Chapter 272: The Lesson
Chapter 271: The Lesson
Lyria’s POV
Baron Redwick was quiet for a long moment, his gaze fixed somewhere beyond me as though he were turning my words over in his mind, examining them from every angle.
Then finally, he sighed.
"I must admit," he said, "I would not enjoy it. I am becoming quite attached to the insufferable men, after all."
I smiled at his admission. It was strange to think of Baron Redwick—so composed, so precise, so careful with his words—growing fond of the chaos that Duke Thorncrest, Duke Valenridge, and Earl Hawthorne seemed to bring wherever they went.
"Perhaps you w-will leave this p-palace having m-made new friends and a-allies," I said. "And p-perhaps soon those men w-will move from a-acquaintances to f-friends."
He smiled softly at that, his expression thoughtful.
"I would not be opposed to it," he said.
Then he added, his voice quieter, more sincere,
"You have a beautiful smile, Your Highness. And I must admit, your laugh is quite like music. Instead of what I played during the competition, I should have done something—perhaps a play with the other three as characters—just so you could laugh. That should have been my composition."
I felt heat rise to my cheeks. The compliment was unexpected, and I did not know quite how to respond to it.
"Did you l-learn that from D-Duke Thorncrest?" I asked. "He is quite s-smooth with his w-words."
Baron Redwick smiled.
"I speak honestly," he said. "Your laugh is quite beautiful."
I looked away, unsure how to respond. The sincerity in his voice made it difficult to deflect with humour or dismiss with a wave of my hand.
He continued, his tone shifting to something more curious.
"But that being said, I must ask, why do you have time for me so early in the morning? Should you not be on your date with one of the top three from the competition?"
I sighed, the blush leaving my cheeks.
"My date s-sent a letter s-saying he is s-sick," I said. "So I d-decided to use the t-time for myself."
Baron Redwick frowned.
"I have not heard of any suitor candidate being sick," he said.
I shrugged.
"Perhaps the M-marquess does not w-want me."
Baron Redwick nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful.
"The Marquess is a fool," he said. "Though I am quite ashamed I almost made acquaintances with him when I first arrived."
He paused, adjusting his spectacles.
"It is his loss, though. Now I get to spend more time with you, besides the fact that our previous date was cut short."
I nodded, grateful for his presence. There was something calming about Baron Redwick—his steady demeanour, his careful words, his willingness to listen without judgement.
"I have a q-question too, my lord," I said.
He tilted his head.
"Ask."
"Why did your r-ranking drop when the p-popularity poll was b-broadcast? After all, you w-were among the top c-candidates, were you not?"
Baron Redwick smiled, though there was something in it I could not quite place.
"Circumstances occurred," he said.
He opened the book upon the table between us, the pages rustling softly as he found his place.
"We should get to our lesson," he said.
I knew he was avoiding answering me. The words hung in the air between us, unspoken but understood. He did not want to speak of it, and I did not press. Some things, I was learning, were not meant to be said aloud.
Instead, I listened as he began to teach.
He taught me spellings. Some I already knew. Some I could pronounce because Patricia had taught me. Merely remembering the woman sent a sharp pang through my chest, but I did not let it show. I kept my face still, my attention fixed upon the page before me.
I noticed, however, that learning with Baron Redwick was easier than it had been before. Perhaps it was because we were not using sign language—he was speaking and teaching me how to pronounce the words aloud. He was patient, never rushing, never making me feel foolish for stumbling over a word or mispronouncing a syllable.
I also noticed that the Baron had quite a beautiful voice.
I knew I was not supposed to be concentrating upon that, but I could not help it. The way he spoke, the way his voice rose and fell with each word, the way he paused to let me try—
I shook my head and forced myself to focus.
Time passed.
And then we heard a commotion from outside.
Cheers went up, loud and raucous, rising from the training grounds below. I turned to look, and Baron Redwick did the same.
Earl Hawthorne was still shirtless, battling a guard in a sparring match. His body moved with fluid grace, each strike and parry precise and powerful. The sheen of sweat glistened upon his skin, catching the light in a way that made his muscles seem even more defined.
I took in the way he looked. How fit his body was. How beautiful his ridges were. The way the sweat dripped down his—
I shook my head, my cheeks reddening, and immediately looked away.
Baron Redwick was observing me.
"What is wrong?" he asked.
I shook my head, drawing the book closer, choosing to focus upon learning and not upon how beautiful the Earl’s chest was. Not upon how perfect his body was. Not upon how the sweat dripped across his ridges.
The more I tried to focus upon learning, the more I thought of just how beautiful the Earl—
I turned to the teapot the maids had arranged upon the table, pouring tea into a cup and drinking immediately.
This was a first for me.
I was burning up.
I closed my eyes to get rid of what I had seen, but I could see it even clearer.
This was not the first time I was seeing the Earl shirtless.
So why was I behaving like this?
Someone touched me at that moment, and I jumped in shock, turning just in time to see Baron Redwick withdraw his hand.
"Forgive me, Your Highness," he said. "I was simply trying to speak with you."
He paused.
"Is anything the matter?"
I shook my head.
"N-no, nothing at all. L-let us... we should f-focus," I said.
But I could not focus for long.
Every time I looked at the page, my mind drifted back to the window, to the training grounds, to the sight of Earl Hawthorne moving with such power and grace.
Soon, the lesson was over.
"I will r-reach out again," I said. "I will d-do some studying on m-my own."
I stood, preparing to rush out, but then I paused.
I turned back to Baron Redwick.
"Have you t-told a-anyone else about the l-lessons?"
