Alaric slowly opened his eyes, lying weakly on the bed. William was sitting beside him, and the moment William saw Alaric awake, he quickly called for the knights. The knights rushed in, and one of them asked gently, "Alaric, how are you feeling?"
Alaric tried to sit up, breathing heavily. His body was covered with dark bruises and hickeys, his face pale, and dark circles shadowed his eyes."I'm fine," he whispered, though everyone could see he was not.
The knights exchanged worried glances. They all knew what had happened, and their hearts ached for him. Behind them stood Eira, her back turned to the room, unable to face Alaric out of shame and sadness . Alaric noticed her and quickly turned his face toward William, tears welling up.
"I'm sorry... I couldn't save Helena," Alaric said, voice breaking, panic and guilt flooding him. The knights bowed their heads, trying to hold back their own tears. Helena had been like a mother to them all.
William, holding back his emotions, said, "Commander Helena gave me a box a week ago. She told me… if something happened to her, I should open it."
Alaric's eyes widened slightly."She gave you one, too?"
He quickly ordered one of the knights to bring the box from the closet, and William left to fetch his own. Soon, the two boxes were placed side by side on the table. Carefully, William opened his, and the knights opened the other.
Inside were files, letters, and symbolic items — crest-shaped pendants, rings, emblems — all matching the blue theme of their knight uniforms. Among the items was a folded letter. William and the knights unfolded theirs and began to read.
One of the knights, voice trembling, read aloud:
Dear Alaric,
You will be the next commander. Take care of the knights, and make sure to raise future knights strong and proud. Also... Eira likes you.I always wished to see you two together. If I'm no longer here, please marry and be happy. As for William, he can return to his father's house. If he chooses not to, I have bought a mansion for him where he can live freely. And for my knights, there are boxes under your beds. The things inside are my gifts to you all. Take care of yourselves. Goodbye.
— Commander Helena
The knight reading the letter couldn't hold back his tears. All of them began to cry openly, their hearts heavy with grief.
Alaric wiped his eyes and turned to William."What did she write to you?" he asked quietly.
William replied, "The same as yours," and quickly folded his letter and slipped it into his pocket.
Alaric noticed how carefully William had hid the letter, and a small thought whispered in his mind:Maybe Commander Helena wrote something special only for him.But for now, he said nothing.
_
Walter and Jonathan were laughing as they ran through the lush garden, playing their usual game of hide-and-seek. Bretum stood by the edge of the garden, keeping a watchful eye on them as they played. Walter had just finished counting to twenty and was now searching for Jonathan.
Jonathan dashed off, trying to find the perfect hiding spot. He spotted a large oak tree and quickly crouched behind it. As he hid, something caught his eye—a single white carnation lying at the base of the tree. It reminded him of a time not long ago when William had given him a similar flower. The memory of William's gentle kiss flashed in Jonathan's mind, and suddenly, his heart raced.
Without warning, panic gripped him. His chest tightened, and he stumbled backward. The world around him seemed to spin. Jonathan dropped to his knees, his vision blurry and his breath shallow.
Bretum, who had been watching from afar, rushed over in an instant. He grabbed Jonathan by the shoulders, helping him steady himself. "Jonathan, breathe slowly. It's okay," Bretum said softly, guiding him back toward the house.
Jonathan tried to speak, but only a few words escaped his trembling lips. "Don't… stop… don't do that…"
Bretum didn't question it. He carefully lifted Jonathan into his arms and carried him to the nearest guest room. Once inside, he laid Jonathan gently on the bed, his body drenched in sweat from the panic attack. Bretum pressed a cool cloth to his forehead, trying to soothe him, but Jonathan's breathing was still ragged.
"Lord Walter," Bretum called weakly, his voice laced with concern. "Take him to his room and stay with him."
Walter, who had been sitting nearby, immediately rushed over to Jonathan's side. He grabbed Jonathan's hand, his heart heavy with worry. He stayed with him until Jonathan's breathing began to slow, though the faint tremors in his hands didn't completely go away.
When Walter stepped into the hallway, a sudden thought struck him. He needed to speak to his father. Maybe Charles knew what to do. Walter hurried down the corridor toward his father's office, knocking on the door. When there was no answer, he opened it carefully and stepped inside.
The office was quiet, and his father wasn't there. Walter's gaze shifted to the wardrobe by the fireplace. He remembered finding William's secret collection of photos there once before. Curiosity piqued, Walter walked over and opened the wardrobe.
There, behind the hanging cloaks, were several framed pictures. Walter picked up the first one. It was a photo of Charles and Edward, their arms around each other, both grinning in what looked like a private moment. Walter's heart skipped a beat.
He reached for another picture, his fingers trembling. This time, it was a photo of Charles and Edward kissing—something so intimate, so personal, that Walter felt his stomach twist in disbelief. His mind raced. What was going on between them? Why hadn't anyone told him?
He quickly put the photos down and rushed out of the office, his thoughts spiraling. He returned to Jonathan's room in a daze, his breath short and his mind spinning with questions.
He found Bretum there, still watching over Jonathan. Walter collapsed onto the bed beside him, clutching his chest as if trying to hold himself together. He looked at Bretum with wide eyes. "What… what did I just see?"
Bretum didn't answer immediately. He just looked at Walter, understanding the confusion and shock that had taken over him. The room felt heavier now, the sunlight outside not nearly as comforting as it had been earlier. Walter's world had shifted, and he wasn't sure how to make sense of it all.