The Challands and their guests gathered in the backyard. Raul was wearing his leather armor when Lady Helena approached.
"Give victory to Lord Jorge. Entertain him. Make him happy. He is a potential husband for Amara and a guest in our house. We have to make him feel welcome in our home."
After that Lady Helena turned to leave Raul.
"Win this match." Amara suddenly appeared from the opposite direction.
"I heard what my mother said. But I hope you don't do that. Because I know you want to show father the results of your training."
Raul was stunned but Amara just walked past him without saying anything else. As if nothing happened.
Raul walked to the center of the courtyard carrying his wooden sword. Lord Jorge was also ready with his wooden sword.
For a moment they stared at each other in silence. Lord Jorge spun his sword to mount a stance. They circled around each other. Lord Jorge drew his sword forward and Raul parried it. For a while the two of them clashed swords.
Lord Jorge spun his sword again and charged straight ahead with a force. Raul tried to parry but Lord Jorge saw an opening and took a kick while Raul was busy watching the direction of his attack. Raul fell to the ground but immediately rolled to the side and got up. Raul swung his sword forward to keep some distance from Lord Jorge.
Raul glanced briefly at the audience. Looks like his family watched everything with a tense face including Amara. But as usual Amara tries to stay calm and keep herself looking perfect.
They circled each other again but Raul this time tried to attack first. The sound of the sword clashing again. Lord Jorge moved forward to attack, trying to push Raul back. Raul dodged to the side and attacked immediately. Lord Jorge parried. Their swords held each other and clashed with strength. Lord Jorge pressed his sword firmly. Raul realized he was about to lose his strength immediately moved to the side and attacked Lord Jorge who staggered but Lord Jorge managed to block it and lays attack with his sword at Raul's body. Raul backed away in pain while parrying Lord Jorge's attack. Lord Jorge did not stop swinging his sword. Realizing that he was already at his limit, Raul with all his might tried to push Lord Jorge away regardless of the sword strike he received. Raul managed to knock him down and with the last of his strength he drew his sword beside Lord Jorge's head. Raul wins.
For a moment everyone was there in silence as they watched the intense sword fight end.
"Bravo, bravo.", Amara got up and clapped to break the silence.
With a gasping breath, Raul tried to get up. His body was in pain, covered in dust and wet with sweat. But only for a moment did he stand up, his vision spun around and he fell unconscious.
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Raul opened his eyes slowly. For a moment everything was blurry. But he finally realized that he was in his room. He tries to get up. Pain immediately felt throughout his body.
"You fainted. You'd better not move too much just yet. Your body is exhausted.", Answered Amara who sat beside the bed.
There were several bruises on Raul's body.
Raul groaned, "Ugh…how long have I been unconscious?"
"About four to six hours?", replied Amara while starting to apply ointment to Raul's body.
"Damn… that long?! I'm really battered.", Raul covered his face with his hands.
Amara cleaned her hands of the remaining ointment and took the food on the table nearby.
"But you won in the end. Here. Eat it.", Amara scooped up the food and prepared to feed it to Raul.
"Let me do it myself.", Raul tried to reach for the spoon and feed it himself.
But his fingers cramped so that the spoon he was holding tilted and spilled onto him.
"Ouch, ouch."
Amara immediately cleaned up the rest of the spilled food, "No need to be embarrassed. Here, let me help."
"I don-..." Raul was about to protest Amara's words but when he saw Amara smiling loosely, he realized something.
"You look so happy. You're enjoying this, aren't you?", Raul glanced at her.
Amara was busy feeding Raul and didn't answer his questions. After the last bite Amara put the food on the table and prepared to get up.
"Sister... may I ask you something?"
"Yes?" Amara turned around and didn't stand up.
"Why have you been so good to me all this time? Even though I'm an illegitimate child that you should be against. Wouldn't you like to be on your mother's side?", Raul looked at Amara straight without blinking.
"I… never hated you even though you were an illegitimate child. Being an illegitimate child and being here wasn't of your own choice. After all, you are a good boy and you are never a problem. You also help me a lot when I need it. I guess…You are the only family that I am closest to more than a busy womanizing father and bitter heart mother.", Amara answered while playing with her hair.
"I see…", Raul replied in a dissatisfied tone.
"You remember the first time we met… My mother left you to me. I feel like she's throwing it all at me to take care of you…", Amara continued what she said.
Raul nodded slowly, "It's already late. I guess I'll try to sleep. See you tomorr--"
Suddenly Amara kissed Raul's lips. A very gentle but momentary kiss made Raul startled and moved backwards.
"I-I should go back to my room so you can rest.", Amara nervously stood up and immediately left Raul's room.
Raul was about to say something but his throat felt like it was blocked so he just kept silent watching Amara leave.
2 years later….
The wind was blowing hard on the meadow that looked brownish yellow. The expanse of grass that at a glance looks golden shimmers spreads beautifully lengthwise. Among the gusts of wind that blew, there was the sound of a carriage running. The carriage ran through the grass as if it was about to split it.
"Soon we will be at your family home, Your Excellency.", The maid said to a woman in front of her.
That woman is Amara. Amara, who had been looking out of the window, turned her head then nodded with a faint smile. It was the first time she had returned to her parents' house since her marriage half a year ago to a Count. Her feelings were hidden behind her pretty face. She didn't visit because she missed her home. But there is another reason. Today is the burial day of her father who died of illness. Lady Helena, her mother asked her to come. The news of her father's sudden death caused her to suddenly leave the Altamire castle without her husband.
The carriage stops.
"We have arrived."
The coachman opened the door.
Amara stepped out slowly. She paused to look around her. The house she grew up in looked unchanged.
A butler accompanied by a maid stepped out to greet her.
"Welcome back, Countess Amara. We will take your belongings to your room. The Requiem is in progress. Your mother has been waiting for your arrival."
Amara nodded and followed the Butler. They arrived when the requiem was almost over. Amara sat next to her mother and held her wrinkled hands. She tried to glance around but the face she was looking for was nowhere to be seen.
After the funeral is over. Some of the guests returned, some accompanied Lady Helena to chat. Amara accompanies her mother chatting with some guests. While she was busy chatting, someone looked at her unblinkingly. That person is Raul. Amara who noticed it, tried to remain calm.
After Amara finished chatting. Raul approached her.
"I didn't see you at the the requiem.", Amara started the conversation.
"I was in the back seat. You know … I'm not an official family.", Raul replied while sipping his drink.
The two were silent for a moment.
"You didn't come with your husband?"
Amara shook her head, "He wasn't at the Altamire castle when mother's letter arrived. So… I had to go alone."
"I see… are…are you happy with him, Sister?"
Amara did not answer but asked back, "How about you Raul? Did you manage to be accepted into the knight army?"
Last year not long after Amara got married, she heard that Raul had gone to enlist to become a knight army in Karthmere, which is the capital of the Sisilyra kingdom. Becoming a knight has always been Raul's dream.
Raul nodded, "Yes. I was accepted there. But I'm still an apprentice."
Amara smiled gently, "It's alright. I believe one day you will become a full-time knight."
Raul took a sip of his drink while glancing at Amara.
"You haven't answered my question, Sister. Were you happy?"
"Of course, I'm happy. I married a count who loved me and now I live in the famous castle of Altamire." Amara smiled as she fiddled with her hair.
Raul stared at Amara silently. His hand moved to reach Amara's hair but suddenly he changed his mind and didn't do it.
"I… will accompany Mother. It seemed she was about to take her guest home, "Amara walked away leaving Raul.
Raul was stunned. His hands clenched into fists.
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