Chapter 6
Shine on the First Day
Chris awoke the next morning feeling refreshed and unburdened. The sun was shining through the window of her room, drowning her in rays of bright sunlight. Sitting up slowly, she stretched out her rested limbs and opened her eyes. Blinking a few times to clear her sleep muddled mind, as the realization of where she was came back.
A short vacation to Iksay, taking a break from that damned Council and all the frustration.
Chris took a deep breath while mentally organizing her thoughts. She took a glance out the window and stared absentmindedly at the sunlight streaming into the room, unable to comprehend the time immediately. It took her a couple of seconds to click into action, her eyes widened at the thought of it being midmorning already, judging by the bright daylight. Quickly, she got out of bed and got dressed, all the while being extremely distraught for oversleeping.
There came a knock on the door just as Chris was about to put her gloved hand on the doorknob. She opened the door swiftly to find Percival waiting for her ever so patiently.
"Ah, you are awake already, milady." Percival said, smiling brilliantly. He was wearing a different set of civilian clothes from last day, and looking his absolute best even in a plain shirt and farming pants.
"I'm truly sorry for oversleeping, Percival. I don't know what came over me." Chris started to say more, but Percival laughed and shook his head at her.
"Please, don't worry about such things, Lady Chris! Just relax. This trip simply isn't about waking up on time everyday as during training, you know?" Percival grinned at Chris' bemused expression. "So, did you have a good night of sleep, dear lady?"
Chris stared for a moment, deciding to ignore the tone of endearment in Percival's voice, and finally nodded. "Yes, I did. The best night of sleep I've had in a very long time." She confessed, smiling as she continued. "Guess I have a lot to learn about relaxing during a vacation, don't I, Percival?" Percival nodded, and together they headed down the stairs.
"Indeed you do, milady. I'm glad to hear that you had a night of rest. I hope you have regained enough energy to attend the many events in store for you today."
"Oh. How is that so Percival?"
"But of course, milady. We've got to attend the festival concluding ceremony."
Chris nodded. "Sounds like a fun plan. What is it about?" She promptly asked as they reached the bottom of the staircase. Percival turned and pretended to think hard.
"Hm… come to think of it, I can't seem to remember what it is all about, exactly." Percival tilted his head in a questioning fashion, a sly grin played upon his fine features.
Chris raised an eyebrow, and then tried unsuccessfully to glare sternly. "Percival… you know I don't like to be kept in suspense." Her tone of voice with an edge of warning that barely disguised a chuckle underneath.
"No, seriously milady!" Percival protested innocently, his impish grin widening as Chris placed her hands on her hip in impatience. "I haven't attended the festive in years. Surely you can't expect me to recall all the vivid details." Even as he offered such an explanation, the glint in his eyes told otherwise. Chris resisted a helpless smile and exhaled slowly in irritation.
"Oh please, Percy. You exuberance is wearing."
"Well then milady, can I amuse you with breakfast instead?" Percival bowed gallantly and offered his arm, which Chris swiftly linked her own to, he continued to give her his most winning smile as he escorted her to the dining room in a true gentleman manner.
Their morning meal was prepared modestly, but to Chris, it looked like rather new and exotic, not to mention most appealing to her appetite. When they entered the room, Percival had quickly gone and pulled Chris' chair out for her, grinning to her amused expression before taking a seat himself.
"Quite the gentleman today, aren't you, Percy?" Chris remarked, narrowing her eyes pointedly in suspicion. Percival simply shrugged and winked smartly at her.
"Anything to please my beautiful goddess." He smiled as she shook her head; the expression on her face was a cross of exasperation and humour. "Eat up, milady. We have a big day ahead of us."
"Do we, Percy? Then do me the favour of explaining the full extent of this 'big day'."
Percival grinned even more as he continued to dangle her mercilessly. "But milady, I already have."
"When was that, Percy?"
"When I said that today was the concluding ceremony."
"And what do we do at this ceremony, exactly?" Chris pressed on, not liking the suspense. If the Captain of the Zexen Knights wanted an answer, she was not about to give up until she got one.
However, Percival kept his smile. "Well now, that's for me to know, and for you to find out, my dearest lady."
Chris sighed. Percival truly was proving himself to be a formidable foe; when it comes to exasperating her that is. Then, he sidling up close beside her and he whispered into her ear, his breath tickling her cheek slightly.
"Do you know anything about life at Iksay, milady?" he asked, his voice deep and mysterious, Chris sought to ignore how chillingly pleasing it was.
"No, not really." Chris answered, striving to put a lot of monotone into her voice and the same time trying not to be distracted by the fact that Percival was leaning so close, his lips could almost graze the tip of her ear.
"Do you want to find out?"
"Yes." Did he even have to ask? She was here on vacation, wasn't she? What else could she think of doing?
"Then you are going to have to trust me, milady." Percival said with finality. He then leaned back so that Chris had enough distance to turn and face him.
"Alright, Percy. I trust you."
"Good, then let's start with breakfast. How is it so far?" Percival inquired as he watched Chris taste a slice of Iksay bacon.
"Excellent." Chris concluded soon after, then when she reached for her cup a slow smile emerge upon her face. "Percy, you didn't…" She said with delight as she sipped her steaming hot tea, a content expression flooding her face. "Hm… and brewed just the way I always like it. Percival, how did you manage?"
"My mother is a cooking genius." Percival quickly answered, shoving the credit so fast that Chris had to give him a look.
"I see." Chris sipped calmly, not at all fooled. "A good quality you seem to have inherited."
Percival laughed at the way Chris glared at him over the brim of her cup. "One of many I suppose. Hm… does that mean I might be worthy after all, milady?"
Chris caught his gaze and felt a slight churn in her stomach when she saw the sincerity in Percival's eyes. With much effort she kept a straight face and simply closed her eyes. "We shall see." With that said, she took another sip of tea, before turning her attention back to the main meal. But in the back of her mind, new questions were beginning to rise, and she began to wonder if this vacation of hers might cause some different, but even bigger problems in the future.
A/N: I apologize for the extremely long wait. I hope everyone is still around and such. I have a pretty bad writers block, so I just happen to manage getting this tiny chapter out. Not very eventful, but hopefully somewhat developing. Please leave comments, I am in desperate need of ideas, so do help me out! Thanks for reading, and leave reviews.