It was night already as Damian sat on his bunk bed, with Agnes by his side. They were having a discussion about dream jobs, things they'd like to do once it was time for them to leave the orphanage.
For Damian, the economic structure of the kingdom was still unfamiliar, even after six months. But there was a reason for that, he had spent all six months confined within the orphanage, so he hadn't truly seen any 'business' going on.
Agnes glanced at Damian sidelong, her gaze holding a hint of nervous anticipation, as Damian kept the conversation going.
"So, a royal nurse?" he said.
She chuckled lightly, her voice low so as not to wake the others.
"Yes... I've always wanted to wear that crisp white cap, carry the little pill case. Not just to tend wounds, but to be someone's steady hand when they're afraid."
She then turned slightly toward him, the candlelight catching the warmth in her eyes.
"Why? Does it seem foolish?" She continued. "A girl from an orphanage dreaming of palace halls?"
"Or… do you think I could do it?"
"You'd definitely make a fine royal nurse," Damian agreed. "Your personality is absolutely suited for that role."
Agnes let out a soft laugh, Damian praise making her cheeks flush slightly red, her expression filled with some bit of pride.
"You know, my old friends back home always thought I was too soft," she said. "Too gentle for a world set on hard edges."
She then gave a light shrug, her voice warm with the memory she was sharing, but when Damian looked at her eyes, they were deeply serious, revealing the true meaning of the recollection.
"They said I saw the best in people who didn't deserve it," she continued. "You've never once thought that about me."
Damian quickly gulped, feeling a sudden, feisty pulse as Agnes's gaze met his. He was momentarily lost in her beauty, his mind silently confirming everything he had always suspected about her.
'Fuck them,' he thought. 'Her kindness is what makes her attractive. Just look at her.'
With a sigh, Damian continued, "That's where you're mistaken. I absolutely noticed your kindness."
Agnes raised an eyebrow at the response, her smile softening into a warmer, more affectionate expression. She seemed pleased he had noticed, yet at the same time a little surprised.
"You did?" She said while smiling.
She gave him a sidelong glance, almost simpering, eyes twinkling with something close to playfulness.
"You never once teased me with those sharp wits about being the orphanage's "mother hen"? Or a bleeding heart?" She said, as she nudged him gently with her elbow.
"Why would I tease you?" Damian said. "I genuinely enjoyed every day of your kindness. It felt like a win just for me."
Agnes stilled instantly, her breath catching in her throat. The teasing glint in her eyes vanished, replaced by a deeper, quieter sincerity. She looked down, fingers nervously brushing the blanket's edge, before slowly lifting her gaze back to his.
"You truly are something else, Damian," she said with a soft smile.
She continued, as her voice dropped to a near whisper, so only he could hear, "Most boys either boast their thoughts or hide them completely. But you, Damian, you just say yours clearly, as if being honest was the most ordinary thing in the world."
She leaned in just a fraction closer, "and after all this time," she admitted in a softer tone. "I think I've been hoping, just a little bit, that you saw me, not just my kindness."
Damian was caught off guard by what she said. She wanted him to notice her beyond her kindness? He hadn't gotten a hint of that from her. Damian wanted her to repeat what she said, he just wanted to make sure he heard right.
"Agnes—" he began, but she waved a hand in a dismissive gesture, stopping him mid-word.
"Just ignore that," she insisted. "Forget what I said, It was just foolish talk."
"Anyways," she continued. "You know... I think I have a new nickname for you."
"A nickname?" Damian asked.
"Yeah, one that fits you perfectly," she said as she gave a tiny, crooked smile before murmuring softly. "My quiet knight."
"Your Knight?
"Yes, My Knight," she said.
Agnes's smile widened slightly at Damian's puzzled expression. She leaned a little closer, with mischief in her eyes.
"Yes, you always have a quiet strength, you know. A way of standing up for others without even trying," she whispered, as she gestured around the dorm, the other kids sleeping soundly in their bunks.
"Everyone here talks endlessly about their pasts… their fears. But you? You just listen. And when someone needs help—you help. Like a knight standing guard outside a lady's balcony. No fuss, just... there."
"You're like the quiet guardian we all depend on, even if we don't say it aloud."
Damian was surprised by the way she thought about him. To him, he did all those things because it just seemed like the best course of action. He didn't talk about his past because he had none in this world, he helped people when he could because that was the norm where he came from. He didn't even think much about it, but the way she made it seem like he was on some noble cause made him jiggle a little.
"What's so funny?" she asked, seeing Damian smiling.
"Nothing," he said. "It's just that I never thought of myself that way."
"Maybe you should," she said. "It could definitely help you up a bit."
"Up me?" Damian asked curiously.
"It definitely would," she went on, her tone soft. "Just imagine how the other girls will react when you start explicitly acting like a knight."
"But what if I only want your attention, and no one else's?" Damain surprisingly asked.
Damian's expression immediately changed, he began to blush as he realized he had said something completely out of tone.
'Wait? Did I just say that?' He thought. 'Fuck, she definitely thinks am a simp.'
"Damian, where did that come from?" she said, as she began to blush.
"I wish I knew myself," Damian replied.
"You're so unbelievably..." she continued with a sigh. "How can you just say something like that and then say you didn't know why you said it?"
The night went on, as they both laughed and talked through it. The moment felt good, not only for Damian but also for Agnes. Damian was beginning to adjust to the fact that this world was now his new reality, and no one made it easier for him than Agnes.