(A/N: Knight Reask's POV.)

The day before...

Reask changed into casual clothes and suited up in the gleaming armor prepared for him outside. The others were still training in the arena, but he was tasked to greet and escort a nobleman entering the palace and was excused.

Who could be so important for the marshal to come directly to the training area? Reask mused as he and another few other knights trudged to the main entrance of the palace to wait for the nobleman's arrival. Just after five minutes, the sound of horses approached. Reask scanned the carriage and instantly fixed his eyes on the emblem of the royal family flashing on its front.

He stood still with an incredulous expression under his helmet. It wouldn't be royalty, they have a separate squadron to escort them into the palace... He thought. Then it must be a very important guest. I can't afford to offend them. He breathed a shaky sigh.

Reask walked forward as the carriage drew closer, his eyes focused on the sparkling adornments of the carriage. One piece of it could pay off my debts... He thought regretfully. Then he shook his head and seriously fixed his eyes on the door of the carriage. The anticipation of all the knights grew. They all were extremely curious as to what important saggy old man would step out of the fancy transport.

The carriage came to an abrupt halt. The knights trotting around the transport dispersed, exposing the delicate gold-and-red door.

An old man in his eighties with a horrible temper... a potbelly, a greasy face, and a rotten stench. Sweaty, stubby hands which would feel like the insides of a slaughtered chicken if you touched it... All the knights shivered. Then, in perfect unison, they turned to the youngest of the group and threw him forward.

Reask, pushed towards the royal escort, shot a betrayed look at all of the older knights, but didn't dare cause a scene in front of the guest. So, he steeled his heart and reluctantly opened the door, gritting his teeth and consoling himself.

As he extended his right hand to assist the nobleman in descending from the carriage, his eyes widened as soon as he saw the boy who emerged from within. His heart raced so fast that he felt it might jump out of his chest. Oh... He shivered. I...

A stunning boy, with silky black hair and beautiful ruby red eyes, gingerly placed his hand on his and took a step down. His face was akin to an angel's, his eyelashes fluttering in the midday light, casting small shadows on his face. An almost imperceptible smile graced his lips, his eyes curved into a small crescent, as he stepped forward. Reask gulped and felt the places where the youth touched grow hot. He felt a strange, overwhelming feeling wash over him.

Suddenly, the carriage took a sudden jerk back. The black-haired noble cried in panic. His originally shaky legs had softened, and he tumbled helplessly towards Reask. The youth's head hit his chest, and Reask's arms instinctively coiled around the boy's waist to steady him.

Reask froze. He felt the breaths of the panicked nobleman, heavy and erratic, right next to his body. Blood rushed straight up to his face as he struggled to calm himself, frightened that the boy would hear his frantic heartbeats from underneath his armor. He's right next to me... I'm holding his waist... he felt the blush crawl down to his neck. His eyes grew bloodshot and his hold on his waist tightened. I-

His train of thought was interrupted by the awkward cough of the young lord. Reask snapped out of his daze and hastily released him from his grip, stumbling back.

"It's alright, thank you for the help." The young noble seemed to notice his flusteredness and offered a word of comfort, but it seemed to have the opposite effect. Oh... Reask felt a clump form in his throat as soon as he heard his voice and was unable to respond.

The palace servants who held the luggage behind him shifted, and the young noble took note. He flashed a final smile towards Reask then walked away without turning back.

Reask watched the young noble's retreating figure silently. Then, as soon as the youth had left earshot, the other knights surrounded him with teasing smirks. Sir Landon, a knight with a mischievous glint in his eye, was the first to speak up.

"Well, well, Reask, I didn't know you had a penchant for hugging nobles," Sir Landon teased, causing the other knights to burst into laughter.

Blushing furiously, Reask shook off the arms slung over his shoulder. "I-I didn't mean to-"

Before he could finish his sentence, another knight guffawed and knocked off Reask's helmet, revealing his tomato-red face. The roars of laughter grew even louder. "Ah, look at that, smitten by the prodigy of a Xenith, huh? Quite a looker indeed!"

Reask's breath seemed to grow stagnant at the mention of Xenith. What a beautiful last name... he thought. Shaking himself out of the momentary trance, he quickly refuted, "I'm not!"

"Hey, Reask, when're you gonna write a love letter to him? I'll deliver it for you," another knight teased.

Feeling the weight of embarrassment, Reask quickly picked up his helmet, his cheeks still flushed with embarrassment. "Let's just go back!"

----

(A/N: Remis' POV.)

The present day...

I stared at the rowdy knights waiting outside the door with teasing smirks, my expression growing ever the more puzzled underneath the mask. There seems to be something I don't know... I mused. After Sir Reask slapped his hand over the woman's mouth, he grabbed my arm and promptly dragged me away into his room, shutting the door on the nosy men and women clamoring to let them enter.

I could see the discomfort in the knight's eyes. After a moment of silence, he spoke up. "P-please don't tell the young lord about all of this..."

I tilted my head, confused, but went along. "I won't, don't worry." I said.

He seemed to grow a lot more relaxed after my statement. The room fell into a comfortable silence before he spoke up. "Then... may I ask... why did the young lord send you here? To me? Is there any particular reason?" His eyes shined as he asked the last question, but I didn't notice it and hid a twitching smile.

I probably shouldn't tell him that I was just bored, right? "I- he sent me because he was concerned." I hesitated then added, "you seemed rather flustered that day, he said, so he wanted to see if you were alright."

A trace of disappointment ran through his eyes, almost imperceptible, then he smiled humbly. "The young lord... he's so kind to me, even though I'm a commoner."

"...mhm."

"Does he usually give this kind of treatment?"

"Hm, I guess not usually, no."

"...oh. Is that so?" The knight bit the inside of his lip to conceal his blooming smile. "Is the young lord going to be sending someone regularly, then? Will he come to personally visit someday?" His voice quivered at the end of the sentence, attempting to hide his excitement. I saw all his muscles tense as he spoke and gazed enviously at the flexed biceps lining his upper arm.

"Ah... yes, he might send someone regularly." My eyes were still fixed on his toned muscles. I should work out... "I guess... he might also come visit if he wants to. I don't know."

The fidgety knight didn't seem to notice the dip in my mood. "He will? Then, do you know what when? Will he go by himself or with other people? Can I visit him?" He leaned closer and closer, peppering me with prying questions.

I frowned, uncomfortable with his approach. "Why do you care?" I said.

Suddenly, one of the eavesdropping knights called out from the hallway. "He's just a smitten brat, that's why!" There was a wave of laughter outside the doorway.

Reask's face flushed, and he shot a withering glare at the nosy knights beyond the doorway. Feeling perplexed, I turned to him and asked, "What does he mean by that?"

Looking flustered, Reask fumbled for an explanation. "It's nothing. Sometimes, they like to act like gossipy pigs after a long training day, that's really all."

I narrowed my eyes suspiciously but decided to let it go. ...well, I'm sure it means nothing.

(A/N: New love interest? Hmm, I wonder how the other capture targets will react in the next chapter... ≧=ʘ‿ʘ=≦ )