture, and adjusted herself with the ease of one testing boundaries. Though a cold smile appeared on her face, she said, "Actually, I was just joking. But perhaps you did not take it seriously, did you?"
Kael tilted his head as if mocking her. "Of course not. I was also doing the same. Didn't I tell you I do not carry such intentions toward women?"
Then her gaze shifted, her face darkening with an irritated expression as her eyes glowed. "Yes, you did say that. Yet you are still a man, after all. Sometimes wolves cloak themselves in sheep's clothing, and only time unmasks them. I must be certain, even though you passed the test."
Kael held his stillness for a moment, though within him his thoughts bristled. "If you know such dangers exist, then why tempt them so boldly? Why toss out words meant to seduce, knowing full well how men might falter? Any other man would have been flustered by now. Still... I am glad I am not one of them. But this lunatic deserves a lesson someday."
His eyes narrowed slightly, but his voice remained calm as water. "Very well, Arwyn."
With nothing further, she turned from him and began to ascend the stairs. Her figure vanished soon beyond the curve, leaving Kael seated alone in the vast quiet of her hall.
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(Chapter Ended)