I Will Be the Greatest Knight-Chapter 424: Time to Leave

The two knights parried a couple more times before Irene could no longer ignore what Felix was saying about himself or the disappointed expression he wore. She stopped his soft slash with her gloved hand and made him focus on the words he was saying rather than their swords.

"Don’t say that," Irene insisted. "What happened that would make you think that about yourself?"

Felix sighed, relenting as he lowered the wooden practice sword. "There are things I shouldn’t talk to a woman about, but a woman happens to be my dearest friend, so I’m a bit divided."

"My mother will remind you that I’m hardly a woman at all," Irene joked, still licking her wounds from the night before. "If there’s someone you can talk to, it’s me."

Felix chuckled and shook his head, but it lacked humor, and Irene felt bad.

"Seriously, Felix," she persisted.

"I betrayed Agnes," Felix finally confessed, dropping his gaze. "I enjoyed myself thoroughly, but the worst is, it had nothing to do with feelings. I simply used someone else to fill the loneliness. I wish I could blame all the high-quality wine..."

Irene had to feign a bit of shock. This much, she already knew. It was also why she didn’t want to push him too hard. She had a strong feeling he was already agonizing over it enough.

"You didn’t betray her," Irene attempted to assure him. "Knowing her, I imagine she would have wanted you not to be lonely in this life. Not everyone’s first love will be their final love."

Admittedly, she thought of the Commander saying that he had loved the Princess before, but that it had changed, and he didn’t love her now. If he never got over his first love, then she would never have even got him to look in her direction; that was just the type of man he was.

"Where did you learn to say things like that?" Felix asked with a light laugh. "I’m supposed to be the older and more intelligent one."

"It’s true, Felix," Irene continued, more insistently. "You’re not the first nor the last. It isn’t as if you would do something like that to someone against their will."

Felix seemed all the more stressed because it was indeed true. However, he then said something that took Irene by surprise.

"I thought we would just kiss," he uttered with a gloved hand on his forehead. "I can’t believe I took her virginity. She should have left it for someone she loved."

Irene felt a bit taken aback by that. She didn’t know what to say because she had figured they merely kissed and went their separate ways, but this was more unexpected...

She lightly cleared her throat, realizing she was unequipped to have that conversation.

"Well, perhaps unrequited love is enough for her," Irene responded lightly, scraping the depths of her memories for words she had read in the occasional romance novel.

Felix’s hand dropped. "I can’t believe I’m telling you this. I don’t know who else to talk to. The Commander would disown me, the apprentices are too young, the older knights are womanizers... Then there’s you." He sighed.

"Well, since it’s me you’re talking to, at least you know I will not hesitate to beat it into your head that you aren’t an awful person," Irene explained herself with a sly grin. "But for now, I think the match is finished. You seem a bit too distracted to continue. We should go relax in the library."

At that, she managed to pull the blade from his hands so she could finally put them away after they were left out all night.

Felix merely stood there, thinking over what he had said and what she had said to him.

"Just be kind to her," Irene responded. "Eira is a good person and a decent maid."

Felix’s head snapped up, and he was taken out of his thoughts.

"How do you know who it was?" he asked in disbelief. He had made sure not to mention specifics.

Irene was already backing away.

"Perhaps a little bird told me," Irene explained, continuing her escape. "Or perhaps some drunk idiot was stupid enough to openly kiss someone in the halls near the guests’ rooms as if they were the only ones alive."

At that, Felix sprang forward, but Irene took off full speed to the doorway. He nearly grabbed her collar if it weren’t for her opening the door and being met with a few nobles on their way to the next place. They immediately had to behave themselves.

"You should have told me," Felix admitted, embarrassed.

"I don’t want you to think I’m trying to shame you," Irene uttered. "I’m in support of you finding happiness. Just don’t hurt her without transparency."

"I was transparent," he responded. "She didn’t care."

"Then..." Irene shrugged.

There wasn’t more that needed to be said.

+

Unfortunately, Irene’s chances of seeing the Commander were dashed, and she was forced to get things together so that they could leave for her family’s lands the next morning. After leaving the library with Felix, they went to eat dinner before they said goodbye. The knights would be leaving together the next day as well.

As Irene put her things in the small trunk, she wasn’t surprised to see that even travel dresses had been made for her. If she gave in and wore one to travel home, would it excuse her mother’s awful behavior?

As Irene got ready the following day, early in the morning, she contemplated one of the dresses for quite a while. It was made a bit more sturdy than the others and would be surprisingly good for travel. Her father had already suggested she ride in the carriage with them so that they could catch up but...

To her own surprise, she relented. It had long sleeves, and there was a layer of fur that would keep her extremely warm. The outside was a light tan color. It also didn’t completely touch the ground, so she could leave the front open and wear pants underneath.

As she looked down at herself, she wasn’t put off entirely by what she was wearing. It was comfortable and she could still wear a belt and her sword since it was more flexible than what she had to wear for the banquet. Overall, she didn’t mind it so much.

Going outside and waiting for her family, there were a few more knights and apprentices she was able to say a quick farewell to before her family’s carriage was brought around and her horse, Sammy, was brought to the outside so that he could come along while the family stayed warm inside. She affectionately scratched his cheek for a few moments, making sure he was good to follow the wagon. He seemed eager to move as if the last two days had been too relaxing.

"We’ll be able to run through the snow again soon," she told him.

The carriage door was open for her and she rushed forward so she could climb in and get comfortable first.

She missed a pair of deep brown eyes set on her as Henry rushed out of the front entrance, hoping for his own goodbye, but only being able to see Irene at a distance as she climbed into the carriage.

He was the one who said they would talk next time, yet he was the one who couldn’t help it. He felt as relieved as he did disappointed that she didn’t have to see him go against his own word. Perhaps it was better that way, since he didn’t want to suffocate her with his eagerness.