Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 137017 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 685(@200wpm)___ 548(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137017 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 685(@200wpm)___ 548(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
Three knocks echoed at my door, followed by Sir Hayes’ voice creeping through the door. “Lady Alicia, are you in there?”
“Yes. You may enter.”
He opened the door and bowed his head. “I’ve come to introduce you to your personal knight, my lady.”
“Are you liable to have your head used as a football, Sir Hayes?”
“Fortunately not.” He met my gaze, and his eyes twinkled. “The Grand Duke was quite pleased to confirm one of my most promising knights as your personal guard.”
So, my knight was female. “Oh, was he?”
“Indeed. Rina.” Sir Hayes waved his hand, and the silver-haired knight I’d seen on my first day stepped up behind him and bowed. “This is Dame Alexandrina Draper, and she will serve you directly from now on.”
“My lady,” she said, still bent at the waist. “It’s an honour to protect the future Grand Duchess of Stein.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Dame Draper. Please be at ease.” I smiled at her, and her cheeks flushed the tiniest amount.
“Please call me Rina, my lady.”
“Very well, then. Rina.”
She bit the inside of her cheek while Sir Hayes looked at her with confusion.
“Anyway,” he said. “Rina’s belongings are moving to the room assigned for your knight as we speak. We ran into Bella on the way here, so I took the liberty of introducing them, my lady. I hope you don’t mind.”
“That’s quite all right with me.”
He clasped his neck and sighed. “Phew. I’m safe for another day.”
“Don’t be so dramatic, Sir Hayes. The Grand Duke won’t really let the children in the town use your head as a football,” I said. “He might cut it off, but I’m sure he’ll just display it at the front door or something.”
“Please don’t joke about it.” He shuddered. “I have nightmares as it is.”
What a drama queen.
“Anyway,” he continued, clearing his throat. “Rina must be at your side every time you leave the castle, even if you’re only walking in the gardens. It would be advisable to keep her with you even as you move about inside, especially if you’re leaving the east wing. I’m sure it goes without saying that she and other knights will join you on any visits to the town or another estate. Other than that, she will be attending training as usual each morning, so please inform her in advance if you need to leave the castle prior to ten o’clock so she can apply for an exception.”
That was reasonable. “Am I to assume she’ll be travelling to the capital with us in a few days?”
“Yes, my lady. Rina and I will be heading a small group of knights to protect the Grand Duke, Your Ladyship, and the mages who will joining us.”
“The mages are coming?”
“Yes. His Highness requested that Lady Aerwyna go, and she’s decided to take the time to build some relations with the Sada Magic Tower.”
“Hmm.” I tapped my finger against my lips. “I think I can help her with that.”
He frowned. “How?”
“I have connections.” I grinned. “Is that all?”
Sir Hayes nodded. “Yes, my lady. Oh—the Grand Duke would like you to join him for dinner so you can go over your itinerary for the trip.”
I thought we were having dinner anyway. He was the one who’d requested it, after all, and we’d had dinner together most nights since then. Even when we didn’t because he was busy, he made sure to remind me again the next day.
“I thought we were anyway,” I replied. “But yes, you can tell him I’ll see him then.”
Sir Hayes bowed. “I will leave Rina in your care, my lady.”
“Thank you.” I shuffled the papers in front of me. “If you see Bella or my maids on your way out, can you please ask them to bring some tea?”
“Of course.” He bobbed his head before slipping out of the door.
“I will be guarding the door outside, my lady.” Rina smiled and reached for the handle.
“Wait, Rina.”
She turned. “My lady?”
“Come and sit.” I crooked my finger for her to come closer.
“Pardon?” Her eyes widened like I’d caught her stealing.
“We’re going to be spending a lot of time together from now on, and I’d like to get to know you a little bit.”
“That’s really all right, I—”
“Fine. Then I shall have to call you Dame Draper.” I sniffed. “Nicknames are for friends.”
She froze. “I’ll sit.”
“Excellent!” I grinned and rested my chin on my hands. “Where did you learn to wield the sword, Rina? I enjoyed watching you during training. You have a wonderful control over it.”
She blushed. “Thank you, my lady. My father, Count Draper, was a renowned swordsman when he was younger. He would have become an aura sword master if our bloodline possessed any mana at all, we were told. The Imperial Family even tried to recruit him to the Imperial Knights, but he rejected the offer as my mother was sick after my youngest brother was born.”