Afire with rage, he glared at the two. Her hand was on his chest, and if he had been late for even a minute, there was no telling how much further they would have gone. By his side, the mixed blood’s knight shielded her face from that sight.

“Give me an explanation. What the hell are you doing, mixed blood?” he barked out.

“I’d wager that she’s doing me, not the other way around.”

“I’m afraid I do not have time for your jokes, Rayleigh.”

Gripping the hilt of his sword, he was prepared to draw. Why he carried his blade with him, he had to find out for himself. But more often than not, he found himself with that ever familiar sword regardless.

“Now, now. How about you give us an explanation, Arcleus? This is a private matter, is it not?”

In his red coloured field of vision, all he could focus on was that mixed blood. But, as the seconds passed, his heart calmed down. No longer could he hear that rhythmic pounding against his chest.

She placed herself down next to the vulnerable mixed blood. His bare skin rubbed against his. Benjamin blinked. The boiling rage had an oscillation to it, as if wanting to explode and simmer down at the same time.

“Your highness. There are limits to how you can behave. And you, mixed blood, don’t you dare lay your hands on her.”

The crown princess and that mixed blood looked at each other. Almost as if communicating through their eyes alone. Their hands wrapped together, and in unison, they got off the bed.

“Take a seat, Arcleus. You too, Francis’ knight. Let’s have a talk, since you two are witnesses.”

She walked towards the dining room. It was the same one at which Katalina watched her lord dine at. The crown princess pulled a chair out for herself, and gestured towards the remaining three. On cue, Francis sat down besides her. They exchanged glances, and Benjamin could swear that sparks were flying.

That mixed blood dared to lay a hand on her. That mixed blood dared to take her away. How could he?

“So, mind giving us an explanation? Why were you two listening?”

“In the first place, why were you with him, your highness?”

“The rules state that he may not approach me. However, I may approach him. As such, everything I have done has been approved by the law. And I even asked him for his consent, lord Wynt.”

“But even then your highness! Do you really think you should be underselling yourself by choosing him?”

“I will say, he is exactly my type. Soft spoken, weaker than me too.”

“So why would you choose him, your highness? As you’ve said, he’s physically weak. He can’t hunt. He needs a knight to protect him. So why wou-”

“I am right in front of you as you speak. You do know that, yes?” Francis spoke up.

The very idea of the mixed blood interrupting was enough. His eyes flicked in an instant to glare at the mixed blood. Benjamin’s breathing was stable, and he knew what he was about to do. Yet, he didn’t feel anything off. It was natural to him, who was taught that from young.

“Why don’t you shut your damned mouth, you draconic trash.”

A blade flew by. It was quick, yes, but his eyes were able to follow it. The tip of the blade ended up near his face.

“I do not take insults against my master lightly,” Katalina spoke in a low, growling voice.

“You won’t be forgiven for this,” Benjamin muttered.

“I forgive you, my knight.”

“I too, using my authority as the crown princess.”

“Thank you, my lord. Thank you, your highness.”

“What the hell is this. Why are you siding with them?” Benjamin shouted.

The three of them stared at him. Was it obvious to everyone but him? That mixed blood was in the wrong, end of story. So why was she aiming her blade at him? And why did the crown princess protect that failure of a man?

“You were out of line, Arcleus. As for an explanation, what I do in my own private time is of no concern to you. Even if what I’m doing is sleeping with your competitor. With that said, good night, you three.”

The crown princess stood up from the table. She stomped out, but not before shooting that mixed blood a look. Her eyelashes fluttered as they communicated through their eyes.

“Know your place, mixed blood.”

Benjamin slammed his hands against the hard wood of the table. A sharp pain shot up his arms and his palms collided with the surface, but he endured nonetheless. He wasn’t a mixed blood. He couldn’t show off his weakness like him. The blade withdrew from his neck, but she kept it trained on him. He left, following the crown princess.

***

Katalina looked at her master. His eyes had a naive look to them. How could he survive in this environment with that attitude? Relying on the crown princess’ favour, and yet picking fights that he could not win. But how far did they go? That question itched within her brain. And she just had to scratch that itch.

“So, um, my lord. Were you really going to, pardon my language, sleep with her highness?”

“I wouldn’t say sleep with her, unless you count one sided activity.”

She saw it with her own two eyes. The moment the other Arcleus burst through the door, the crown princess had a certain look to her. Like a hungry predator that was just about to pounce on her prey, but got interrupted by outsiders. That was a look she doubted she would forget. But she could tell that her master was a herbivore within that few seconds.

Her hands found themselves wrapping around her wrists. The warm, dry summer night wind flew into the room through the open window. Sat down opposite him, she alternated between looking at her hands and himself.

“Um, I know that it's not my place to this my lord, but is it really your duty to uh, sl-sleep with her highness?”

“Why? Any objections, my knight?”

“It’s just that... Her highness, she seems to really like you...”

“Is that so? Wouldn’t that be advantageous for me?”

“Do you think she’s in love? With you, I mean.”

“Is that what it looks like to you? I want your opinion. You’re in love with someone, are you not?”

Her cheeks grew warm. That question was unexpected. Answering questions was a part of her duty, definitely. But was that a question that needed answering? Was he unfamiliar with it? That was impossible. Such a pretty face, it was impossible for no one to have snatched that up. The crown princess was the closest to him within the palace. Was it her? The crown princess was beautiful yes, but was it enough to steal her master’s heart?

Or, from another perspective, was he charming enough to capture her love? Almost certainly not. There was nothing attractive about him. Just his pretty face, that smooth clear skin, his rather hidden cute side. Either way, that thought made her heart race. But was he a man who would let his heart be captured in the first place?

“Katalina?”

That voice jolted her awake from her trance. How could she have spaced out like that? And to be focusing on him no less.

“Ah, my lord. No, no, I’m not in love.”

“I see. That’s a shame.”

“Why? Were you expecting me to have one? A love interest, I mean.”

“Hm. Well I suppose that’s good, in a sense.”

“My lord, may I ask your meaning?”

“Oh, I meant, your eyes should look at me, and only me, I guess,” he said with a chuckle.

His remark didn’t clear anything up. Her heart tightened at his words. How long had it been since someone spoke those words to her? But it could not have been him. Anyone but him.

She gave him a crude, tight smile. The knight had contradictory thoughts deep within her mind. Festering, growing. Every time she saw him, her chest hurt.

The knight looked at the man across the table. Her long, brown hair grazed the nape of her neck. The man stared at her with what looked like a small smile. As their eyes met, she found herself unable to pull her gaze away. Her heart raced, and she gripped her wrist tight. Swallowing both her saliva and her feelings, she sighed. It couldn’t be. No, absolutely not. Not him. But how else could he have made her feel that way?

When she first heard about the princess, back in their tent during the Hunters Festival, there was a sliver of fear. Small, but festering nonetheless. Like a cancer, a tumor growing from her body. At first, it started off small. If it was just a one time thing, she probably would have been fine. But, it started to encroach onto their daily lives.

The princess began to call him on a near daily occasion. But what could she do? She was just a lowly knight. But it progressed to them having late night chats, whilst he lay in bed or looked out the balcony.

And that culminated into her highness the crown princess pushing him onto his bed and getting close to stripping him. If one had a pet that they grew to yearn, would they have sent it to a predator’s den? Him going to the palace was difficult to accept. It was obvious that he wanted to be the emperor. That meant marrying the crown princess.

She breathed in the warm summer night air. No doubt, he must have been briefed about the royal ball taking place that week. And most likely, the crown princess would go out of her way in order to support him. Walking with him down the stairs, dressing him up, and maybe even introducing him personally. That was breaking all known traditions.

His knight couldn’t get that image out of her mind. His face, and that frail body. Her highness, the crown princess pushing him onto his bed. She wanted to get it out.

She stood up from her seat. The knight was not dressed appropriately for the situation, but it had to do. It was an opportunity to ascertain herself.

“My lord,” she started.

“Yes?”

“Could we perhaps have a talk?”

“Oh. Should I request for some wine, then?”

“I do not mind.”

“Right.”

He pushed open the door. Talking to a servant, he requested for a bottle of the palace wine, though it wasn’t particularly fancy. Certainly better than the alcohol of street taverns, but not the finest, nearly mythical bottles that she had heard of.

When the servant returned, she requested permission to enter. She placed it down on the carved wood table, and poured out two glasses. One for the guard, and one for the lord. With a dark red colour, it carried with it a strong smell. The servant left the room quietly, and they took a sip.

Produced in the northern region of the empire, it had the qualities of sweetness, and a slight sourness as well. Though the alcohol content in it wasn’t high, only about 12%. Regardless, it slid down her throat, and decorated her tongue. He seemed to enjoy himself too, indulging in the first bottle, or rather, first taste of alcohol. Yet, he looked experienced, and seemed to have no trouble drinking.

“My lord. May I speak freely?” she requested.

“I’d prefer if you did. That’s one of the first things I asked of you, wasn’t it?”

He still remembered it. For some reason, be it the alcohol, her chest warmed up. She let out a small chuckle. He really did change. Perhaps for the better. No, definitely for the better. The old Francis Rayleigh would never act like that. Much less, have such a cute side to him, in addition to his beauty.

“Are you in love with her highness?”

“Not really.”

His reply took her shock. Stunned, she struggled for a reply. But, he spoke first.

“Its more of a business partnership.”

“Huh?”

“Yeah. She gains something, and I profit too. If I were to make a guess, she isn’t in love with me either.”

“So what you’re saying is that there’s no love in between you two?”

“Preciesly.”

“Then why was she about to sleep with you?”

“Ah. That. To be honest, given the chance, she probably would’ve. She mentioned wanting to take out her stress on me after all.”

“Uhh? Take out her stress? On you?”

“To put it simply, I guess she wanted to use me as stress relief. I do hope you know what I mean by that.”

“Yes, I do. But what was the point of it then? What was she trying to get?”

“I’m not quite sure. Though, I do think it has something to do with the other person listening in.”

“Sorry about that by the way. I didn’t mean to.”

“I don’t mind. You’re my guard, I need you to hear me if I started choking. Were you uncomfortable?”

“Oh no, no! I didn’t mind it. I mean, I thought it might have happened sooner or later. Since you’re so...” her words trailed off.

“Hm? You were saying?”

“Nothing, nothing.”

She shook her head.

“You can say it. I won’t judge. Or mind.”

She took a moment to consider it. After all, it was just a compliment. That crown princess surely gave him lots. Therefore, a small one like that won’t make a difference. Surely not.

“I think that you’re... You have a pretty cute side.”

She said it. The knight hid her face with her hands, in a similar fashion to her lord. Across the table, Francis covered the bottom half of his face with his right hand, and his eyes avoided hers. Through the slits in her fingers, she saw hints of bright red peeking up and above his fingers.