Chapter 3-The Knight

Chapter 3- The knight 

1

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The time of the gala had arrived–and this time, he'd get his revenge. He wore his pristine Coat and looked dapper. The suit was perfectly tailored by their house's seamstress. He wore a tan Frock coat with a high-collared dress shirt, high-waisted trousers, and a necktie. Indeed he looked like a dapper gentleman 

. They had traveled by steam train to reach the border between Raonach and Prospérer. Where the Gala would take place. The location this year was far grander than the manor that hosted his birthday, and the air buzzed with excitement. 

 Clairce helped him out of the stage, as he took a deep breath

. "I've waited a long time for this," he said, looking at the manor.

It was a rare occasion—members of many races gathered here: beastfolk, elves, dwarves, each dressed in their homeland's finest formal wear."

 Hey, if it isn't the young lord," a high-pitched familiar voice rang out

Joshua turned, recognizing the tiny figure fluttering in a green forest-patterned dress—it was none other than Fiadh.

"Hmph—oh, it's you," Joshua said dismissively. 

Eh, what's with the attitude? It's been a while since we last saw each other. "Eh? What's with the attitude? It's been a while since we've seen each other, y'know," Fiadh pouted, hands on her tiny hips. "Anyway, there's something I wanna give ya later. I'll come find ya when there's time."

 By the way, there's something I wanna give to you later when we have the chance, I'll come and find ya…" 

 Fiadh glared back at Ariel. "See ya," Fiadh waved and floated and went on ahead into the Manor.

 The front of the manor had servants greeting each guest, ranging from human to Mytho's " 

Good evening, Mr. Llewellyn. "A maid bowed as he walked through; 

Inside was even more extravagant than his birthday. The hall was spacious, and a diverse group of people stood around.

 Rhys put a hand on his son's head. " Behave yourself, Josh, I need to go meet up with some old friends." 

Joshua raised his nostrils, " Father, who do you think you're speaking to? I've come a long way since my birthday, you have nothing to fret over," 

Rhys pressed his lips together. The results of his birthday were exactly what worried him; he'd changed a small bit and no longer resembled the pudgy prince but more like a sumo wrestler 

2

Joshua wasn't one to mingle. Sure, there were kids his age, but he had only one target, Akirui Nikko. He had researched her family. 

She was the daughter of a liege lord in Raonach. She was a spoiled girl, like he was; her parents had smoothed her life out almost entirely up until this point. She had gotten expelled from her all-girls school a few years prior and was now learning from home, being sort of a trouble, it seems. 

In all, she was different from the noble girls he knew and had met. He didn't like girls who sucked up to him just because they knew who his father was and wasn't all that interested in being married off for political reasons most girls bored him. She was loud, violent, rude, yet with a hint of sweetness and an interesting quality. He started to think that if she weren't his sworn enemy, maybe she would make a good mistress one day.

Her family's guardman was teaching her self-defense, and that's how the whole "Flipping" incident occurred. He walked through the gala in search of her.

 He checked the snack bar, as he had learned she rarely ate sweets and only indulged on special occasions, or when she went out. He had quibbled with his father about what she was even doing there on his birthday in the first place. She hadn't wanted to come that day in the first place, but after an incident at her manor, she was forced to attend. At the same time, repairs were made. He'd never met her before his tenth birthday because she was a sort of recluse who didn't take an interest in the life of a noble, so they never traditionally met each other. 

The more he learned about her, the more he got annoyed. How come a girl like that is a noble? He thought numerous times. Nobility was supposed to represent refinement, elegance, and grace, but Akirui was none of those things. In his eyes, she was more like a gorilla than a noble lady, 

Lost in these thoughts, Joshua mistakenly wandered into the garden 

"Crap i took the wrong turn," he mumbled to himself.

Indeed, it was a hot summer day, and the sun was beating down on him. 

 Bush, oddly shaped like that armless statue he'd practiced flipping, irritation got the better of him, "Stupid bush!" he let out his frustration on the stagnant pile of leaves.

 "Hey tubby what do you think your doing to my fathers Garden?" a voice came from behind him.

. There stood three boys, a little older than him, maybe fifteen or sixteen or so. The leader was the usual handsome, rich boy type. The other two were a lanky one and the other a bit on the beefier side. 

"Eh, ?" he was taken aback, but quickly stood his ground. "Hpmh, this bush looked so distasteful I had to cleanse it with my foot." he upturned his nose at the three boys. 

 "Whats with that attitude porky?" the leader of the rugrats said,

 "You better watch your tongue," Joshua placed a hand on his chest. " Do you not know who I am? Im-"

 "the Lord Protector's brat right?" the boys snickered "Everyone knows you, the boy who got his ass handed to him by that girl" 

Joshua's mind flashed back to that day, "Your mockery will be remembered, you horse-faced lower rank Noble." 

 "What was that?" he raised his eyebrow, his small entourage giggled. 

"Hey, shut up, don't laugh." Steam started to appear out of his ears, and he stomped towards him. Like a practiced move, he stepped inside his guard quickly, and his hand landed on his wrist, while his other hand grabbed his shoulder. With a twist of his body, he dropped low, turning his back, and with the momentum, he carried him forward and pulled, just like what was done to him, and flipped the older boy onto the dirt path with a thud. "Learned your lesson? You dumb, dumber, and dumbest don't know your right from your left." I'll be happy to oblige. 

Young Joushh's ego grew three times in that moment. 

He had done it, he'd used what he learned in a real situation, "You two wanna go to?" he smiled, What he didn't know however was what to do in an actual fight, esspiclly with two… no three opponents because the one he threw just landed on soft dirt and was already back up."I learned how to do this…" Joshua nervously began repeating the motions. "And this! And then that! That's all. In the end, all he learned was how to throw.

They kicked him while he was down. The young Joshua's eyes filled with manly tears

(Shit…shit… why did I only learn self-defense?) What the heck was the point of all this? 

Suddenly, he saw a blur of white fly over him.

CRUNCH"GRRK?"

THUD

"Boss man?!"

3

The ring leaders were suddenly faced with a bush after doing some flips, having been hit with a flying knee kick. 

"Hey, you bastards, what exactly do you think you're doing?" came a sharp female voice 

It was the same girl he'd been obsessing over for so long.. She wore the same mint green dress she had worn that day, accompanied by maroon sandals that resembled gladiator sandals. Akirui Nicco 

"What was that for you bitch? What kinda girl sneaks attacks someone like that?" the lanky one said, the heavier one was trying to pull the leader out of the bush.

"What kinda 'Man' gangs up on someone weaker than them?" She dusted off her dress

 " he started it with his bullshit!"

"It doesn't matter who did or didn't start it, only a coward preys on the weak."

 The boy clicked his tongue and snapped his fingers to motion his lackeys. The skinny boy lunged at her, but she side-stepped him and kicked him in the stomach and threw him into a pond nearby where the koi started to nibble on him.

"The other lackey who was more combat trained charged at her "Dam you, you little," she, like a feather in the wind, jumped in the air using his back as a spring. 

"Where the hell did she go?"

WHAM

She landed on the ring leader, pushing his face into the ground.

"AAHGG" 

The remaining boy—large, bulky, and muscular—cautiously approached, while her guard seemed to remain open. Without shifting her stance, she used her right foot to kick him right in the jaw, knocking him out on the spot.

 The young lord was in shock; this girl managed to take out the boys without too much effort.

She offered her hand, "Are you ok?"

He looked up and took it. 

"Saved by mortal sworn enemies, how humiliating." 

"Enemy?" she said with a tilt of her head. 

"I could've handled that myself". As he reluctantly took her hand, he felt the surprising combination of feminine softness and sword-hardened calluses. His heartbeat quickened slightly. 

"...Thank you, I suppose," he mumbled, averting his gaze shyly. "Though you may have slightly overdone it..."

She followed his gaze and looked back at the boys, who were in disarray 

Her face went pale

"Ah, I did it again! Why does this always happen?"

She rushed to the boys and shook them violently. 

"Are you ok? Please get up!"

She had knocked them halfway into next week, yet now she was profusely apologizing. What a strange girl—terrifying one moment, unbearably kind the next. It reminded Joshua oddly of his own family; his mother had always been strong and aggressive, frequently wrestling his father into submission. The Llewellyn bloodline was peculiar that way, preferring partners who were both powerful and compassionate.

Five minutes later," We, well, maybe next time you all talk things out, like well, just adults," she said

"Says the one who attacked unprompted," all of them mumbled.

"I said I was sorry…" She kicked the dirt at her feet 

Our dear Joshua's heart was racing; he'd never seen anyone move like her. It was beautiful, like a ballerina or a bird, the way she floated through the air. He had never seen such elegance before. On top of all that, she was different from all the other noble girls he had met. Maybe… maybe this whole thing, this ridiculous quest for revenge—perhaps it wasn't about getting back at her after all.

Perhaps it was about getting her to notice him.

Just when she was about to leave, Joshua appeared behind her, kneeling.

"Will you…Marry me?"

 "Huh?"

He took her hand, with the exaggerated grace of a noble. 

 "Did I say something strange? You're beautiful and a warrior, far stronger than I! The way you knock around others so easily is stimulating!" 

"..." A chill ran down her spine. 

"Um..can we go?" the ring leader asked, "Do what you want me and my fiance have much to discuss-"

WHACK!

"Ow!"

She drilled a fist into the top of his head 

"I didn't say yes, ya know!" 

"Our first lovers' spat isn't that wonderful, my dear!" 

He pulled her hand away

The three goons started to sneak away

"My father is the Lord Proctor. I'll give you a good life, we can laze around, give in to our lavish desires!" he clung to her waist, and with that, she flipped him again on his back.

This time, though, he rolled to his feet like a cat, thanks to his training with Cavil. 

"Oh, don't play so hard to get, sweety!" 

"Don't get full of yourself, you're not even my type!"

" Well…the." he gave a formal Noble bow, "Then I guess I better become the man that's worth your hand, then. "That's a promise of a lifetime," he said with his first genuine oath. 

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