I Will Be the Greatest Knight

Chapter 509: A Welcome Return

Irene woke up to an arm hugging her waist and a hard body pressed up against her. She felt unbelievably conscious of the man beside her. It was his possessive grasp that caused her to wake up in the first place.

However, the more he woke up, the more he seemed to behave himself because he soon opted to gently kiss her shoulder that had been exposed at some point in the night and distanced himself before he could get carried away.

"My beautiful wife," he uttered as he stood up. "Sorry for waking you."

She thought for sure that he would push for a bit more. Perhaps their kiss would lead to something else as it had the days after the wedding.

Instead, he went towards the shirt he had shed the night before since the weather was still warm and opted to put it back on. There was no point in getting in something too fancy when they still had half a day’s worth of travel ahead.

He faced away as he got himself together. Irene found herself agonizing over each movement.

However, he returned to her and gently stroked the side of her face.

"Are you tired?" he asked. "Don’t rush to get up. I’ll retrieve us breakfast."

He was so unbelievably sweet, but now that he had given her more in the past, she wanted more.

Before she could even respond, he was off and in the hallway. That morning he was dutiful when instead she wanted him to find her irresistible, not knowing that was why he had to separate himself from her in the first place.

Irene eventually did get up, and she washed her face in room-temperature water before brushing out her hair and braiding it in a way that was best suited for traveling. With a cream colored tunic over her body and her riding pants back on, she was ready to face the next few hours.

It wasn’t time to dwell on her relationship behind closed doors. She was also nervous to face the knights after such a long departure. All she wanted was for them not to treat her differently.

Since they were given a large room at the inn, there was a table that they could share breakfast at. She was so happy that they were given warm bread, meats, and cheeses. It was clear that the innkeeper was set on impressing the Duke.

When it was time to leave, they didn’t take long to gather their saddlebags before they were out in the stables and retrieving their horses. This area had trails that went all the way to the Duke’s Tower, so that was what they took as they went between patches of trees and climbed higher and higher until finally, their destination was in view, looking over them from a hilltop. The large northern mountains had been to their right for the entire journey from the inn.

Before they could arrive, Henry unsheathed his sword and lifted it to the sky. There, Blade, Henry’s messenger hawk, swooped downward and landed on the Duke’s hand.

"Go to the Tower," Henry ordered. "Tell them that I’m back—if Sylaron hasn’t already."

Blade being in the area without a letter would be enough for them to realize what it meant.

By the time they made it to the tower, the hawk had indeed informed the knights that the Duke was set to arrive soon because, as they arrived, knights and apprentices rushed outside.

Bren was the first to the pair.

"Let me take your horses," he insisted. "I will be sure your saddlebags get cleaned up and taken to your room."

"Thank you, Bren," Henry responded.

However, the Commander’s apprentice wasn’t finished because he turned to Irene and added, "My condolences, my lady. Your father was an admirable man."

"Thank you," Irene responded, offering a small smile but meaning every word.

This pattern continued through each of the knights except for Felix, who had already connected with Irene after her father’s death. He did give her a hug as they welcomed her back.

With the knights having offered their condolences and all of them outside, Irene decided to address something.

"I appreciate the condolences, but I would much prefer congratulations from now on," she announced, a sad smile pulling at her lips. "I know that’s what my father would want as well."

Even though Irene and Henry had gone through great lengths to ensure the others weren’t uncomfortable by their relationship, the Commander stepped to the side and wrapped his arm around her. He was unwilling for her to feel as if she was alone in this. He supported her words entirely.

At his gesture, Irene couldn’t help melting a bit. Despite previous hang-ups that day, she felt relieved that he was openly supporting her insistence to move forward.

Before they could step inside, the butler, Jakob, who waited at the door, chimed in.

"If I may, Your Grace, I believe a feast is in order for your union and return."

The newlyweds’ eyes met each other. Irene gently shrugged, and Henry nodded.

"I suppose there’s no other choice," Henry decided.

"I will alert the maids," Jakob answered, making himself scarce rather quickly.

Irene was relieved. Easing into life at the Duke’s Tower would be so much better if they started off on a positive foot rather than the melancholy that came with each condolence. She was eager to drink with her brothers and hope that they could continue the happiness that the knights excluded at the thought of a celebration for the return of the Duke.

The knights dispersed to return to their duties before the feast.

With the two alone once more, Henry grasped Irene’s hand, and they were finally able to step through the threshold that led them into the highest tower of the castle.

"I spent all my time trying to achieve all of this, not realizing I was doing it for you," Henry admitted.

Irene had stepped through this exact door so many countless times in her life, but that time felt significant. It was a new beginning for them as they would figure out how their new lives would look in the coming days.

However, after Henry said something so unbelievably tender, Irene felt cold when he let go of her hand. That was where his affections stopped.

She was determined to fix that before the night was over.