Chapter 54: The Runaway Magus
"The same eyes as mine? What does––"
Aideen sought more clarification, but she was unable to finish her question as the door to the reading room swung open, ushering in familiar heavy footsteps.
"What brings you here, Your Grace? As you can see, we are in the middle of our first lesson, just as you requested."
Ahspid leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, and offered the Duke a wide, arrogant smile. Tillian chose to disregard the mage’s whimsical behavior and strode toward Aideen, who had risen to her feet the moment she heard the magus addressing His Grace.
"Your Grace, why are you back from your patrol? Did something happen? Is it this late already?!"
Releasing a soft chuckle in response to the princess’s adorable shocked expression, Tillian gently placed his big, gloved hands on top of her shoulders and replied,
"No, Your Highness, it is only early evening right now; the sun has just set. However, I did not expect your lesson to start so late in the day."
He shot a disapproving glare at Ahspid, who only shrugged his shoulders and stretched his lips into another wide grin.
"It’s not like we have a schedule, Your Grace. We study when inspiration strikes, am I right, My Lady?"
The mage fixed his purple eyes on Aideen, who couldn’t help but furrow her eyebrows, unsure whether his antics were truly acceptable in the presence of the lord of the castle.
Dismissing Ahspid’s ridiculous remarks, the Duke gestured for Safie to enter the reading room, bringing with her a long fur coat carefully hanging over her left arm. Once the maid stood before the princess, he took the coat from her hands and continued,