Trying to Save my Favorite Character from His Tragic Fate

*thud*

Ian's arms immediately shield Kyrie from the impact of the fall, enclosing Kyrie within. His hands slowly grip into the grass of the ground, pulling them off the soil. 

They have fallen into the bushes, and a branch has grazed Ian's face. Noticing the wound slowly turning red, Kyrie grabs his handkerchief in his pocket and puts on the bleeding wound. His eyebrows lightly furrow at the sight of the wound. 

Ian freezes as he feels the tender touch, and they remain looking at each other's eyes, forgetting even to blink. Then, the vice principal's voice breaks out of their daze, and they divert their eyes. Ian wants to get up from their awkward position, but Kyrie stops him from moving up. Their situation is too awkward to explain, so Kyrie boldly slides his hand on Ian's nape and pulls him towards his chest, hiding them better from any prying sight.

Kyrie whispers in Ian's ears, "Let's wait for a bit."

Ian shudders and blushes shyly when he feels Kyrie's fingertips running on his skin.

"That's weird... I clearly heard that they were still practicing. Maybe I should go check in the weapon room."

The steps sound further away, so both of them breathe out in relief. After feeling Kyrie letting go of his nape, Ian lifts himself rapidly, still flustered beyond words. Seeing Ian trying to hide his blush by withdrawing, Kyrie lets out an embarrassed smile. He stands up, patting the invisible dust off his trousers.

"Ah! There you are!" says the vice principal walking back from the weapon room.

"Is there something that the vice principal needs?" asks Kyrie while side-gazes at Ian.

The vice principal grins happily at the question that he has just been waiting for. 

The vice principal rambles, "Sr. Rowan, since you have yet to look around the capital city of Ethern, I was thinking that maybe it is a good idea that you participate in one of the festivals that is coming soon. The festival that starts in two days is called the Lantern Festival. It is a wonderful festival, and on those days, there are no classes. I would like to introduce you to my niece, Lady Everlyn Larson so that you can enjoy the festival. She is quite a good conversationalist, and..."

Kyrie cuts in and says apologetically, "I would have to decline the offer, vice principal. I have planned to go to the church, so I would not be able to go with Lady Larson."

Meeting with rejection before he could even finish his words, the vice principal lets go of his smile. His entire expression slumps.

The vice principal sighs, "It cannot be helped if you have official matters to do."

Dispirited, the vice principal walks away after his plan fails to set Kyrie up with his niece.

Ian, who was eavesdropping, says, "You can change your date to the church if you are not in a hurry. I mean... Lady Larson is quite a looker."

Kyrie furrows his brows while looking at Ian, who is avoiding his stare.

Kyrie pouts, "But I have set that day with you first."

Ian replies, "Right..."

Ian turns around and flashes a hidden smile while picking up his sword and goes to the weapon room. Kyrie follows him quietly, pouting in a bad mood.

[Ian does not understand my intentions... *tears up* And more importantly... Who is this Everlyn Larson?]

---

Some days have passed, and the rumors have become more dramatic. After Penelope has announced that the person Kyrie fancies is Lady Larson, many eyes secretly follow Kyrie and Everlyn wherever they go. Everyone tries to catch the 'lovebirds' in action so that their lives are filled with more exciting romantic stories of the famed paladin and the wicked noblewoman.

In the library, Kyrie continues to look through the scrolls diligently. However, he does not get anything useful from them. Looking at the sky, Kyrie sees the sun high up shining brightly. He puts the scrolls back on the shelves and prepares himself to eat lunch with Ian. He walks out of the library to find a group of female students waiting for him.

Penelope, the leader of the group, walks towards Kyrie.

"Sir Rowan is very diligent in his studies. Since it is almost time for lunch, would you like to accompany the ladies and me to a picnic that we prepared?" says Penelope extending her hand towards Kyrie.

Out of courtesy, Kyrie takes her hand and kisses it like a gentleman. Penelope smiles with pride while the other ladies marvel at Penelope's boldness.

Kyrie looks at Penelope and the group. Everyone's eyes are expectant except for one lady. Her head is down, and her expression sad. Penelope follows Kyrie's eyes and lands on Lady Larson. 

Her expression hardens.

"This is Lady Everlyn Larson," Penelope introduces Kyrie.

[So, this is Lady Larson. She does look pretty.]

"Sir Rowan," Evelyn curtsies.

"Lady Larson," Kyrie bows.

Evelyn looks at Kyrie with frightened eyes. Kyrie gives her a comforting smile and extends his hand. Astonished and nervous, Evelyn extends her hand with a blush on her cheeks.

Kyrie takes her hand and kisses it. He gives a confident smile to try to show his goodwill and says, "It is nice to meet you, Lady Larson."

Kyrie looks at Penelope, trying to hold her anger in, and explains, "Unfortunately, I have a prior arrangement. I hope you ladies understand. Well, then, please excuse me."

Once Kyrie's figure is too far to see, Penelope stares daggers at Evelyn. Wanting to snap at her, she prepares to sink her teeth, but the other ladies already encircle her, cheerfully talking and fangirling at what just happened.

One of them asks, "Is it true what you have said before that Sr. Rowan doesn't know you?"

"Didn't you see? Sr. Rowan didn't recognize her at all!"

"But don't you think he is amazing? He is so well mannered and dazzling! I wish he could also kiss my hand too!!!"

The ladies of the group excitedly fangirl while Evelyn listens to their conversation with a blush still on her cheeks. She looks at the direction that Kyrie left, sending her gratefulness for Kyrie for shielding her from the rumors that spread about them. This gesture will help the evil rumors to disperse once the word goes out.

Kyrie walks fast towards one of the classrooms. He enters to see no signs of Ian.

A student walks towards the door with the intent of going out but is stopped by Kyrie, asking, "Pardon, my lady. Have you seen prince Ethern?"

The student gets surprised that the rumored paladin asks her, so she replies with a flustered tone, "Yes, he has left the room for a while now."

"I see... Thank you!" 

Kyrie fast walks to the dorm room. Inside, he sees Ian working on some articles. However, Ian does not turn his head even when he closes the door.

Noticing something is different, Kyrie walks towards Ian, but Ian does not turn and look at him. Kyrie kneels and looks at Ian, who is concentrating on reading the article.

Kyrie puts on a smile and says, "Ian, it's already lunchtime. Let's go to eat."

Ian finally moves his eyes and glances at Kyrie. Kyrie tilts his head and pleads with his eyes. Looking at Kyrie's pleading eyes, Ian turns his body to face him.

Ian says with a muffled voice, "Didn't you receive an invitation from the ladies? Lady Larson is also there. You should go. We can always have lunch some other time."

Kyrie, amused, leans closer and says, "But I already asked you for lunch first."

Ian looks away and says, "You seem to like Lady Larson. You even kissed her hand. This is an opportunity... to get to know her."

Kyrie turns silent, processing Ian's words for a moment. Then, Kyrie chuckles and smiles widely at Ian's words. He purses his lips, trying to hold his smile, but chuckles again.

"What?" says Ian with a flat tone.

"Ah... well... haha... It seems like the ladies were giving Lady Larson a hard time, so I did it out of courtesy... hehe..." says Kyrie, bashful.

Ian starts to blush once he understands Kyrie's words. Kyrie has clearly read his jealousy, so his eyes begin to wander everywhere, trying to think of a good reason to say,

However, Kyrie, without losing a beat, takes Ian's left hand and kisses it. Stupefied, Ian retrieves his hand out of reflexes, but Kyrie does not let it go. He holds Ian's hands tighter, pulls it closer, and kisses his palm.

---

"Sir Rowan, it's nice to see... Oh, lord! What happened to your cheek?" exclaims Lady Larson as she stares at Kyrie's cheek.

"Ah! Haha... It is quite embarrassing, but it seems that someone saw me kissing Lady Larson's hand."

Thus, another rumor surrounding the mysterious identity of the lady that Kyrie fancies surfaces again. The ladies of the academy scream in agony, "Just who is this person that Sir Rowan cares so much that would even take a hit on the face?!?"