#valiusngabe

I disappeared faster into the carriage than I had the days before.

I tried to comb my hair in front of it, but there were not many chances of success. It was not... easily hidden. And I blushed, still remembering. Bloody bastard.

There simply was hoping the last brother was not as keen on teasing as Mazin had been.

… which kind of person would he be so the two wouldn't get along?

What... could possibly be a reason this guy wouldn't just sit down and laugh?

Or, of course, I would simply be treated to an empty stomach. Which was entirely possible. I might have just been lucky the last two d-

KNOCK KNOCK

I blinked, staring at the door. What.

“May I enter the carriage, lady Gabrielle?”

We... had not yet started travelling. We were actually still in station.

I was somewhat stunned.

“Please, if you must, you may,” it was... certainly indecent, being alone with a man, but nothing on this journey had exactly been decent.

He opened the door, gaze to the floor: “My name is Velius, I am a bloodbrother of Samil, your husband, at your service”

I was still perplexed. Were these manners?

And then he looked up, his eye flicked to my neck and he averted his eyes again. After clearing his throat, he pulled a wrapped silk band out of his pocket and held it out to me: “I apologise for my early arrival, please accept this token as an apology”

And closed the door again. For a few seconds, I stared at the wrapped gift and then shook my head. My... standards had lowered considerably in only two short weeks. Seeing me indecent like this – a simple dress and no handmaidens around – would have been scandalous. And not undone by such a small gift.

But he had done something. And apologised.

… was there hope after all?

I finally unwrapped the package and saw... a silk scarf. With an embroidered Hippocampus. And a Seadragon on the other side...

Supposedly, it was... a proper gift. And regardless if it was or not, it would take care of my... problem. I wrapped it around my neck and let both ends hang down in the front. It... worked. And felt actually somewhat nice.

A good few minutes later, there was another knock: “May I enter, Lady Gabrielle?,” he asked once again. And I let him enter again.

“I hope you do not mind,” he said after seating himself and waved servants in. Three of them, bringing seven dishes to choose from – fish and baked potato and chicken and rice and pottage with whine and ginger. And bread. And... I... was somewhat surprised, honestly. This was almost a proper meal. I even got my knife back – they had taken it beforehand.

“Also my deepest apologies for the thievery. At times, my brother do now know how to treat a lady of your standing... I hope we can talk over our meal?,” he smiled in a perfectly polite fashion and opened the banquet like this. And let me take the first helping, because... I was of higher standing.

He... actually had manners. And the trencher was made of silver.

I was.... somewhat impressed.

And also got a solid impression why Mazin did not like him.

I grabbed a chicken leg with my left hand and cut it off with my beloved knife. Had missed it, actually. First: A bit of food. Then we may talk.

…

I had not realised it up to this very moment, but... he had no accent. He could have been raised in our castle!