I Will Be the Greatest Knight

Chapter 508: A Tearful Goodbye

There were times in Irene’s childhood when she doubted that her parents loved one another and swore on everything she had that she would never be in a marriage as tumultuous as theirs—if she ever got married, at least.

However, as Irene went to say goodbye to her mother, who was constantly surrounded by maids considering her lack of desire to do anything for herself except sit there and mourn, Irene knew right away that what her mother and father had was love. It was pure love.

Love looked different on every person, but it didn’t take away from what it actually was.

Rochelle adorned black mourning clothing, and in her lap was the last clothing Arthur wore before he was put into the formal attire he was buried in. She held it in trembling hands, fatigued from her lack of desire to eat and how hard it was to sleep without anyone next to her.

She swore that she could still hear Arthur’s wheezing and coughing. It woke her up in the night only to see their expansive bed without another soul inside of it. For the past couple of years, coughing was Arthur’s baseline. It became something she was so used to and now...

He was gone. It was silent.

Arne was pulling away.

Irene needed to leave for her duties as Henry’s wife and the future Duchess of Tenetium.

Rochelle felt unbelievably empty.

"Please take care of yourself, mom," Irene uttered as she sat in the chair beside the bed her mother occupied. "I have to go. I need to start my life and figure out a new normal without dad."

Rochelle’s eyes were already red and watery, but she met Irene’s gaze and nodded.

"That’s what I’m doing," Rochelle muttered. "Finding a new normal. I’m not alone. I have the maids. I just keep praying for peace in my heart. I want you and Arne to spread your wings and know that you don’t need to worry about me."

"You will find it," Irene assured her. "I needed time to get there, but you will find it." However, Irene turned to look at Henry, who had just arrived in the room and nodded at her. "And if you ever feel lonely and want to go to the Duke’s Tower, you are always welcome. I would love to have you nearby."

"Thank you," Rochelle responded. "I wish you two the best on your journey home."

Irene hugged her mother tightly before she and Henry could leave the main house. There wasn’t that much to get ready considering the knights left with Siverly, so Irene and Henry only had to worry about themselves.

Irene found light armor waiting for her on a stand, certainly placed there by Henry while he waited for her to say goodbye to her mother. She pulled it over her body. The last time she wore this was when they were touring the duchy. It felt so unbelievably long ago, but it had only been nearly two months. She tried not to linger, knowing they would leave too late and have to camp.

When they made it down to where their horses had been brought out for them by a stablehand who occasionally came to the stables to manage the horses while Arthur was sick, Irene turned to her husband.

"Ready to go?" she asked.

He stepped forward and gently grasped the armor over her shoulders.

"Are you?" he asked.

It was more important if she was ready. He was at her whim, and only her feelings on the situation really mattered to him.

"As much as I’ll ever be," she responded. "Just stay close to me."

"That’s the plan," he assured her.

The last time they were on horses, Henry was carrying her with him, but now they both went forward strongly. Rather than a knight trailing her Commander, they rode side by side as husband and wife.

Those late summer days bleeding into early autumn were so beautiful as the leaves showed signs of changing, but the weather was still tepid. It made for easy travel, and the knights made sure to stay on their toes as their heads swiveled. Without needing to be told, they searched the valley going towards the foothills and mountains, making sure they were devoid of monsters.

Fortunately, there was nothing to kill all the way to the halfway point that brought them to a familiar inn. It was a place they had stayed together before, but it was different as husband and wife.

"Your Grace," Henry was immediately greeted by the innkeeper.

"One room for me and my wife," Henry responded almost eagerly.

Irene felt her head get hot. It was the first time he had said such a thing to someone who was as good as a stranger.

When they were finally in the room—the finest of the small inn, of course—Irene shut the door behind them and turned to Henry.

"You know you’re going to get in trouble introducing me like that," she reminded him. "His Majesty will hear that you haven’t consulted him before getting married."

"I recall telling you that if I was meant to marry you faster than either one of us expected, I had full intentions to treat you as my wife," Henry insisted.

Irene wanted to complain, but it made her more excited than anything. They were truly beginning a new phase of their lives.

However, it was admittedly slower than she was expecting.

Even on a night when all the two of them had was each other to focus on, Irene was itching for more, but Henry opted to gently kiss her forehead as he bid her goodnight and didn’t ask for anything else. He then settled on his back and went to sleep as if it was nothing.

They were still newlyweds, weren’t they? What happened to the man who didn’t want her to wear a belt the days after their wedding so he could take her clothing off easier?