403 Liaison

Mika had no other choice, but to go to the training grounds. Dressed in her exercise attire, she arrived at the sparring rings and began going through the moves Lyra had taught her.

While Mika was sweating away, Lyra and Prince Ailwin sat in her garden sharing a pot of tea and snacks.

At mid-morning Ailwin had dressed and made his way over to Mikaela's courtyard to the hopes of talking things over.

Yet, he did not expect for Mika to still be asleep and for Lady Lyra to invite him inside for breakfast.

After the whole fiasco with Sienna and Lady Delju, Ailwin though he had lost he chance to get on Lady Lyra's good side.

Although he felt dubious about this seemingly friendly invitation, he had no reasons to deny the invite. In fact, as he though about it, he found that this might be the prefect time to have a proper conversation with Mikaela's mother.

Throughout the whole meal, Lyra didn't say one word and Ailwin felt that she wanted the meal to be a silent one.

As the two ate, they both observed each other with stealthy glances when the other wasn't looking.

Ailwin found Lady Lyra to be regal, graceful and charming, with a hint of vulnerability to her. Nothing like the vulgar madams he had come across before.

Lyra saw Prince Ailwin to be witchingly handsome, dignified and very formidable. His show of power last night shock and amazed her. Though what has her intrigued is the sense of sorrow surrounding him.

What deep tragedy did this young male face that is able to leave its mark on him?

When breakfast was over and dishes were cleared away, Lyra decided to give him a tour of their courtyard.

She really had no intention of this meeting happening, but since he is already here it wouldn't hurt for her to assess him up a bit more.

Around the courtyard they went, and everywhere they passed the young maids would swooned at the sight of Ailwin's handsome face and princely aura.

Lyra watched him carefully to see if he enjoyed the attention, but to her surprise again, Ailwin was didn't paying the blushing females any mind. He just listened and hung on to her every word as she spoke about her residence.

After showing him all the common areas, Lyra led him towards her gardens. There she had the servants bring drinks and snacks.

"So, telling me Prince-"

"Please, call me Ailwin."

"….Ailwin, you are quite strong for a male your age. Why is that?"

"Yes, I am. I have been training since I was a fledgling and I have never stopped."

"Not very modest about it are you…"

"There is no need for me to be. If I perceive myself to be weak to my enemies will think that I am weak."

"Sometimes that is a good thing...in this case you and my daughter are oddly similar." She had to drill this lesson hard into Mikaela's head. Sometimes not showing your hand can be your best card.

"Thank you for the compliment."

"Is that how you took it to mean…?"

"….En." Wasn't she complimenting her daughter as well as me?

Lyra didn't speak for a long time, she just sat sipping her tea. Allowing her to get her thoughts together, Ailwin began to eat the snacks in front of him as he waited for her next question.

"Ailwin…?"

"Hmmm?"

"Did you f**k Sienna?"

"Cough! Cough cough!...that...what…?" Ailwin near choke on the tart his was chewing. Swallowing his whole cup of juice to get the food down his throat, he needed to take a few minutes to calm his nerves.

Never would he had imagine such a harsh question would come from her mouth.

"Must I repeat the question…"

"No..no...you don't need to repeat the question. I was just taken back by the Lady Lyra's….bluntness."

"Hmph...then answer the question."

"...I can't. To be honest with you, I can't recall what happened after Miss Amara hugged me. This is the truth."

Lyra stare at his face, observing his expression before looking away, "I believe you."

Ailwin sighed in relief. To met his mother-in-law after she caught him with another young lady was bad enough, but now to have a conversation about it, is the icing on top of the stressful cake he has been eating for the last couple of days.

"Thank you...however, Mikaela doesn't feel the same."

"Of course, she doesn't. She young and is falling in love. Why would she be happy about finding her future husband in bed with another woman?" Is he actually this dense?

"I know it would get her upset….but I wish she would believe me…"

"I told you before at dinner. My daughter may seem mature about a lot of things, but she is still a fledgling…." As a woman who is married to a man that has many wives, Lyra has long out grown her jealousy.

Their society allows for such relationships. Young fledglings who experience love for the first time often forgets this and grow bitter.

Should I want that for my daughter, to be content with that life...like me?

"Ailwin…"

"I only want Mikaela as my wife and lover." Ailwin could see what she was going to ask next and wanted to make his stance clear.

"Many males have said that to their betrothals before."

"I am not many males."

"Heh..." Lyra smiled.

Ailwin found himself relaxing toward Lyra. Their conversation began to bemore informal as time went on.

When Pia arrived to deliver some news, Lyra finally felt it was time to get the small talk out of the way and speak about business.

"Ailwin, you are here to get Lady Thalia's father on your side, correct?"

Noticing the abrupt change in conversation, Ailwin drop his prince persona and let his Commander persona reign.

"Yes. Right now, the King is being held off by Mikaela's scheme, but it won't last for long. In fact, he think he might try something during the winter solstice."

"That doesn't give you much time to gain Lady Thalia' or her father's favor."

"Yes...that is why I was hoping you can be our liaison for this issue."

"Hmm…You trust me enough to be that person for you…?" Lyra questioned.

"No." Ailwin's steady eyes stared at Lyra without hesitation, "….but I trust Mikaela."