Chapter 43 - Distant

I had returned home to Victor as always with no regard for our size difference squeezing me to death. His sword training didn't help at all. Instead I was sure his true goal was to choke me to death.

"Mallory!" He whined, "Edmund was picking on me everyday since you left. He can't be satisfied with my current skill. I can't believe mother can send you away for a month like that and to such a terrible guy! I've seen him at the office and he's ruthless! He didn't hurt you did he?" His voice going on a roller coaster of different emotions and I couldn't keep up.

I wanted to say he wasn't always this annoying, but that would be a lie.

"I- I can't brea"-

"Victor, the princess is struggling to breath. Loosen your grip" I heard the smooth and calm voice of Edmund before I had noticed he was present.

"Oh…" Victor released me and watched me pitifully as I gasped for fresh air. Every time. Every god da-.

"Princess, I hope you've been well" Edmund interrupted my panting and held a hand out to me for support. His voice and presentation made him the perfect gentleman.

"I've been great, Edmund?" I replied confused as to why he addressed me so directly, ignoring his outstretched hand.

He had been basically ignoring me where possible. It wasn't so bad when he was younger, but the last few years made it hard to even see his face. It was hurtful.

"That good to hear. Did you enjoy your stay with Sir Harlow?" He continued, unable to hide his disdain at just mentioning the name Harlow.

"Very much!" I replied a bit too enthusiastically as Victor looked like he just got stabbed.

"You didn't miss me?" Victor asked in shock.

"No". I deadpanned.

"Well that's quite disappointing" Edmunds reply caught me off-guard as I finally glanced up at him.

He had grown a lot in the last few years and like Jirael, he became the male-lead he always was. His silver locks brushing his ears and his amethyst eyes narrower than how they used to be. His face was rather feminine despite his body being tall and well-tones. I heard a girl had fainted at the sight of him recently. Apparently, she caught him training… shirtless…

"Why is that?" I asked cautiously, unable to help feeling on edge as those eyes stared straight at me. I couldn't seem to gauge his thoughts at all.

"No reason" was all he replied with as he smiled down at me and held out his arm, "Dinner is ready so let's get going".

I looked to his arm in hesitation. I wasn't sure why I felt so unsettled, but I took his arm carefully. Noticing the hilt of his sword and the chain that hung from it. It was amethyst. That same one I bought when I had escaped. It was heart warming to see that he still wore it.

Victor was still recovering from before it seemed since he was on the floor muttering to himself. A dark cloud hovering above him.

"Victor I missed you, so come on let's eat!" I called and his head perked.

I flinched. He was actually crying!?

"Really?" He asked like a puppy who had been kicked to the curb. Was he truly going to turn nineteen any day soon?

He jumped up when I nodded, grabbed my other arm and lead the way to the dining hall where a welcome feast awaited me. Martha stood near the table, a small smile on her lips.

"Welcome back Princess" she pulled a chair out for me, "you must be famished so hurry and take a seat".

"Thank you, Martha", I smiled back gratefully taking a seat.

You might be wondering why she seems so nice. It's not for some wholesome reason as far as I'm aware anyway. It's for her own gain. Once I marry which is supposed to be within a few close years of my coming of age ceremony unless I've already made arrangements, I should have my own power and money. Because of this many of the workers have treated me well since the months have closed in.

The title Duchess Mallory Harlow seems kind of tempting with this sort of attitude.

"Mallory, do you prefer beef steak or chicken?" Edmund asked. He wasn't offering to serve me but rather directed the maid who would be.

"Beef" I replied, finding his attention unsettling even now.

"Sirloin, t-bone or brisket?"

I gulped. I want all truthfully, but the large array of food was so amazing that I decided to settle for sirloin.

"Sirloin thank you" I said to the maid. "How have classes been?" I asked to either really, but Victor answered.

"I scored second in the whole school on the final exam!" Victor proudly announced.

"Second?! That's amazing Victor!" I clapped and noticed how satisfied he looked.

At least he had some sort of saving grace.

"Right?" He grinned.

"I came first" the quiet intervention from Edmund, in all its nonchalance as he continued to eat, silenced the room.

Of - Of course he did… thinking about it… that was part of the story wasn't it? The greatest sword man of the century.

"That's also amazing Edmund. I couldn't have expected less" I clapped awkwardly.

"I've also acquainted title of the best sword man alive" he continued, lifting his amethyst eyes to me for a moment as if to peak at my reaction.

"I recall you got the title a few months ago?" I asked in confusion.

He had already got the title, why was he saying it now.

"You hadn't said anything so I was beginning to assume you hadn't realised" he looked away.

"I wasn't sure you cared about what I had to say" I thoughtlessly muttered to myself, but the sharp snap of his head indicated that he had heard me loud and clear.

"What made you think that, princess?"

"Edmund" Victor warned, suddenly looking the older brother he was.

"Oh I don't know… maybe you ignoring me every time we met?" I replied uncaringly while he suddenly sat in a pool of his own thoughts. His face twitched and he realised I wasn't wrong.

It was only when his face dropped, hair covering his beautiful eyes that I realised I probably went too far.

"Edmund I'm"-

"I wanted to become perfect" he cut me off, lifting his face to reveal red rimmed eyes, "I couldn't do anything for you. I could not stick up for you and my father did not care to share any of his prestige. I had no right to associate myself with you. I couldn't even protect you back then, but I'm confident now. Let me be your guard, princess. I will be graduating in a week from now."

I stared at him in shock, stunned at the reply I didn't think I would hear.

He didn't hate me.

But his reasons had me frowning. Having Edmund as a guard, his original posting.

"I- I didn't expect that, Edmund. Thank you for getting this far for someone like me, but… I already have a guard. There's no point in assisting someone like me. " I noticed the gloom that settled on his face and quickly intervened, "I'll be getting married soon regardless so I doubt it would've been worth it. Why not invest your talents in the military? You could get a high rank posting even without your title".

I noticed the way his fist clenched.

"Do you truly plan on marrying that bastard?"

I did not. I planned to run away quite soon.

"I do" I replied.

"No way Mallory? Can't you just pick someone else?" Victor said from the sidelines.

"I won't. I like Raphael and neither of you have a right to judge him" I narrowed my gaze at the challengingly.

Edmunds face darkened which made somehow reminded me of his original character. A closeted yandere by some descriptions.

"I- We've known each other longer" Edmund suddenly said, voice expressing it in a manner that meant it made sense.

"Yes. We have. But that doesn't make him less of a friend. I value him as I do you and Victor. I won't allow you to dishonour more than I already have".

"You haven't dishonoured him" Edmund spat.

"Not yet…" I muttered to myself quietly. "I appreciate your concern, but I don't require it".

"You won't be happy with him. You don't even love him!" Edmunds words made me blink in surprise. I hadn't even thought about things like love or what not since I woke up like this. But it made sense that it mattered, because it would to them. They aspire for relationships of love. I aspire to escape before the hour glass begins.

If I stay I risk dying. I would have to eventually marry Raphael. And… it would mean giving up on going home.