Nobility 2

Win and Dagobert depart early in the morning, soon after the sun rises. Eadgar is the only one awake to see them off, but even that is one too many people for Win’s liking.

Again in the carriage, Win returns to looking out to the plains. Dagobert watches his son for a while.

“Win, there’s one more thing of note when it comes to the Duke.” Win turns slightly to show that he’s listening. “The Duke has a daughter around your age. Please make sure to get along with her.” When Win responds he doesn’t sound irritated, as Dagobert would have expected, but baffled and off-put.

“Do you… want me to woo her?”

“Woo?” Dagobert realizes how Win had taken his warning and laughs loudly. “No, of course not! I would never ask something like that of you! It would be more improper if you did!”

“But I’m sure you would be pleased if I could marry into an august house, wouldn’t you, Father?”

“Win…”

They leave the conversation on that awkward note, and Dagobert leaves Win to look out at the plains.

The carriage rolls into the capital; Win already looks displeased. The carriage moves through the city swiftly. The citizens of the capital are quite a bit less nosy than in other cities, but Win can still see them staring. The carriage stops in front of a manor only a walk away from the palace.

Win and Dagobert disembark. A butler greets them at the front gate.

“You must be Margrave Lufian and his heir. Follow me, Duke Leafa will be pleased to see you both have arrived in good spirits.” Win, obviously unhappy to be in the capital, holds his tongue.

The butler leads them both into the manor, then through the halls until they reach an office. A single man, far skinnier and paler than either Win or Dagobert, sits behind the desk. He stands up and walks around the desk before he begins to speak to them.

“It’s a pleasure to see you again, Margrave. It’s been since your commendation, hasn’t it.”

“I suppose it has, Duke Leafa. And the pleasure is all mine. I’m honored that you would so graciously host us.” Dagobert bows and Win follows after him.

“I know how sudden His Majesty’s summons can be. Feel free to tell the staff if anything can be made more comfortable for you.”

“Thank you, Duke Leafa. May I ask if you are a part of His Majesty’s summons as well?”

“Indeed I am. But let’s save that sort of talk for later, you must be tired after your travels. Please, I would love to introduce you to my daughter.”

“That would be lovely, Duke Leafa.”

The duke, Win, and Dagobert are led by the same butler to a miniature garden. A petite girl in a flowing white dress with silky light brown hair stands among the flowers. She turns to face them when she hears them coming closer.

“Hello Father. We have guests?”

“Did I fail to inform you, Adalhaid? This is Margrave Lufian and his son.” At that, Win bows slightly to her.

“It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lady Adalhaid. I am Winfred Lufian.”

“Hello there, Lord Winfred.” Win is almost discomforted being called by his full name after spending fifteen years in his home. “We’ve never met before, have we?”

“We haven’t. I’ve rarely left the march.”

“Not even for the capital?”

“This is my first time in the city.”

“Oh my!” She looks at Duke Leafa. “Father, would it be alright if I accompany Lord Winfred around the city.” Win looks at his father pleadingly. Dagobert does nothing.

“That’s a wonderful idea. Just make sure to take a guard with you.” Only now does Dagobert chime in.

“I’m sure it will be good for him to become acquainted with the city.”

Win says nothing as he allows himself to be pulled into Adalhaid’s pace and dragged out to the city proper. As they walk around, Win tries his best to keep his expression from being too dour and irate, trying his best to be good company for her. However, for some reason or another, perhaps because of the sword still on Win’s hip, their guard is perpetually tense, directing an outsized amount of focus towards Win. The look of the guard prickles on Win’s skin, only making it harder to keep even just a neutral expression.

She takes him to several of the more scenic monuments of the capital. Statues, fountains, parks, and grand buildings built and run by the royal family themselves. None of them impress Win, someone both disinterested and more than familiar with grand monuments and fine architecture from Earth. However, Adalhaid, who surely has seen them each often, seems enraptured by them. As they begin to return to the manor, she looks at him happily.

“How do you like the capital, Lord Winfred?” Win intends to keep his promise to his father, even if he must hide his true feelings.

“It’s quite a fine city.” Although Win truly believes that, he must swallow his disgust for cities as a whole. He had indeed hated their small outing. The bustle, the worries, and the petty arguments they passed by irritated him. As did the scheming merchants attempting to curry favor with him and, more importantly, the noble lady as his side. The guard holding any and all passerby away from them was irritating as well. Everything had irritated him about the city. He really wishes he could have refused coming in the first place.

“It is indeed. I’m glad to hear you like it.” They take a few more steps forward before Adalhaid leans in closely to whisper to Win. “Lord Winfred, may I have a moment of your time when we return to the manor?” Win whispers back.

“If it’s just a moment of privacy you need, I can do you better than the manor, if you’ll allow me to cast a small spell on the guard.”

“A spell? Would it be safe?”

“It will only give us the time we need to speak, and it won’t hurt him at all.”

“Very well then.”

“Then pardon me for a moment.”

Win snaps his fingers at the guard. The guard freezes up as his eyes stop revealing any sign of thought or awareness.

“What sort of spell is this?”

“Just a simple glamour. He won’t be aware of us until I release it.”

“That’s incredible, Lord Winfred.”

“My master always told me that I was blessed with strong magic.” When Win speaks of Marcus, his voice becomes quite pained, though his face shows hints of the joy of being able to speak of him. Adalhaid looks at Win’s face, transfixed, despite the fact that she was the one who asked for the time. Win can’t bear the silence either. “Would you permit me a question first, Lady Adalhaid?” She seems to remember that she intended to speak.

“Of course, I would be happy to answer.”

“Is there a reason you have been trying so hard to make me impressed with the capital?”

“Hm? Is that strange?”

“You hail from the Leafa Duchy, so I suppose I don’t understand why you seem so incredibly fond of the capital.”

“Ah, it seems you had a misunderstanding. My father, while still Duke in name, has left the job of governing the Duchy to my elder brother. I was born and raised in the capital.”

“I see. Then I suppose it was a foolish question.” Win looks out to the night sky wistfully. “The land of one’s birth will always have a certain fondness that no other land will ever match.”

“A foolish question is fine. I suppose that I had quite a foolish question as well.” She pauses for a moment. “Lord Winfred, are you betrothed?”

“Pardon? Or, rather, I don’t believe so, no.”

“That’s good. Lord Winfred, His Highness the prince has organized a gathering of sorts to which I have been invited. Would you accompany me?”

“Accompany you?” Win quickly realizes that he has no room to deny her, no matter how little he desires to go. “I suppose I would be delighted to do so.”

Adalhaid smiles at him. Win undoes his spell, and they return to Duke Leafa’s manor for the night.