Under the cool breeze of autumn, the Iridescent's Knights are busy with their day to day training. Although the large scale war has long been won and only small fights broke out against mercenaries and other opposition against the throne, they still wanted to always make sure they are in their best physique as a defender of the kingdom.

Lady Matilda sat carelessly in the shade of the big oak tree as she huff and puff after that rigorous training they just went through. She closed her eyes as she leaned backwards with her hands on the ground supporting the weight of her body. She stayed still like that and let the cool breeze of air blew through her face, cooling off the heat she was feeling.

She heard the rustling of the grass and the footsteps of someone coming towards her. The familiar scent of wood musk and sweat blend in the smell of grass and soil. She knew who this was, just like the back of her hand.

When she opened her eyes, a white embroidered handkerchief was the frist thing that greeted her eyesight.

"What?" She asked the person who was now standing in front of her.

"You're sweaty. It's making you look more unsightly." Even though he said it in a playful, teasing tone, she still glared at him murderously.

But the person before her very eyes wasn't a bit bothered by that and just waited for her to get it from him so in the end she didn't have a choice but to receive the handkerchief and carefully wipe off the sweats in her face.

Watching her did that, the man smiled a little with a satisfied expression before sitting beside her.

This is her childhood friend, Eugene, a baron. They have been friends for as long as she can remember. And she likes him ever since then, but couldn't manage to confess to him because she believes that he deserves better. She'd rather watch him be with someone else than to cross that uncertain line between their friendship and becoming more than that.

She was too sacred to lose him that she had become a coward for love.

"How was it being a lady in waiting?" He asked her as they both look at the cloudless sky.

"I am enjoying it. Lady Beaumont is a very kind, gentle woman."

"More than picking up your sword?"

"Yeah. They are very warm and welcoming to me despite my shortcomings." She smiled.

They just both stayed that way, enjoying the peaceful scenery ahead of them.

"I heard you're about to get married." Lady Matilda said with her eyes looking at the big trees dancing with the wind.

"I am still searching for a wife to be. Do you want to volunteer?" He asked her jokingly.

Lady Matilda just looked away and gathered every courage to utter words she knew she would definitely regret someday.

"Silly. I don't even like you, you're not even my type." She heard him laugh and said, "I know, I was just kidding too."

Hearing him said that, she felt like a thousand thorns pierced her heart. Feeling her eyelids heat up, she knew she was about to cry any seconds from now. So she stood up recklessly and shakes off the dirt on her clothes.

"I gotta go," she said, then immediately walked away without looking back. She didn't see the dejected face of her friend who just watch her walk away.

When she returned from their training ground, only Sir Thitus was the one remaining there and the other knights had dispersed.

She inhaled deeply before going towards him to ask for a friendly duel.

"Sir Thitus, would you like to duel with me?"

The former gazed at her with a confused look but probably seeing the look on her face, he just sighed and position himself in a guarding stance.

"Come at me then, with your full force."

She unsheathed her spadroon sword, grip the hilt tightly before launching an attack. She was attempting for a full force over head attack then put her sword put in a diagonal slash and then drove the blade forward with one powerful thrust but Sir Thitus immediately blocked it.

They continue to parry, block and attack until they exhausted themselves.

"Ha. You are getting better and better with your sword." Sir Thitus complemented her as they both sat down on the ground, catching their breath.

"I'm glad then. I've been preparing for that upcoming hunting festival, I guess all of my hardworks are getting paid off." She smirked, still panting.

"Then I guess you're all feeling better now that you've let it all out huh?"

"What are you talking about?" She asked, pretending not to know.

"The face you've had earlier seemed like you've just lost a part of you."

"Is that so?" She asked in a low tone of voice.

She was just wondering, what if she had confess at that moment? Would that ruin their friendship? She wasn't afraid of death, but she was so frightened of the thought of losing him. She wasn't any bit fearful of the physical scars she gets whenever she was on a subjugation but the idea of breaking their bond makes her heart cower.

"Sir Thitus, listen. This friend of mine like her childhood friend.."

"Ah, that friend. It's probably you."

Lady Matilda didn't heard the last sentence that Sir Thitus said and she was too focused to consult to him that she didn't bother asking him to repeat it for her.

"So, this very close friend of mine, likes her guy friend but she was too scared to ruin their friendship and lose him once she cross the line. Not only that, this guy friend of her is now at the marrying age so he was currently looking for a bride to be. What should my friend do then?"

"Well, every decision involves risk. Even if she decided to be just a friend to him, it's already a gamble. What if he likes your friend too but also afraid to take the first step. Change is inevitable. It's the only thing that is consistent. Your friend could choose not to take the chance but she must also be ready for staying the same. To be just a friend, nothing more. That's all she'll ever be. Forever."

Hearing those last statements from Sir Thitus felt like an arrow to the chest. She just realized that she can longer stay as a friend to him regardless of confessing or not. The uncertainty is dreadful but so does not knowing what the real answers are.

Sir Thitus got up, shook the dust on him and laid out his hand to help her stand up. She immediately took it and rose from her seat. She have made up her mind. She's going to tell Eugene about it at the upcoming hunting festival.

"Thank you, Sir Thitus. You're probably right."

"Then what are you waiting for? Go and tell that friend to confess to her guy friend already."

Lady Matilda nodded, full of vigor and excitement. Sir Thitus just smiled at her, happy that his advice worked out and the former had finally revitalized.