Chapter 51 Love Is... (1/2)
”Dinner is ready” Mary walked out towards the back of the house they'd recently been forced to purchase.
What greeted her was the sight of a shirtless Elias Claybrook going through some practice routines. His handsome face set in a look of intense concentration held a certain charm hard to deny.
He didn't seem to hear her. She was about to open her mouth to repeat her words when she noticed the familiarity of the sword in his hand.
”You still have that old thing?” She asked without inflection.
It was only then that the man stopped his swings and took a breather. Sweat poured down his back, chest and face. Brows ever-so-slightly furrowed, she offered him a handkerchief.
He didn't accept it but instead gave a small grin as he took a seat to apply a new coat of oil to the old blade.
”Of course I kept it.”
Mary's expression didn't change at all. ”Just a broken sword. What's the point in keeping it around?”
Elias looked at the weapon. It'd been broken in half long ago, now more a dagger than a sword. He fingered the jagged edge.
”It has sentimental value.” He replied simply.
”Some random sword I picked up along the road holds sentimental value?” The woman's tone was cool as a flowing river in spring.
”A gift is a gift. Besides, it was the first one I ever owned. Saved my skin a bunch of times. ” He realized he sounded defensive and quickly changed gears. ”Look, it's important to me, alright? Make fun of me if you wish, I don't care.” He turned his nose up at her before going back to oiling the thing. Ignoring her.
”You've become quite cheeky, haven't you, little Ellie? What happened to that cute kid from back then?”
Elias snorted. ”Never gonna let me grow up, are you?”
”I still remember the days you used to hang around my skirt like a lost puppy. You tell me.”
Mary vividly recalled those now seemingly distant times. She'd met the man before her many years ago, at least by his standards, back when he was a child barely his daughter's age during her travels around the world
Due to her curiosity about his strange energy fluctuations, she masked her current form and taken the appearance of a young girl. It was the start of a perculiar relationship that included numerous visits to the forest, a few bear attacks, and much pestering by an over-eager young Ellie.
When he grew older and became the family head it was she who tagged along on his expeditions and helped make sure the guy didn't meet any unfortunate accidents during his journies.
She's seen every step of his transition from child to man.And not just him, she had also been close with Lucius before he became King. The three had quite a history together.
Though Elias had no idea what she was until he met Muriel. That is, the current Mrs. Claybrook.
”I'm surprised you were able to find it under the wreckage.”
He shrugged. ”I was persistent. Anyway, you were saying something about dinner?”
”Yes. Clean yourself and go eat. Lady Claybrook is waiting for you.”
”Let me just finish this and--”
She cut him off. ”Go. I will tend to this broken thing for you.”
He hesitated. ”Well, alright. Please be careful with it.” He handed it over and walked passed. He brushed by her as he left. She could almost feel the warmth of his skin, or maybe it was just her imagination.
Mary held up the sad-looking broken sword into the sun's rays. She remembered staying up for several nights in it's forging.
Even though it's been ages since those days there wasn't the faintest bit of rust, showing the attention it had received all this time.
”Foolish man. Always affectionate in the oddest of ways.”
It was unnecessary and she almost wished he had just thrown it away. And yet…
She was happy.