Chapter 34
The next morning, I tried to roll over in bed, but every muscle in my body protested. Pain pulled tight beneath my skin, refusing to let me move. I lay sprawled on my back, arms and legs spread wide, staring at the ceiling while trying to convince myself to get up.
This was yet another reason why I hated riding horses.
How terrible would it be if I called the maids to lift me out of bed...
...or maybe Lys... No, Isolde.
I shook my head, chasing away my own ridiculous fantasies.
"I truly have no words for you, sister." A man's voice came from somewhere beside my bed.
With considerable effort, I lifted my head. The moment Sando's familiar grin came into view, I somehow managed to wrench myself upright and stumble off the mattress. He burst into loud laughter as he watched me struggle, and only then did I realize why every inch of me hurt so badly.
I'd somehow fallen asleep in my riding clothes. And stayed in them all night.
"Aren't you going to hug me?" he asked, spreading his arms. Without bending my knees, I shuffled toward him like an old woman and wrapped my arms around him.
"Where have you been?" I muttered into his shoulder. "I was worried."
He hugged me tighter. "You know me."
"You left me here to survive on my own." I gave his chest a light punch.
"And I can clearly see how well you've been surviving without me." He pointed at my wrinkled riding clothes. I rolled my eyes and hit him again.
"I went riding with Lysande yesterday. We stayed at the stables for ages because he started talking to the stable hands about horses... and, well..." I rushed through the explanation. One of his eyebrows slowly lifted.
"You went riding..." He tilted his head. "...with Lysande." I pressed my lips together and shrugged. "Hm." That was all he said back.
"So," I asked, "I'm really happy to see you, but... what exactly are you doing in my room?" He rested a hand on my shoulder, and just like he used to when we were children, he suddenly shoved me backward. I landed flat on the bed.
"Damn you!" I groaned as he doubled over laughing. "You idiot." Every muscle in my body screamed in protest while he kept grinning like an idiot.
"Meera told me what happened with Faran yesterday." His smile softened. "I'm proud of you. Proud of what you said." He offered me a hand, and I accepted it, letting him pull me back onto my feet.
"So today," he continued, "it's just you and me. We're going into the city. A little trip for old times' sake." I steadied myself on the cold stone floor.
"But... what about Lys? How are we supposed to go alone?" I carefully avoided mentioning that we'd already been caught sneaking into the city once before.
He dismissed the concern with a wave of his hand as he headed for the door. ?Don't worry about that. I've already sent for your maids." He reached the doorway, glanced back over his shoulder, and wrinkled his nose. "And, sister... You smell like a horse."
He managed to slam the door shut just before the hairbrush I threw at him crashed against the wood.
"Good morning, Princess." Lys bowed before me while Sando stood beside him with his arms crossed, a grin already spreading across his face.
"Good morning, Lysande. I hope you slept well." As I spoke, Sando pulled me into a quick side hug.
Lys's gaze shifted between the two of us.
The corners of his eyes crinkled, and so did his nose.
I was certain he was remembering the days when he had embraced his own siblings the same way.
As though we had shared the very same thought, he lowered his gaze to the floor, though the warmth never left his expression.
His eyes still carried that familiar gentleness that always seemed to live within him.
"After yesterday's gift, Princess..." he said with a small smile. "...I slept like a babe." Then he looked toward Sando. "My prince, I pray you are well too." Being the kind of prince and man that he was, Sand looked between the two of us before giving Lysande a friendly pat on the shoulder.
"Thank you, Ser. I hope my sister isn't giving you too much trouble. She's always been a little... spirited." I felt warmth creep into my cheeks.
"Brother..." I shot him a warning glance, but his grin only widened.
Lys adjusted the sword at his belt before answering with nothing but complete sincerity in his voice.
"My prince, it is truly an honor to serve your sister. Serving the Princess is a privilege beyond measure. And had I been given the choice..." His eyes met mine for only a heartbeat. "...I could not have chosen a better path. Nor a better princess." My heart fluttered.
Sando nodded with obvious satisfaction before smiling.
He nudged Lysande a few times with his shoulder to move him forward, then tilted his head toward me.
"We're heading into the city. Meera told me you haven't been there in quite a while."
The worst part was... she hadn't been wrong.
Something I used to do almost every week had somehow become something I'd nearly forgotten.
"We're going... dressed like this?" I asked, lifting the edge of my expensive gown.
Sando clicked his tongue.
As we turned into another corridor, a servant stood waiting with three long traveling cloaks. He handed one to Lys as well. Lys accepted it silently, tucked it beneath his arm, and continued after us.
We made our way toward one of the smaller servants' exits, pulling the cloaks over our clothes as we walked.
Sando reached into his pocket, pulled out a small leather pouch, and tossed it toward Lys.
Without effort, Lys caught it. Before he even had the chance to ask what it was, Sando answered.
"It's for you, Ser. I'd like you to enjoy your day in peace. I imagine you've been longing for a little time to yourself. My sister and I are going for a walk, just like we always used to."
That was the last thing I'd expected.
My brows drew together as I looked at him in confusion. "But he has to come with us. Those are the rules." My brother pushed open the small wooden door, and bright sunlight immediately flooded over us.
I lifted an elbow to shield my eyes until they adjusted to the light. A second later, the unpleasant smells drifting from the rear of the castle hit me full in the face.
Sando snorted. "Do you really think anyone follows the rules that strictly?" He looked at me expectantly. I simply spread my hands and nodded.
"My prince," Lys said quietly behind us, sounding genuinely conflicted, "my duty is to remain with the Princess." Duty or the future king, he had no idea who to listen to. Sando turned around and began walking backward in front of us. He shook his hair loose before pulling up his hood.
"Do the two of you honestly believe anyone follows that rule all the time? Or any rule at that? The brothels are full of married men, and we all know exactly how frowned upon that is."
He waved dismissively. A second later, he nearly walked straight into a goose.
The bird honked furiously before waddling away, while he turned around and continued walking as though nothing had happened.
He slowed enough for Lys to catch up before speaking again.
"Do you really think our sister drags that old Ser around until nightfall every single day?"
"He spends most of his time at the tavern. When appearances matter, he simply returns to her door in full armor. And every one of them does it."
He kicked a pebble down the road. "Well....everyone except Meera and Corian."
His hands slipped into his pockets before he leaned closer to me, lowering his voice into a conspiratorial mutter.
"Those two are practically glued together."
There wasn't enough room left in my mind to process yet another surprise.
Instead, I looked toward Lys.
He still held the leather pouch in his hand, clearly uncertain what he was supposed to do with it. "It's alright, Lysande. I trust my brother, and he'll keep me safe. Go enjoy the city. And... maybe take a little rest for once." I shrugged.
"If that is your wish, Princess." He said gently.
We had already left the castle grounds and were walking along the worn old road I'd traveled hundreds of times on my way into the city.
"Ser Lysande," Sando called, "once we reach the city, we'll split up. You'll see a shrine once we get there. We'll meet there again in the evening."
Lys nodded. "Yes, my prince."
Since we still had about ten minutes before reaching the city, the two of them drifted into a conversation about tournaments and old battles. My own thoughts wandered elsewhere.
My cheeks had only just begun warming again as memories of yesterday, and those quiet moments with Lys returned to me.
Then my stomach suddenly sank.
I clenched my jaw and forced myself to keep listening. "And there are a few excellent taverns near the shrine," Sand continued. "Those kinds of taverns too, if that's more your taste. And if you head east, you'll reach the harbor—" I stopped listening.
A dull ache settled in the center of my chest, like a fist striking straight through me. I bit the inside of my cheek but said nothing. As always, Lys was the one who unknowingly eased every fear I'd tried so hard to hide.
"Thank you for the suggestions, my prince," he replied. "But I think I'll head for the harbor. I've always been fond of the sea. There are markets there, and plenty of places to eat too. I hope you and the Princess enjoy your day." Sando clapped him on the back.
Yet something inside my heart stirred.
Perhaps he could have lied. But something deep inside me knew he hadn't.
Finally, a few minutes later, we reached the shrine. Lys headed east toward the harbor while I stood there watching him disappear into the crowd. I followed his broad figure with my eyes until I could no longer see him among the countless people filling the streets.
"Come on, Isolde," Sando said, looking at me with an unusual expression. It wasn't accusing, nor was it mocking. It was simply soft.
He draped an arm around my shoulders, and we continued walking together.
"So," he asked after a moment, "are you finally enjoying having your knight? Have you gotten used to him?" I shrugged.
"Honestly, Brother, it really isn't as bad as I thought it would be. It was a little strange at first, but... it isn't anymore." I answered while absentmindedly looking over the market stalls around us.
"I'm glad to hear that. You know I would've done anything if you truly hadn't liked him." There wasn't a trace of teasing in his voice. He meant every word.
"No," I replied honestly. "Lysande really is a good man."
"Lysande, huh?" he asked with a grin. "Not Ser Lysande?" I rolled my eyes.
"Meera told me to find a friend in my knight, and that's exactly what I did. I don't see what the problem is." He chuckled before pulling me into another brief hug.
He kissed the top of my head and then let me go. "I never said it was a problem. I'm happy it turned out that way. He seems like a good person."
"He is," I interrupted before he could continue.
He studied my face carefully, as though searching for something hidden there. Then, the moment our eyes met, it seemed he had found exactly what he was looking for.
"It truly warms my heart to hear that, Sister," he said quietly.
He stopped to hand a coin to an elderly woman sitting beside the road.
As he bent down, something slipped out from beneath his shirt.
It was the necklace I had seen him wearing countless times before.
A simple leather cord made from cheap material, with a large bead hanging from it, painted with a black symbol I had never managed to see clearly.
Yet no matter where he went, he always wore it.
I gave the old woman a coin as well, and once we had walked a little farther, I finally asked,
"What is that necklace, Brother? You wear it every day now. You used to change them all the time."
He glanced down at it for only a moment before tucking it back beneath his shirt.
"Can't someone's taste change?" he asked casually. "Maybe I simply like wearing the same one now." I tilted my head. I knew perfectly well he was avoiding the question. "Besides," he continued, pointing toward my wrist, "you wear that bracelet every single day too."
A smile spread across my face.
"Yes, but you gave me this bracelet, Brother. That's why I never take it off. The real question is... who gave you that necklace?"
For a brief moment, I saw the exact same thing in his eyes that he had noticed in mine only moments earlier. He didn't answer. He didn't have to.
One thing has always been clear between us. Whatever secrets we discovered about one another... we would never reveal them to anyone else.
"You're clever, Sister," he said with a shake of his head. "I have to admit that." Then a grin appeared on his face. "A dangerous player."
Before I could answer, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me toward one of the food stalls.
We spent the entire day together laughing, eating, wandering through the streets, and making fools of ourselves just as we always had.
Yet neither of us mentioned what we had quietly realized about the other.
We let the moment drift away and allowed some secrets to remain exactly what they were meant to be.
By the time night finally fell, we found Lysande waiting for us beside the shrine. He stood there with a relaxed yet satisfied expression, and when he noticed us approaching, he gave us a discreet bow before joining us.
"Princess, I hope you enjoyed your day."
He was the first to speak, which caught me by surprise.
"I did, Lysande, but my feet are sore from all the walking, especially after yesterday."
He laughed softly.
"And where did you go? How was your day?" I asked, though one small part of me still feared hearing the answer I didn't want.
"Ah, just as I said, I went down to the harbor. I bought a few small things, and in the end I found a lovely little inn where I had something to eat." He turned his head toward Sando. "Oh, my prince... I never properly thanked you for the money. Thank you."
Sando simply waved a hand dismissively.
I smiled and began telling Lys everything we had seen throughout the day. He listened with complete attention, smiling every now and then while I excitedly described each little thing we had done.
And so the three of us returned to the castle together.
We were tired, ready for a good night's sleep, yet we spent the entire walk back talking without pause. Sando only occasionally nodded at something I said, never really joining the conversation.
Instead, he smiled to himself and quietly watched the two of us.