"Hmm I'll buy into this trick only cause I'm curious and you asked. But I will let you know that it is very improper to be discussing a lady's age." he replied.
"And it is improper for a lady to be trained in the ways of combat. So that cannot be applied to me." I replied knowing that I was right.
"Touche madam. I think you are...Hmm...…Eighteen…No nineteen." he replied looking smug.
"Wrong." I replied.
"WHAT? Come on? You cannot be younger. Are you?" he questioned with a look of unease.
"I am twenty-one." I replied to which I received a gasp of surprise from him.
"I did not expect that. When is your birthday? I do not remember a celebration for it." he asked.
I smiled a bitter sweet smile as I replied,"That is because we didn't. My birthday was yesterday. Everyone forgot about it except Jake. The baby coming was more important."
"I'm sorry." he replied sounding sad.
"It's fine. Jake and I celebrated it with cake and a few rounds of fighting. I liked it." I replied trying to reassure him.
"Ok. I guess that is all that matters; that you had fun. By the way, just between you and me, I am twenty-four." he replied which made me laugh at him being fair in telling me his age as I told him mine.
The rest of the ride back to the castle was quiet. When we arrived, he lead me to where Maya was supposed to be. We found her speaking with the cooks. My favorite cook seen me and instantly turned to get me a piece of my birthday cake. I thanked her then turned towards Jasper and Maya. I caught a bit of their conversation as I was waiting for my cake. Apparently she already had the security detail and just sent me on a fools errand to get me away from the castle so I didn't get in the way. Hearing that, I stormed off from the kitchen. I heard Maya apologizing to Jasper as I left. I also heard my favorite cook telling them about my piece of cake that she got me. After that I started running which was made easier by the fact that I wasn't wearing a dress.
I had tears running down my face as I ran past my mother, Catherien, and Chloe. I could hear my mother shouting at me to get myself pulled back together and that I better be at the festival tonight. I could also hear Chloe's remark about how much of a disgrace I was and the other two woman agreeing. That just made me run faster. I paid no mind to the stares I was getting as I ran through the castle and out to the lake house that I renovated into a private quarters for me and Jake.
My family didn't know about it which made it even more precious to me. They didn't dare to come out this far into the woods. The only people who knew about it were the ones who helped me rebuild it, the one maid who I hire from the village to clean it so my mother doesn't find out, my favorite cook since she brings me food out here all the time, and Jake.
I sat down on the front of the deck where a ship would be able to dock at away from the weather and watched the water flow beneath my feet. The house was built around this feature. Tall glass doors open at the front of the house to allow the ship to enter but were closed right now because there was no ship coming or leaving. The huge empty space where a small ship with two masts would fit made the house feel every empty. I took off my coat since it was very warm in the house. I got up and walked to a door that lead to the outside piers. There I unfolded the collapsible deck that was used for opening the glass doors that swung out, so it was a rather large deck.
The same design was used on the inside to cover the water during the winter or for whenever I wanted more movable space in the house. It cause the whole bottom floor to gain another living room. So that is what I set out to do today.