After the day of the duel, the mansion had returned to its usual calm. No argunts echoed through the halls, and there was no more commotion. Yet, a solemn atmosphere hung over the peaceful surroundings.
The knights continued their duties as usual. Noah, who had settled into the married couple’s quarters with his wife Emily, had been quiet since the argunt.
He distanced himself from the other knights, offering only cold shoulders when they sought his forgiveness. Gloom and disappointnt lingered in his eyes, and despite Emily’s efforts to encourage reconciliation, he remained a recluse.
The knight perford his tasks, communicating only as needed and avoiding the other knights, especially Eric. This behaviour raised concerns among the others; their guilt weighed heavily as they realised how much Noah had suffered over the years due to the accusation.
"I can’t keep going like this, Sir Skyler," Damon said one night as the knights gathered in the courtyard. Garin, Luke, and Eli were present. "Not settling this matter gnaws at my conscience. I feel like I owe him so much."
" too! When he gave that cold look, my guilt just grew," Eli interjected with frustration. "This is worse than being stabbed!"
"Haa... it’s only been two days since he’s been ignoring us, and you can’t handle it?" Luke teased the young knight.
"Just kill already!" Eli said gloomily. "I didn’t know the pain of being ignored could hurt this much!"
"We disbelieved and ignored him for two years. What he experienced was far worse than anything we’ve felt. Not to ntion the humiliation and punishnt he endured. It’s only fair if he doesn’t want to accept our apologies," Garin said.
"You’re more lenient toward him. You’ve spoken to him casually from ti to ti," Luke remarked to Garin.
The third-in-command knight shook his head in disagreent.
"I only started seeing him differently after our lady arrived. Before that, I was no better than any of you. I can’t imagine how Sir Navin feels now. He must carry the most guilt of all."
"Can’t bla him for that. He did a lot to cover for Sir Brooks before the cri occurred. And when we were all arrested, his son, Ethan, was just a year old. If we had all been sentenced, what would have happened? He was already the head of his family, while all of us were single... well, so are still single even now," Luke added.
"Give it so ti... As of now, Sir Brooks is still sulking, and there’s nothing we can do about it. But I hope he’ll find it in his heart to forgive us soon. With Lady Brooks around, I’m sure he will," said Garin.
"He might forgive you since you supported him the other day, but for us, there’s no guarantee. It won’t be that fast, I presu," Luke replied to Garin. "Nevertheless, we should uphold what is right and never stop apologising to him. After all, he’s one of us."
"Or perhaps we could ask soone he respects to diate for our reconciliation," suggested Damon.
"Who? Lady Brooks already tried but failed. She didn’t dare to make her husband angrier and decided to withdraw," replied Luke.
"His Highness Prince Kiev, of course! Sir Brooks seems to respect him. During the argunt, when Mr Amares ntioned how revealing the truth would affect Miss Canton and His Highness, Sir Brooks stopped raising his voice and even retreated," Damon suggested.
"We can’t really tell. Besides, this is a matter between us and Sir Brooks, not related to His Highness. Would he want to get involved?" Luke said. "I don’t think so."
"This is the knights’ quarters, is it?" a voice suddenly interrupted.
A figure erged behind them, surprising the knights.
"Speak of the devil!" Damon cursed as he realised it was Kiev.
"Who? ?" the derian Prince looked back at him, feigning confusion. "Are you calling the devil?"
Damon stood up, eyes wide.
"Aaa... I... I didn’t an that! Honest, Your Highness!" he stamred, worried that Kiev would think he was insulting him. Swiftly, he bowed in respect.
Kiev only grinned slightly. It wasn’t the first ti he had been called that. The sa thing had happened in the treatnt room when Rafe had been ’ferociously attacked’ by his sister. He had heard Eric call him the devil but chose to ignore it.
The rest of the knights followed suit and bowed to Kiev.
Garin looked at the derian Prince curiously and asked, "This is the knights’ quarters. But may I ask why Your Highness is here?"
The other knights wore peculiar expressions. Since the derian Prince arrived at the mansion, he had never stepped into the knights’ quarters, and this was their first ti seeing him there.
"I’m looking for Sir Brooks. I haven’t seen him lately. Is he here?" asked Kiev.
"Ah! He’s at the married couples’ quarters, just the next building. He moved there to stay with his wife. This building is for the bachelors," explained Luke.
"I see..." Kiev nodded.
"Perhaps I could call him for you. Just wait here," suggested Damon.
The derian Prince suddenly halted him.
"I think it would be best for to go to him. I heard that he has been ignoring all of you these days. It would be awkward if I stood here waiting while you tried to persuade him to co see ."
Damon rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassnt.
"Just show the way, will you?" Kiev asked politely.
The other knights didn’t object; they agreed with the derian Prince. If Kiev himself appeared at Noah’s door, there would be no reason for the knight to refuse to see him. They all wanted to follow, but Kiev disallowed them.
"Just one person will do. I don’t need the whole team to escort . This is not a parade."
This ti, the other knights also felt embarrassed, while Damon stifled a laugh.
"This way, Your Highness," he said, taking the lead and gesturing to show the way.
Kiev nodded and followed. The anxious knights could only watch.
"Why do you think His Highness suddenly ca here searching for Sir Brooks?" Eli asked Luke.
"I don’t know! To settle the score, maybe?" Luke guessed.
"Were they fighting? I didn’t hear about that!" Eli exclaid.
"Sir Brooks did get rough with Miss Canton. He snatched the necklace she wore until it snapped, and His Highness was furious about it," Garin explained.
He was one of the earliest knights to arrive at the scene of the commotion the other day.
"Does this an His Highness is going to teach him a lesson for that?" Luke asked.
The three knights exchanged bewildered glances. They all knew that beneath the calm façade of the derian Prince, his mood could easily swing when it ca to matters involving two won; Anna and Elis, especially.
"I am so not going to miss this!" Eli exclaid. He rushed ahead without waiting to see what would happen. The other two knights quickly followed.
If another quarrel broke out, they would surely need to intervene!
***
"Soone’s coming," Noah said to Emily as he heard footsteps approaching the door of their new chamber.
"Who could that be at this ti?" she replied.
When a knock sounded at the door, Emily stood up to open it, but Noah held her back.
"I’ll get it. It could be an urgent matter given the late hour," he said.
Emily nodded as Noah strode to the door. He was taken aback to see Kiev standing there. Damon had left just before him, leaving the derian Prince by himself.
"Your Highness!" exclaid Noah.
Hearing the formal address, Emily rushed in, montarily surprised by the sudden arrival of the derian Prince. After a brief pause, she quickly curtsied, rembering the importance of showing her respect.
Noticing his wife’s polite gesture, Noah followed suit. Both of them wondered why the derian Prince had co to their chamber in the middle of the night.
"Sorry to disturb you, but it’s the only ti I could manage. If you don’t mind, may I see you for a mont, Sir Brooks?" Kiev said.
Emily glanced at Noah again. Worry crept under her skin as she recalled the fierce expression on the derian Prince’s face the other day when her husband had confiscated Elis’s necklace.
Was he here to reprimand Noah for that? She feared there could be no other reason for his visit.
Noah shared her concern and swallowed hard. Aware of Kiev’s formidable prowess and his own injured condition, he knew he could easily be overpowered.
"Don’t worry. I’m not here for a fight," Kiev said as if reading their thoughts. "I just want to talk."
"In that case, please do co in," Emily invited.
"Perhaps I could borrow your husband for a private mont outside? I promise it won’t take long," Kiev requested politely.
His gentle voice and charming smile made it hard to resist. Emily turned to Noah, pondering.
"What do you say, Noah? It would be impolite to refuse," she urged.
"Of course, it won’t be a problem. It’s just a talk after all," Noah relented, relieving her tension.
The two n then left the chamber, padding to a more secluded area within the quarters.
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