The Four Swords-Chapter 169: Insults and Adoration

"I did not know Benate had a beau." Queen Valerie’s words echoed in my head for a moment as my step faltered.

"Your Majesty, I never thought I would hear an attempt at gossip from you!" Flabbergasted I fell back in step with the queen as we approached the much larger throng of people that were to fill the royal box for today’s match.

Queen Valerie let a smirk run across her face before she regained her composure. She certainly kept me guessing.

"There you are Lord Holden!" Princess Alina left the middle of the crowd to approach myself and her mother.

"Forgive my tardiness, Your Highness," I groveled all I could muster.

"I do not care about that. Did you see that your brother brought along a friend today? How do you feel about that?" Princess Alina looked slightly anxious.

"Oh. That is why Lord Holden did not appreciate me saying his brother has a beau. Perchance our Swordsman is looking for a ladylove?" Queen Valerie turned with mischief in her eye.

Surely I was dreaming. The two royal ladies stifled a shared giggle at my expense. In my horror of shocked silence, my mouth hung agape and my cheeks flushed.

"Do not worry, Lord Holden. You are still my favorite brother even if the lovely Gella chooses someone else." the princess giggled once more with her accomplice before my sovereigns turned to greet the throng of guests.

I surveyed the group. No one seemed to let on that they heard anything of that exchange until I turned and remembered that Captain Darius followed us up the hill.

"It is hard to fight two opponents." The captain offered by way of a sympathetic response before clapping me on the back as we joined the ranks. At least one of the men of the clan of wolves had honor.

"Greetings, honored guests! My mother has given me leave to run today’s festivities. I hope I make a suitable hostess! Please follow us to our seats so that the fun can begin!" Princess Alina announced before turning toward the staircase.

Queen Valerie and Princess Alina lead the masses into the box. Lord Jacobson and Lady Calista followed closely on their heels. Sir Chalmers pushed his way to the front of the line in an unsurprising attempt to ride the coattails of those closest to the throne.

Sergeant Agnar and Captain Darius both motioned for Benate with Gella on his arm to ascend before them as they struck up a conversation about how honored they felt about the whole ordeal.

I was left at the bottom of the stairs with Sir Gavin and Lord Garrison. I motioned for them both to ascend before me. Typically Lord Garrison attended the queen, so something felt amiss.

"Go on!" Lord Garrison prompted his son. "You are the one that wanted to be here today. I know stairs hurt now that Lord Holden spilled your secret."

I stiffened upon hearing my name. I know Lord Garrison’s frustration was not directed at me, but the heat from it still left me sweating.

"I’m sorry, Father," Sir Gavin squeaked out before mounting the first step with a wince.

Yesterday must have really exacerbated his shoulder. I vacillated between admiring his fortitude and condemning his foolishness for fighting in such a delicate state.

Lord Garrison filed in behind his son. Without Gavin realizing, Lord Garrison outstretched his hands to brace his son at even a hint of an unsteady footfall. The sight made me miss my own father.

I hurried up the stairs behind the two men of Falcon. Unsurprisingly Sir Gavin elected to stand toward the rear of the box with his father.

I took a moment to take in the sight of the pair. The striking jaw line from the father duplicated onto the more youthful face of his son.

"Lady Gella, was it?" My attention instantly shifted as I heard Lady Calista remark in a tone that was attempting to be casual.

"Just Gella, Milady." The blonde beauty dipped her head in respect to Cali.

"Ah. That’s right. Do I also recall correctly that when we met, you were on the arm of a different man from the clan of bear?" Cali’s mischievous grin grew wide.

Princess Alina and Lady Calista must have planned this. How they did it will remain a mystery. Between Alina’s probing questions and Calista’s forthright approach, my babysitting charges were somehow still matchmaking like they were at Lord Jacobson’s Swordsman ceremony.

Gella flushed. Before she found words, Benate came to her aid.

"Lady Calista, does it matter when she chose the better brother just as long as she chose him?" Benate flashed a winning smile that was probably a contributing motivator for the crowd that mobbed him the day before.

"Better remains to be seen. Certainly you are the more confident, Sir Benate," Cali jabbed, skillfully complimenting as well as insulting both my brother and me at the same time.

"They are fine gentlemen. I am honored to be considered a friend to both of them," Gella diffused some of Calista’s feistiness with her sweetness.

"It is no wonder that they adore you," Princess Alina chimed in. "Unprompted praise in the face of Cali’s insults could win any man’s heart!"

"Then maybe I should insult more people," Calista joked.

"That means you would have to interact with more people," Lord Jacobson pointed out with a laugh.

"That is true. Everyone is on their own," Lady Calista announced.

"Are you always so informal in front of your betters? Who taught you manners?" Sir Chalmers barked toward Calista before pointing his chin in the direction of Princess Alina.

Alina shared a look with Calista that seemed to plead for her to not make a scene. Banter in the royal box livened up the tournament. An all out screaming match would dampen the mood. freēwēbηovel.c૦m

"Forgive me, Sir Chalmers," Calista said with a sweeping bow of her head. She then leaned over toward Lord Jacobson to loudly whisper, "Do you think anyone would praise him if I insulted him?"

Cali’s rib met with Princess Alina’s elbow from her other side.