"Lady Lyndis, I must speak to you about something." Lyn blinked, set down the pan she was washing and turned to him.
"What is it, Kent?" she asked. Kent swallowed; it was now or never, he'd been planning this for days and if he lost his nerve now he'd never get it back.
It was all because of that foolish policy. He should have known from the beginning that such a thing would be impossible and lately he felt stupid for even have suggesting it. He was as susceptible as the rest of them...she was as susceptible as the rest of them. He'd only had the army's best interests at heart when he thought of it, but there were more disadvantages than advantages, his own feelings being the biggest of them all.
Just as susceptible, just as selfish.
"I... He swallowed again and licked suddenly-dry lips. "I have fallen in love." Her eyes widened.
"I see." A pit formed in his stomach at her response.
"I promise, my lady, I did not intend for this to happen," he said. "I only meant to become friends with her, but somewhere along the line, I...well, nothing scandalous happened, but we still..." He sighed. "I'm sorry, I never-"
"Kent." She smiled and held up a hand to quiet him. "I understand."
"My lady...?" He hadn't expected that. Lyndis's smile widened and she nodded.
"It's Fiora, isn't it? Sain tells me you've been spending more and more time with her lately," she said. "I think it's wonderful." A bit of the weight lifted off his shoulders at her response, but he still didn't feel quite right.
"Rest assured, my lady, my loyalties still lie with you and Caelin first and foremost. I would never, ever put my feelings for Fiora before my duty to you!" he said. "Just as she would never put her feelings for me before her sisters' well-being."
"Then why are you so worried?" Lyndis asked. Kent sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"I felt like a hypocrite, I suppose," he said. "Disloyal. Selfish. I scold Sain for his dalliances with women, and then I go and succumb to those same urges."
Lyndis smiled, placing a hand on his shoulder and looking into his eyes.
"Kent, one of your most admirable qualities is looking at everything from a moral and logical standpoint," she said. "But for once, I think you should listen to your heart."
He smiled, looking back into those kind eyes. He would always have a special place in his heart for her, no matter what happened, and this was why. She could be stubborn and downright unreasonable at times, but in the end she was one of the kindest people Kent had ever had the privilege of knowing.
"My lady," he whispered, "thank you."