“Do you really have to wear that?” Eldric asked when Lia popped her head in the kitchen to inform her mother that she would be leaving for town. He was there to look at what her mother was doing and almost did a double take when he saw Lia wearing her man’s clothes.

It was time to deliver their products to Yolly’s store and while she was in town, get something to replenish their supplies.

Lia bit back her sarcastic remarks. She did not want to sound so catty at Eldric who was every bit a good and respectful guest in their small abode. Besides, after his cryptic reaction back in the clearing, Lia could not stop wondering what was Eldric’s life before the Imperial Palace. Because the book did not say anything about his past. Maybe it did, on the upcoming second book. But by the time it was released, Lia was gone from that world.

“Yes, and I already told you,” Lia replied with gritted teeth. “Is there anything else you’d want to get from town?”

“Why don’t I join you?”

Eldric started rising. To her horror, Lia pulled down his arm to keep him sitting.

“We don’t know what happened yet. I’ll try to get information around town. I’ll get going.”

Eldric started rising again. “At least let me walk you to the outskirts of the town.”

Lia started to protest again but they heard a cough that made the two of them look around.

“You better let him or you both spend the day insisting and denying things,” Tamara said, amusement glinting on her eyes.

Eldric continued staring at her hair, now hidden under a large hat. “They don’t know what they’re missing.”

Lia narrowed her eyes at him. “Shut it.”

They walked in comfortable silence. From the outside, they looked like two guys strolling in the middle of the forest. Eldric did not force any small talks. He let her alone in her own bubble. The worst part was Lia knew that Eldric would not judge her or pop that bubble and force himself to it.

Except in the last hour where he kept on asking the same questions over and over again.

“Will you really be safe there alone?”

“Yes, how many times do you think have I done this,” Lia tried hard not to roll her eyes.

“You have your dagger, yes?”

Gosh, he was relentless. Lia had the urge to tease him.

“I do have it, ‘Father’.”

Eldric glowered at her but betrayed by a smirk playing at the corner of his lips. “I don’t have a disobedient child.”

They both laughed at that. At the same time, they arrived at the edge of the woods. They could see houses not too far from them and children playing on the streets. They stopped walking and hid among the shadows of the trees.

Eldric put his hands on Lia’s shoulders.

“Listen, I don’t want the information if it means you’re risking your safety. What I want is for you to be safe. If in the middle of getting the information and there’s a chance, however small, of sticking your neck on places you don’t have to, leave.”

He stared at Lia and she could only stare back.

The Eldric she knew always had a quick smile on his face. None of the taciturn general she saw from afar on the day of the contest. None of the cold, calculating gaze, always wary of his surroundings, always studying the person in front of him.

Lia was standing in front of the general now.

She felt the gripped on her shoulders tighten.

“Please tell me you’ll do that.”

Lia did not have the heart to put his worries as jest so she stared back as solemn as she could.

“Yes, I’ll promise that.”

And she was off to the center of the town.