Chapter 5

"William, does this mean you don't hate me anymore?" I murmured into his shoulder. Strangely, all my sleepiness was gone.

A peculiar, warm feeling swelled inside William.

"Did Charles hate you before?" William asked, his voice soft. "I remember you only got hurt because you tried to save him."

Thinking about it made me feel a little wronged. I sniffled and replied quietly, "It's because I'm so dumb, that's why nobody likes me.

"I'm hopeless at everything. I've been learning embroidery for seven years, and all I can manage is a lily. Even with basic knots, I can only do the simplest ones.

"Charlotte from the Prime Minister's family, and Grace from the minister's house, they're both so talented and good at everything. They're way better than me."

Suddenly, William's arms around me tightened.

He wasn't much good at comfort. His voice came out low, gentle, and a little hesitant.

"The lily you embroidered is unique. It's quite lovely," he said quietly. "Don't underestimate yourself."

The Northreach wind held a strange magic. It didn't just clear my head. It also swept some of the sadness from my heart.

Flooded with a sudden burst of happiness, I eagerly leaned closer and whispered in his ear, "William, do you really like the lily I made?"

"Yes," he replied softly.

"Then, do you like me?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

This time, he was silent for a long while.

The setting sun cast long shadows, sand and wind whipping around us, and the road we'd traveled was still visible, untouched by dust.

Every footprint along that path was a memory of two people walking side by side.

William stopped walking. We had reached the tents.

But I wasn't ready to rest just yet.

Just as he was about to turn away, I carefully caught his hand.

Summoning my courage, I asked, "William, your tent is full of weapons. Could I... could I choose one to learn?"

William stilled for a moment, feeling the softness of my hand in his calloused palm.

He let out a quiet breath, relieved by my question.

He pulled open the tent flap and gestured for me to take my pick.

I wandered among an array of blades and poles, feeling unsure.

My eyes kept drifting back to the spear leaning in the corner. It called to me somehow.

I tried to lift it, testing its weight. It was so heavy I could barely manage.

As I gripped the spear shaft, a flood of old memories rushed back.

"You know," I mumbled, not noticing William had stepped silently behind me, his tall frame casting a shadow over me, "before I became slow, I never bothered with embroidery or knots."

I continued, "Back then, I practiced archery. My arrows flew far and true. And when I rode, I was as fast as the wind, never falling behind."

I added softly, "Everyone used to say my mother and grandfather were legendary generals, fierce and unstoppable. I-I wanted to be like them.

"But after that accident, I just couldn't keep up. Grandma was afraid I'd get hurt again, so she forbade me from touching weapons.

"All the practice weapons at home were burned. Even the pony I'd raised myself was given away."

William listened intently. His rough hand hesitated, then finally came to rest gently on my head. His touch was surprisingly tender.

He gave my hair a soft pat, his tone warmer now. "I'll teach you. Don't be afraid. I won't let you get hurt."

William, usually so cool and detached, felt a rare twinge of pity.

The girl before him had her mind addled in a childhood accident. With no parents to shield her, the world hadn't been kind.

He told himself the reason he cared was simply her connection to his old mentor.

Lord Ashford had taught him everything about warfare; now it was his turn to teach the old man's granddaughter. It was a form of duty, of karma.

But in the very next moment, as the girl in the soft yellow dress turned and threw herself into his arms, that simple pity began to quietly shift into something else.

Her thoughts were pure, her heart unguarded. A gentle scent of lilies seemed to linger about her.

William suddenly felt parched. His mind drifted unbidden. Perhaps that sweet, ripe pear hanging within reach would be the perfect thing to quench this sudden thirst.

"Really? You'd really teach me, even though I'm clumsy?" I asked, my voice trembling with hope.

"Of course. You're not clumsy at all," William replied, his voice soft.

My eyes brimming with happy tears, I stood on my toes and planted a quick, light kiss on his cheek.

In my excitement, I missed the brief, dark flicker that passed through his eyes.

"William, you're the best!" I cried out joyfully. "I'll repay you someday. I'll have a whole bunch of babies for you."