The Four Swords-Chapter 156: Joking

Chapt

"Well I have never been thusly treated in my life..." Sir Chalmers mumbled under his breath as he passed by us.

The man brushed past the Princess without so much as a head nod. He must have been quite enthralled with his own thoughts to allow such a lapse in protocol to happen.

"When my brother hears that I was thrown out while I needed medical attention, heads will roll!" The man shouted over his shoulder, still not noticing Her Highness.

"If you're well enough to yell at me, then your headache is fine!" I heard the doctor scream back in response.

Sir Chalmers stopped in his tracks to turn on his heel. He almost rushed back inside to have more of an argument with the doctor, but Alejo stopped him.

"Sir Chalmers, please understand that there is limited space in the medical tent. I think the doctor is seeing enough patients for the time being. Surely you will recover from your ailments much faster in the comfort of your own home." The swarthy guard mused aloud.

Sir Chalmers turned slowly to face the guard. Armed with a wagging finger, he pointed toward the man.

"I'm sure if your concern is for your nephew, he is in good hands," Princess Alina took a step to stand in front of the queen's guard, placing herself at the end of Sir Chalmers' finger.

"My nephew?" The brilliant change in topic disarmed the irate man. "Oh yes. I hope he recovers quickly from whatever ailment he has."

I suppose there is a chance the man's self centered nature made him not even notice his future Swordsman inside the tent. How lucky for him not to see such a sight, but how he could miss it after leaving the tent, was beyond me.

"As I hope you do as well, Sir Chalmers. Good day!" Princess Alina learned from the best on how to gracefully dismiss someone.

"Thank you," Sir Chalmers seemed to finally register who was before him. "Your Highness."

The slightest bow of his head was all the man mustered for his future sovereign. I am so glad he happened to be born later than Lord Garrison. I cannot fathom working with such pride around the Swordsman table.

The stout man scurried off, having the decency not to fight the princess in public.

"Thank you, Your Highness. That man tires me." Alejo added.

Alina smiled with a faint blush in her cheeks. She did not argue the point, but she did not audibly agree with it either. Plausible deniability if anyone thought she spoke poorly of a high ranking member of any clan.

Cali, on the other hand, nodded vigorously. She could not agree more.

"Glad I could help defuse the situation. Most of the time I feel as though I just escalate things." Princess Alina admitted before catching sight of Calista's even more animated nods of agreement.

The princess elbowed her best friend as subtly as she could, which was not subtle at all.

I let out a chuckle at the pair. Lady Calista was never one to shy away from getting Princess Alina in trouble.

"With friends like this, I can see exactly how that happens, Your Highness." Alejo joined in my laughter.

"Excuse me!" Lady Calista mockingly protested. "I just add flavor to an otherwise bland royal existence."

"I would like to try out this bland royal existence some time." Princess Alina joked. Everyone laughed at that.

"Alejo!" A shout came from inside the tent. The doctor peered through the tent flaps with a look of shock. "I was wondering who all was spending their day chatting with you. Your Highness and entourage, if you insist on seeing the infirmed you may do so now. Just please do not get in the way of treatment."

The doctor opened up the flap to allow the ladies passage into the medical tent. He did not have to tell them twice. Lady Calista ignored protocol and burst through the opening, not even bothering to fall into step behind the princess.

Cali raced to Lord Jacobson's side, ignoring the form closest to the door. Princess Alina, however, stepped through the entrance and her eyes shot straight to Sir Gavin.

Sir Gavin sat upright with his bloodied shirt covering what it could. A bandage peeked out from behind the collar at the shoulder and he would not meet anyone's gaze.

"Your Highness, a moment of your time?" Sir Gavin almost pleaded, still staring near the floor.

Princess Alina's cheeks deepened their hue, still embarrassed for entering the tent earlier. Her eyes scanned toward Jacobson to see Calista holding his hand before looking toward me. I motoned that I would follow her wherever she decided to go.

After a steadying breath, she approached Sir Gavin's bedside. Her steps were slow and unsure. The royal family must not visit the injured very often.

"Yes, Sir Gavin?" The Princess did not look directly at the man either.

Gavin stood in respect as Alina approached, but he moved gingerly. Gavin finally looked up from the floor. "I apologize for being immodest before. I should have requested a more private setting for the doctor to tend to me."

"You must be joking." Princess Alina blurted out.

Gavin looked down at the floor with an expression akin to a kicked puppy. "I am sorry for my indecency."

"Without my impatience and impertinence, you would have been able to receive medical care without interruption," Princess Alina began. It was Sir Gavin's turn to start turning red.

"Furthermore," She continued. "Without a parade celebrating my own engagement, you would have never acquired such an injury. It is I who should be apologizing to you."

Princess Alina took a moment to collect her thoughts before finishing her speech. "As a future sovereign, I should take more responsibility for the well being of everyone under the banner of Ensis. In your case, Sir Gavin, I feel as though I have failed"

"My Princess, please do not ever feel as though you have failed me." Sir Gavin's perfect eyes looked earnestly at Alina.

The entire clan of Falcon sickens me in one way or another. I suppose this level of unyielding devotion is better than the obnoxious alternative.

"Thank you, Sir Gavin," the princess muttered, unable to hold his gaze. Her cheeks might never return to normal. "Perhaps, I should check on Lord Jacobson."

"Quite right. Do not let me keep you from checking on all who proudly serve Ensis." The man mustered a deep bow with only a shaky breath to punctuate his discomfort before leaving the tent.

That golden boy might just kill himself trying to be perfect.