Lienna.
Today’s training had been even harder and longer than the day before. But I pushed through, driven by determination to exceed not only my expectations but Caspian’s as well.
If he noticed the improvement, he didn’t comment on it, instead continuing to be relentless with his training. My body was bruised and battered, but I refused to yield.
By mid-day, I had mastered the appropriate stance and could swing my sword fairly easily without staggering. The accomplishment brought a huge smile to my face, though I knew I still had a long way to go.
Caspian’s voice cut through my triumph. “You’ve improved…” His tone was neutral, but I detected a hint of approval. “… And while that is rather impressive, you know you have a long way to go,” he continued, his expression unyielding.
Beads of sweat collected on my forehead as I looked up at him. His impassive face revealed nothing.
“Um… Thanks?” I muttered, finally catching my breath. I massaged my shoulders, wincing at the soreness.
“Could we go on a break? My arm’s about to fall off” I asked, partly dreading he might refuse.
But surprisingly, Caspian relented. “Very well. Take a break.”
I let out a breath of relief and trudged over to the nearby bench, collapsing onto it. I cleaned the sweat from my forehead, feeling the cool breeze on my skin. My eyes drifted shut, and for a moment, I forgot about the grueling training
Caspian’s silence was a welcome break from his constant critiques. I wondered if he was pleased with my progress. When I finally opened my eyes, I saw some maids approaching with baskets, and my nose caught a whiff of delicious food, causing my stomach to growl loudly.
I swallowed down the saliva in my mouth as they prepared the food, placing several snacks and freshly squeezed juices on a nearby table before leaving. After gaining approval from Caspian, I immediately went to the table and began to snack on the food, going slow at first. But my hunger soon took over, and I was eating ravenously, stuffing my mouth with various sweet treats.
“Slow down…” I heard Caspian mutter behind me. I turned around to see him already seated, a bottled pouch beside him as he stared at me.
“I wouldn’t want you choking on your food,” he added, his voice blank. Embarrassed, I began to eat slowly, tearing my gaze away from him. My cheeks flushed with heat.
As I continued eating, I observed Caspian wasn’t taking anything at all, he was just staring and to be honest, it kind of made me uncomfortable. Curiosity got the better of me, and I turned to look at him. Picking up a tart from a tray, I stretched it towards him.
“Would you like some?” I asked, trying to sound casual.
“No, thanks,” he answered, shaking his head.
“Why?” I pressed, intrigued. “Please do. Just like me, you’ve been hard at work all day.” Caspian raised an eyebrow, his expression hinting at surprise. For a moment, I thought I saw a glimmer of a smile.
“You’re worried about my well-being?” he asked, his tone laced with skepticism.
I shrugged, feeling a flutter in my chest. “You’re my instructor. I need you in one piece.”
Caspian’s gaze lingered on me before he returned to drinking from his pouch. Just when I thought he would refuse, he motioned for me to come closer. I did, the tart still in my hands.
Grabbing hold of my wrist, he pressed it against his lips and took the tart from me. His touch sent shivers down my spine. I stifled a gasp at the unexpected exchange, but my heart burst with happiness as a warm feeling bloomed within me.
Turning back, I carried the entire tray and seated myself beside him. We ate quietly, the only sound our spoons clinking against the dishes.
It was a surreal feeling, sitting next to Caspian like this, eating together. But it was one I wouldn’t trade for anything.
Soon the tray was empty, and Caspian glanced at me. His brows furrowed slightly, and just as I was about to ask what was wrong, he stretched out his fingers to clean off something from the side of my cheek.
“Oh…” I trailed off, realizing he had just cleaned off some cookie crumble.
My heart began to pound, and I could feel my cheeks heating up. The intimacy of the gesture left me breathless. It was awkward afterward, neither of us knowing what to say. The silence stretched between us like an elastic band.
Clearing my throat, I broke the silence. “How long do you think we have to wait before we get a response from King Adonis and Hermes?” I asked, glancing at him.
Caspian’s expression turned grim, his eyes taking on a faraway look.
“A few weeks at least,” he replied, taking another sip from his pouch. “They are scouring the entire realm.”
A lump settled in my throat as dread ran through me. While I hoped for good news, that might not be the case
“What about Veronica?” I asked, concern etched on my face. “You haven’t found her yet?”
Caspian shook his head, his expression grim. “No, but every day, more shifters keep turning up dead.”
The words hung in the air like a dark cloud, reminder of the threat still lurking. My appetite vanished, replaced by a knot of worry.
Caspian sensed the shift in the air and stood up, his movements fluid. “Break is over. Time to get back to training.”
I followed suit, trailing him to the center of the arena.
We resumed training, the intensity matching the morning’s grueling session. Everything seemed to be progressing well until Caspian asked me to spar him.
I stood, confused, as he assumed a fighting stance, his movements smooth and flawless. Taking deep breaths, I summoned the courage I didn’t have and charged at him with precision.
Caspian easily deflected my attacks, counterattacking with swift strikes. I avoided some, but others landed squarely. Desperate to win, I charged forward, misstepping and twisting my ankle.
“Ow!” I yelped, landing on the floor, gripping my ankle tightly as pain shot through me. My foot began to swell, turning red. I wanted to play it off, stand up, and continue, but Caspian had already abandoned his sword.
He knelt beside me, gently lifting my bruised foot. I bit my lip, stifling a groan, as his touch sent waves of pain through my ankle.
“It’s really bad,” Caspian said, examining the injury. “Looks like that’ll be the end of training.” I stared at him through tears gathering in my eyes, feeling despondent. Today was already going so well. Why did this have to happen?
Frustration and disappointment welled up inside me as I glared at my throbbing foot. How would I meet Mara to get this treated? Before I could ponder further, I felt myself being hoisted up. I gasped in surprise, realizing it was Caspian carrying me.
“Your Majesty!” I called out, struggling to get down. “You don’t have to do this!”
“I can’t afford to let you walk in this. It’ll only get worse,” Caspian said, his voice firm but gentle. “Hold still.” I instantly went limp, allowing myself to be carried. As we walked, Caspian’s arm wrapped around my body, holding me securely.
The touch sent shivers down my spine, despite the pain. For a moment, I forgot about Veronica, the training, and the danger. All I felt was Caspian’s warmth, his concern. He took me to his wing, right into his chambers, and placed me on a cushion.
“Call the Royal Healer,” he instructed the soldiers outside.
Moments later, Gaff arrived and began treating my swollen leg. Some ointment applications and several massages later, he bandaged the bruised ankle up. “There, that should do it,” Gaff said, packing up his supplies.
“Thank you, you’re dismissed,” Caspian said.
Gaff bowed deeply and left, leaving me alone with Caspian. I turned to look at him, feeling my cheeks burn with embarrassment.
“Thank you so much, Your Majesty,” I said, my voice filled with sincerity as I lowered my head.
Caspian didn’t respond, but I could feel his gaze lingering on me. Unable to bear the tension in the room, I raised my head to look at him. My heart skipped a beat. Stiffening, I met Caspian’s intense stare.
Why was he staring at me like that?