LANIUS VERMILLION'S POV:
The booming laughter from the two crimson haired men rattled the goblets on their table as they told their tales of the morning hunt. Lanius wanted to inquire about their methods, but he'd rather not, for he knew well enough there would be more boasting and cackling from the two.
He asked anyway, after a drink of red wine from his goblet. Cedrick recalled wrestling with a great elk. With just his bare fists, he slew the massive beast in a single punch to the head which broke its skull and shattered its antlers. His son, Sir Elric, threw his spear a hundred meters away and found its mark on a great elk's gut.
Across their table, Maximillian is ever quiet on his seat, taking small bites of his venison and pouring wine to his empty goblet. Lanius looked at the pale man over the rim of his goblet. For someone so sickly and frail, he had the spine to arrange this meeting and suggest a betrothal… Lanius thought.
Maximillian is said to have been born with a condition which made his body too frail to even walk straight; his skin deathly pale. He would often take various medicinal herbs and vials of healing potions every single day just to sustain him. It was a miracle for him to have sired a daughter, but any more attempts to sire boys have all been a failure. A predicament. The Redford line is at risk.
A lady in a blue colored dress entered the room. Her chestnut hair flowed with fine grace, and she wore a floral headband with white lilies that complemented her dress. She looked towards Lanius with her hazel eyes.
"Good morning, Lord Lanius," She bowed to him and smiled. "It is a great honor to have your presence in our hearth."
Lanius answered with a quiet mhm, followed by a nod.
"The pleasure is mine as well, Lady Lilia." Lanius said.
Lilia took her seat beside her sickly husband.
"Where are Ivan and Agnes?" She asked Maximillian.
"They'll be here at any moment now." Maxiamillian replied. "Agnes went for a stroll in the city in which Ivan took it upon himself to find her. With a guardian, of course."
By Lanius's estimate, it had been an hour since Ivan and Damian left the manor, with Sir Robin as their guardian. They're taking too long… Lanius thought.
…
A loud piercing roar echoed outside the doors, followed by rapid thundering steps. Lanius turned his eyes towards the doors, waiting for the source of the grating voice to come out.
The crimson haired girl rushed to the dining hall and slammed her fists onto the table. She is covered in sweat, her breathing labored. Those amber eyes stared piercingly towards Maximillian.
"What is the meaning of this, father?!"
"Agnes!" Lilia said. "Calm yourself this instant! We're in the presence of–"
"You're sending uncle Elric away?!" Agnes yelled at her father. "How could you do that?! I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!"
"Agnes, sweetling," Maximillian responded with composure."Your uncle will serve Lord Lanius, son of our great Duke Ericus. It will be a great honor for your uncle to offer his sword to the heir of Aisdel."
"You wanted to send him away because I favor him more than you… isn't it?" Agnes said, her voice brittled and her eyes began to glisten. "Because he is everything you are not!"
"Agnes!" Lilia shut her daughter. "Dont speak to your father like that!" She sprang out of her seat to pull her daughter off, but Maximillian's thin, pale hand grabbed his wife's wrist to hold her back.
The pale man took the blow of his daughter's outburst, unblinking. Though his eyes looked like it's about to burst into tears, yet it seemed he's doing a great job at hiding them.
Agnes faced the cold stone floor to hide the tears that were swelling down.
Another wave of footsteps echoed outside the dining room. Ivan caught up to Agnes, behind him is Benneth. Sir Robin came in next, full of cold sweat in his face, and with Damian in his arms he set him down. They catched their breaths first, before entering.
When Ivan heard Agnes whimpering, he approached her slowly. He hesitantly puts his hand on her back, and gently strokes it.
"Hey…I don't need your pity…" Agnes muttered, though she made no attempt to swat Ivan's hand off of her.
With a heavy, long sigh, Cedrick finally rose to his seat and walked towards Agnes to comfort her. She lifted her up, covering her in a warm embrace and stroked her head.
"Don't worry, young pup, grandpa won't leave your side." Cedrick grinned. "Your uncle only wanted to prove the strength and might of our bloodline, by serving the future Duke of Aisdel, and Sentinel of the North."
Agnes glanced at her grandpa, then to her uncle. It is apparent she will only listen to the people she favored the most, which are those strong in her eyes(her mother is strong too, in a different manner). The girl opened her mouth, and with hesitation, she decided to tell everyone in this room what she truly wants.
"If he must go, then I have a demand..." Agnes said. "Everytime I watch uncle Elric train in sword fighting and aura concentration, I feel the fire burning inside me. I know this may sound strange to many of you, but to tell you the truth…"
"I've always wanted to be a sword master!" Agnes declared. "And…I was upset that he won't be able to train me after my home study ends, if he's away from our manor." She fidgeted with her fingers. "You promised me, uncle!"
The room fell silent, even Sir Elric's face turned serious. Lilia wanted to object against her daughter's decision so terribly, but held herself back to wait for others to judge. After a moment, the crimson haired man carrying her with strong, muscled arms utters his word.
"If that is the case…" Cedrick looked at her, "Why haven't you told me earlier?!" And his booming laughter followed.
"I-I thought mother and father wouldn't agree, because I'm a girl–"
"Nonsense!" Cedrick blurted. "Anyone can pick a sword and hone their skills with it. Doesn't matter if you're a boy or a girl."
The crimson haired lord waved his hand, followed by a booming voice that could be heard outside the dining room.
"Listen, my granddaughter demands to be trained in swords!" Cedrick declared, his head now turning to face Agnes. "I shall grant your request from tomorrow and onwards. Sir Roger and I will turn you into a strong warrior as Redfords should be!"
Agnes's eyes lit up, her fiery spirit returning once again. Lilia, however, was still reluctant to agree. Maximillian gazed at his daughter. His face was glum and dejected. He had been wearing a mask of a fox just moments ago, but seeing how his daughter thinks of him, the man felt weaker than he already is.
"She's only nine, my lord. Can't my sweet girl wait until she turns sixteen, until her body is more developed?" Lilia said to Lord Cedrick. In truth, she wanted to teach Agnes more how to become a proper lady, but her blood runs thick.
The Redford bloodline had some of the strongest warriors in the North and had ruled Melvor as their own independent kingdom before becoming the Lynerian Empire's territory. They served with utmost respect and fierce loyalty to Duke Ericus Vermillion ever since he conquered the warring territories of the North more than six hundred years ago. It is now the Duke's heir to return the favor.
"Ivan is seven, and he is soon to be trained in swordsmanship and aura concentration." Lanius said and stood from his seat. "The girl will endure her training."
Lilia did not object to the lord's assertion any further.
Lanius walked towards the empty space near Cedrick, his fur cloak swaying as he turned. "Sir Elric," He called the knight out. "Come forth, and swear your allegiance to me."
Sir Elric's ears perked up and wasted no time to stand from his seat. The armor clanking as he takes his steps towards Lanius, his beaming smile is bright as sunshine.
…
Everyone in the room fell silent. Agnes, now standing beside lord Cedrick, clutches the hem of his furs, waiting for the pledge of allegiance to commence.
The crimson haired knight knelt down in front of Lanius. He began to utter the words, his face turned from cheerful to solemn."I, Sir Elric of House Redford, offer my sword and shield to Lord Lanius Vermillion. I shall protect the members of his household from harm with my life in times of need. I will obey my lord's commands, take his advice, and keep his secrets. I swear by the Lord of Dawn, and the Almighty."
Lanius began to say his words for his sworn knight. "Sir Elric of House Redford, I swear that you shall have a place in my household, food on my table, and fire from my hearth." Lanius gazed at the knight's amber eyes, the fire inside the young man was strong. "Arise, Sir Elric."
Sir Elric rose and faced his lord. Many thoughts ran through Lanius's head. Will the knight serve him dutifully? Will he be a great knight? Or will he remember his vows? He is just sixteen, afterall. Young, proud, and possibly as boisterous as his lord father.
When Sir Robin came into his service at seventeen years old, he could tell from the very beginning the young knight would serve him well. Soft-spoken, diligent, and always on standby whenever he needed him. He even adopted his stoic nature. But for Sir Elric? He was a wildfire, and he could only hope he could direct this fire.
The young knight turned to face Agnes and grinned. He walked towards her and knelt on one knee. "Agnes, I promise that I will frequently be sending you letters of my time at Lord Lanius's household." Sir Elric said, placing a hand on his niece's shoulder. "But always remember to respect your father while I'm gone. He is stronger than you think."
The girl agreed and nodded with noticeable reluctance. Sir Elric ruffles her hair, in which Agnes pounced at him to a hug. Her arms wrapped around him and so did the knight..
"I'll miss you, uncle…" Said Agnes, her chin slumping on Sir Elric's shoulder.
"You will grow into a great warrior, someday." Said Sir Elric, his hand gently patting her back. "I'm sure of it."
After a moment of shared closeness between uncle and niece, the two finally separated. Agnes returned to her grandfather's side. Lord Cedrick rested his hand on her shoulder, his face turned to Lanius. Sir Elric's pledge of service to Lanius meant the formal betrothal will follow.
Ivan is now betrothed to Agnes. He will marry her once he turns sixteen, as agreed upon by both lords. Having secured the betrothal, a smirk graced Maximillian's lips.
Lord Cedrick's boisterous laugh rang across the room, slapping his chest and throwing his head forward. The Redford's support towards the Vermillions are strong as ever. He strides toward Lanius, calling a servant to give them their goblets and fill them with fine red wine. The crimson haired lord began to blabber about the future of their alliance, the Melvorian mines supplying the capital of Aisdel the mana crystals for research, and bringing these developments towards the remote areas of their region.
The blabbering of the lord next to him soon turned into white noise, as his mind drifted into his thoughts.
Am I doing it right? Lanius asked himself. I've been away in Aisdel for more than sixty years, going from many places to the eastern continent and becoming an adventurer. I raid dungeons, slay vicious monsters, all to prove my worth in battle.
He remembered the days of his childhood, his older brother, Julius, practicing sword fighting at the training yard of castle Emberhall. To him, Julius had all the qualities of an ideal leader: honorable, just, compassionate, and wise. As heir of their father, Duke Ericus, he had been taught more about the political maneuverings in the Empire.
Had he been here, would he know, at first glance, which are his enemies and which are allies? Lanius mused, glancing at Maximillian on the table. His eyes, his smirk, he gives me an impression of a man with so much ambition, a man who is in control and plans ahead. A frail man like him would desire power above all, viewing people as mere tools for his master plan…
Lord Cedrick's heir has no sons, only a daughter as his firstborn, and he is so sickly that he hadn't made attempts to sire more children, much more a male heir. His brother had no interest in becoming the head of the family, preferring to serve as a sworn knight. People of Melvor wouldn't view Maximillian the way they view his father; a man of martial prowess and might.
When their eyes met, Maximilian offered a toast with a graceful smile. Lanius did the same, but was reluctant for a moment. Trust. He wanted his suspicion towards Maximillian to be untrue, and that he is worthy of his trust as an ally rather than an ambitious foe. He eventually brushes off his judgement of the man, but still can't help being cautious.
Across the room, his boys were chatting with Agnes. The girl slowly approaches Damian and talks to him.
"Uhm, Damian," Agnes looked contemplative for a moment, but soon puffed her chest and crossed her arms. "My behavior towards you earlier at the market was very rude. I didn't realize it was the son of Lord Lanius I was raising my voice to." Bowing her head, she apologized. "I'm sorry for my rudeness, Damian Vermillion!"
"Mhm, it wasn't so bad." Said Damian. "It's just the natural response of someone with your temperament, besides, my eyes were all over the place and didn't notice you were there."
He raised his index finger with his right hand. "Just stop raising your voice too loudly, and try not to be entitled. Even if someone wasn't highborn, you should treat everyone, no matter their status or circumstance, with respect and dignity."
The boy was right. Still, Agnes took his lecture begrudgingly. "Hmph… I'll try…"
"Hey," Ivan called out to her. "Thank you again for choosing this tunic for me, I really like it. I'll keep wearing it everyday." said Ivan, and graced her with a smile.
"Naturally," Agnes's lips widened to a smug grin. "For a boy of noble birth, you should dress as such."
"I still can't believe we just met moments ago, and now we're engaged." Said Ivan, who let out a lighthearted chuckle.
"Hmm, I did anticipate this though, father has been telling me he'll soon find me a match, but never would I have guessed it to be a Vermillion."
I thought the same thing. Lanius mused.
…
With only an hour until sundown, it was time to go home. Lanius took the reins of his steed and mounted it. Sir Elric, now mounted on the steed Lanius brought for him, nodded one last time to Agnes, and to the rest of the Redfords. It was time to go home. With no time to waste, the group left the manor and the city of Kolberg before darkness covered their trail.
The sunset was a faint blazing fire with purple, pink and blue hue spanning the horizon underneath the vast white field of snow. They were only halfway towards the estate. Lanius took a long glance at Damian. He was strangely quiet during the whole arrangement. Keen mind. Perceptive. It was clear as day, the boy knew what was going on.
You've learned a lot." Said Lanius towards Damian, who was mounted at the back of Sir Robin's steed.
"I did, father." Said Damian.
"And you were far more observant than I realized. When the time comes that you and Ivan are men grown, you must be his counsel. Always stand by his side, and help your brother with the squabbling in the court."
"I'm the second son, and I won't be able to be the head of our House for a very long time. Why are you telling me this?"
"Because diplomacy…" Lanius let his words hang in the chill of the air. "Diplomacy is a treacherous game played by sweet words and sharp daggers. You will never truly know who will stab your back in the end."