Alessia twirled in a few dresses, even trying on a breezy sundress and several hats. Hats were a new look for her, and while Kaon couldn’t quite tell, he thought she liked them. He made a mental note – hats might be a good addition to her wardrobe.
The carriage ride back was peaceful, a stark contrast to their journey out. Alessia had drawn the curtain and seemed content to rest. Kaon, however, couldn’t shake a growing concern. Was she simply exhausted, or was it the nasty gossip they’d overheard earlier preying on her mind?
“Alessia,” he started tentatively, “if you’re not too tired…” He trailed off as she opened her eyes.
They were different. Absent. It was unnerving. But then, she met his gaze, a smile gracing her lips as she quirked an eyebrow – her trademark gesture.
“There’s something I want to show you,” he announced. “Care to join me?”
“Absolutely. Should I be excited?”
The playful glint in Alessia’s eyes widened into a full grin. Deciding to shelve his worries for now, Kaon found himself swept up in her anticipation.
***
“Back entrance?” Alessia asked, peering out the window.
“Yes,” Kaon confirmed. “You haven’t explored that side yet.”
They climbed out of the carriage and walked shoulder-to-shoulder. As they neared a particular spot, Alessia’s usual spark seemed to return. “Alright, spill it! What secret treasure are you showing me?” she teased.
Kaon fought back a smile. He planned to introduce her to his furry friend, Koda, whom he visited frequently as a source of comfort. He figured the earlier conversation must have gotten to her, and with all that clothes shopping, some quality playtime with a puppy was exactly what she needed.
Even before reaching the door, the sound of excited panting grew louder.
“Good boy! You know it’s me, right? You’re the best!” Kaon called out, crouching down with open arms.
Energized by his master’s voice, a furry blur with stubby legs rocketed towards him.
“That’s a boy! You sure can zoom!”
As usual, Koda flopped onto his back, tail wagging like a metronome, his belly plump from the endless stream of treats he received from the knights.
“Easy there, now behave,” Kaon chuckled, scratching behind the dog’s ear. He admired Koda’s sleek, dark gray fur, always gleaming from the regular brushing sessions. Seeing that little stray transform into this happy, healthy pup still filled him with wonder. The black eyes and perfect little nose were just too cute for words.
“Alessia, this little guy is…” He turned, his smile faltering. Alessia stood there, frozen in place, a look of pure terror on her face.
Before he could react, she lurched back, tripping over her own feet. Kaon reacted instinctively, catching her by the shoulders. Panic surged through him as he saw her pale face. “Alessia? Hey, come on, wake up!”
A choked sob escaped her lips. Her breathing was shallow, so getting some oxygen into her was his top priority. He gently shook her, and thankfully, a faint groan escaped her lips. Her eyes, though still wide, started to regain some focus.
“I’ll apologize for this later,” Kaon muttered under his breath, scooping her up into a strong embrace.
***
As soon as they returned to their room, Kaon gently laid Alessia on the bed, treating her like a delicate porcelain doll. Her fragility frightened him – she seemed to weigh next to nothing despite eating well.
‘What triggered this?’ His mind raced. ‘Why did she just suddenly pass out?’
He gnawed on his lip, a knot forming in his stomach. Koda had to be the culprit. Nothing else had happened, but he never expected this reaction.
‘I should have asked first,’ he lamented, running a hand through his hair. He just wanted to cheer her up with a surprise.
“Young Master, I brought warm water,” a maid announced.
Relief washed over him. “Thank you. And the doctor?”
“He is making his way here, Young Master.”
Unease prickled at him despite requesting the doctor earlier. It shouldn’t take long.
“I told them to hurry.”
“Kaon.” Her voice startled him. Alessia had opened her eyes and weakly grasped his hand. “I’m awake. I’m alright.”
“Are you sure? Maybe we should still see the doctor.”
“Please,” she insisted, voice strained, “It’s okay.”
If she refused medical attention, he couldn’t force it. Alessia let out a shaky breath when he called back the maid to cancel the doctor.
“Can I have some water, please?” she whispered.
“Oh, right…Of course,” He finally noticed her hand still clinging to his. “It’s a bit warm, so be careful, okay?” he mumbled, cheeks burning with embarrassment.
She nodded weakly, taking a small sip. “I’m so sorry,” she croaked, “you must be shocked. The truth is, I’m afraid of dogs.”
Kaon shook his head quickly. “No apology needed. I messed up by not asking first. I just wanted to…cheer you up a bit. You seemed down.” He couldn’t look at her, guilt churning in his gut.
“Down?” she repeated, a flicker of confusion in her eyes.
He hesitated, “The things you overheard, they must have bothered you.”
“Ah.” A single word escaped her lips, her expression blank.
She seemed fragile, almost shattered, but his own worry and frustration blinded him from noticing.
***
As if a switch had been flipped, Alessia drifted off to sleep. Kaon, tiptoeing out of the room, made a beeline for Leonidas’ office.
“Leo!” he burst in, momentarily forgetting about knocking.
Leonidas, buried under a mountain of paperwork that would make lesser mortals weep, barely looked up. “Entrance announced, Kaon. Door optional.”
“Right, sorry,” Kaon mumbled, sheepishly scratching his neck as he took in the sheer volume of documents. “Wow, I wouldn’t have a brain cell left if that was my desk. Why are you doing all that alone?”
“Not alone,” Leonidas corrected without looking up. “Double-checking.”
“Double-checking?”
“Yes.”
Kaon vaguely remembered seeing his father perpetually swamped in paperwork too. Still, the speed Leonidas was processing these documents hinted at more than a cursory glance.
He watched, a mix of admiration and amusement washing over him. As expected, running the estate wasn’t for the faint of heart, but Leonidas seemed to handle it all with an effortless competence. Uncle and the rest clearly underestimated the workload if they thought he could handle both this and becoming Duke.
Kaon, on the other hand, wouldn’t have the first clue how to manage a household, nor did he particularly want to. The endless paperwork alone sounded like torture, no matter how much wealth it came with.
Sensing her brother’s distraction, Leonidas finally pushed aside a completed stack. “Spit it out, Kaon. You didn’t barge in for a chat about my filing system.”
Kaon clenched his fists, remembering his original mission. “I want to join the forest inspections.”
🍉🍉🍉
