Chapter 17

How did it come to this? Bodies sprawled on the ground, a grotesque counterpoint to the scattered bounty – freshly baked bread, apples, tomatoes, other fruits – all trampled and barely recognizable. Their only shelter, a small shack, lay in ruins.

“With the food in such a mess,” a young voice said, “it’s impossible to serve a meal right now.”

Despite the devastation that had taken his home in a single day, the boy’s concern was for their sustenance.

“Did you go get that?” Odelliana replied.

“There’s nothing left to salvage here,” Matthias explained.

“So you ventured all the way to the market?”

“Yes,” he admitted, “but leaving my post was a mistake.”

Matthias, his gaze intense, studied Odelliana before reaching out. His large hand cupped her cheek, gently wiping away the blood.

“You’re a sight,” he said, his voice low.

“That’s hardly comforting,” she replied.

“And fearless,” he continued.

“Still not helpful,” she countered.

“…And weaker than I anticipated,” he finished, a strange undercurrent to his words.

Odelliana, however, dismissed it with a wry twist of her lips. “What grand expectations did you have for a cripple?”

This haven for all manner of crime, where law was a forgotten whisper, was oddly subdued. Passersby merely glanced at what appeared to be another incident, their expressions devoid of terror.

“We should change,” Matthias suggested, eyeing their bloodstained clothes. “Perhaps I could buy something at the market?”

Odelliana shook her head. “Two of us looking like this would raise eyebrows and likely land us in trouble.” While violence was a daily occurrence here, it wasn’t something to shrug off. Lives, two of them, had been violently taken. Remaining here meant facing a constant barrage of vultures, eager to exploit this fresh vendetta.

Her voice softened. “Because of me, you’ve lost your home and fallen out of favor with the gang. Life will be difficult. I apologize, Matthias. It’s all my fault. Let me compensate you for your losses.”

Only then did Matthias turn to survey the wreckage of his shack. Here, where even a roof over your head and a place to rest were luxuries, losing his meager shelter was a significant blow.

Despite losing his vital asset, Matthias displayed a surprising lack of distress. In fact, a glint of opportunity flickered in his eyes. He leaned against the wall, a knowing smile playing on his lips, like a gambler who’d just landed a lucky hand. This situation, it seemed, was exactly what he’d been waiting for.

“How do you propose to compensate for my loss?” he inquired, his voice laced with amusement.

“I’ll take responsibility for your life,” Odelliana declared.

Matthias’ brow furrowed. “My life?”

“I chose to interfere in your affairs,” she explained, “so it’s only right I bear the burden of your well-being. You’ve lost your home, and it’s fair to say I ruined your life.”

The prospect seemed preferable. Odelliana had been racking her brain for a way to convince Matthias to join her, and here he was, unexpectedly receptive. A stroke of luck.

“Taking responsibility for my life?” Matthias scoffed. “That’s an unexpected proposal. I figured you’d try bribing me with a few coins or offering… other forms of compensation.”

“Regardless,” Odelliana continued, “you’ve lost your home and your life here is precarious. Like any other vagrant, you likely have nowhere to go. So, I propose I take you in and ensure your remaining days. Is that not sufficient recompense?”

“You’ll take responsibility for my life?” he repeated, a hint of amusement creeping into his voice.

He chuckled, leaning back against a nearby tree, arms folded across his chest. “So, you’ve volunteered to be my bride, then?”

Odelliana blinked, stunned. “What?”

“Didn’t you just say you’d be my bride?” he pressed, a playful glint in his eyes.

“You heard that wrong,” she stammered.

“I have sharp ears,” he teased.

Odelliana fell silent, a blush creeping up her neck. Regardless of his intentions, Matthias’ laughter echoed around them, light and carefree. He reached out, a gentle touch stroking a strand of her hair.

“Taking responsibility for someone’s life means sticking by them, right? So, you’ll be by my side from now on, my future bride.”

The absurdity of the situation left Odelliana speechless. Finally, she managed, “Wait, hold on a minute! I meant I’d take care of you, not become your wife and start a family!”

“But if you’re responsible for my life,” Matthias countered, a sly smile playing on his lips, “shouldn’t we be close? And what’s closer than a husband and wife?”

Odelliana blinked, processing his logic. Then, a surprised laugh escaped her lips. “So, are you seriously proposing? After just one day?”

“Does the length of time matter?” he returned, undeterred. “We faced life and death together. Isn’t that a strong enough bond?”

“Your sense of romance is certainly… unique,” Odelliana admitted, a hint of amusement in her voice. He chuckled in response, seemingly enjoying her bewildered reaction.

“Well, I wasn’t aware you had a thing for blood-stained damsels,” she countered, surprised by the young man’s naive boldness. “Perhaps you overestimate the romantic aspect. While trust is crucial, it can blossom in many forms, not just love.”

“True enough,” the boy conceded, “but wouldn’t romantic love foster the deepest trust?”

Odelliana’s smile vanished. “Emotions between men and women? Feeble things. I’ve witnessed the cruelest betrayals fueled by misplaced trust in love.”

Memories of a past betrayal surfaced, a bitter cocktail of love, manipulation, and death. The very heart she believed held love now felt like a cunning scheme. The sweet whispers of affection, a mere tool for personal gain.

Never again, she vowed silently. The experience had left her scarred, a tangled mess of fear and suspicion where love once bloomed.

“How will you take responsibility of me then?” Matthias asked.

“I’ve lost everything,” he continued, his voice low. “My home is gone, and I’ve made enemies of everyone here. That man,” he gestured towards the body, “was a leader in the Köbeck organization. Killing him makes me a marked man. I’ll spend the rest of my life looking over my shoulder, terrified of what’s coming.”

Odelliana didn’t respond immediately. Wouldn’t a show of fear be more believable? Perhaps his words were a performance, a desperate play for sympathy. Yet, even with his detached tone, she understood his predicament.

She approached the fallen leader, retrieving a flyer from his grasp. Blood smeared the letters, some illegible, but the message was clear. Handing the damp flyer to Matthias, she watched him slowly absorb the information.

“Let’s go together,” she finally declared.

Matthias stared at her, his expression unreadable. 

“Love isn’t the only path,” she continued. “Fate can bring people together in unexpected ways. We may have only met today, but we’ve already shared life-or-death moments. This isn’t a fleeting encounter. You can come with me. II may not have a grand mansion, but my home is far better than this.”

Odelliana reached out her hand, her gaze locking with Matthias’s. He mirrored the gesture, his palm outstretched as if urging her touch. “I’ll be your guide in life,” she declared. “Take my hand. Consider me your sponsor, leading you through life’s shortcuts.”

The audacity might seem comical to others. Here she stood, an unrecognized noblewoman with a pittance for wealth, yet she offered herself as a patron to this disheveled young man. Some might scoff, calling it the arrogance of a pauper or the delusion of a fool. But Odelliana held firm in her conviction, an unshakeable belief that Matthias wouldn’t refuse.

A new thought struck her. Perhaps Jocelyn wasn’t the one who chose Matthias. Perhaps it was Odelliana herself, drawn not by wealth or titles, but by something deeper. Perhaps it was an innate intuition, a recognition of the hero Matthias was destined to become. She possessed an unshakeable faith in his extraordinary potential.

“A sponsor,” he mused. “I prefer a personal relationship over a business one.” A slow smile spread across Matthias’s face. His large hand reached out, engulfing hers in a firm grasp. 

“A teacher,” he corrected. ‘I’d rather have you as a teacher than a sponsor, since you’ll be guiding me.”

Odelliana’s breath caught. He then bent one knee, a gesture both unexpected and strangely familiar. With a surprising grace, he pressed a kiss to the back of her hand.

A spark of recognition ignited within her. This was a formal greeting, a sign of respect reserved for the nobility. Though Matthias might not have consciously known this, his actions exuded a reverence few could match.

“Your promise to guide me with your own hand,” he murmured, his voice low and intense. “You’ll have to keep it..”

“Master.”