I Will Be the Greatest Knight
Chapter 113: Taking His Children

Chapter 113: Taking His Children

Just after arriving at the Duke’s Tower, a hand over Rochelle’s mouth when she was in a lapse of judgment and practically seeing red, was sobering enough for her to realize that she had gained quite the audience.

Already exhausted from two days of travel with a child as energetic as Arne who had no desire to stay put, she was already at the edge of her patience.

What set her off further was the knight who stopped her carriage and tried to prevent her from going into the castle. Luckily, she had told him her piece and he was powerless to stop her. She dared him to face her husband and, knowing the position Arthur held in the knighthood, she already knew that no one would dare anger his wife more than she already was.

Rochelle simply glared at her husband with green eyes the same as Irene’s until he felt her calm enough to let her go and stop with the humiliation in front of all the others. However, it seemed that many were already directing themselves elsewhere—including Arne who had sidled up to his sister.

"Perhaps we ought to go to the Duke’s study," Arthur suggested.

Rochelle only silently agreed. He would know if she was in disagreement.

Seeing that she was no longer intent on causing a fuss, Arthur led her with his left hand but she slapped it away from her and walked forward by herself.

Arthur was momentarily stunned before he righted himself and followed his wife to the end of the hall. She already knew where she was going because it wasn’t the first time she was at the Duke’s Tower.

To Rochelle’s relief, the cold of the hallway was staved away the moment she opened the door. It seemed that the servants still well-managed the estate despite the Duke being ill. Small details like that were important to nobles.

At least Duke Arlin’s estate was still managed. She had listened to her husband plenty of times before going on about the knighthood being in disarray because of the Duke’s lack of command.

It wouldn’t make her reasoning for being there easier, but she pressed on with conviction.

The woman sat down pristinely at a chair next to the fire and she crossed her ankles before smoothing down her skirt.

Her version of armor was outward composure. Considering she was a weak noblewoman, very much unlike her daughter, that was all she had to protect herself when she wasn’t hiding behind her husband.

Arthur shut the door behind himself and joined her, although he sat on the couch close to her but not too close. It was intentional that she sat in a single chair alone because she knew that Arthur had a way of getting what he wanted if he was gentle with her. She hated it as much as she loved it.

"What is the meaning of all this, Roch?" Arthur asked gently.

He continued to hide his hand. She wasn’t so moronic not to notice. Irene had already filled her in on all the necessary details no matter how short and succinct the girl’s letter was.

"Am I not allowed to check on my husband who has gravely injured himself in battle?!" she snapped, but then she placed a hand over her lips. "Excuse me." She gently cleared her throat and further composed herself before continuing. "I have begun preparations to go south to Hydrogia when the snow melts. Unfortunately, it is too late in the season to leave right now."

Arthur’s heart began to race as immediate worry set in. The trip was arduous. Even when the weather was nice, there were plenty of risks.

Since he likely couldn’t leave the duchy with the state of things as they were, he would have to send knights with her, perhaps even ask the Knights of Hydrogia for an escort and pay them handsomely.

"What are you doing in the south?" the knight questioned. "Will you see your family?"

While her family hailed in southern Tenetium, they had another home in the capital and spent most of their time there. They were rich enough to leave when it got too cold for their tastes.

"Of course," Rochelle responded. "I will be living with them from now on. So will our children."

She pursed her lips after she spoke and Arthur could see her composure falter.

His anger came forth in response, but his urge to stand up and intimidate her had to be reined in. If she were a knight, he would be doing as such, but she was his wife. He would never show her the fire within him in such a way.

"What are you talking about?" he snapped, though he spoke under his breath.

It was a trick he had learned so he wouldn’t yell. The woman who brought his children to the world deserved his respect, but she was taking them away...

"I do not have a husband," she responded, equally as quietly but it was so she wouldn’t cry. "I have a knight who occasionally visits, warms my bed for a few nights, then finds something more important to do and leaves once again."

They were truly a match when they argued. Her anger was in the form of tears while his was genuine explosive rage.

"The comfortable life you lead is the result of my career," Arthur continued under his breath. "The home, the lands, even our children who want for nothing are all a result of my hard work. And you want to leave because of it? I warned you when you married me that our lives would never be easy but I would do whatever in my power to ensure that you’re safe and comfortable. It was the same promise I made to your parents as well."

Rochelle stood up and stalked forward a couple of steps only so she could lift the arm that was devoid of a hand and her chin began to tremble.

"I love you Arthur Litharion," she snapped. "But you promised me that there would be a time when fate told you that it was time for you to put down your sword. Is this not a sign enough?" A tear finally fell from her green eyes. "I refuse to enjoy the fruits of your labor all on my own any longer. I don’t require a cent further from you. Continue with the life you want. If I go south at least the children will have the paternal influence of my father because, when you die prematurely, they will have nothing but the memory of you leaving them behind and choosing the knighthood over them. Their hearts will one day be as broken as mine is. If I can save Irene from the same fate you will one day face, I will do it... Even if she hates me."

The last sentence caused real tears to come forth and she had to release Arthur’s arm before she covered her face with her hands and sat down on the other side of the couch.

Sobs racked her frame. Muffled words came from between her fingers.

"What is the point of all the riches in the world if you aren’t there to enjoy them with me?" she sobbed. "When will you not be able to keep your promise that you will always return to me at the end of each journey?"

Arthur pulled his wife onto his lap and all he could do was hug her. She finally relied on his warmth and she cried into the light blue tunic he wore, soaking the material with her tears.

He felt like a pathetic excuse for a man because he didn’t know what to say.

The state of the knighthood was practically in shambles because of an unprecedented monster attack, yet it seemed his wife was equally in shambles because of that day as well.

Even if she acted out because of what she was feeling, he deeply understood her reasoning.

The woman’s crying subsided eventually and she pulled away from Arthur who cleaned her up with a handkerchief he had tucked into his belt.

"I don’t know what to say," he muttered. "Allow me to sort my thoughts. Stay in the Duke’s Tower for the night."

How could he make a decision when, no matter what, he would be letting down a lot of people?

The woman pushed herself away from her husband and began to run towards the door where she then ran down the hallway and to the back entrance of the Duke’s Tower and towards the practice yard she already knew her children were in. They were like Arthur in the way that they couldn’t stay away from a sword for longer than a few minutes at a time.

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