Till Death Do Us Part

9. The Great Birthday Feast

It was already late evening, and a whole mansion seemed asleep. Gawyn was still working in his office, going through a massive pile of military reports from all parts of Lamyria. With over half-day wasted on a migraine, it would take some long night hours to catch up with everything.

Someone knocked at the door lightly.

"Come in," Gawyn said, not taking his eyes from the parchment in his hand.

Zachariah walked in with a tray. "You are working late today, my lord. I brought you fresh tea."

"Thank you." The General put down the report. He took off his glasses, closed his eyes, and massaged the bridge of his nose. "Gods know I could use a break."

"Maybe you should retire for the day, my lord?" the servant asked, pouring steaming tea with efficient and elegant movements.

"I've wasted enough time sleeping already today." Gawyn took a beautiful, delicate teacup, inhaling the aroma.

"On the side note," Zachariah said, standing just a few feet away with his hands behind his back. "Lady Skylar seems to be settling in well."

Gawyn scoffed. "You mean when she's running around in my clothes or storming out in the middle of her tutoring sessions?"

"Well, at least the mansion seems livelier with her."

The General raised a brow. "You've taken a liking to her already?"

"Let's say she reminds me a lot of you when you were younger, my lord."

"She does not."

"Yes, she does. She is bold, easily annoyed with pointless nobility customs, and very dedicated to keeping her body in shape."

"You mean fencing. The problem is Skylar is a woman, so she shouldn't be doing it."

"That's just something the society forced on us," Zachariah said with a shrug. "In my humble opinion, it brings her no dishonour."

"Yeah, but unfortunately, it's not your opinion that matters." The General sighed. "But I've already learnt that forcing her to stop is futile. She's as stubborn as an ox."

"I could point out a few examples where you were just as stubborn, my lord."

"Please, don't," Gawyn replied, sipping his tea.

"But even against all those odds, you two seem to be getting on well," Zachariah said. "I don't think there was an awkward silence during today's dinner. Which I believe was the first meal you ate together here."

The General scratched his head in thought. "Yes, I think you are right. Sometimes, when I talk to her, I forget that she is a woman because she keeps talking about military topics. And I must admit, she is quite knowledgeable in this area."

"Isn't it a good thing then? Isn't she exactly someone in whose company you would like to spend your life, my lord?"

Gawyn sighed again. "The problem is, we all have a role to play in our society for Lamyria to prosper. And she is not very good in hers, which will make things difficult for me too."

"Still, I'm impressed with how you are handling this situation, my lord," Zachariah said with a small smile.

The General raised his brows. "Meaning?"

"You provided her with her quarters and space. And quite a lot of freedom. I must say, you don't often treat other people with so much empathy."

Gawyn put down his teacup and looked at his servant with a frown. "You haven't been at the wedding."