Page 67 of Quest for her Knights
Elora
The next morning, when I join the lords for breakfast, I feel a little more relaxed than the day before. They all seem happy to see me, and it makes me feel welcome. This is the longest we’ve stayed at any of the places we’ve visited so far, which probably helps ease my worry.
Last night, Arrow and Blaze had snuck into my bed to snuggle with me as we slept. I know Ranger is aware of our nightly cuddles since we usually do it out in the open, around a campfire, and I can’t help but find it strange that he doesn’t seem to have a problem with that, yet when a lord, who is supposed to be courting me, touches my knee, he gets angry.
Ranger is a confusing man.
Since he wasn’t mad at me, I told myself I was going to try to relax around the lords more today, to try and be myself. Andthat started with my attire. Ranger and I had a brief argument about it this morning, but I refused to cave. I did, however, compromise with a dress I’d shortened to mid-calf. I’d changed the sleeves too, so instead of big puffs, they were now split and trailed behind my arms when I walked quickly. It made me feel like a fairy… a fairy princess.
And the fact that the lords had complimented it when they first saw me this morning gave my ego a boost. I even managed to stick out my tongue at Ranger over my shoulder in triumph. His eyes had narrowed at me, but I turned back to the lords before he could say anything.
“Would you like to go for a walk, Elora?” Edwin asks as their staff clear away the dishes.
“Sure, that sounds nice.” Honestly, going for walks with them sounds kind of boring, but I’m not really sure what else there is to do. Is walking really how they court women in this world? I suppose it’s a good way to get to know one another, a stroll gives us plenty of time to talk.
When we step outside, I glance behind me and realize Edwin’s brothers haven’t come with us.
“It’s just us,” he says, answering my unspoken question.
I nod as he offers me his elbow. I link my hand through it, not wanting to be too close. Glancing around, I notice Blaze following behind us, Draven further away on our left along a parallel path, and Ranger doing the same to the right.
They’re all far enough away not to overhear our conversation unless we speak loudly. Edwin begins pointing out different plants, which I immediately forget. Except for the ones with bright flowers, they all seem the same to me. I try to feign interest, but I’m really not into plants.
I think about how Blaze likes to collect herbs and how he showed me how to find them, what they look like, and what they do. Huh. Now that I found interesting. I even spot a few of his herbs in this garden. It's probably because I knew those herbs had a purpose. I'm sure it had nothing to do with the man giving it.
I glance over my shoulder and catch Blaze’s eye. He gives me a tight smile, which I return before tuning back into Edwin.
“This is the orchard,” he tells me as we step off the path into a large area full of small trees. I can see tiny apples forming on most of the branches. “This row here is the honeyblush apple, the rare one I told you about.”
I release his arm and use my feigned interest as an excuse to get a little space as I slowly roam the trees. I feel bad. This should be interesting. But it’s not.
Edwin starts spouting off facts about the apple like it's the most fascinating thing in the world. I make sure to react at the appropriate times while scanning the orchard’s edge for my knights.
I’d much rather listen to Draven talk about knives or hear Arrow talk about archery.
I internally groan and chastise myself. I need to stop romanticizing the knights. They’ve made it very clear nothing can ever happen between us. My hands squeeze the sides of my dress in frustration, and I take a deep breath to calm the uncomfortable feeling I get every time I think about that, and how they have no problem watching these lords court me.
I step around another tree and spot an unfamiliar man pruning a branch.
“Oh! Hello,” I say, surprised.
“Oh! Your Highness! I’m so sorry, I didn’t realize you were coming out here,” he says, alarmed, stepping back and bowing.
“It’s fine,” I say, hoping he’ll relax. His nervous energy makes me uncomfortable. “What’s your name?”
“My name, Your Highness?”
“Princess,” Edwin says, coming to my side. “He’s just one of our gardeners.”
I glance back at the man, who now eyes us both nervously.
“I realize that, but I wanted to know his name.”
“Why?” Edwin’s question surprises me so much that I don’t know how to answer. I stare at him in confusion, trying to figure out if he just doesn’t care or doesn’t want me talking to him.
“He obviously tends to your precious trees, I wanted to ask him about them,” I say, quickly coming up with something.
“I can answer any questions you have.” He turns to the gardener. “You’re dismissed.”
