Staring at the plate of food in front of her, Circe sighed. The long table had food and fruit. Meat of all kinds and breads.
"Join me Kaelen. " She said smiling at Kaelen who followed her everywhere. "I've already eaten your grace. Please eat. You have had no meal for the past three days. " Kaelen said and poured her some water.
'That's because I am not hungry. So much food will go to waste.' Circe thought and frowned. Just then, the door opened and Camilla walked in holding a plate of fruit. Circe's eyes lit up instantly.
"Camilla come here and join me. " Circe said and pointed at the chair next to her. Camilla shook her head and place the fruit down, it was pears.
"I will someone with Sir Kaelen after you have finished with yours Mistress." Camilla said smiling. "It's so lonely eating alone you know. This long table, so much food, Kaelen staring at me and all this meat."
"That's because you need your energy back mistress so that you can protect the Western border. "
"Then eat with me, if you eat with me then I'll eat. Also you are so small even I can crash your little head. You need more meet on your body Camilla. "
The air around them tensed. Whenever Circe was overly excited, she'd say something like slaughtering, smashing or anything gory. Kaelen looked at the little ginger head and pursed his lips. Most of the maids were scared of her due to this.
"Then I'll beg you to pardon my manners. " Camilla sighed and sat down. Halfway through the meal, Alfred entered and frowned at the sight of Circe eating with the little maid. Looking at Kaelen for answers, all he got was a shrug.
Looking at the young princess, surprise flashed through his eyes. Her grace didn't usually eat and only liked fruit but he had observed her in the past few days since she woke up.
Her walk although burdened by her injuries and required support from others was quite graceful. The way she spoke, stood, took tea and carried herself was quite different from what he had seen over a year ago when she was brought from the capital to replace her mother. Now even her eating was as graceful as a cultivated lady.
"Oh! Alfred. Come join us or have you eaten like Kaelen? " Circe asked placing her cutlery down and smiling at him. "I'm sorry but I have already had my fill. I came regarding your question about tutoring you. "
"I knew you'd agree. " Circe smiled leaning back in her seat. "On condition that you'll spend more time outside your room your Grace. The soldiers and the servants need to see you more often. "
"I can do that. I have yet to see the soldiers. I should do that after all, I don't want to be abandoned in another ambush in war. " Circe got up and frowned slightly at the cracking sound coming from her back as she stood up.
The other three all sighed internally. Maybe if the Celestial army hadn't forsaken them and some of her men had been brave enough, she wouldn't have turned out like this.
"I'll spar with you next time when I have recovered Kaelen. We start tomorrow, yes? " She asked and looked at Alfred.
"Yes, your Grace. "
"Thank the Chef for the meal. I'll be in my chambers. No need to escort me. "
".... "
Walking alone to her bedroom, Circe sighed. "They all worry too much. "
The halls were quiet , aside from her footsteps that echoed in the dark and the howling of the cold winter breeze.
The cold brushed past her pale cheeks , igniting memories of Kalador. The mighty beast that was so unlike her. "Oh Kalador. Will I meet you again in this life? When shall I touch other people again, my guardian. " She muttered.
Circe always wore her gauntlet or silver coated gloves that were blessed from the Holy Temple itself so that her hands wouldn't ignite everything she touched. A singer snap of her fingers and everything could be consumed by raging infernos.
She had burnt the late emperor's hand at birth and so thrown into the catacombs. Traumatized her younger brother when he snuck into the catacombs to play with his older sister and ended up trapped in a fire.
Letting the cold brush over her body, she stopped and lioked over the Western land. Snow, endless fields of snow beyond the Duchy tagt was a like little smouldering coals in the blanket of white.
"You know, I can't care less about Kaelen following me everywhere but secretly following me is unacceptable. Come out, I can hear your feet shuffling on my roof every night. "
Circe combed back her hair from her face. A heavy warm fur coat was lowered onto her shoulders and she sighed at the familiar scent of roses.
"You have grown up since the last time I saw you. " A deep voice said.
"You mean on my death bed a year ago."
"Does it count as a death bed if you survive your highness? " A man said and knelt behind her.
"I used to think that the Western vanguard didn't recognize me as the duchess. Seeing as you appeared when I was dying. What changed your mind, Orion? "
This middle aged man kneeling her was the leader of the sworn protector of the Western Duchess or Duke. In her previous life, they only appeared when she was severely injured after the war and when she was being hunted down for treason.
"That is because Alfred informed us that you are ready to take up your role as Duchess. "
"And the secretly following me every where? You should have known a monster like me would notice. " Circe turned around.
"Some what of a test. I hope you weren't offended. "
"Don't fret. I have been bored. And I guess taking up my responsibility will give me some what of a purpose in this cold life. " Circe smiled at the man.
"We'll serve the Duchy and not disappoint you. "
Circe turned to continue walking to her room.
"Thank you, Orion. "
.......
In a forest clearing, Luca and his men sat around a fire.
"Tomorrow we are to cross the Valley and then we shall be in Lagares territory. "
"Alright, rest up. We'll need all the Magi to build up a barrier so that we can safely cross. " Luca said fumbling with the necklace from the little red eyed child. It was warm against the harsh cold of the Nai highlands.
"She is well. "