Chapter 74 ‒ Lavender and Steel
Chapter 74 ‒ Lavender and Steel
Nyelisse had never known what it meant to be a carefree child. From the moment she could hold a wooden sword, her life had been a cycle of drills and strict discipline. Her father, a proud and stoic knight, belonged to a long line of warriors who had served the kings of Virelia with unwavering loyalty. Her grandfather, and even his father before him, had all stood proudly in the palace halls.
So, when Nyelisse was born, there was only one dream in her father’s mind: she would become the strongest knight of Virelia — a legacy to surpass them all.
While other children chased each other through sunlit meadows, laughing and playing games, Nyelisse spent her mornings slicing through straw dummies until her shoulders ached, her afternoons sparring against grown squires twice her size, and her evenings reciting the knight’s code until her voice turned hoarse.
She sometimes watched from the corner of the training yard as children her age played tag or caught fireflies. A pang of longing would pulse in her chest, raw and unfamiliar. She often clenched her fists, forcing the weakness away. Even if she didn’t understand it then, she knew her father’s approval meant more to her than any childish games.
Yet, deep in her heart, an empty space remained — a yearning for a friend. Someone who would see her not as a future knight or a tool to fulfill their ambitions, but simply as Nyelisse.
---
One day, during a sweltering afternoon, her father summoned her with an unusual spark in his eyes. Sweat dripped from her forehead as she lowered her blade and wiped her brow.
“We’re going to the Imperial Palace today,” her father announced, adjusting his armour straps.
Nyelisse tilted her head, confused rather than excited. She had never seen much beyond the training grounds and the small flower field behind their home. The palace, to her, was just a distant marble silhouette on the horizon.
“Why?” she asked bluntly.
Her father laughed heartily, ruffling her sweat-damp hair. “Oh come on! You should be excited! Every knight dreams of stepping into the palace. Why do you think you train so hard? One day, you’ll be part of the Imperial Guard. With your skills, you might even become the captain.”
Nyelisse’s eyes widened slightly, seeing the gleam of pride shimmering behind his stern expression. Something swelled in her chest. She straightened her back and looked up at him with a determined spark.
“Father, I promise you, I’ll become the Imperial Guard captain one day!”
Her father’s face softened, and for the first time in months, he looked like a father instead of just a commander. He lifted her into a brief embrace, strong arms shaking slightly.
“Of course you will, my little princess,” he whispered.
---
That afternoon, they approached the palace gates together. To young Nyelisse, it felt as though they were entering another world. Towering marble spires gleamed under the sun, fountains spilled crystal-clear water into intricate mosaics, and gardens stretched endlessly with blossoms in every colour imaginable. She paused at each turn, her wolf-like nose catching the sweet scents of foreign flowers, her wide eyes drinking in every swirl of carved stone and shimmering banner.
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But just as they were about to cross into the inner halls, a sharp voice cut through the air.
“Hold it. You’re not allowed to enter. An important hearing is being conducted.”
A tall knight in gleaming armour stepped forward, his lips curling into a sly smirk.
“Sir Baldwin,” Nyelisse’s father said with an annoyed sigh. “This isn’t the time for jokes. You know I’m a member of the Imperial Guard. I have entry rights even during hearings.”
Baldwin’s grin widened mockingly. “Ah! I almost forgot. It’s so easy to overlook you these days. I mean, have you done anything notable lately? I thought you had retired or probably died in some ditch.”
Nyelisse’s blood boiled. Her small fingers clenched tightly around the hilt of her training sword at her side.
Baldwin noticed her and bowed towards her to meet her eye level. “Oh my, what a cute daughter you have. Are you going to draw your toy sword at me, because I mocked your father?”
Before he could even look away, she stepped forward, her movements fluid as a striking wolf.
In one blink, a shining metal blade whooshed past Baldwin’s nose, close enough that the force of air ruffled his hair and stung his skin. He stumbled backward, shock written across his face.
Nyelisse stood, breath sharp, her blade gleaming under the high sun. Her eyes blazed, burning holes into Baldwin’s smug facade.
“Nyelisse,” her father’s voice boomed, low and rumbling with authority. “What have I told you about drawing your sword outside of training?”
She exhaled harshly, her fiery gaze never leaving Baldwin’s cowering form. Slowly, she sheathed her sword, stepped forward, and bowed low.
“I apologize,” she ground out, her voice tight with contained rage.
Her father’s face softened into a resigned smirk. “Nyelisse, since there’s a meeting, you can’t come in today. Why don’t you visit the garden? They have your favourite lavender flowers.”
Nyelisse nodded stiffly, stealing one last glare at Baldwin before turning on her heel.
---
The palace garden sprawled like a dreamscape — flower beds spilling over with violets, orchids, lilies, and the delicate clusters of lavender that always calmed her restless spirit. A gentle breeze carried the layered scents in waves. Marble pathways twisted through rose arches, and fountains whispered softly from shaded alcoves.
She wandered toward a lavender patch, inhaling deeply to steady her heart. But there, bent over and awkwardly tugging at a flower stem, was a boy about her age.
“You shouldn’t pluck flowers,” she said firmly, stepping closer. “It hurts them.”
The boy jumped, nearly dropping the half-picked stem. His bright eyes blinked at her in surprise.
“What do you mean ‘it hurts them’? Do flowers feel pain?”
“They don’t feel pain, but the plant does. You shouldn’t harm them,” she explained with quiet certainty, echoing words her mother had once told her long ago.
The boy frowned, scratching his head. “Then… how am I supposed to smell them?”
She tilted her head, ears twitching. “Don’t you have a nose? I can smell them from here.”
He burst out laughing, cheeks puffing. “Of course you can! You’re a wolf hybrid — your nose is like a superpower! My nose is just big, but it doesn’t work that well.”
Nyelisse’s cheeks coloured faintly. “Oh… I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”
“It’s fine,” he said, grinning. “I will not pluck flowers anymore. I don’t like flowers that much anyways. I wouldn’t have plucked them if I knew plants could feel pain. Nobody taught that to me.”
Nyelisse noticed how his expression turned to one of sorrow as he said that. The boy seemed to have noticed her gaze and immediately responded.
“Here. This one is already plucked. You can have this one since you seem to like them so much.”
She shook her head quickly. “No. My father told me never to accept gifts from strangers.”
His eyes widened before a mischievous light flickered across his face. “Oh? Then what’s your name?”
“Nyelisse,” she answered stiffly. “My father is a knight.”
“Wow! That’s amazing!” he said with genuine awe. “My name is Theodore. My father… he’s the king.”