As if on cue, the door creaked open. Matthias, returning from questioning, entered the room. Despite the somber atmosphere, he approached Odelliana and Blair with a calm demeanor.
His arrival broke the suffocating tension. Relieved to see a familiar face, Odelliana reached out and grasped his arm.
“Brother,” she said earnestly, “this is the boy who saved me.”
Matthias remained silent, taking in the scene.
“If not for him,” Odelliana continued, “I might not be here. Or I might be missing a tongue.”
The focus now shifted to Matthias. While Odelliana had brought him back, Blair held the power to decide his fate. Highlighting Matthias’s heroism was crucial.
A spark of life flickered back into Blair’s eyes. He grasped the hands of the man who saved his sister and wept openly.
“Thank you,” he choked out. “Thank you for saving and protecting Odelliana. Truly…”
“There’s no need,” Matthias replied modestly. “I simply did what anyone would have done.”
“You deserve a reward for your bravery,” Blair insisted. “Is there anything you desire?”
Instead of answering, Matthias turned his gaze towards Odelliana. Understanding his unspoken request, she spoke up on his behalf.
“Brother,” she began, “I’d like to take this young man on as my squire.”
Blair raised an eyebrow. “A squire? You mean you want him to stay by your side?”
“He saved my life,” Odelliana explained. “On top of that, his actions put his own home in ruins, and now he’s being hunted.”
“Hmm, well then,” Blair pondered. “I can set up separate living quarters for him if you’d prefer.”
A flicker of surprise crossed Blair’s face. This wasn’t entirely unexpected. While squires were common among nobles, Odelliana’s residence in the Hirschberg Forest was a female-dominated domain. All tasks were handled by female servants, likely a concession to her physical limitations.
Blair’s unease was understandable. Having a young, strong boy as Odelliana’s squire – especially considering her past mistreatment by female attendants – was a cause for concern. He wouldn’t be able to constantly watch over her, and his hesitation was perfectly reasonable.
“I want to train him to become my loyal knight,” Odelliana declared.
Blair’s surprise deepened. “A knight?” he sputtered.
“This boy possesses exceptional talent,” Odelliana insisted. “He has the makings of a true knight.”
Blair clutched his head, his face pale. “Odelliana, if you require your own knight, I can find someone with an impeccable background. This young man is still too young, and we have no way of knowing if he’s truly suited to be by your side. Even with extensive training, there’s no guarantee of his absolute loyalty.”
“I understand your apprehension, brother,” Odelliana conceded. “It’s an unorthodox proposition. But this time, I implore you to trust my judgment and offer your support.”
“Odelliana,” Blair began, concern etched on his face, “I appreciate your desire to repay your savior. However, as your older brother, the thought of a young stranger, especially one of unknown origin, being so close to you fills me with worry.”
Ultimately, Blair’s noble upbringing made the idea of a poor boy with an uncertain past becoming his sister’s confidante a difficult pill to swallow. His protectiveness towards Odelliana was clear.
Odelliana sighed, unsurprised by her brother’s hesitation. “There’s something else I need to say, though I hesitated to bring it up…”
Blair’s posture tensed. He braced himself for whatever difficult truth she might reveal.
“When you leave,” Odelliana continued, her voice trembling slightly, “I’ll be alone again.”
Blair stiffened. The weight of her words settled heavily on him.
“You can’t always be here to protect me,” she pressed. “…Leaving me back there, to endure the whispers and isolation…” Her voice trailed off, thick with emotion.
“No! Absolutely not,” Blair interjected, his voice laced with panic. “I’ll find trustworthy people to staff your household. You’ll have all the care and support you need.”
Odelliana’s gaze held a quiet defiance. “Those who treated me cruelly weren’t always cruel, brother. Circumstances can change people.”
Blair fell silent, the gravity of her words sinking in.
“I need someone who will truly look after me, someone I choose, not someone chosen for me,” Odelliana stated firmly. “Do I not deserve a say? Am I denied these choices simply because I’m different?”
Her words struck a chord deep within Blair. Shame and regret flickered across his face.
He tried to argue, to plead with her to reconsider, but Odelliana’s resolve was unshakeable. Seeing her unwavering determination, Blair knew he had no choice but to yield.
With a resigned sigh, he turned to Matthias. “Very well,” he conceded. “Tell us your name.”
A grateful smile lit up Matthias’s face. “It’s Matthias,” he replied.
Thus, Odelliana’s plan to have Matthias by her side was secured.
