Chapter Text
Uslin felt like a mess. An exhausted lump of a mess. Sweat was dried over his skin, making him grimy and disgusting and while he didn't particularly care and was often good at taking care of himself, today had been a busy day of training.
It was late night, most would be asleep, the night patrol on duty and he was ready for a much needed bath and sleep. Tomorrow would be just as exhausting.
Some of the guards bowed their heads as he passed but he didn't bother acknowledging them for he didn't see the point of their reverence. He was a knight, sure he came from nobility but he had no care for it much. His job as a knight was his greatest honour and reverence in this castle should belong only to the Commander.
Washing his face with water from a bucket, as he entered the castle ready to hide away in his quarters until the rooster crowed, removing his helmet as he strolled past the simply decorated hallways which still made him falter as though he was in an unfamiliar castle. The changes he was still getting his head around, always finding something new added.
He didn't dislike the changes on the castle, much he was impressed indeed. It wasn't outlandish indeed. It was nothing like Croix Castle. Croix castle, which made Uslin shudder with its over the top perfection, cold, clinical marble walls and floors, decorated to the nines, fit for the King even. Croix castle, even when Uslin saw it for the first time could admit he was impressed by its splendor but that was it. Impressed by how much work and money could've gone in, to make it extravagantly tasteful. His head hurt thinking how much money could've been involved into its splendor.
Castle Calypse though...
Uslin hesitated, staring up at the wide wall, running next to the thick plane glass windows and his brow furrowed as he stared at the grey stone wall that was now hidden behind a large but tasteful tapestry. The tapestry was basic, deep blue edge in grey threads on the border.
Classical symbolism.
The walls used to be empty, barren, hollow and cold. It had been that way for years even long before Riftan. And Riftan hadn't burned his money on the castle except for the basic, basic necessities. And of course the workers.
The basic decorations that gave some idea of a home, it was hard for Uslin to wrap his head around that the person who created this space was one who came from such extreme splendor. His brow furrowed deeper at the thought. Lady Calypse had...taste. The Croix castle was cold and clear, shiny and like living in gold. Even the King wasn't as extravagant as the Duke, making Uslin's mouth tighten at the thought of the snivelling Duke.
But Castle Calypse wasn't shiny, gleaming and sparkling. Instead it was...a castle that adorned simply, tasteful and...Uslin gazed up at the tapestry again with a lighter frown. It felt more like a home for the Remdragon Knights that it did ever before.
A soft clatter made him look up, turning his head and his eyes widened slightly as he saw Lady Calypse appear out the door coming from the kitchen, a tray in hand which she was looking over with a questioning frown, her tongue sticking out slightly as though she was trying to remember something. Uslin hesitated at the sight of the lady, especially seeing her out this late when even the Lord would no doubt be asleep...
Or maybe he was working in his office.
He assumed the lady would be asleep by now, considering he weak disposition but he always found him startled by different aspects of the Lady.
His last conversation with Agnes as he travelled with her outside of Anatol for protection, came to mind.
---
"A sullen look from you my friend." Agnes gazed him questioningly, brow raised and Uslin didn't bother to reply, acting as though he had no idea what she meant. "As eccentric I may be, but my eyes are sharp. They see enough. You who is most loyal to Riftan for many years and it almost appears to be a cold war between you. Friends shouldn't have cold wars."
"There is no cold war." Uslin kept his voice, eyes ahead as his horse trotted next to Princess Agnes. "Friends..." Uslin hesitated but he pushed on. "Friends have arguments but there is no cold war. The Commander I respect and always will."
Agnes continued to eye him with eyes sharp like a hawks and she turned her head forward, silence drawing around them. Finally Agnes sighed, looking amused but her eyes were sharp still as she stared ahead, sitting comfortably upon her mare.
"You know for men to say women are gossipers," She flicked her gaze to him, a cunning smirk on her face. "You knights chatter quite a lot. Especially drunk." Uslin's jaw tightened but he never looked away, cursing inwardly for drunken idiots and whatever nonsense may spew from their mouths. Hebaron Nirta!
"But I do have eyes as I have said." Agnes voice became suddenly tighter and Uslin glanced at her cautiously as she faced the land ahead with a relaxed expression that didn't fit her voice a second ago. "I don't believe your attitude is fair to Maximilian."
Uslin gritted his teeth, a flicker of emotions coming through.
"My attitude-"
"I never wanted a union with Riftan either."
Uslin's mouth clamped shut at the words, hesitant as the old thoughts traversed through his mind and he glanced at Agnes who smiled faintly as a soft breeze drifted by. Agnes gave him a smirk from the corner of her eyes, as she ruffled her horses mane.
"It was the last thing I wanted. To be married and to Riftan Calypse. Honestly, when my father proposed the offer, it was a great relief when I heard Riftan turned down the offer of divorce and my hand." Uslin faltered, surprised by that as he never really thought past Riftan and he had assumed Agnes would've been offended by the offer being harshly turned down.
Uslin groaned inwardly as he sullenly remembered hearing the Commander's words when the offer was proposed. There were words said that were unbefitting to be said in mind or aloud.
"Don't get me wrong, I think Riftan makes a good husband but," Uslin tilted his head to the Princess as she eyed him sharply, almost cunning like a fox as her lips curled up. "I think he makes a better husband for Maximilian. And Maximilian is a better wife for Riftan. Besides," Agnes scoffed, rolling her eyes upward. "What woman sane or insane would want a man who heart belonged to another?"
Uslin sighed deeply, grimacing at the permeating thoughts in his head. He wasn't blind, far from it.
"Do you really think she is deserving of such cold treatment?" Agnes quirked a brow at him, turning her head to him, forcing Uslin to meet her gaze head on. Agnes eyes were imploring and sharp as she smirked. "Can you really blame her for everything the Duke did when as a woman she has little power herself? When she was just as much forced into this marriage like Riftan was?"
---
Uslin frowned, his brows furrowing deeply enough to leave permanent wrinkles for a day or two as he eyed the lady. Princess Agnes wasn't wrong. Maximilian had been just as much forced into the marriage by her father, a father who said to cherish his daughters but was still a slimy viper that coerced the Commander into a lethal expedition for three painfully long years.
But Agnes's words hit him hard, making him see the lady a little differently. But lately, his conscious had been around, fluttering here and there, annoying the hell out of him. But hearing others speak of the Lady, and how she almost got herself killed by a wyvern.
Uslin couldn't recall a time he had ever seen the Commander go insane and his conscious reared its ugly head up. He didn't particularly...no, he didn't hate the Lady. Maybe he hadn't for a while but he was still wary around her.
But...
"Oh no." The Lady sighed, grumbling as she turned around, hesitantly with the tray in hand looking unsure and Uslin sighed, stepping out of the shadows and clearing his throat loudly but not too quickly to startle her. She was still startled, her pale grey eyes flittering to him in shock but when they landed on him, they clouded nervously. "Oh, S-Sir Rikaido, are y-you okay? It's l-late, y-you should be r-resting."
Uslin wanted to laugh and point out that she was still up and about while it was late. But her queries, asking him if he was well made him stop his derisive snort. A lady he had insulted and obviously offended but she still questioned his health...
Can you really blame her for everything? Agnes words hit him hard again and even hearing the gossip from other knights, their words of appreciation...
"No, I'm well my lady. I was just about to return to my quarters but are you in need of assistance." The lady hesitated, looking unsure and wary as she stared at him before something obviously overtook her nerves and she nodded.
"Um, c-can you hold this f-for a second, please." Maxi held out the tray and Uslin hesitantly took it from her as she smiled briefly before scurrying back to the kitchen, disappearing and Uslin quickly surveyed the tray in his hands, confusion marring his face. Two teacups were laid out, a couple cubes of sugar in a little bowl and a kettle that had some steam rising from its body with hot water inside. Was the lady having tea this late?
He heard the kitchen door open and the lady emerged, holding a small jar covered with a thick cloth and she was smiling in delight as she hurried towards. "Ah, t-thank you Sir."
"It's a bit late for tea, milady." Uslin murmured and the lady faltered, her gaze hesitant at his cold tone and Uslin wasn't sure whether to curse himself or not.
"Uh, w-well, I f-find it's s-s-soothing, especially when I-I can't sleep." Her eyes darkened, glazing over and Uslin frowned. "I'm still...up-upset over wh-what happened."
What? What happened? Was she talking about their altercation when she tried to practice her magic? Uslin wanted to open his mouth, but the lady continued on, her shoulders drooping as though she was weighed down heavily by rocks.
"I-I still see the wyvern and I-I c-can hear the p-people screaming. S-so many got hurt and...I feel l-like I failed them." Her tone dropped and Uslin felt a shock run through him but she tensed suddenly and raised her head, her pained expression fading as she tried to smile brightly at him. "But, I-I will try harder n-next time. But t-tea helps me s-sleep and it h-helps Riftan. H-he won't admit it b-but he likes h-honey, I think."
Uslin blinked in confusion, his heart softening at the lady's expression as she carefully placed the jar of honey on it and he handed her back the tray which she gratefully took, her eyes flittering nervously up to him, barely looking him in the eye but she smiled faintly, bowing her head. "T-thank you. H-have a g-good night." She turned around quickly, leaving Uslin standing there and-
"My lady."
Lady Calypse hesitated on the stairs, turning around to face him warily and he opened his mouth unsure of what his next words were to be since so many thoughts were running through his mind. Maybe to at least provide a little comfort. He understood the feeling of letting innocent people down and hearing the screams of death, ravaging wars...it was never nice.
"The castle...it looks wonderful."
Uslin wasn't sure whether to smack himself or just leave right now but the lady who looked stunned at the compliment, much less from him, immediately brightened and she smiled gently and Uslin coolly bowed once more and turned away. Uslin hurried to his quarters, closing the door as his mind flailed with many thoughts in mind.
The lady was far from what he expected.
Uslin stared down the door, his lips pursing as previous assumptions of the lady were drifting off one by one. He was still unsure of the lady but, the thought of her being selfish and cunning like her father...calling her such things that he used to think of her, it just didn't feel...right anymore.
It felt...wrong. Horribly wrong.
Who would be sane or insane to want a man whose heart belonged to another?
Hmm...he hated the thought when Agnes brought it up but...remembering the way the Commander lost his mind after seeing the lady in the town after the wyvern was killed, sent a chill down his spine.
Who would be that insane indeed.