Chapter 31

Ysabel trailed Aleric, her gaze glued to the broad expanse of his back, a landscape of muscle and sinew sheathed in black, polished plate armor. The sun glinted off the steel, sending tiny, sharp sparks dancing before her eyes. Each deliberate stride of his long legs sent a tremor through the cobblestones, a rhythmic percussion that resonated in her chest. He was impossibly tall, not quite Hector's towering height, but enough to dwarf the other men, his presence a looming shadow that both intimidated and strangely comforted her.

The memory of Miranda's daughter's words, sharp and clear as a shard of glass, pierced her thoughts: "We'll be able to see the Umbra Knights." The words echoed in the claustrophobic space of her mind, each syllable a hammer blow against the fragile peace she'd managed to construct. The Umbra Knights. Were Aleric, and those with him, even Hector himself, the very knights the girl had described with such breathless awe? The thought hung heavy, a lead weight in her stomach.

Aleric...a knight?

The word pulsed in her ears, a drumbeat of disbelief and dawning realization. His form seemed to blur at the edges, the vibrant reality of him fading into a hazy mist as a chilling darkness seeped into her heart. She'd dreamt of a prince, a knight, a saviour– a fantastical escape from the icy grip of her loneliness, a balm against the gnawing emptiness of her cold room. Had she not pleaded with the God for such an intervention? To find a knight, to beseech him to whisk her away, to a sanctuary beyond the reach of pain and sorrow?

Then, the venomous whisper slithered into her ear, like a serpent's hiss that shattered the fragile edifice of her dreams: "There is no one, no one in this damn world to take you when they know how cursed you are, Ysabel! You are to suffer for the rest of your accursed life!" The words were a poisoned dart, aimed directly at the heart of her hope.

"Ysabel!"

Ysabel blinked, the encroaching darkness receding like a tide, revealing Aleric, his face etched with concern, his eyes, the color of a stormy night, fixed on hers. "You've been in a daze. I've been calling you,"

His voice, deep and resonant, cut through the lingering silence. His gloved hand, rough against her cheek, gently brushed a stray strand of hair from her eyes. The touch, unexpected, sent a shiver down her spine.

"I…"

She whispered, her voice barely audible, a fragile thing lost in the vastness of her fear.

"The commotion earlier must have frightened you,"

He said, his gaze softening as he searched her face. The scent of leather and metal, the faintest hint of woodsmoke clinging to his armor, filled her senses.

Ysabel averted her gaze, unable to bear the weight of his scrutiny, the fear of him seeing through her. A bitter ghost of a smile, played on her lips. Aleric's kindness, his unexpected concern, was a fragile bloom in the desolate landscape of her despair. Yet, here she was, teetering on the brink, the dark thoughts swirling within her, threatening to pull her under.

A gasp escaped her lips as Aleric drew her close, the unexpected warmth of his embrace a startling contrast to the chilling coldness of his cuirass against her skin. The feel of the steel, smooth and unforgiving, sent a fresh wave of shivers through her. Just as she was about to speak, the sound of children's laughter erupted, a joyful cacophony that cut through the tense silence. A pack of children, wild as untamed colts, raced through the street, their carefree shouts and the squeak of their worn shoes a vibrant counterpoint to the somber mood.

As Aleric's arms slowly released her, she looked up into his face, and her breath caught in her throat. The peaceful expression that softened his features as he watched the children was a glimpse of something tender and vulnerable that she'd never seen before.

"The play must have started,"

He murmured, his voice a low rumble that sent tremors through her. He looked at her, his gaze lingering on her flushed face, the mixture of embarrassment and shock evident in her eyes.

His brows furrowed as he takes the reaction on her face, and just then he seemed to realize that his arms were still around her, eyes wide, a blush creeping up his neck and ears. As if jolted by a sudden, unexpected current, he quickly pulled back, creating a space between them.

"I—I am sorry. I, my body... I mean, my body moved on its own. I didn't mean to—" He stammered, his voice thick with embarrassment.

"N-no, it's alright,"

Ysabel whispered, frantically shaking her head, the heat rising in her cheeks. She covered her face with her hands, trying to hide the overwhelming blush that burned her skin.

After a moment, she heard Aleric clear his throat. "Shall we go then?"

Peeking through her fingers, she saw a faint, almost shy smile playing on his lips. With a deep breath, Ysabel mustered her composure.

"Y-yes,"

She managed to reply.

Aleric started walking, and this time, he waited for Ysabel to catch up, falling into step beside her. With each synchronized stride, the earlier anxieties that had plagued Ysabel began to melt away, replaced by a growing sense of calm with Aleric by her side.