35 years ago
Thethia: Veilstein Manor, Garden

• Jason •

"Jason, what are you doing?" A soft but petulant voice chimed in his ears while a pair of hands folded around his neck from behind.

"My lady," he nodded slightly in acknowledgement of her presence. "As you can see, I am reading."

"What are you reading?" she chuckled, her head tilted to the side as she stared at him with those breathtakingly beautiful amber eyes.

The moment he met her gaze, it was like his life had lost its perspectives because the depths of her eyes became his only focal point. He remained unmoved for a moment too long and a soft laugh bubbled off her, shaking him back into reality in an instant. Heat stretched from his neck up to his cheeks and all the way to his ears. He shifted his gaze away and mumbled under his breath, "Advanced Medicine."

Her hand reached and placed on top of his as they flipped the pages together. Nadia had rested her chin on his shoulder, and they read the next few pages together but those text seemed so foreign and confusing to him all of a sudden. A feeling of desperation overwhelmed him as he tried to figure out why those pages seemed to speak Iftiac to him instead of Thethiac. More than rather, he frantically wanted to know the reason behind his pounding heart and the rising temperature.

"I'm bored, Jason," she whined, heaving a sigh against his shoulder.

His back straightened immediately, and he coughed in awkwardness. Then, he shifted his shoulder slightly to give a light shrug, but she did not respond to it. "My l-lady, could you let me g-go?"

"No," she giggled, turning her head slightly so that her cheek lay on his shoulder. Jason peered towards his side and saw that she had closed her eyes. Her expression was serene, and their mouths were only an inch apart. He thought if he were to lean in, their lips would touch.

A sudden urge rose, but he mentally slapped himself for having such forbidden thinking on the only daughter of Duke Veilstein. Compared to her, he was only the adopted son of Earl Wayland and in actuality, blood of a Baron flowed in his veins. So, how dare he held the audacity to try and make a move on a lady who stood much higher than him.

"You're always staring at me with furrowed brows, do I upset you?" Her eyes fluttered open as she raised her hand. Her finger rubbed gently on those folded skin between his brows, attempting to erase the frown on his face. He watched as her face leaned even closer to him, her warm breath caressed the tip of his nose.

No. Definitely not. It is the exact opposite. Yet, his love was his to keep and not for anyone to know. He turned his head slightly, avoiding her. "My lady, you should not get so close to a man."

"Only you," she breathed, her voice light and enchanting as air. "I only do this to you, Jason."

His breathing stopped entirely together with his heart. His surroundings had been drowned out of his consciousness because in this space and time, the only beings that existed were the two of them. They breathed, chest rising and falling in synchronicity as he felt her on his back. He wished so desperately that they could be trapped in this moment together. It was as though looking at her amber-coloured eyes would also grant his gray eyes some colour, and her words had thrown away all the barriers that separated them.

"Jason?" she called out to him again and he snapped into attention, realising that he had been lost in those useless desires again.

"My lady, please do not make fun of me." His hand moved to her head and gently removed her lean from his shoulder. Closing his book, he stood up and face his back towards her. His lips pressed into a hard line as he tried to fight back the ache in his heart.

"Shall we practice swords?" Nadia suggested. Her melodic voice cut through the tension and replaced them with soft warmth but ignorance.

"If you wish," Jason replied, his tone void of emotions.

※

"Jason, grant me a sword," Nadia giggled playfully.

Chanting a string of Thethiac, Jason drew spirals with his fingers. Silver dust twinkled in the air as they flew and merged to take form of a sword. He held on the hilt and brought it carefully to her. The glee and awe in her expression was so apparent and infectious that he couldn't help but smile at her.

She took the hilt from him and spun around. Her arm swung the sword gracefully, slicing through the winds. Her feet raised as she twirled on her toes, those graceful movements commanded her dress to flow in waves as her hair danced in accompaniment. It was the most enthralling dance belonging to the most pulchritudinous person he would ever witness in his life. It was as though she belonged to the air, wild and free-spirited.

He would do nothing to tame her. Instead, he wished she would fly higher each time and he would use whatever he had to protect this beautiful soul.

"Why are you dazing?" she laughed, chiming with the colours of the wind. She thrusted the sword towards him and stopped just in between his eyes. "Jason, you would've died if this was a real battle."

A scary thought floated in his mind because the words formed phrased, I would die for you. That was how much he loved her, and he was willing to give everything he had just to make her happy. If she wanted him to die, he would. Because in the first place, she was the one who saved his life and his life had already belonged to her.

Out of thin air, he morphed out a sword and gently pushed hers away. She excitedly practiced her moves on him, swinging and impelling forward. What she did not realise was that Jason had accommodated all her movements, allowing her to have the upper hand all the time. He enjoyed the triumphant smile on her face and her pride which made her personality shine. As long as she's having fun. He thought to himself.

A high-ranked lady like her would never need to learn sword because she would have a knight who would protect her and watch over her forever. I will watch over her forever.

※

One careless step and Nadia stumbled forward. She dropped her sword as her hands shot out to cover her face, preparing for an ugly fall. But Jason was fast to catch her by the waist before her face met the ground. He rolled both of them to the side and they lay in the grass, catching their breaths. A soft chuckle met his ears and he tipped his head to meet her gaze.

"Thank you," she grinned. "You saved me."

"It is my honour, my lady."

"Jason, will you be by my side?" Thick lashes lowered, shielding her eyes.

"Yes." His reply came without a single hesitation.

"Until when?" Those jewelled-bright eyes widened in surprise, and anticipation brimmed in them.

"Till my very last breath, Nadia."

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I swore I cried writing this chapter. I hope you guys enjoyed it as much as I did.

On the other hand, I'm in the midst of preparing the second book, Shadowlight. I won't take long and its definitely coming out real soon, I promise. So, please don't go and stay with me!

Here's the theme quote for the next book:

"sic semper tyrannis."
(Thus always to tyrants.)

※

let's meet again soon!