Chapter 9: The Usual Morning Routine
The rest of the day passed by uneventfully for Captain Elaine.
In the evening, her uncle, Duke Esagas came to visit her and though the uncle's aura was even formidable than the son, she managed to convince him that she was taking good care of herself. At night, General Cayden visited her again as he promised but this time, he left after a few casual chats without an argument.
After a troubled long night's sleep, dawn arrived like other days. The Captain woke up and took a bath which wasn't easy due to all the minor and major wounds in her body. However, as someone who was strictly trained since she was young, this was nothing for her.
Her late father might be a loving father but... he was the most strict instructor she had ever known in her life. Maybe because she was bound to become his successor.
'The Captain of the Royal Guards should strive to become the best so that he or she would be able to protect and shield the King from all kinds of danger.' This was what her father always said whenever he trained her rough and harsh.
Maybe the training paid off, she might not be a match for her cousin who was considered the best in Araven but... she rarely met someone who can beat her when it comes to sword fighting.
Elaine got dressed in her usual black attire, an attire that the royal guards used as their informal uniform. Apart from the white shirt; the jacket, the pants, and the long leather boots were all black. However, they always had the badge of the Royal Guards on their left chest - a crown in the middle surrounded by a sword on the left and right.
In the case of Elaine, she had to wear another badge that signified her position as the Captain. It was the badge that the King himself bestowed to her when she was formally appointed a year ago.
As someone who always spent her life under discipline, Captain Elaine didn't take much time to prepare and she was all set in no time. Then she walked out of her quarters.
Though the wound on her leg was still painful as it was yesterday, she tried hard not to hobble. She was the Captain and before her subordinates, she shouldn't show it even if she was in pain.
Not long after she left her chambers, Vice-Captain Lucian caught up with her and walked a step behind her. "Captain, how are you feeling now? Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Elaine promptly replied. "Did you have everything arranged?"
"Yes, Captain. But I think we should double-check one last time."
"That's a given. You should pick some guards to come with us."
"You will go?" The Vice-Captain raised a brow and narrowed his eyes at Elaine's leg. "But your leg -"
"I already said that I'm fine," Elaine Vernimiere insisted. "Do you forget what happened last time? If we aren't careful this time, it might happen again."
She recalled how she said to her cousin yesterday that she didn't have to leave the palace. Even at that time, she had no intention to sit back while knowing how important today was. Hopefully, Cayden won't be too angry if he happened to find out.
"I will have it arranged, Captain," the Vice-Captain promptly responded when he recalled what happened the last time an envoy from Eslore came to their Kingdom.
Despite being under the watchful eyes of the royal guards, the envoy still suffered a mysterious attack which almost cost the life of the envoy and also the friendship between their two kingdoms!
It was an incident that the royal guards didn't want to be repeated. So, they were determined to be careful from the arrival until the departure which was scheduled for days later.
"Then go on," the Captain urged Lucian. "If the guards asked about me, just say that I have some minor injuries and nothing serious."
"I understand."
With that, Lucian went to the ground where the guards used to gather each morning.
Elaine Vernimiere made her way towards the King's chamber and by the time she stood before the door, the sun was about to rise. During the past year, King Arias's always made sure to get up at this time unless he was sick.
The Captain knocked just once and she heard a response right away. Then she entered the King's chamber which was the main and the biggest chamber of the vast palace.
King Arias was still sitting in the bed, wearing his night robe. When Elaine walked closer, he got off the bed. "I think you're early than usual today," he calmly pointed out as he looked in the Captain's direction.
"Did you sleep well, Your Majesty?" the Captain asked; a question that she asked him each morning during the past year. However, she always know that just like her, King Arias had a hard time sleeping in peace.
"It's usual," Arias Astaze replied. "What about you, Captain?"
She knew what his 'usual' means but... it's not like she can do anything.
"I slept well, Your Majesty," she replied.
Just like him, her answer was the same as each morning.
"How is your wound?" the King asked. Standing in his place, he narrowed his eyes at her leg. "You should have rest today as well. The Vice-Captain can just take over."
"I'm fine now, Your Majesty," Elaine Vernimiere quickly said. "Today is an important day. I believe that I will be able to hold out."
The young King didn't appear to be convinced but he still nodded. "Fine then. If you're not feeling well, feel free to rest anytime."
"Yes, Your Majesty. Thank you for your kindness." She made a deliberate pause and said, "If you'll excuse me, Your Majesty, I have to check the security of the path that the envoy is supposed to take to reach the palace. I will briefly double-check with a few selected guards."
"I think you should refrain a bit, Elaine," Arias Astaze said. He rarely got involved in Elaine's job. This might even be just the second or third in a year!
When Elaine Vernimiere slightly raised a brow, the King continued, "Once the envoy arrives at the gate of the capital, I think you should lead the guards and escort him here. Why don't you focus more on that? Vice-Captain Lucian can take care of the double-checking."
Both tasks required her to go to the gate but... double-checking required more energy than simply escorting the guest to the palace. Elaine felt like she knew why the King wanted him to do the latter. Though she really wanted to do the double-checking herself, she rarely went against the King just like he rarely got involved in her work.
"I understand, Your Majesty. Then I will return after I brief the guards."
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