Amber Sword

Emerald green wisteria hung outside the window, bathed in sunlight, and the room was silent.

Lady Knight Nia sat by the bed, peeling oranges and placing them in a crystal dish on the bedside table. She carefully observed the delicate sleeping face; to her, the lady was probably the most beautiful person in this world, embodying nobility and kindness as if these words were tailored for her.

Few outside knew what was happening within Yan Castle; since the Sword Seat shattered, the family’s power struggle had never ceased for a moment. Branches of the family all believed that the current Family Head, the present Earl of Yan Castle, was responsible, but everyone knew it was only an excuse. The root of the conflict lay in the Earl’s brother, known externally as ’Dear Baron Daler,’ but this was far from a compliment, especially when mentioned by the people around Yan Castle, who gritted their teeth in response.

A month ago, the Count’s youngest son was poisoned and died during the Su Festival, later proving to be a scapegoat. The greedy little guy sneaked into the kitchen; his body was found with a small maid. Some things Nia dared not tell Delphire, although she felt the ice-smart lady could deduce a few things, but if it weren’t for witnessing the old master’s spirit decline day by day, the lady would not rashly head south.

She gazed blankly at that pale face—thick eyelashes gently lowered, lips red like cherries punctuated on snow-like skin. Over the past few days, Miss Delphire had limited times of waking, yet each time she inquired about news from the family. The lady knight saw her frail appearance and nearly shed tears several times.

The lady could no longer stand up, having lost the ability to wield magic forever, she was once recognized as the genius of Yan Castle when she was young. What power could make her accept this with grace? The lady knight glanced at her own sword; she was called a knight because her ancestors were blessed by the Earl of Yan Castle, but perhaps the lady had her own choices.

At this moment, a soft knock sounded on the door.

"Lady Nia."

It was the maid’s voice. Only then did the lady knight realize, replying with some embarrassment, "Please keep your voice down; come in. The lady is still resting."

The door opened, and the maid’s expression appeared grim. Yet she first bowed to greet: "Lady Nia, someone outside is requesting to see. It is..."

Nia didn’t notice her demeanor; her full attention was focused on her lady. Without turning her head, she asked, "Is it Her Highness the Princess or Miss Antitina?"

"No, Lord Nia..." The maid hadn’t finished speaking before a voice rudely interrupted her. The voice mixed with excitement and pride, loudly quacking like a drake: "Haha, Ambeser is indeed big, I wonder how the Royal Capital is? How about that, little Nia, went out for a few days and can’t recognize me anymore?"

"Acker..." The lady knight shook all over, as if pulling this name from Hell. She showed a look of disgust, stood up abruptly, and instinctively reached for her sword. But barely had she ’clang’ grabbed the sword hilt and guard, when the man outside had already pushed the door open and walked in.

𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

To be exact, it was just a young man, with deep brown almost black curly hair that was quite beautiful, though contrasting with the pallor of his skin, lips thin almost to unfriendliness. He had shining eyes with a texture like black glass, surrounded by deep eye bags and wrinkles, clearly overindulgent in alcohol and leisure.

The young man wore a mysterious smile, standing by the door, donned in a purple wool coat trimmed with silver thread, hands in pockets, with a cane hanging from his arm —a lion’s eye stone embedded in the cane’s head.

In every respect, the young man deserved the term handsome, albeit his steps were somewhat frivolous. However, when the lady knight saw him, it was as if seeing a Demon—even against a real combat with a Demon, she had never shown such fear mixed with revulsion.

The young man, seeing the lady knight, showed a mouthful of white teeth and exclaimed: "Lady Nia, have you considered becoming my knight? I’ll gift you the best warhorse in the Northern Land, though you yourself are precisely the one I favor most."

"Dream on!" The lady knight trembled with anger, "Get out at once!"