"The young do foolish things for love."
- Peasant Saying
A/N: If you're enjoying the story so far, please consider writing a review!
"Please, just one more…"
"You're playing with fire, woman. What if someone sees us?"
"I have no qualms showing the world how much I care for you."
The man's grip on his partner tightened in a combination of protectiveness and worry, her truesteel breastplate gleaming in the shadowy corner of their hiding spot.
"Come, Arlon, do you truly believe anyone is awake at this hour? What are the chances?"
Lord Rainfall's gaze lingered throughout the dark, foreboding corridor of Sailor's Hill, searching for any potential threat to the pair's seldom moment of peace.
Whether it be a servant, a wayward guardsman, or tides forbid, someone from his family that catches them, it would be enough to destroy the one, true connection he ever formed. As expected, there was no one in sight, but that did nothing to calm the noble's nerves.
What if his cousin witnessed this?
The little urchin… the expression of shock and terror that would sweep across the youngling's face, although it may appear amusing in any other given situation, it, unfortunately, wouldn't apply here.
From birth, Rainfall men were taught to obey the laws of honour and propriety, the very laws his father taught him, and the same laws he preaches to Baylon to this day. Upon realizing he could bear no children, a sense of pride in the lad began developing deep within Arlon's heart.
The boy was almost a son to him, and this show of hypocrisy might cause the dominos of order to come tumbling down.
After another swift (and paranoid) look down the hall, Arlon gave in, terminating any remainder of space between himself and Lucilia's inviting lips.
Perhaps it's true what the smallfolk say, the young do foolish things for love.
Wrapping her plated arms around his muscular neck, the knight moaned softly into Rainfall's mouth as she desperately tried to pull him closer, and Arlon, in turn, was more than happy to oblige, placing his own hands around her slender waist.
Like two unstoppable warships at sea, their tongues clashed in a ferocious battle for dominance. The girl tasted faintly of vanilla, irresistibly sweet, ironic considering how stern and vicious she was in the heat of combat, truly a refreshing change.
After a final, teasing bite on the man's lower lip, Lucillia pulled away, breathing heavily in apparent satisfaction.
"Now, was that so much to ask? Isn't this just the perfect way to start the morning, my lord?" the warrior quipped teasingly, toying with the silvery pendant that dangled in front of his tunic.
"No, if there was an elf gasping for air beneath my boot heel, then it would be perfect."
"Interesting. Most men would say breakfast in bed, but you, Arlon, have such a flair for romance."
"Most men aren't burdened with the suffocating implications of war," his cold, emerald irises wandered slightly to his left as if he felt they were being observed, "not to mention the potential repercussions of being caught in a frightfully comprising position, like this one here."
The Lord Admiral had been engaged before of course, a considerable amount of times, yet there was no joy in matrimony, no sport, no feeling.
No respect.
Ladies of lesser houses, sisters of wealthy businessmen, hell, he was even promised to the daughter of an Antegrien senator once, yet all have ended in failure.
Interestingly enough, that didn't bother him as much as you'd think.
"Do you remember the day we met, Arlon?"
"How could I ever forget?"
"They were all jeering and pointing, mocking me for wanting to become a soldier, all because I had no cock," Lucilia sounded almost bitter, but her tone quickly changed, "then you happened."
Rainfall said nothing.
"I must have made for quite a pathetic display, seeing as I could barely lift a cutlass, let alone swing it. You weren't sniggering with the rest of them, my lord, you just walked over and said, 'if you insist on becoming a warrior, you may as well do it right.' That was the last time anyone laughed at me."
"Yes, indeed it was."
"If I may ask, darling… why? Why did you pay attention to a lowborn such as myself?"
Arlon's grip tightened yet again, this time in agitation, hesitating to find the perfect way to phrase his answer.
"It's what my father would have done."
Ryhard.
A good man, but a foolish man. A foolish man who allowed a pack of spiteful cockroaches to run rampant on their shores.
Unsurprisingly, he married a commoner, married for love, despite the uproar it had caused. Perhaps that was another item to add to his list of countless mistakes, but here Arlon was, sharing tongues with a commoner himself.
The current Lord Admiral had been called many things. Brilliant strategist, a cunning politician, cold-hearted monster, but never a hypocrite. It would be in everyone's best interest to keep it that way.
Gritting his teeth, Rainfall mentally scolded himself upon realizing exactly what he had said.
"I don't need to bore you with sentimental nonsense, girl. All you need to understand is that you're irreplaceable, an asset my heart cannot afford to lose."
He then ambushed her with a second kiss, brief, but violently aggressive.
"Remember that."
Lucilia thought it wise not to push him any further.
"Now, my brave, little knight, shouldn't you be off preparing? Baylon's ship to Seabreeze leaves at noon, I doubt he'd make it very far without you."
"Yes, my lord."
"Before you run off, listen carefully." Like a switch, Arlon's stalwart expression turned from caring to impassive in a manner of seconds. "I want you to take note of everything that oozes out of Rogers' mouth. If any of his advice seems even slightly questionable, I want to hear it. He is not to be trusted."
"Yes, my lord."
"Good. I will depart to Akane shortly. Keep my cousin safe, warrior."
The swordswoman grimaced, which didn't go unnoticed by the noble's observant gaze.
"Problem?"
"That villain, Johannes Bolton, that's the problem. This scheme is unlike anything I've ever heard of, it's like a fantasy from a child's storybook. His tracks would be covered, yours aren't. What if-"
"Enough."
That terrible stare intensified.
"Rainfall blood will not shed on my watch. The Antegrien pig has no intention of deceiving us."
"How do you know?"
"You doubt my judgment?"
Lucilia paused before replying. "Of course not, Arlon."
"Well, as much as I would like to continue our little guessing game, we both have places to be. Godspeed, Lucilia. Oh, and if that Kagura whore threatens Baylon in any way, kill her."
As if this conversation never happened, the Lord Admiral stalked away to carry out his business, leaving his distraught, secret lover alone to prowl in the foreboding shadows.
