Day Off

The chirping of birds answered each other filled Ivander's ears, he deliberately woke up at noon because it was his day off. After the war ended, he couldn't get enough rest, the rebellion continued, they destroyed buildings and killed innocent citizens. The vast territory of the kingdom became the target of kings who were hungry for power, instead of taking care of their people so that they could live prosperously, they chose to go to war.

Today Ivander had no activities, he planned to sleep all day, the tiredness that he had ignored so far had now been contained and overflowed. The sunlight that peeked in through the gaps seemed to not allow Ivander to be lazy.

"Hhh," Ivander took a short breath, he sat on his bed, his eyes blinking slowly open. It seemed like it was already noon.

With that half-consciousness, Ivander got up and walked to get a glass of water, took a sip. Ivander didn't forget to wash his face and prepare food. In between cooking, there was a knock on the door from outside that was very loud and disturbed him.

"What are you doing here?" Ivander asked lazily when he saw who was knocking on his door roughly.

"I'm bored, I want to go to your house." Without the permission of the homeowner, Galar went straight in.

"Aren't you going to Jack's house?"

Galar shook his head, "he's spending day with his wife and children."

"Then you just find a woman."

"What about you? Aren't you visiting your lover?"

"Lover? Who?"

"Don't pretend you don't know her, I'll take her if you act like that."

"Tch!" Ivander clicked his tongue in annoyance, how could the old man marry a very young woman.

"What are you cooking? It smells delicious." Again Galar sneaked into the kitchen without the homeowner's permission.

"You're so rude!" Ivander said in annoyance.

"Aren't I your brother?"

"Who would want to be your brother!"

"You're getting angry with me huh. You know, when someone misses their lover, they can be very annoying."

"Can you shut up, if you keep talking nonsense I'll throw you out!"

"Alright." Now Galar took over the kitchen, he continued cooking. It seemed that being given a day off did not make them happy, they were confused about what to do. As seen now, after the two knights finished their food, they were now leaning back and daydreaming.

"Don't you have anything for me?" Galar asked.

"What something?" Ivander asked back.

"Mission or whatever, I'm bored." Galar replied.

"How about we just hunt."

"I'm tired of riding a horse."

"Then what do you want?" Ivander asked a little annoyed.

"How about we take a walk in town."

"Okay, that's not bad."

They then got ready to take an afternoon walk in town, it had been a long time since they had relaxed like this. The atmosphere of the city that afternoon was very beautiful and crowded, many children were running and playing, the merchants were also busy packing up their goods about to close their shops.

"Look who's here, it's really an honor for us to see you, Sir Ivander." One of the merchants greeted Ivander respectfully, as did the people there. Ivander then replied with a smile.

"Sir, do you have free time? It would be an honor for me to invite you to dinner together." A young girl shyly approached Ivander, it had become a common thing for Ivander.

"Thank you for your offer, maybe my friend can have dinner with you." Ivander said while pointing at Galar with his gaze.

The young girl then looked at Galar, her gaze which was originally shy changed to indifferent.

"Sorry sir, I invited you."

"Thank you, but I can't accept your invitation." Ivander then left without needing to look at the girl again, he was very annoyed with the girls here who had been eyeing him for a long time. At first their adoring gazes made Ivander confused and annoyed, but now he already knew and didn't care.

"So which woman can captivate the heart of a famous western knight."

"Shut up Galar!"

"If they want to be with me, I'm sure they will live happily." Galar said.

"Take them, I'm not interested." Ivander replied.

Galar chuckled. "Let's go to Zyra City."

Ivander turned his head. "What did you say earlier?"

"Go to Zyra City, don't you miss your lover?" Galar asked.

"Why would I go with you?"

"If you don't want to be with that girl, I'm ready to..." Before Galar could finish his sentence Ivander had already hit him, not hard enough as a joke for them.

****

Today and yesterday were the most boring days for Ivander, he couldn't even sleep all day. Now he planned to visit the headquarters where his troops were training because he was confused about how to spend his day. Several young soldiers were seen practicing swords and immediately greeted after seeing their leader come.

"Good morning, Sir Ivander." The familiar voice greeted Ivander respectfully, in front of him stood the young soldier who was on a secret mission with him, Robeth Fannola.

"Morning, Robeth. How was your training?"

"Quite good, Sir. Isn't this your day off, Sir?"

Ivander just nodded.

"Didn't you visit Lady Riana?"

Why does everyone always ask about Riana?

"Do I have to go there?" Ivander asked back.

"Isn't she your lover, it's not strange to visit a lover on a day off." Robeth said a little hesitantly.

"Okay, I will visit her according to your orders." Ivander said annoyed, he then left Robeth who was still frozen in confusion with Ivander's words.

It wasn't that Ivander didn't want to visit Riana, but they were just strangers who finally got to know each other. Riana wasn't his girlfriend, Ivander had never expressed anything to her, even he himself was confused about his feelings.

The journey to Zyra City was very long, if visiting the royal palace took a full day without resting, then the journey to Zyra City took three full days. The journey could take five to seven days if we rested. His day off would be gone just like that on the journey, but that didn't stop his little desire to visit Riana. All the questions from his friends were what made Ivander end up here, packing his few belongings to go to Zyra City.

"I must be crazy!"

In the afternoon Ivander left, even though there was doubt in his heart he finally left anyway. This would be a long and boring journey, usually he would travel with his members, now he was alone.

"What if Riana rejects my arrival?"

"Should I just go back?"

His thoughts continued to compete, increasing along with the footsteps of his horse that didn't stop moving.

"Huh! Damn! I'm really confused!"

His eyes were now filled with doubt and hesitation, even so Ivander remained alert to his surroundings until he caught the red mudan flower that was being sold. Remembering the mudan flower, he spurred his horse faster, his feelings were now increasingly confused, it seemed that he really had to visit Riana to make sure of this.

Ivander did not pass through the public road that people usually passed, he chose to take the fastest route through the forest, it seemed that he was really crazy.

****

The door had been knocked loudly many times, but there was still no answer. Galar, who had been standing in front of Ivander's house, was starting to get a little annoyed.

"If you don't open your door, I'll break it down!" Galar exclaimed, he wasn't really going to break down Ivander's door, he was just threatening him a little.

There was no sound from inside the house, Galar surrounded him in case his leader just wanted to avoid him. Ivander's house was not a big house with servants or maids, but rather a simple house that he lived in alone. His late father was a western knight who was quite meritorious and had a large land, they built a fairly large house, but he didn't live in the house. Since his late mother passed away, Ivander didn't live there, the house was too big and he didn't have time to take care of it. That way Ivander only hired a few servants and maids to take care of his empty house and he chose to live in a small house near the knight's headquarters.

After Galar had circled the house, he found no sign of Ivander inside, "where did he go?"

****

Riana's cheeks flushed red, she was very embarrassed while reading the book given by Viscountess Varhadt. Her green eyes glanced to the right, she found Vilda sleepily reading a book similar to hers.

"Vilda, wake up!" Viscountess Varhadt exclaimed.

Hearing her mother's voice, she quickly adjusted her sitting position and pretended to focus on reading.

"If you're like that, I think Lady Riana will get a man before you." Viscountess Varhadt said, she was furious with her daughter's behavior who was not serious about studying, especially when it was about marriage.

****