Age of Heroes (Age of Heroes Chronicles)

Chapter 370: The winter cold (2)

'I could not stay still in my castle not when the lord is going away on an important mission in Arouen. And it is a good opportunity for my wife to meet her old friends so I came here to Arrandy. I wish that Lord Arial would bring us good news from the King.'

'Your enthusiasm towards the welfare of the region is always commendable my lord.' Helia said bowing again.

'Stop it West' Kyle said. 

'You are encouraging her to work when what she needs now is rest.'

'Brother In-law, I was jus-'

'Brother why are you yelling at my husband. He did nothing wrong.' 

'Arial should have been here.' 

'There is no need to blame Arial in this matter brother. He did what is good for the region. It is not like he left without reason. His reason is reasonable enough for him to leave Helia for a moment.' 

'And what of his family?' Kyle said. 

'Shouldn't he be here protecting her? Shouldn't he be here!' Kyle said.

Helia grip Kyle arm. 

'Kyle….'her eyes look at Kyle and Kyle could see that's he is begging him to stop. 

'I just…You know that I just…'

'I know, Kyle. I know. But it is fine. I am accustomed to it. And Lisa is right. It is not like he will leave me that long either. He'll be back'

'You should not have to be accustomed to it' Kyle said, his voice is full of regrets.

'You should be treated like a princess.' He added

'I am…a princess.' Helia said smiling a bitter smile.

'In title.' Kyle shot back.

Helia just smile. 

'You really like to rile against me don't you Kyle?' 

Kyle seeing that Helia has begun regaining her strength is overjoyed and nodded.

'I do like to spar with you. Remember old times?' Helia said smiling remembering old memories during their days as Knight in the Academy

'Battles of arms? I prefer words.'

'Why not in weapons or battle? Are you underestimating me? Because I am a woman.'

'How could I dare, to the Princess?' Kyle said jokingly and Helia chuckles.

'Then why? Surely you are armed with great strength, friend.' Helia said

'I don't have the heart to hurt you. It is better if you hurt me instead. And so it certainly would be dull for you, because surely you would win every time and I know you. You hate dull things. Probably the same reason you chose Arial.'

'You have some strange fetishes, Kyle. I heard some nobles like to be hit in their private region by other people and they found pleasure in it.' 

'Me, compared to those strange nobility? Spare me the humiliation, Princess' Kyle said in a begging manner which elicited laughter from Helia.

They keep trading words and laughing and chuckling, a friend that both know each other too well.

On the other hand, West and Lisa look at them with puzzlement. Lisa always knows that her brother is close with Helia but he was always shy with her before but now they talk with such familiarity and West on the other hand also feels the same thing.

They then stopped when they realize they are being stared by Helia and Kyle.

'What is the matter?' Helia said.

'Nothing my lady' West reply.

'Since you have recovered I will order the healer to watch over you my lady' West said as he bowed slightly and leave the room. 

The moment West leave the room, Lisa sat down on the bed. 

'Did your husband call the healers?' Helia asked Lisa.

'Yes, he did. We were around the castle when the servants were screaming about you fainting. West who was in the great hall talking with Oliver hurriedly rushed to your room and call the healers while he tries to make you drink the healing water. Your servant on the other hand...They all were fearful that you have collapsed unconscious. One servant even turns blue fearing for your safety' 

'Of course they would. I doubt Arial would not have flipped out if he hears that his wife is harmed during his absence.' Kyle said confidently.

'She should not have been too worried. I would not have blamed her. It was my fault. I did overwork myself' Helia said. 

'You were born of nobility Helia of course you don't know her fears.' Lisa retorted.

'What is that supposed to mean? We have been friends since we met that night in the opening ceremony and now you say this. I am hurt' Helia said joking and Lisa just chuckles a bit . 

'It is nice to see that you still have the strength to jest with me but you must see it from her perspective, Helia. That servant girl was the one who sees you fainting and she must have thought if you have met a terrible fate then she who is the last one that sees you would be punished.' 

'Why would she?'

'This is Vermont culture seeping into you' Kyle said smiling a bit. 

Kyle out of everyone knew that the Vermont is a little weird in that they give freedom unreservedly to their allies and treat them nicely different from the other noble lords. 

It is this quality that endears five Aries to the common people. His son on the other hand commands respect and authority.

'Do nobles need reason to punish a lowly servant? Imagine her fears, her anxiety. Not to mention Arial reputation itself. Dragon is not a tittle you give to someone endearing isn't it? His title alone evokes awe among nobles but to the peasant, the servants, the title of dragon evokes fear. Imagine that you, not some countess or some baroness but a duchess, wife to one of the most powerful lord in the human continent died and she was the last one who sees your body. Wouldn't she think that in the lord anger, the lord would punish her?'

'Arial would never do such thing.' Helia said defending her husband.

'He won't but that doesn't mean people will believe the same. Reputation is everlasting and is remembered. That is why reputation is everything' 

'Even so, Lisa you speak like I would blame the servant. Is it not right that you should worry about her well-being rather than mine?' 

'You are well aren't you? But the servant girl is not. She must still fear for her fate. I see the girl shivering with fear, a timid girl working in this large castle, and I could not help but feel some empathy for her.'

'You have always been the most pragmatic among us. But why the concerns for my servants? You know enough of my temperament to know I will not punish her and you know enough of Arial forgiving nature to not entertained any thoughts of cruelty on our parts so why?' Helia asked.

'She reminds me of myself. That timid nature, those fearful eyes. You could say I just worried about her by my own whims.'

'Rest assured then. I shall do nothing to harm her.' She chuckles. josei

Lisa can sometimes be stubborn. Lisa should know that the matter of the servant is a small matter to her but Lisa always manages to turn small matter into a huge matter.

She remembers the Quest for the Disappeared Hand. It was a simple quest but Lisa intends to make it hard by making it an assassination quest.

Of course there is a killer but that killer was unrelated with the quest. Still it was a funny story.

'Seeing you well I will leave you woman to talk with each other' Kyle said. 

'Thank you Kyle for caring' Helia said. 

'Always' he said, a word that almost signifies a vow spoken by Kyle and Helia notices it even though Lisa is oblivious.

Slowly Kyle stands up and leave the room while Helia and Lisa share their stories after so long not meeting each other. 

For that day the Duchess did not leave her room as she is resting accompanied by her loyal friends waiting for her husband to return home.

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