CHAPTER 8: Hot Knight

Lidia stomped forward, muttering curses under her breath as she headed in the direction the carriage man had pointed her. Her entire body still ached, her clothes were stiff with dirt, and she was one inconvenience away from throwing hands with the next unlucky soul she met.

And then she saw him.

The knight.

And not just any knight.

This man looked like he had been forged by the gods themselves. The kind of male character who would be described in painstaking, poetic detail in a fantasy novel. The kind that made heroines gasp, knees buckle, and hearts flutter.

His armor gleamed under the sunlight, a deep silver with subtle etchings of intricate patterns along the chest plate. He wasn't overly bulky like some of the knights she had seen around—no, he was lean, broad-shouldered but not exaggeratedly so. His cape, a deep midnight blue, draped over one shoulder, swaying lightly as he adjusted the saddle on his massive black stallion.

His face was, quite frankly, illegal.

Chiseled jawline. High cheekbones. A straight, aristocratic nose.

And those eyes.

A piercing shade of stormy gray, like a sky just before a thunderstorm. The kind of eyes that could probably see into your soul and judge all your life choices. His dark black hair was slightly tousled, just enough to look effortlessly cool instead of messy. His skin was smooth but carried a few faint scars—just enough to make him look ruggedly attractive instead of battle-worn.

Lidia sighed dreamily. Even a side character could look this good?

This… this was the moment she fully grasped the meaning of the phrase eye candy.

She didn't even realize she was grinning like a weirdo as she approached.

But he did.

And apparently, it creeped him the hell out.

The knight stiffened, his grip on the saddle tightening ever so slightly as he caught sight of her approaching with a smile that probably made her look like an unhinged street rat. His sharp eyes darted to her dirt-streaked clothes, her tangled hair, the general "I've been through hell" aesthetic she was rocking. He flicked his gaze back at his horse, subtly shifting away as if expecting her to lick him or something.

Lidia snapped out of her daze just in time to see the very uncomfortable look on his face.

Huh. Rude.

Whatever. She had more important things to focus on.

"Sir Knight!" she called out, schooling her features into her best pitiful look. Not that it was hard to pull off. She was a mess.

The knight turned, and she beamed at him. "I was wonde—"

"No."

Her grin faded.

Huh?

Did she hear that correctly?

"No?"

He didn't even let her finish! What the fuck?! Isn't he supposed to be honorable? Chivalrous? Noble?

Where was the classic 'Oh, fair maiden, how may I be of assistance?'

But she wasn't about to let some handsome, emotionally constipated knight ruin her very necessary travel plans.

She ignored his immediate rejection and pressed on like he hadn't just dismissed her like a particularly annoying fly. Her voice just a little bit more desperate.

"Sir Knight, I heard you're heading southeast. Is that true?" She batted her eyelashes for good measure.

The knight raised a brow, clearly unimpressed. "What's it to you?"

She sucked in a sharp breath. Okay, don't stab him. Don't stab him. You need him.

"I was robbed," she started, forcing her voice to sound pitiful. "And I need to get back to my family and—"

"Not my problem."

He cut her off again.

Then, like she was nothing, he turned back to securing his horse's saddle.

Lidia just stared.

Her eye twitched.

Was… Was this man serious?

The nerve.

The absolute audacity.

This man had officially joined the long list of People Lidia Was Seriously Considering Killing Today.

And honestly, that list was growing at an alarming rate.

Her fists clenched at her sides, and she took a deep breath through her nose, attempting to suppress the violent urges coursing through her veins.

"Listen," she tried again, voice dangerously close to snapping, "I really need to get out of here. I'm telling you, I am a noble's daughter, and if you just take me with you—"

"Not. My. Problem."

Lidia's hands itched to throttle him.

"Look, if you're so noble, isn't it your duty to help those in need?" she reasoned, throwing her arms up. "You're a knight! You literally signed up for this kind of thing!"

He snorted. Snorted. Like she was some kind of amusing little insect buzzing around his ears.

"I signed up to fight for my kingdom," he corrected. "Not to be a charity ride service for every stray who wanders into town."

Lidia opened her mouth. Closed it. Opened it again.

This.

This fucking—

No, no, she had to think. If pleading didn't work, and reasoning didn't work… she needed a new plan.

Her gaze flickered to his horse.

Then to the knight.

Then back to the horse.

An idea sparked.

Sucking in a deep breath, she let her shoulders slump and her expression twist into full-blown hopeless desperation. She let her bottom lip wobble just slightly, eyes glistening like she was on the verge of tears.

The knight noticed.

And he immediately looked uncomfortable.

Lidia sniffled. "So that's it?" she murmured, her voice softer, more fragile. "You're just going to leave a helpless girl stranded in a city she doesn't belong to? With no money? No shelter? No protection?"

A muscle in his jaw ticked.

Yes. Yes, she was getting to him.

But he still didn't look convinced.

Okay. Time to go all in.

She glanced over her shoulder at a group of rough-looking men lingering by an alleyway, then back at him, letting a bit of fear seep into her expression. "You're a knight," she whispered, voice barely above the wind. "Aren't you supposed to protect people?"

Silence stretched.

His fingers tightened around the reins.

Lidia barely restrained the victorious smirk that threatened to break through.

Gotcha, you beautiful, dumb bastard.

It took another few seconds, but then—

"Fine," he exhaled, running a hand through his hair in exasperation. "Fine. I'll take you. But if you slow me down, you're getting kicked off."

Lidia beamed.

"Oh, I won't be a burden at all, Sir Knight!" she chirped.

He eyed her skeptically, muttering something under his breath that sounded a lot like "I regret this already."