Talking About Romance

As Ryker rode out of the dense forest, he spotted his father’s vassal, well now his vassal, standing on the outskirts of the small town. The middle aged man was holding the reins of a brown horse as he waited for Ryker.

Behind the vassal was a grand carriage with a few of the Westerwyn guards and mages to take Ryker to the capital of the Cadilaria Empire, Linbourne. While he had a short deadline to make, he couldn’t just arrive at the palace by horse.

He had to arrive in a way that was befitting of a Duke of the Pellan Kingdom. That meant sending Lord Myster with some guards ahead to make preparations for a carriage and gifts for the emperor.

As Ryker got closer to the carriage, he slowed his horse, Maybel, down to a trot until they got to his vassal.

“Greetings Duke Westerwyn.” Lord Myster greeted, bowing as Ryker got down from his horse. “I take it your journey was alright?”

Ryker cringed. After taking a rest stop at the small village near the border, he had ridden for two days straight. His body ached in a way that made him want to never ride again. Well, at least for a long while.

“It was fine.” Ryker huffed, as he grabbed the side bag on his horse. “Has everything been prepared?”

“Yes, your grace.” Lord Myster answered. “Everything has been prepared like you asked.”

“Good.” Ryker strapped the heavy across his back. “Let’s get going then.”

“Yes, Duke Westerwyn.” Lord Myster paused for a second. “May I ask what the bag is for?”

“Ah…”

Ryker wondered how he was going to explain the romance novels inside the bag when a thought crossed his mind.

“Well, on the way I came across a bookstore selling Rosie’s favorite books…” Ryker said vaguely.

“You mean those romance novels by Ricki?” Lord Myster asked as the two headed to the carriage.

“Yes.” Ryker nodded, handing his horse over to a nearby guard. “Please take care of Maybel and make sure she gets some rest and treats. She’s worked really hard.”

The guard nodded and Ryker gave his horse a final pat before heading inside the carriage.

Inside, the carriage was lined with soft velvet covering the bench seats and had many pillows making Ryker sigh in relief. He could finally rest his aching body.

Lord Myster entered the carriage after him and sat across from him. Once the older man had settled in, he tapped the wall behind him to tell the carriage driver to start moving.

“By the way, Lord Myster, how did you know that Rosie likes the author Ricki?” Ryker asked as he placed his bag next to him.

“Well, Ricki is quite a popular author among the young noble ladies. Clarie can’t stop gushing about the novels, wanting me to get the latest editions.” Lord Myster explained. “Rosie and her recently went to get the newest novel.”

“I see…” Ryker murmured, looking over at the bag.

It seemed taking the bookseller’s advice on buying Ricki’s books was a good idea. Now he just needed to find a way to read through them so he could understand how to woo the princess, seeing as Ricki was an author from the Empire.

“My lord…May I ask why the sudden interest?” Lord Myster asked, his brown eyes glowing with curiosity. “You never seemed to have an interest in your sister’s hobbies…”

Ryker looked at the older man, wanting to flinch at his words. While he did love his sister, their relationship was an ordinary sibling relationship. He would even joke that her romance books would never get her anywhere.

And now he was relying on those very same books to help him woo a princess so he could save his family and restore their honor.

“I guess facing death has made me realize how important my family is.” Ryker sighed. “I also want to distract Rosie from everything that happened. I don’t want her to worry and enjoy herself like she did before all this happened.”

“Then why not send the books with the guard?”

“I…” Ryker paused for a second. “I wanted to give her them myself.”

“I see…” Lord Myster smiled softly. He looked at Ryker for a few moments before he said, “I don’t judge my lord.”

“Pardon?” Ryker stared at his vassal with confusion.

“I wasn’t born yesterday my lord and I watched you grow up.” Lord Myster smirked. “I know that you’re using the books as studying material. You’ve always turned to books when you don’t understand something.

“And although, I’m not sure about Cadilaria courting customs, if you need advice, I’ll gladly be of service. I am after all your vassal and advisor now.”

Ryker sighed in embarrassment of having been caught so quickly. “Thank you, Lord Myster. I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Of course.”

There was an awkward moment of silence before Ryker asked, “So… is there a type of man young noble ladies are easily attracted to. Someone that a princess would like…”

“Well, the mysterious duke seems to be liked by many…” Lord Myster mused, scratching his short salt and pepper beard.

“Well at least I’ve got the duke part down.”

“However, the duke always seems to have a dark aura. Black hair and a terrifying persona…A war lord most of the time…”

Ryker lifted a piece of his blond hair. “I guess I failed in that part. Should I dye my hair?”

“Best not too.” Lord Myster said, shaking his head. “It wouldn’t fit your character… Hmmm, you’re more of a scholar type…no…what did Clarie call it again…Ah, you’re a cinnamon roll type.”

“Cinnamon roll? As in the sweet?” Ryker asked in confusion.

“Yes…I mean no. It’s a phrase noble ladies use to call men who are sweet.” Lord Myster explained.

“I see…” Ryker paused for a moment before gasping in horror. “So, when Rosie said she wanted to marry a cinnamon roll…It was a type of man?!”

“Afraid so.” Lord Myster smiled softly as he watched Ryker process what he had just learnt.

After a few moments of silence, Ryker finally spoke again, “By the way, Lord Myster, how do you know so much?”

“When I had a conversation about marriage with Clarie, she gave me a list of requirements she wanted in her husband-to-be.” Lord Myster coughed. “I may have also taken an interest in my daughter’s hobbies….”

“You spoil your daughter too much.” Ryker muttered, recalling how Lord Myster would treat his daughter.

It was quite different to how most noblemen treated their daughters, many seeing their daughters as tools to become more powerful.

Then again, Lord Myster did seem to also go overboard when Ryker compared him to how his father treated Rosie.

“You’ll understand when you have a daughter of your own.” Lord Myster huffed, breaking Ryker away from the memories flooding his mind.

“I guess we’ll have to wait and see.” Ryker murmured before quickly changing the subject.

The two continued to talk for several more minutes before Ryker decided he wanted to read some of the novels before they got to the capital.