Snippets of a Knight's Woe

Chapter 16: Father and Daughter Duo

Aegis gulps at her tone and says defensively, "I already told you what we talked about, sweetheart." He runs his hand down her bare back calmingly. Amara sits up and frowns down at him, saying quietly, "Aegis, you're making me angry." Aegis hated when his princess got angry. She was usually calm, logical, and playful; anger seemed to skip over her and turn into wrath in the blink of an eye.

"Princess, please. I told you everything." Aegis lies still as Amara caresses his chest and asks, "Did my father tell you not to say anything?" Aegis shakes his head slightly. "No." Amara runs her hand down to his stomach and over him, asking accusingly, "So, you don't want to tell me?" Aegis keeps himself as still as possible, replying, "Sweetheart, I told you..." Amara lightly slaps his lower abdomen.

Amara moves away from him and says disappointedly, "I never thought you were capable of insubordination, Aegis." Aegis's face pales as he replies in a slightly higher pitch, "Princess, I would never." He begins fidgeting with his fingers, looking down at his hands as he says softly, "Fine, I'll tell you." Amara moves close to him again, caresses his cheek, cradles it in her hand, and lifts his head to look at her. "What are you so scared of?"

Her knight lets out a frustrated groan and pleads, "Promise me that nothing between us will change." Amara runs her fingers through his hair, saying reassuringly, "I thought you already knew that you belong to me." Aegis takes a breath, and Amara comments, "I'm not used to you being so timid, big guy. What's wrong?"

Aegis looks at her and places his hand over hers on his cheek, "I'm the Prince of Redivan." Amara looks at him blankly, "Oh, that's what you talked about." She looks away sheepishly, "I kind of already knew. I've actually been waiting for you to come clean, love." Aegis's eyes widen, "You knew?" Amara shrugs, "Father told me the day after he found out." She giggles, "Besides, you know I handle most of Father's admin, and we always talk to each other. He was never going to keep such a secret from me; Father's too much of a gossip."

The prince's bewildered look turns into a fed up frown, "Your father really likes playing his games." Amara bops his nose, "Dad does this thing where he makes people underestimate him on purpose, but he is pretty cunning." She smiles proudly, "He's not bad in combat, but where he truly shines is in his intelligence."

Aegis lets out a deep breath, trying to calm his ire. He looks at Amara, "Weren't you curious about me when you found out Redivan was invading Pratue? Did you not want to ask me about it, or when Alaric mentioned my dead mother?" Amara lays her head on her pillow and looks at him. "Yeah, I wanted to ask so many things. I wanted to offer my condolences about your mother, but if I did, you'd know I knew. What I wanted was for you to tell me about all of it yourself." She moves her hand to his and interlocks their fingers, "For all the time I've known you, your lineage really didn't matter to me. The only reason we're even having this conversation is because of the war."

I squeeze his hand in mine, "I could've easily gone the rest of my life with you just being my knight and husband. I don't need a prince, but I don't mind having a princely knight."

Aegis pulls her close and buries his face in her neck, mumbling, "I'm sorry for keeping this from you." He keeps his hold on her and breathes in her soothing scent. "I'll tell you everything—everything I told your father."