A/N: B'aw...Matthew...
Hector lead his small retinue back to Ostia, humming a cheerful tone. Everyone had gone on to their separate ways, and in all of the farewells, long looks at each other, and promises of seeing each other again, Hector kept a watchful eye on the tactician; Matthew had tipped him off that Saei might slink away undetected.
Saei, whose face was bright and seem to look younger compared to those bleak months, hugged them and wishes them all good health. Hector never really saw Saei this happy and sad at the same time. He knew in some ways she won't be seeing them for quite a long time.
As they neared the Castle Ostia, Hector inclined his head to look at the tactician. Matthew had engaged her in a lively chatter, obviously trying to wheedle out informations about her past-ever since she let it slip back at the Dread Isle about her connection to the Black Fang.
"For the fifty-seventh time, my dear Matthew, I'm telling you to lay off your probing about my past." Saei said airily, waving her hand as if a fly irritates her. "What can you gain for finding about it?"
"I know of a few people who'd like to know more about you." Matthew said, glancing at Hector. "Some people doesn't like having someone shrouded in mystery for company."
"Says you." Saei replied with a chuckle. "Weren't you the same back then, when you watched from that house at Araphen?"
"I was doing work, my lady." Matthew said in a pained voice. "There's a difference."
"I don't think there is."
"If I hadn't known better, I'd wager that you were a spy before turning to be a tactician." Matthew accused.
"Whatever possessed you of that idea?" Saei said with an innocent face. Then she grinned.
"Well, you're pretty good at evading certain questions." the thief scowled.
"Well, what do you think? Am I a former spy? Or am I a spy, posing as a tactician?"
"I think neither." Matthew said with a straight face. "You're too shrewd and obvious to be a spy."
"What made you think that it's not a ruse?"
"Spies aren't that much good with strategies."
"Not all spies got to be the same, Matthew."
Matthew shook his head. "No. There's certainly something that sets you apart from a spy."
"I think you have to go back to the Academy and study again of what it is about being a spy, Matthew."
"I assure you I still have my wits. I wouldn't be the Academy's brightest spy if I can't differentiate a spy to a non-spy."
Saei gave a dramatic sigh. "Why is it that no one takes me seriously outside the battlefield?"
Matthew stared at her for a very long time, then let out a laugh. "You beat me at my own game, Saei."
"But of course, my dear Matthew." Saei said with a grin. "But honestly, I think you should go back and study."
"Lord Hector, please make her stop that." Matthew pleaded. Hector turned his back on him.
"That's your problem." Hector said. Oswin sidled up to him and proposed to go ahead to the castle to announce their arrival. Hector agreed, since it's been quite some time since the castle had anyone to lead them. And the steward might be glad that such a heavy burden is lifted off from him. As he looked up at the clear sky, Saei nudged her horse to canter alongside his.
"Whatever possessed you the idea of setting Matthew on me, Lord Hector?" she asked quietly. Hector turned to look at her with a cool gaze.
"I do not know what you are talking about, Saei." he said.
"I told you that you're a bad liar, my lord." Saei said stiffly. "You might have lied your way out at some time before with other people and get away with it, but not with me."
"Matthew let it slip that the two of you are best friends. I thought you might like his company better than mine." Hector said with a shrug. "Ah, here we are." He let a sigh of relief as their horses went through the gates of the castle. He didn't look back at the tactician, which is good for him. Saei has this hurt and murderous look all at the same time.
Saei found herself sitting on a soft divan in front of a mirror three week later. She looked at her reflection with a scowl.
"Saei, please don't scowl like that. It ruins your natural beauty." Serra said as she took a comb and ran it through the tactician's hair. Then she sighed. "I'd give anything to have such hair."
"Serra, yours are okay compared to mine." Saei said. "At least yours get the regular combing care."
"But nevertheless, yours are still soft. And it looks like it hadn't grown but a few inches over the past few months."
"It's because I trim them when it get past my shoulder." Saei shrugged.
"Saei, don't move too much."
"Tell me again why I'm dressed like this, and why is my hair getting groomed and adorned with such things?"
"You are Lord Hector's valued guest." Serra said as she put a long and slender barette adorned with rubies and sapphires on Saei's hair. "And he requests that you join him for dinner."
"But why do I have to dress like this?" Saei said as she looked down at the green silk gown with rich brocade here and there. "I HAVE been dining with him for the past few nights so why is tonight any different? Plus, how did your people know my measurements?"
"You're talking to an Ostian, Saei." Serra said. "Information gathering is the national industry. Now stop asking too many questions."
"But I still have a question: who bothered to look through my stuff?" Saei said crossly. "I don't like people going through my drawers." She sniffed indignantly.
"If I say it was me, will that put your mind at ease?" Serra handed her a pair of earrings.
"No. Not really." Saei replied reluctantly, taking the earrings. "For some reason, having you look into my drawers isn't-" Then she stopped dead. "Serra, you're forgetting something."
"And that is?"
"I only have one of my ears pierced." She pointed to her left ear. "I can't go waltzing in with one earring on."
Serra frowned. "Wait right there. I'll see what I can do. Though I can't guarantee it'll be pain free."
Saei wished she had just shut her big mouth up. Whenever Serra has that kind of frown, something bad happens to her subject.
Hector paced around his room, his black state robes flowing behind him. There's a wild expression on his face, as if there's something he's nervous about.
"Milord," Matthew said as he stepped into the room. "Do you think you could stop pacing about? It's starting to get into the nerves of the spy around your room."
"And since when did you order your Marquess about, Matthew?" Hector snapped.
"See, you're really nervous. Your coronation is still a week away, milord Hector." Matthew said. "Plus, you've dined with her several times over the past nights, and those nights when we've been together as one army. What got you so nervous about it tonight?"
"I don't know." Hector admitted. "And you rattling off with your smart mouth isn't helping at all."
Matthew gave him a pained look. "I came here to boost your morale, and that's what I get..."
"Just spit out whatever you need to say."
"Nothing much. I'd just like to warn you that you might see a different Saei."
"What do you mean?" Hector said, turning around. Matthew gave an offhand shrug.
"I hadn't really quite noticed it before, because she's wearing travelling clothes and such. But once she wore something regal, like that green silk gown I had asked for days back, and those accessories, she looks someone from royalty."
"Dress anyone in such clothes and they'll look someone from royalty, providing they don't talk and give themselves away." Hector said. "Saei's right. You need to go back to the Academy. Your eyesight's starting to fail you."
"Please Lord Hector," Matthew said, his ego hurt. "Don't joke about such things. I'm still in control of my wits."
Hector gave a snort. "So, what are you proposing about Saei again?"
"That she looks someone from royalty." Matthew pressed. "She has that peculiar grace that can only be found in the ladies of the court."
"And you're telling me this because I might get shock out of my wits and stare at her openly?"
"You might be."
Hector shook his head. "After all we've been through, I don't think there's anything else that can shock me."
Matthew shrugged. "It's up to you. Don't blame me though."
Hector rolled his eyes. "Well, I'd better get going."
"Oh, by the way Lord Hector, you owe me for the gown and the barette she's wearing." Matthew called back. Hector grimaced. To think that a Marquess owes money to one of his subjects...
Hector went to the private dining room and saw Saei sitting primly on her chair, with no trace of unease of wearing court dresses. And when she inclined her head to look at him, he saw a small smile playing about her lips.
"You know it's improper to let a woman waiting, milord Hector."
Hector gaped at her. Matthew may have tried to warn him, but this is nothing compared to his report. He saw her stood up and walked over to him.
"Milord Hector, it's rude to stare." Saei said, inclining her head. The earrings she wore, Hector realized, was his mother's. It was the right decision to tell Serra to persuade Saei to wear such thing. Who would have thought that old thing will suit his bride? But first, he has to ask her formally...
"Lord Hector." Saei said rather sternly, looking at him through narrowed eyes. Hector coughed and took her hand. He kissed it soundly. It gave him a certain satisfaction that she blushed.
Absolutely beautiful.
A/N: I've noticed I always get carried away with such things. Should I make Lilina have a cameo appearance or should I stop here?