Chapter 281: Bonding
Admittedly, it was a bit stiff when Irene had to see her mom once again before she went to sleep. The accusation she had been thrown the last time they were in one another’s presence was fresh in Irene’s mind.
At least Felix’s reassurances that he would defend her honor if she did the same for him were also at the forefront of everything. Even if her mom chose to believe whatever she wanted, at least she and Felix knew the truth.
However, it also made her wonder if every man she got close to from that point forward would result in an alarm in her mother’s head going off. It was impossible to keep her distance from men in her order. A knighthood’s entire purpose was to get familiar with one another so that they would be more in sync on the battlefield and able to back another person up.
With a sigh, she accepted the things she couldn’t control. What was more important to her was checking on her grandmother when she was finally awake the following day.
After a quick meal since everyone else in her family had already eaten, Irene went to bed in a room that had been warmed for her. It caused her to wonder if her arrival was anticipated or if someone had gone quickly when she was eating.
Either way, she smiled faintly. As much as she would rather be with the knights, being home wasn’t so bad.
Irene woke up early enough the following day to join her brother and father in the practice yard.
As she peered out of the door and saw steam leave her lips, she was blinded by the sun for a few moments. It was sunnier than it was the day before, but certainly colder.
She shut the door and found a shovel since the others were cleaning up fresh snow. Considering it didn’t snow the night before, she couldn’t help teasing them.
"Are you clearing this on my behalf?" she wondered. "Have the two of you not been practicing very often?"
Her father and brother turned to her, somewhat shocked, but they were met with a teasing smile from the girl as she began helping move the snow.