Spear Of Retribution

"Well, there's no exciting thing about my fight, I just did my best although my opponents are strong, I'm able to defeat them but after my victory. I saw a commotion outside when I was about to go home. They say, the second son of Baron Guansa has been injured terribly and some witnesses said that they saw someone came out of the room but didn't see the face," Alexjin explained.

He saw the condition of Niso when he was taken out of the room, there's blood everywhere and a hole on his chest is evident, it isn't big but it's enough to draw out blood.

Niso was taken to the carriage with healers on his side and that's the last time Alexjin saw him. He has no relation towards Niso but what happened to him made him curious. It is evident that someone tried to hurt him.

He tried to find Geraldine's whereabouts for hours, but no matter where he looks, he couldn't find her. That's when he comes back to the Inn and asks the owner if she arrived.

He immediately went to her room and knock even though he's drenched in sweat and his body feels so heavy from exhaustion. All he thinks is to tell her that he won and make her proud of him.

"I see, I hope he's okay," Geraldine muttered.

"Master, where were you? Alexjin repeated his questions as he really wanted to know.

"You told me about that man so I tried to investigate and observe him but unfortunately, I wasn't able to meet him and because of searching for his whereabouts, I got lost. That's why I wasn't able to go back to the arena, luckily I find my way to the Inn,"  She turned to the side with her back facing Alexjin. 

Geraldine didn't want to see Alexjin's face while lying as it will make her feel guilty. She doesn't want to tell him the truth as she knows that he will find the man and afraid that he will become obsessed with him.

"Let's sleep Alexjin, we have a long ride tomorrow," She whispered and pulled her cloak to cover her body.

"Yes... Master."

They immediately ride through the forest as soon as the sun appeared in the sky. They didn't converse in the whole ride until they arrived at Bagyoo Town. the atmosphere is heavy and Geraldine could see that Alexjin is feeling down and she herself doesn't feel like talking.

When they arrived, the town is still the same, Geraldine thought that they are celebrating but it's the opposite. It got her thinking that Alexjin's address hasn't been shown to the public.

Arriving at their house, Aurelie immediately greeted them as soon as she heard noises from outside.

"Miss Geraldine," Aurelie greeted with a light bow and was a bit hesitant to go on his son's embrace.

Geraldine noticed her movements, it is custom that the servant must greet and help their master first before anything else.

"It's fine," She said and gestured her head towards Alexjin and started to unpack her own stuff.

"Thank you," Aurelie smiled widely as she went to hug her son, "How are you? Did you have fun there? How's the competition? Did you get hurt?" She bombarded her with questions while looking at his face.

"I'm fine mother, actually, I win the competition," He said proudly.

As soon as Aurelie heard that he won, her body freezes, "Wha - what? You w - win the swordsmanship competition?" She exclaimed as she can't believe that his son would actually win knowing the competition is tough especially for a commoner like them.

"My son is really talented," She hugged him tightly, "Now, let me help you two unpack."

"It's fine mother, I can still manage to carry these things," Alexjin said as he grabbed all of his stuff and went inside the house.

Both women instantly made eye contact, Aurelie's face shows worry over his son which Geraldine understands as she's worried too.

After a few seconds, Alexjin came back and helped Geraldine with her stuff to put in her room. She also gives the clothes she bought for Alexjin and asks Aurelie to talk about what happened while they were gone but the truth is, they will talk about what will happen when Alexjin will go to the main city of Rakkaegia Empire.

They are currently outside and are sitting in the backyard with a cup of tea while enjoying the cool wind.

"I'm afraid, what if that competition will make the Emperor recognize Alexjin. What if he will that he is hi - his so - son," Aurelie grabbed her hair and started to pull some strands. She has been stressing about the events that haven't happened yet, "I know that my son is good but it didn't actually expect him to win."

"I know but let's not dwell on that anymore, it's already done so we need to focus on the upcoming fight, maybe it will gonna happened after 2 weeks or a month," Geraldine sips her tea and observed Aurelie who is fidgeting on her clothes.

She tapped her shoulder, "It's not easy to know that his father is the Emperor, besides, it's been a long time," Geraldine grabbed the bag that contains clothes she bought for Aurelie.

"Here, I've bought it from the store on the way home, though it isn't much," She pushed the bag towards Aurelie who was surprised.

"You don't have to buy me clothes, I still have a decent one in the drawer," Aurelie was hesitant to accept the gift but afraid to reject it either.

"I choose to buy those as I thought that it suits you well, besides you have somewhere to go," Geraldine put down her cup and looked at her seriously, "I want you to escort your son to the main city."

Aurelie choked on her tea upon hearing what Geraldine said, "What? They might recognize my face, my family will see me and the Emperor... and you know that I'm exiled in the main city, right?" She said while panicking, making Geraldine giggled.

"That's why I'm giving you this," She grabbed a black wig from the bag and showed it to Aurelie, "You will escort your son as his mother to the competition and it's time for you to go out and have fun in life. Don't mind them, I know that you may get hurt for seeing them after such a long time but focus on your son and you and don't blame yourself for what happened in the past years, it's over," Geraldine patted Aurelie's back as she began to teared up.

"I don't know what to do?" Aurelie covered her face while wiping away the tears that keep on falling.

"Just be you and support him to his fight," Geraldine smiled as she handed her a handkerchief, "I've also prepared a fake name tag so that they won't know your real name in case they would ask."

"Thank you but I just wanted to know, why are you doing this?" Aurelie asked while putting back the wig inside the bag.

"Something happened while we're there and I don't think it will be safe for Alexjin if he'll be seen with me, besides I'm more troubled that you are in terms of identity," Both women chuckled as they spend the rest of the day talking about what to do when they arrived at the main city.

****

After two days, Geraldine went to Alexjin's room and knock, she has his gold medal in hand as she forgets to give it to him.

When the door opens, a half-naked man came into her view with water dripping on his skin, "Oh, master, what is it?" Alexjin immediately covered his body with the towel he used to dry his hair.

"Oh, my apologies, I didn't know you're not fully clothed," She turned around to give him space but she already saw the forming muscles on his abs.

Alexjin instantly closed his door and grabbed a shirt from the drawer and got out of his room. Geraldine is sitting in the living room while munching a candy that Aurelie makes.

She gestured for him to sit in front of her, "Here, I forgot to give it to you, you'll need it," She slides the gold medal on the table.

"Thank you, master."

"Also, I need to talk to you about something," Geraldine looked at him for a couple of minutes before handed him a helmet that covers the whole face.

"Use that on your next fight, I know you're about to ask why do you need to wear it... because you have to. Some things are difficult to tell you but someday you will know the reason. As for now, wear that when you fight and also wear this black wig, silver hair attracts more attention," She put the wig beside the helmet.

Alexjin's mouth is wide open but he refrains himself from asking more questions.

"And also, your mother will be accompanying you instead of me."