บท 12: Friendship or Love
Everything went according to the plan. Next day the tailor came to the Manor, which was now Isabel firm, with his current workers as well as with the workers whom he had expelled.
The work began and Evelyn personally paid attention to it. Earl suggested to her, to appoint Mr Hamon as head to look after the work when she ain't around so that in her absence there shouldn't be a delay in work due to some silly conflicts between the workers.
"So my lady, shall we continue our sword practice? Council's tier two exam is near," she heard Earl speak.
"Sure, sir," she addressed him in the way he did.
"After you my lady," he bowed dramatically and followed her.
"Take me back to the palace and then we will go for practice," Evelyn informed Earl as he rode the carriage. He nodded to her and took her back to the palace.
She hurriedly ran towards her room as didn't want to keep Earl waiting for her long. Taking out a pair of black trousers and a white shirt, she wore them quickly.
It was the best time to wear them as she was going to practice swords and get used to the clothes as early as possible. She glanced at her reflection and tucked in the shirt.
The shirt fitted her body correctly, neither too loose nor too tight but decent enough to not display her curves. She smiled at her reflection, being satisfied with her look and exited her room.
Earl waited for her patiently, leaning on the carriage. He looked in the direction of the sound of footsteps only to get captured by the view. His mouth gaped as he saw Evelyn in the shirt and pants.
Her hair was loosely open as always but this time she looked different. He continued staring at her, captivated by her beauty only to realise that she was a queen and shook his head. He looked around and saw how maids and servants were staring at her as well and chuckled.
"How do I look?" Evelyn asked him, placing both hands on her waist.
"Gorgeous as always," he remarked.
"I know right," she said and chuckled.
"There are many eyes on you right now, my lady," he said, indicating to her about the servants and maids.
"It will take time for them to get used to seeing me like this."
"Indeed. Shall we leave now?" He asked, chuckling at her.
"Sure!"
They both left for the forest and began the practice. Earl showed her a few moves and tactics which she learned.
"Not like this Eve. You need to apply the tactics we practised before," Earl said sternly. They had been practising for three hours straight without a break, which had drained both of their energies, yet they continued. "Alright, now try again," he added.
Evelyn ran towards him briskly, dodging his attacks on the way and raised her sword above her head to attack him.
Earl quickly moved sideways, dodging the attack and moving his sword, targeting her weak points.
"Again. You are giving me opportunities to attack you back. Remember one thing Eve, your safety is first and next comes attack. If you attacked your enemy and allowed him to counterattack then understand that the battle is lost by you. Never reveal your weak points to the enemy," he said sternly.
They were practising rapier combat. In this combat, if the person raises his arm above a level to deliver a slash, exposing his body to the enemy, results in a quick counter thrust benefiting the enemy. Earl was providing her with the tactics to overcome these trickeries.
"Now, defend the attack," Earl said, taking the attacking position.
"Let's take some rest for a while. I am tired," she said, as she huffed for air. She bathed in sweat. Practising continuously under the sunlight made her exhausted.
"We need to complete this session today Eve. Come on, you can do it. This time you attack," he said, trying to encourage.
"Just a moment," she whispered, taking a deep breath to normalise her breath.
He saw her leaning on a tree behind her. Her face was red due to the intense practice and her eyes squinted in daylight. He looked at her proudly as even though she had drained all her energy still she agreed to him to continue the practice.
Yet he decided to call it a day as she shouldn't torture her body like this. He didn't want her to fall sick because of doing anything excessively and their body capabilities.
"Let's call it a day Eve. I am exhausted," he said, releasing air, faking the fatigue.
She nodded and moved towards him to take a seat. He sat looking at the sky and murmured, "I hope you will get time for me later when you join the council." The thought nagging in his mind finally found its way out. He knew how people get busy as soon as they join the council. Mr Wilkin, her uncle, was absent most of the time, overworking himself.
She looked at him perplexed. It took her a few seconds to realise why he said that.
"I promise that I will never let my work come between our friendship," she said, reassuringly.
"And I promise that no matter what happens, I will trust you and your decisions and will always be there for you as a friend and a guide," he replied looking at her serene face that held a soft smile.
They both embraced the silence between them as there was nothing to speak much and they didn't want to ruin this moment.
Who knew that each of them felt differently about the moment. One saw the other as a close friend and a mentor while the other had fallen for selflessness and humble behaviour.
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