“Oh come on Cessi, he’s easy on the eye, isn’t he?”
“Yes, b-but... he’s almost a r-relative. And what about S-Sabael?”
“I don’t want to talk about that idiot! He can keep brooding and ignoring me if he wants, I do not care for him anymore! I don’t care! I’d rather go and lick a dragon’s butt than see him again!”
“Oh. That’s a bit harsh...”
The two girls stopped and turned around, only to see a blushing Sabael standing awkwardly behind them. This time, he wasn’t wearing his armor, only a plain white shirt that was still open enough to show his muscular torso... Cessilia was a bit surprised to see him there, but judging how close they still were to the Hashat residence and the direction he had come from, it looked like he had been waiting for them to come out. She realized he might have gotten a little tip from his sister on where to find them. Cessilia smiled, a bit relieved to see his sorry expression, and his two different-colored eyes on her cousin. Tessandra, however, wasn’t of the same opinion. She glared.
“There he goes, that coward. He’s done for the day, and he has the guts to show up, with that sexy get-up too! Who do you think you are, to appear all hot like that in the middle of the night?! I’m not tempted at all! It. Does. Not. Work!”
Confused, Sabael looked down at his outfit, completely unaware of his own charms. Cessilia couldn’t really blame her cousin, the young man was indeed quite attractive, even more so while wearing fitted clothes rather than heavy armor. His leather pants and boots were dark and highlighted his silhouette, and a blue, colorful scarf was tied around his waist.
“S-sorry,” muttered Cessilia. “She’s a b-bit drunk...”
“I’m not drunk! And I am not tempted to jump on that sexy pirate! ...Where did you get such a girly scarf? Why would you wear what another bitch gave you?! I haven’t had a chance to buy you anything yet! Take it off!”
“T-Tessa!”
“I-it was a present from my sister!”
Cessilia was almost more shocked to hear Sabael genuinely trying to explain himself apologetically than her cousin’s shameful behavior. Ignoring him and Cessilia’s attempts to hold her back, Tessandra staggered up to the young soldier and angrily tried to take off his scarf. Her fingers were unable to untie anything in her state, but having her fidgeting around his waist area made Sabael blush uncontrollably, and he didn’t even dare try to stop her.
“Uh... I’m... sorry...” he muttered, his eyes down on Tessandra’s uncontrollable hands.
“Shut up,” she retorted. “Shut up, you and your mouth. I don’t care! You’re an idiot, and you’re... you’re...”
“I’m sorry,” he muttered again. “I didn’t mean to act cold this morning, but I was just surprised, and I needed to collect my thoughts...”
“Shut up!”
Tessandra’s shouting was assorted with a violent slap on his torso that cut his breath. He coughed a couple of times, his eyes opened wide in surprise. Behind him, Cessilia grimaced.
“I’m sorry, S-Sabael,” she said. “T-Tessa gets a b-bit hard to handle when she’s d-drunk...”
“N-no,” muttered the young man, trying to regain his composure. “I’m the one who made her upset, I should be able to handle this much... It’s my fau–!”
Tessa suddenly grabbed his collar and kissed him. Sabael was so stunned, he kept his eyes wide open on Tessandra and froze completely. Behind them, Cessilia facepalmed.
“G-goodness, Tessa...” she muttered.
Right after, Tessandra ended their kiss, her hands still on Sabael’s collar with a proud smile.
“There!” she exclaimed, visibly satisfied. “Now, you’re mine!”
“Uh... th-thanks,” dropped Sabael, at a complete loss of what else to say.
“Shut up,” retorted Tessandra, frowning. “You shut up. Don’t add anything.”
“...Sorry.”
“I’m sleepy,” groaned the willful young woman. “Take me to bed.”
Behind them, Cessilia was completely at a loss. She had seen Tessandra become a handful when drunk, sometimes too violent as she didn’t control her strength, and willful too, usually toward her dad, but never with a man her age. She silently apologized to Sabael but, much to her surprise, the young Royal Guard didn’t seem offended at all. He sighed, and as if it was natural, lifted Tessa up, letting her wrap her arms around his neck and rest her head on his shoulder. Curled up in the soldier’s arms, the young warrior didn’t seem so feisty anymore. She was probably going to fall asleep long before they reached the castle. A smile appeared on Cessilia’s lips, although it was likely her cousin would flip over all her bold actions the next morning...
“S-sorry about this,” she muttered to Sabael. “T-Tessa was b-bit uneasy about what happened th-this morning.”
“...You probably mean my attitude,” sighed Sabael. “My apologies, I just needed... a bit of time. I’ve never been with a lady like Tessandra before. I’m not used to... bold women. It made me... a bit insecure as a man.”
“...What a-about now?” she asked carefully, glancing at her cousin’s peaceful figure.
“I am still working on it. ...But I think running from Lady Tessa isn’t going to give me the answers or the resolution I need.”
Cessilia smiled, relieved for the two of them. Sabael wasn’t as stubborn as he seemed, and he was a good man. Becoming the interest of a girl like Tessandra was likely forcing him to reconsider the values he had grown up with, as well as challenging his own pride. It probably wasn’t easy, but he had come back anyway. Perhaps those two would be able to find the key to their understanding after all.
For a little while, neither of them added anything, both lost in their thoughts while on the way back to the castle. Cessilia hadn’t drank as much as her cousin, but this little walk helped her shake off that bit of tipsiness, and instead, her heart was gradually filled with expectation. It was a bit late, but she hoped Ashen hadn’t changed his mind on their date.
“...Princess, watch out.”
Sabael’s nervous voice took her out of her reflection. He had stepped in front of her by reflex, but she could still spot the large, hooded figure standing ahead of them, right outside the castle’s gates. It was a bit unnerving to cross paths with an imposing silhouette like this in the middle of the night, but Cessilia immediately recognized that familiar frame. Her heartbeat accelerated a little in anticipation, and she put a hand on Sabael’s shoulder.
“I-it’s alright,” she said. “C-can you g-go and p-put Tessa to b-bed for me?”
“...Are you sure?”
Cessilia nodded, catching a glimpse of shiny, white hair under the hood.
“Yes, d-don’t worry. N-Nana should still b-be up, t-tell her not t-to wait for me either.”
