The next day, Dylan lay watching the thick clouds drifting through the morning sky. The muscles in her arms and back were so sore that they would have brought tears to her eyes, except that there was no moisture left in her body to actually cry.

She'd crept away from practice when she had the chance. While the Duke's knights were running laps around the field, spending hours on fielding drills and batting practice, Dylan was napping.

"Get up," Conan said. He stood there towering over her. "Is this where you've been?"

Dylan shook her head from where she was laying on the floor. She should have expected this to happen sooner or later. She was grateful that she was able to get away with sleeping during practice for this long.

She huffed out a breath. "Can't I get a break? I was at the courthouse until late last night."

'I wonder if Whittle dealt with Axil's bail yet. He must be really tired of dealing with my funds right about now.'

"Sleeping for twenty minutes wasn't enough for you?" Conan asked, crossing his arms. "Milady will be returning to Faerhester in two days. You should practice with us as much as possible before then."

She grumbled under her breath as she rose up to her feet. Two days wasn't a lot of time, and she still had some business to deal with before she returned to school. Up until now she had only been worrying about her personal drama. The thought of having to return to Faerchester so soon hadn't even crossed her mind.

"How'd you even find me?" asked Dylan, dusting grass and leaves off the back of her pants. "I was sure I found the perfect, hidden nap spot."

Conan glanced to his right. Dylan followed his gaze, spotting Cadence standing there.

His light brown hair ruffled in the wind, and his muscular body looked breathtaking in his training clothes. She shook her head and forced herself to not be swayed by his good looks. Cadence was the culprit who ruined her naptime.

"I'll give you ten minutes to return," Conan said as he turned his back on her and walked away.

As soon as he was out of her sight, Dylan plopped herself back down in the grass and patted the ground beside her, as though Cadence was a puppy. Cadence hesitated, frowning, then obediently sat.

For a few brief moments they sat in silence. There was an unspoken understanding among them. Dylan glanced up at the clouds, still thick overhead.

.

.

.

The beautiful lady gently poked her child in the stomach, and Dylan let out a ticklish laugh.

"What are you looking at?" she smiled gently.

"The clouds, mommy," Dylan giggled, pointing at the sky above. "They're so pretty."

The lady kissed the child, cradling her deep within her arms and squeezing her in one big affectionate hug. "I'm gonna squish you," she told her daughter. "You're so adorable. How did I end up with such a perfect child?"

"Well..." Dylan spoke as she wriggled out of her mother's embrace. "That's all thanks to mommy."

"Thanks to me?"

She put the flat of her tiny hand on her mother's heart. "Mommy's heart is so beautiful with kindness," the little girl said, softly. "You love me, and that's why I can be happy."

The woman smiled warmly in her usual good-natured way, and then taking hold of her daughter's hand, she brought her forward for another hug.

"Ack! Mommy, I can't breathe!"

"Mommy loves the clouds, just like you," she whispered. "Shall we look at them together?"

"Really?"

"Mmm." Filumena glanced up at the sky, her dark curls blowing in the wind. "When I look at them, I feel free."

.

.

.

Dylan remained silent for a few brief moments. "You remind me of her," she finally said. "You really do."

He tilted his head to the side, as if asking what she meant.

Dylan would only remember good things whenever she was with him. Just sitting with him made her feel safe and warm and happy, and watching him look unburdened filled her with joy.

'Maybe it's because your story is the most like mine.'

"One day..." She drew in a breath and gazed into the distance. "I'll tell you my story too."

Cadence was unable to move his gaze away from her for a long time. He had so many questions he wanted to ask her. He had so many things he wanted to say. But, somehow, he felt like the silence between them said it all.

"Okay?" Dylan signed

"Okay," he signed back.

***

"Milady, it's here." Jessie held up the letter. "It came this morning."

"Finally," Dylan said delightedly, and she took the long-wished-for letter over to the window. With her sore fingers, not even bothering to use the knife, she tore it open.

'Yvette Rodwell, please don't disappoint me.'

Closing her eyes, she held the letter to her heart. Dylan had written to the jeweller who created those peculiar earrings, and she offered to invest in Yvette's business. Dylan silently prayed, hoping the reply was favourable.

"Milady, what does the letter say?"

Dylan said nothing for a moment, just stared at the letter. Then, while smiling, she glanced up from the paper with an expression of pure bliss on her face. Even her eyes were filled with smiles, cute and beautiful.

"She said yes!" Dylan exclaimed, sounding happier than ever before. "This is great."

She glanced up at Cadence—and caught him staring, his expression almost dazed. Was her smile weird? She didn't normally show a genuine smile.

'When was the last time I felt this happy?'

Without him around, she suddenly felt like she could breathe. Dylan had a bruised heart. She relived the hurt and pain she felt by his hands every time she looked in the face of Axil. Now it was different. Now she felt as if, little by little, the bruises left by him were fading.

"I have to get back to my work, milady," Jessie said, stretching her body tiredly.

Jessie and Mina were drowning under a pile of letters. Gifts, letters, packages—they all came nonstop. Nobles did everything they could in order to win, or attempt to win, Lady Dylan's favour.

After Axil was found guilty, wild rumours spread throughout the capital, and everyone soon became aware of the fact that Dylan would become the next Duke of Beaumon. Now everybody wanted to be her best friend.

"You two should take a break," Dylan said, resting her head in her hand. She smiled sweetly. "Cadence will do the rest."

He hurriedly shook his head in protest, but Dylan pretended not to see.

"You. Nap. Ruin." She signed to him, still smiling. "Payback."

Cadence's shoulders slumped and he hung his head in defeat, but smiled down at the floor. His new master was really something.

Dylan watched him admiringly. Like her, he was broken, but nothing was damaged beyond repair. She knew she couldn't take away his pain, or erase the bad memories that plagued his heart, but at least maybe she could save his life.

'Should I ask him to run away with me? Freedom—does it really exist outside of death?'



AUTHOR'S NOTE:

I hope everyone has a lovely weekend! I love you all so much <3