Regaleon: The Forgotten Knight

Maverick had to admit that breakfast was going better than he had expected. Not that he had known what sort of reception or atmosphere to expect in the first place. Nevertheless, it was uncharacteristically pleasant.

The food was rich without being overwhelming, every dish prepared with remarkable finesse.

The bread was warm and impossibly soft, the roasted meats perfectly seasoned, while the freshly harvested fruits carried a sweetness that lingered pleasantly upon the tongue.

More than the food itself, however, it was the atmosphere that somehow seemed to astonish him.

The conversation remained light, the servants moved about with unobtrusive efficiency, and no one seemed particularly interested in making breakfast overly formal.

Or at least, not yet.

Maverick had only just cut into another slice of roasted meat when Valdric suddenly set down his utensils.

The patriarch dabbed the corner of his lips with a neatly folded napkin before turning his attention toward his nephew, a warm smile resting comfortably upon his face.

"So, Maverick," he began, immediately mid-motion, causing Maverick to pause with his fork halfway to his plate. "How has your stay in the House been so far?"

The question caused every pair of eyes around the table to settle upon Maverick.

Goldric, however, merely continued eating as though the question carried no cause for concern, seemingly content to allow his son answer for himself.

Lady Seraphina, by contrast, gracefully lifted her porcelain teacup and took a delicate sip. Her expression remained as serene as ever, giving every impression that the conversation held little interest to her.

Yet the almost imperceptible narrowing of her emerald eyes, together with the subtle pause before she set her cup back onto its saucer, suggested otherwise. She was listening far more attentively than she appeared.

Cedric also halted his meal. The young heir calmly rested his cutlery upon his plate before directing an attentive gaze toward Maverick.

Though his expression remained courteous and composed, there was a faint curiosity lingering beneath it, as though he too wished to see how his cousin would navigate such an innocuous question.

Maverick swallowed the mouthful of food before calmly placing his own cutlery upon the table.

Turning toward Valdric, he offered a small yet restrained smile; one polite enough to convey respect, yet distant enough to preserve the invisible boundaries he had no intention of lowering.

His composure neither invited familiarity nor encouraged further distance; it was a carefully measured balance befitting someone determined to offend no one while revealing very little.

"Uncle." He began. "You ask the question as though I’m a guest."

The words rolled smoothly from his mouth with an affable cadence, earning a hearty smile from Valdric.

"You are right," Valdric said with evident delight. "You are not a guest. You are one of us. So perhaps I should rephrase the question. Have you settled in comfortably? I understand if everything seems unfamiliar after a decade away."

Maverick merely shrugged before picking up his cutlery once more.

"I’m settling in better than I anticipated, so thank you for asking. Besides, I don’t find the Castle to be as unfamiliar as you might have thought. A few things may have changed over the years, but overall, it still carries the same spirit I remember, even if the faces and surroundings have grown older."

Valdric chuckled.

"If you say so. Then I suppose I was worried for nothing."

Maverick looked toward him and replied.

"You don’t have to worry about anything, Uncle. I’m here simply to fulfill what brought my father and me back to Valor. So as long as I have a roof over my head and no one objects to my presence, I believe I’ll manage just fine."

"Hmm. If you say so." Valdric replied, nodding approvingly.

Lady Seraphina quietly observed the exchange before speaking.

"Since you seem rather concerned about him settling into life at the estate, perhaps Cedric could accompany him around the House and the training grounds over the next few days. It might help him grow accustomed to things more quickly."

Hearing those words, Maverick turned toward her.

Outwardly, his expression remained unchanged. Inwardly, however, alarm bells began ringing.

He had no idea what this woman was trying to accomplish by placing him in Cedric’s company again, but he doubted it stemmed solely from goodwill.

Goldric finally set down his utensils before looking toward Lady Seraphina.

"I don’t think that would be necessary," he said calmly. "Maverick already mentioned that he’s adjusting well enough on his own, and I wouldn’t want to trouble Cedric with unnecessary responsibilities."

Lady Seraphina looked ready to respond when Valdric suddenly interjected.

"Oh, Goldric, why are you always like this?" he laughed.

"Actually, I think it’s an excellent idea. The boys may have spent some time together yesterday, but that was hardly enough for cousins meeting again after so many years. Spending more time together would give them an opportunity to know one another beyond formal introductions. Besides, Cedric knows the estate better than anyone of his generation. Who better to show Maverick around?"

After saying that, he turned toward his son.

"What do you think, Cedric?"

Cedric paused briefly before looking toward his father. His gaze shifted momentarily toward Maverick before briefly meeting his mother’s eyes, where he caught the faintest glimmer of approval.

Turning back to Valdric, he bowed respectfully.

"Whatever you wish, Father. It would be my pleasure. Besides, I’ve long wanted to hear more about life in the Frozen North from Cousin Maverick. I believe such an arrangement would grant us the opportunity to better understand one another while exchanging experiences from our vastly different upbringings."

"It is settled then," Valdric declared with satisfaction.

"After breakfast, Cedric will take you to the training grounds, where the two of you can spend some time together and perhaps exchange a few pointers while you’re at it. Is that arrangement acceptable to you, Maverick?"

"It couldn’t be any better, Uncle," Maverick replied politely.

Valdric nodded with a satisfied smile before resuming his meal.

Outwardly, Maverick also returned his attention to the breakfast before him. Inwardly, however, his thoughts churned without end.

Somehow, he had the distinct feeling that the morning which had begun with unexpected tranquility and familial warmth was not destined to remain that way for long...