A Time of Tigers - From Peasant to Emperor

He could hardly understand how the proposal in itself had lacked any sort of nervousness from him, and yet these many interactions that followed, when the matter should have been well and truly sealed, seemed to be far more embarrassing than the moment itself.

He supposed it was likely because of the way the villagers looked at him, as if they could guess the state of his heart. They attributed to him an apparent love sickness that he didn't think matched him. It was a troublesome thing to be mislabelled.

It took a searching of nearly the whole town before he'd managed to find her. On the path towards the Black Mountains was the last place he would have thought to check. The walls had stretched out over the years, and new houses had been built further along the trail than there had ever been before.

Nila stood in conversation before the ruins of one such building, speaking to a pair of villagers that Oliver could only assume were a married couple.

As silently as a phantom, he joined them. Nila acknowledged his coming with a sweet smile, and then she immediately relaunched into the continuing of her conversation. The couple gave knowing smiles of their own, just in response to that smallest of interactions. Oliver had to look away, lest he begin to blush – he was finding that lately, a blush was coming far too readily.

"Given that most of what remains is charred, it would be better to start the rebuilding from scratch," Nila said.

"I would agree, Lady Felder… But the coin costs will be so much more," the husband said, scratching his beard fretfully.

"We will cover the coin costs of any rebuilding," Oliver broke in. "We have said as much before."

"Yes, my Lord, and you have our gratitude for that – but we can't very well take advantage of your kindness. If it would be cheaper to build it another way, then we must," the man said.

"You need not think of coin," Oliver assured them. "That wound on your arm – you fought alongside my soldiers in the defence, didn't you? Think of it as a reward for your service. Better to ensure a sturdy reconstruction, than use damaged materials only to have to repair it once more later on."

"There sounds like there is some truth in that, husband…" the woman said, looking up imploringly at the man. She seemed ready to accept the kindness, but the man acted as if he saw a degree of shame in the charity.

Whilst the man wavered, Nila pressed the attack. "You would be doing us a service as well. We can realign the foundation here. It was built before the road was changed. We plan to see Solgrim grow, and you would allow us more space for the change."

"If you're quite certain of it…" the man said, looking from Nila, to Oliver, then back to Nila again.

"I am quite certain," Oliver assured him.

"Then I shall take you up on the offer," the man said, cracking the smallest of smiles. "Thank you my Lord. Thank you, my Lady."

"In the meantime, are you certain you have accommodations to see you through?" Nila asked. "And food? There is plenty of surplus for those that are in need. Do not be too proud."

"You need not worry, Lady Felder," the woman assured her. "My sister has made space for us in her home. It is a little cramped, but it is warm and friendly. We shall not struggle there whilst we wait for the rebuilding to be complete."

"Very well. Is there anything else that you need?" Nila asked.

"No. You have both given us much already. Thank you once more," the man said, bowing to the both of them. His wife hurried to bow after.

"You've grown even more popular with the villagers," Oliver noted, as they left the two of them behind together.

"…I wouldn't go that far," Nila said, sighing. "They've given me a title now. I wonder if they don't just fear me."

Her shoulders were relaxed as she shook her head. She had been ever so tense ever since his returning. He treasured it when they were able to speak casually with one another now.

"A title doesn't necessarily mean that they are distancing themselves from you," Oliver said. "They merely wish to show you the adequate amount of respect. You led them, after all. They can not see you entirely the same."

"I suppose not. But I am not sure it is a change that I am so fond of…" Nila said. "I wish I could just go back to normal, and tend to the business. Hunting is far simpler than this, and even processing the meat."

"Which part do you have the most fondness for?" Oliver said, smiling, knowing that she would see through his joke.

"Stupid," she said, raising her fist to punch him in the arm, as she would have done in times past, but the fist fell short, as if it were blocked by something. "Who would enjoy the butchery more than the hunt… That is why I have hired people… for that…"

Her sentence trailed off. It was as if only then did she realize who was standing beside her again, and that stiffness returned, along with an awkward silence. Oliver could practically feel the tension. And so returned the cause for his nervousness.

It was as if the declaration of their change in relation were wet cement – with each day that passed, their relationship hardened, and the two found it even more difficult to interact with each other.

"Would you care to inspect the rest of the houses around here with me, Ser Patrick?" Nila said, with all the excessive formalities of a noble. Once, that too would have been a joke, but now there was no hint of humour in her voice. She raised those refined words up in the same way that the true nobility did, using it as an armour and shield to hide whatever it was that she was truly feeling.

"…We can, my Lady," Oliver said. 'Have I offended her?' He wondered. He could not suppose that Nila's behaviours were those of a woman altogether happy with her circumstance. 'Perhaps she's regretting agreeing to any of it in the first place. She seems as if she would be far more at ease with the whole problem having been averted.'