บท 13: Secrets
Valerio recognized disbelief when he rendered the lady speechless.
"Don't treat me differently because I told you my secret," he muttered. "If you thought I was a noble before, I would hate to disappoint you."
Leonor perked up at his words, deciding to come to her own defense.
"You're in front of a noble who doesn't like nobles," she admitted. "My mother wasn't a noble and was dragged into this life against her will."
Valerio's smile was sad but he appreciated the lady trying to reassure him. He opened his mouth to respond, but it seemed that Leonor wasn't finished with what she wanted to say.
"If you're not from Castille, then where are you from?"
Leonor tucked a black strand behind her ear as she became more shy and reserved again. She was going through waves of realization as she remembered how nervous Valerio made her. She also remembered how she must look not having had a proper bath since the day she was injured. Her hair was in loose, unkempt waves and she was wearing a sleeping dress rather than her usual attire.
"Eirengard," Valerio responded quietly, realizing he hadn't said that name in years. He wasn't normally so forthcoming with his secrets.
"The fallen kingdom with the greatest sword fighters the world has ever seen," Leonor responded in disbelief. "I didn't know there was anyone left."
Everyone knew about Eirengard. It was one of the biggest missteps of King Stefano II's reign. The bloodshed was unfathomable and many from Castille died simply because His Majesty wanted to expand his wealth. His greed was always known but it was so much worse because of that. Other kingdoms around them started being mistrustful of peace treaties and there were many soldiers living at the borders in case the King wanted a repeat of his past actions.
"There were a few children who escaped," Valerio admitted. "We were sent into orphanages all throughout Castille. I consider myself lucky to have been one of the survivors when a baron rescued us."
"I was six when my father had to go into battle," Leonor remembered. "How old were you when you came here?"
Speaking to him was becoming easier. As long as she didn't look at him too deeply in his unique colored eyes then her confidence wouldn't crumble. He was so beautiful but he was also kind. She wanted to give him the same kindness in return.
"I was eight," Valerio said. "Except I wasn't tall. They thought I was much younger before I corrected them."
He wasn't just a teenager, but freshly a man. It made her nervousness return. Even though they had only two years between them, it felt like a lot more than it was. She needed to be more careful but it was the best conversation she had in a while.
Leonor looked at him with wide eyes full of disbelief when he said he wasn't tall as a child. A small smile splayed on her lips. She couldn't imagine him ever being small even though she had only seen him from far away before the day he rescued her.
"But you're very tall now," she realized. "I'm quite tall but you're still taller."
"I'm always hungry," he admitted with a smile, trying to ease away the seriousness of their conversation. "I get enough to eat and still want to eat more."
His smile made her even more shy and one of her hands brushed through some of her hair, a sure sign that she was trying to distract herself from what she was feeling.
"I have another question," she admitted. "I suppose it won't be that much of a surprise to you."
His head tilted and the gentle smile on his face didn't leave. Valerio had a suspicion he knew what the question was.
"Why did you say you think your name is Valerio?"
His smile became sad.
"Because I know that I had a different name before I came here," he admitted.
She pressed on, going blindly into the fog just as she did the day she was injured.
"What was it?" she asked.
Before Valerio could answer, there was a flash of lightning followed closely by a crack of thunder. His red eyes darted towards the window. He came there in the rain but the weather had gotten worse.
"I think I've shared enough secrets about myself for one day," he responded with a grin, his eyes returning to the lady in front of him. "On the other hand, you haven't revealed a thing to me."
"I don't have any secrets," Leonor insisted.
"How am I supposed to know?" he asked. "We have just barely started to get to know one another."
His implying that they would get to know one another more in the future caused Leonor's heart to pound miserably in her chest. It was unfair she couldn't be outwardly excited. Her leg ached already at the thought of standing up to express her joy.
"I suppose you're right," Leonor relented. As she contemplated, Leonor bit the inside of her lip and convinced herself to be more bold. "Will you see me again? The healer said I will be able to be on crutches after a few more days."
He grinned and her heart soared.
"If that's what the lady wants," he responded. "But for now I must go. The path ahead is full of mud."
He was already close enough, in Leonor's opinion, however he got even closer and grabbed her hand.
"This is the polite thing to do, isn't it?" he asked. "I have no manners for nobility."
Leonor was already frozen at the feeling of his touch. She didn't breathe when he kissed the back of her hand. Her response was stuck in her throat.
Eventually she nodded.
It was the expected and desired response he had been hoping for. When her cheeks were red and she looked embarrassed was when she looked the cutest, in his opinion. He felt cruel to do that to someone who was already bedridden.
However, he was looking forward to being her entertainment. Despite how awful her sister had been that day, her mood wasn't bad. He wanted to continue to see her smile and test the limits of her curiosity and courage.
"I'll see you soon, my lady," Valerio said and started walking towards the door.
He cast one last look towards Leonor.
"Goodbye, Valerio," she managed to utter. "Be safe."
With a satisfied smile and his hood pulled up to hide his hair, he was off. The last thing Leonor saw was the edge of his cloak, tattered because of where he tore it apart to wrap her leg.
Leonor's mind raced fervently. She needed to figure out a way to pay him back.
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