>>5440950>“Fine. I don’t imagine Roxanne will complain too much about a little extra work. I’ll take Damian with me too. I expect tons of complaining from him, but at least it should make for an entertaining walk.”“Take Sebastian as well. He’ll be offended if you don’t. I think that man likes to fancy himself a bit as your personal shield.” Corrine says.
>“Well, he did come through for me during the last battle. He put himself in harm’s way to protect me from Ivan’s attack, at great risk to himself.”Corrine whistles. “A dashing knight coming to his maiden’s rescue. If you ask me, he seems like a far better catch than Ashe. He’s taller, stronger, and perhaps most importantly, he’s on our side.”
>“What kind of Commander would I be if I started dating subordinates?” You brush passed Corrine and exit your command tent. Despite her teasing, you believe she means well. You haven’t seen Ashe in over five years. If you did somehow manage to run into each other again, there’s a fair chance it would be as enemies, fighting on different sides. Perhaps your friend was hoping you’d fall for another or move on before that day came. Commanding a mercenary company was one thing but matters of the heart were another. Where’s one to find time for love when an ancient underground race of villains are slithering in the dark, hoping to enslave humanity? Surely romance should come as a second priority.You group up with your personal guard, and begin making your way to Derdriu’s keep, where Claude awaits. Night has already fallen, and the streets are beginning to clear out, but you don’t imagine you’ll have any difficulty meeting with your employer. You aren’t sure if Claude sleeps at all. The Alliance Leader seems to be up all day and night, weaving his intricate schemes and plans all with the intent of keeping the Alliance together. Given that he’s up against the likes of Edelgard and Hubert, any less would certainly spell disaster.
“Why me?” Damian whines in the middle of your walk. “After all that nastiness back at Edmund, that you’d seek to give me even MORE work to do confounds me.”
>“I thought you’d enjoy a chance to rub elbows with the most powerful noble in Leicester.”The mage scoffs, his face darkening. “I am no longer a noble. That viper Hubert saw as much to that when he executed my father and stole our wealth. Oh, how I’d love to get my hands on that cretin.”
Roxanne laughs. “Cheer up, sourpuss. I’m not a noble anymore either. Sure, it’s tough to deal with at first, but you quickly get used to it. No more stuffy rules or protocol to follow. No more dreadful banquets where you’re paraded out in front of suitors, each of them eyeing you like a piece of meat.”
