***

Chapter 2. The First Tea Party

"I'm really sorry. I thought you could dodge that." Asher bowed apologetically towards Jakob, the unfortunate trainee who was getting his broken nose treated at the infirmary. He hid his discomfited expression from the boy.

Even though you're the one who challenged me first... 

"Sorry?? Do you think a simple sorry would cut it? Do you know who I am?" Jakob pointed an accusatory finger at Asher dramatically. The physician flustered at his patient that wouldn't stay still.

Asher sighed inwardly, looking at Jakob. He rubbed his neck awkwardly, an exhausting thought running through his mind. Although it was an unofficial duel, Asher had still accidentally injured a trainee.

This is going to get taken out of my pay...

Jakob wasn't just a trainee but the younger son of a low-ranking noble from the capital. As a senior knight, the juniors and trainees were partially under his responsibility now. 

Ugh... this is bothersome. 

As Asher cried internally, someone entered the room. Then…

Bang!

"Ack!" Jakob clutched his head after being hit by Javier's loose hand. Asher blinked in surprise at the familiar face dressed well in uniform.

"Vice Captain." He greeted hesitantly. Before Javier could say anything, Asher stepped forward. 

"Uh, Vice Captain. I can explain..."

"What's the matter with you?" Javier didn't seem to mind him. "Challenging a senior knight? Unwarranted challenges are forbidden for trainees." He scolded Jakob, a terrifying glare on his face. Perhaps he had heard the story from the senior knight in charge of training. 

Jakob flinched some more. 

"It wasn't an official challenge! And Dame Jana approved it..!" He desperately defended himself. Then a scowl distorted his face. "Besides! It's that guy's fault anyway! If he wasn’t so late, I wouldn’t have had a problem—."

Whack!

Jakob received a second strike from Javier. That was the result of contending with the Vice Captain. 

“That’s enough. Sir Asher had a perfectly valid excuse. He already apologised so shut your mouth." Javier's eyes narrowed, looking at Jakob as though he were a disgusting worm. 

Asher watched the furious exchange with an uncomfortable smile. So Javier was aware of the overtime he worked shovelling snow.

Maybe the extra pay will make up for the compensation… a little bit anyway. Asher accepted dejectedly. 

"Uhm... I will take full responsibility for this." At his words, Javier turned to Asher. He rested a hand on his sword’s sheath and raised a brow.

"Huh? Why should you? It was entirely Jakob's fault. This is the result of arrogance.” He growled at Jakob, before turning back to Asher. 

“Don't worry about compensation." 

"... Is that okay...?" Asher muttered, wondering how he'd managed to get out of this. 

Jakob flared up again, but stayed silent. 

"For now, return to your room." He turned to the flabbergasted trainee. "Rest for the evening. I'll adjust your training regime until your broken nose heals. Is that understood, you damn brat?" There was a scary glint in his earth green eyes. 

"Yes, Vice Captain..."

Asher felt somewhat intimidated. 

As expected of the Vice Captain...

***

The sun had already set a while ago, though Asher couldn't tell during training. Once he was walking the corridors, he could see the young night sky befalling the north. It seemed that the snow had also paused for a while. 

He made his way back to the main wing of the castle. The corridors were less busy than the morning, and much cleaner too. It had all been in preparation for the Princess Consort who arrived earlier than expected.

The image of the Princess flashed through his mind. 

That woman… 

Before he could dwell on the memory, something caught his attention. 

…Hm?

Clack. Clack. Clack. 

Asher was quick to notice the presence approaching from around the corner.

Well, it was difficult to miss such a defined aura. 

The tall figure, only just taller than Asher himself, appeared in his vision. It was a face he was quite familiar with, though not particularly close to.

He promptly greeted the red-haired man taking wide strides in his direction, his body angling forward slightly. 

“Your Highness.” He said in a moderate voice.

Golden eyes glanced at Asher briefly. The Prince strode past with skillful avoidance, swiftly moving through the air like a summer breeze.

It was nothing unexpected, but Asher couldn't help but feel like an insect-- insignificant and invisible. Though just as he had thought he was blatantly disregarded, he noticed the white hand of the prince waving passively. 

Asher straightened, watching the Prince disappear down the corridor. 

The number of words he had exchanged with the Prince could possibly be counted on his fingers. That was to say, he had barely interacted with his employer, Prince Lucien. 

Though now that he was a senior, and there was a lady in the castle, Asher had a small feeling that might change. 

If Lucien was coming from that way… wouldn’t it be the Princess’ room?

And so, the thought of the Princess returned to his mind. 

Her gold locks and pink diamond eyes. 

It feels like I've seen her before… Where was it?

Asher fell into a peculiar train of thought. 

There weren't many chances he had to meet nobles. Most of his encounters with them happened at the Academy. But they were few… and nothing special in particular. 

He stared at the ground he walked on with blank red eyes.

The red carpets that had been washed and laid neatly were an unfamiliar sight. The decorative vases that had fresh and watered plants were being taken care of properly after a long while.

Considering the level of effort that had gone into the castle for the princess’ arrival, it was unlikely that she was from some low-ranking family. And if the Princess Consort was someone significant in rank…

I was probably mistaken. 

Asher let out an exasperated sigh. 

Whatever. He thought, rubbing his neck tiredly. There was no use thinking about those things to him. All Asher had to do was follow orders from his superiors and be silent. Only that way could he stay peacefully at the castle, and get a nice salary while he was at it.

The more he got involved with nobles, the more bothersome things became.