In the Library
Charles stood at the head of the table, his eyes fixed on the test paper laid out in front of Walter. Lennox stood beside him, quiet but attentive.
Charles suddenly grabbed the paper off the table and read aloud, his voice rising with disbelief,
"Burn it down before someone else does. Only ashes know true peace?"
He turned sharply toward Walter, his brows furrowed in anger."Is this what you think? This is your idea of protecting the kingdom? You want to burn it down?! What kind of behavior is this?!"
Walter shrank slightly in his chair, but didn't speak.
Jonathan quickly stood up and stepped between them. "Uncle, please… calm down. Forgive him. He didn't mean it like that."
Charles exhaled sharply through his nose and pointed at Walter without taking his eyes off Jonathan."Then you teach him some of your manners, Jonathan. He clearly needs them."
Jonathan gave a firm nod. "I will."
Without another word, Charles turned and left the library, his footsteps echoing through the stone corridor.
Lennox let the silence linger for a moment before clapping his hands once. "Alright. Open your books."
They did as instructed, and he began the next lesson. The boys focused, the earlier tension still lingering in the air like smoke.
As the lesson came to a close, Lennox closed his own book and walked over to Walter's desk. With a glance to make sure Jonathan wasn't watching, he subtly slipped a folded paper into Walter's book.
Walter noticed. Their eyes met briefly, but Lennox said nothing. He simply smiled and said,"I'm heading out. See you tomorrow."And then, he was gone.
Jonathan stretched, closing his book with a yawn. "I'm going to take a bath," he said, turning to Walter.
Walter smiled. "Okay, you should go first. I've got something to do."
Jonathan narrowed his eyes. He reached out and tapped his finger lightly against Walter's forehead."Don't do anything dumb."
Walter smirked. "I won't."
Jonathan sighed but returned a faint smile. "Alright then," he said, heading for the bath.
As soon as Jonathan was out of sight, Walter opened his book… and slowly pulled out the folded paper Lennox had hidden inside.
Walter unfolded the paper and began to read silently:
Dear Walter,If you are truly interested in burning the kingdom… then join us.
His fingers trembled slightly, but then… a devilish smirk curled across his lips. He crumpled the note in his palm and thought to himself:
I made it. I knew it—Master Lennox isn't from our kingdom. If he's involved with them, then maybe… we walk the same path.
Just as he got lost in the thought, Bretum appeared at the library door.
"Lord Walter, why are you smiling like that?" Bretum asked, narrowing his eyes with suspicion.
Walter quickly snapped out of it, his expression returning to normal. "Oh—nothing! I was just wondering how I'm going to pass the exams," he replied with an innocent grin.
Bretum sighed. "Lord Walter, you should study hard to succeed. Daydreaming won't help."
He reached out and took Walter's hand gently. "Anyway, it's lunchtime. Let's go."
Walter nodded and followed. As the library door closed behind them, the crumpled paper stayed hidden in his pocket.
_
William sat quietly by the window, watching the knights train in the courtyard below. The clash of swords echoed through the air, but his mind was far away… imagining Julian's cute face.
He blushed instantly, his hand going to his cheek as he smiled shyly and shut his eyes.
"Are you getting shy?" came Alaric's voice teasingly behind him.
Startled, William turned. "No—I'm not!"
Alaric chuckled and tapped William lightly on the forehead. "You are shy. I saw it with both of my eyes."
William groaned, "Ugh, fine—I was a little shy."
Alaric sat beside him on the window ledge, his tone softening. "You know… I'm your uncle. Your father was my elder brother."
William blinked. "Wait, what?! Why didn't anyone tell me earlier?"
William looked thoughtful. "Hmm… so that's why Grandma Helena always took care of you… "
Alaric smiled, resting an arm on the window ledge. "Commander Helena is my mother. But she told me to call her by her name—because she's my commander first. She's a powerful knight, you know."
William blinked, then grinned. "Yeah… I can tell."
Just then, Helena entered the room, her boots soft against the wooden floor. "What are you two whispering about?" she asked with a raised brow.
Alaric chuckled. "I told him I'm his uncle."
Helena rolled her eyes with a smirk, pulled up a chair, and sat down beside them.
Helena leaned back in her chair, gave Alaric a look, and said, "You should marry a woman already and give me some grandsons."
Alaric nearly choked on air. "No way, Mother! I'm a knight—I want to be powerful, not married!"
Helena smiled... but it was that smile. The scary one.
In one swift motion, she grabbed him by the hair. "If you don't marry a woman soon, I'll personally drag one here and marry her to you myself!"
Alaric yelped. "M-Mother! No! Please! I don't want to!"
"I don't care," she snapped. "I want it!"
And just like that, she started dragging her grown, very scared knight-son out of the room by his hair.
On her way out, she looked at William and said calmly, "You should go to sword combat training."
William blinked. "O-okay, I will…"
The door slammed shut behind her.
William sighed. "She's really mad… Uncle's definitely getting cooked."