She passed by a few of her cousins on her way, them bowing and murmuring, “Commander,” as she went.
It was the first time Aimilia had been home since becoming a commander.
Thankfully the women’s bathhouse was fairly empty, only one girl inside when Aimilia arrived, and she left as Aimilia stepped into the water.
Soon enough the hot water had her muscles relaxing and the tension fading as she cleaned herself.
She left the bathhouse, dressed in black, but no commander’s cloak since she didn’t have one in black. She’d have to go see if there was an extra one in her father’s old things. He had to have one she could use.
The thought had her coming to a dead stop in the hallway as it struck her all over again.
It had been so long since his funeral, and now she was back again. The air was cold and she could almost see herself running down this hallway as a girl, before the Academy, trying to catch up to her grandfather. She remembered holding onto her father’s hand, walking down the hallway, her little voice filling the air as she chattered away just days before her father left for what would be his final mission.
She didn’t know how long she stood there, completely still in the hallway, until the sound of someone saying her name jolted her out of it.
She turned to see Lieutenant Turpis hurrying toward her, dressed in black as well. Right.
Of course he and Commander Prisca would be here for the funeral.
Had she ever replied to his latest letter?
“Aimilia, there you are! I’ve been looking for you since the second I heard you arrived this afternoon.” But he didn’t just stop in front of her. He grabbed her and pulled her into an embrace. Aimilia gasped as his arms squeezed the air out of her and caused her to choke. “I’m so sorry.”
Aimilia hit her palm against his back until he loosened his grip enough for her to pull back and wheeze. “It’s always funny how people apologize for something they didn’t even do. It’s not like anyone saying sorry killed him or could have prevented his death.”
Cyprian had snapped at her when she’d said that at her father’s funeral as well.
“You’re not very good at letting people comfort you, are you?” Turpis asked, hands sliding to her biceps.
“Depends on who is offering. Do you think we’re friends?” Aimilia gave him a weak smile. “I’m not certain I trust you. You could be plotting your revenge on me from our tournament.”
“And what would that gain me?” Turpis laughed. “You’ve proven yourself the superior mage. Maybe I just want to stay on your good side so it doesn’t happen again. Not to mention the fact that you’re a national hero. We all heard about what you did during the attack at the entrance exams.”
It felt like it had been years since that day given everything that had occurred afterwards, and with Turpis’ hands still on her, all she could think about was the way Nikias had wrapped himself around her and held her so fiercely and yet so delicately that day.
She stepped back, out of his grip. “Fine, maybe I’ll believe you’re not secretly plotting my demise.”
“Good, if you want more proof, go ahead and ask around.” Turpis gestured to the estate around them. “Anyone will be able to tell you I’m placing all my bets on you as the next Head of House Mitis.”
“Trying to financially profit off my success?” Aimilia rolled her eyes. “That might be the least surprising thing you’ve done as of late.”
Turpis stepped back and winked. “Who said the bet was financial?”
Aimilia blanched. He didn’t mean?—
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Commander.”
Aimilia leaned against the wall as he disappeared.
Huh.
She never would have imagined making Turpis eat dirt in their tournament would lead to him having feelings for her. He certainly wasn’t bad looking, and being a lieutenant was respectable in its own right. Not everyone could be a commander.
If she became Head of House Mitis, she would need to marry for the sake of her position and continuing on the main line. Turpis wouldn’t be a bad choice. House Feris was strong andrespectable. Turpis had been one of her classmates, so she knew him quite well, which worked in his favor as well as against him. She hadn’t thought highly of him before, but ever since the tournament, he seemed to have changed.
Most importantly, she’d earned his respect and attention with her skill. Turpis had always been a flirt but he’d never paid serious attention to any girl in their class before, not until now.
It meant Aimilia was his first and only choice.
