Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Between Bladewolf and Laychock


One more day will be Queen Erin’s anniversary. Everyone get ready for the gift; that will be including Kincaid. During Kincaid is preparing a gift, he met Camille again. Camille seems surprised for Kincaid can recuperate his injury that fast. For Camille’s knowledge, Kincaid’s wounds was the most serious if compared with other wounded soldiers. Kincaid does tell Camille that Queen Erin was the one who mends him but Kincaid did not tell him that he actually is Queen Erin’s close friend. The reason Kincaid keep this secret is for preventing misunderstanding from other people and Kincaid afraid other people will take his advantage to get close with Queen Erin. After some conversation with Camille, Kincaid continues his way to market and choosing a gift for his close friend.

Soon, Kincaid met Queen Erin’s two older sister; Rina and Nora. Kincaid was plan to buy a cotton teddy bear to Queen Erin since he knows that Queen Erin like cute stuffs when she was small. It was too late for Kincaid when Rina lift the doll and paid. There will be a small fight among them, just for a teddy bear.

“What the? I found it first….” Kincaid says that he is the one who found the teddy bear.

“You’re late, slowpoke. I already paid. Bleh!” Rina teasing Kincaid.

“Why you, Rina!” Kincaid starts get annoyed.

“Excuse me, Mr. Unfortunately, my real name is Marina. Rina is just my nickname. By the way, only my close friend can call me Rina and you just my little’s sister’s friend.”

“Grr….” Kincaid still displeased.

“That’s enough, Rina cat. It is not cool to fight among you guys. Plus, you are General of South Branch. So, please re-consider yourself.” Nora then tries to manage the condition.

“Hey, don’t call me Rina cat in front of them.” Rina then get embarrassed by her sister, Nora.

“Yeah, yeah. Let’s get moving. It is not cool if you guys fighting here.” It seems Nora manage to convinced her sister, Rina.

“Alright. See you in my sister’s centenary later. Or maybe not. Bleh!” Rina then follow Nora and leave the scene.

“Oh yeah! I am just remembering that Rina is very like cat. Erin used to be told me she cried when one of her cats died. Heh! No wonder she gets embarrassed when Nora called her Rina cat.” Kincaid’s thought.

Kincaid then continues his search for the gift. Another reason why he rather search by himself and not asking his pal, William to follow him is Kincaid does not want William know about his secret as well since Kincaid knows that William will telling this to other. Before Queen Erin become a queen and during Kincaid and another two best pal just get in the test of to be a soldier. They already promised each other that will not reveal their friendship secret to anyone, not until their two best pal shifted to North branch and West Branch. Kincaid suddenly laugh when he flashes back Queen Erin cried for them and thought they will get expel when they are punished for skipping their lesson. Everyone at market look at Kincaid and thought Kincaid is some kind of mad person. It does show Kincaid is missing their old times when Kincaid drop a tear.

A person suddenly laid her hand on Kincaid’s shoulder and asking what happen to him. That person appears as Grace Laychock. The person who rescued by Kincaid during the battle with Darriyo. Kincaid recognized her face but does not know her name. Grace will be the one who knows Kincaid’s secret by force. Luckily, Grace Laychock isn’t a gluttonous person and she promised she won’t tell the others, with a condition – She wants to meet with Queen Erin, just once. For some reason is, Grace wants to meet a deviant healer like Queen Erin. Grace also promised that she will follow Kincaid and help him to choose a better gift. Well, Grace is a girl as well so she might know what kind of gift that Queen Erin likes besides teddy bear. There’s also something unexpected happens, William saw them coincidentally. William’s thought is “No wonder Kincaid insists to choose a gift by himself. It seems like a date more than that. He! He! It will be great news.”

“Yo! What happens to you?” Grace laid her hand on Kincaid’s shoulder.

“Oh, it’s you.” Kincaid recognized her face but doesn’t know her name.

“My name is Grace Laychock. Are you crying, are you? He! He! This is the first time I saw a big guy like you crying. Ha! Ha!” Grace seems excited.

“How can you talking something like that to your savior?”

“Sorry about that. I just want to make you better. Say, why are you crying?” Grace asked Kincaid to know the reason why Kincaid cried.

“You better not to know. Tomorrow is my best pal’s centenary so I have to….. Holy crap! I’m just….” Kincaid reveal his secret that he is Queen Erin’s best friend accidentally.

“Huh? Your best pal’s centenary? But tomorrow is Queen Erin’s…. Oh! Now I got it! Queen Erin IS your best pal!” Grace finally figured out what Kincaid talking about.

“Shh… lower your voice, stupid! I just do not want other people taking advantage. I cried because I missing the old times. So please, keep it secret.” Kincaid begs Grace to keep the secret.

“Since you are my savior, okay then. But!”

“But what?” Kincaid can read that Grace is taking his advantage.

“In one condition, I want to meet Queen Erin. Just once, please~” Grace pretends as an angel and asking a request.

“Damn, she’s cute” Kincaid’s thought. “Alright, just once. Since an angel ring appears on your head.”

“Yahooooo! Thanks! Mr… er… what’s your name?” Grace finally realized that she forgot to ask Kincaid’s name.

“My name is Kincaid, Kincaid Bladewolf.”

“Alright, nice to meet you. Mr. My-Name-Is-Kincaid-Kincaid-Bladewolf” Grace still wants to charade Kincaid.

“Hey!”

“Enough talk. Now let’s go find some gift for our beloved Queen Erin” Grace holds Kincaid’s hand and walk together to find Queen Erin’s gift.

On their way to find a better gift. They discuss many things that to be Queen Erin’s centenary gift. At first, Kincaid choose a pocket-watch but Grace denied. According to Grace, pocket-watch means “curse that person will die soon” if according to Chinese meaning. Then, Grace chooses a crystal ball; she said girls like crystal things but uncorroborated by Kincaid. For Kincaid’s childhood experience with Queen Erin. Queen Erin indeed likes crystal things but she is very careless; Queen Erin broke them accidentally every time. Then, Kincaid suggested that he should buy a cat for Queen Erin but Grace against him again. She says everyone will know Kincaid and Queen Erin’s secret once Kincaid do that. The message that Grace want to deliver is “only best pal know what he/she wants”. For prevent this happen, Kincaid didn’t choose to buy a cat at last. But Grace asks Kincaid buy that cat for Grace herself, and Kincaid bought it – to close her mouth. After a long search for Queen Erin’s gift, they finally bought a pair of medal that looks like Ying-Yang symbol. They also bought formal dresses for themselves. For their thought is they must wearing formal to Queen Erin’s centenary celebration. Well, a nosy buddy William follows them from the beginning until the end. William mad laugh likes a devil. It seems William has an idea to humiliate them.


“Hmm… Muahahahahahahaha!” William’s mad laugh.



On the next day, scores of people go to Queen Erin’s centenary celebration. The scene where the celebration held is at the Dancing Hall. Behind Dancing Hall is an undisclosed garden where King Brylto and Queen Erin interact at there. Everyone was already there except Kincaid and Grace. The reason they late are; they are busy wearing their tuxedo and gorgeous white dress. Queen Erin also inquisitive where her close friend goes. Queen Erin also enlighten King Brylto to linger for awhile with using “isn’t the right time to start” as her pretext. A few minutes later, Kincaid and Grace finally show themselves. Subsequently, something unexpected was happen when Kincaid and Grace realized that only two of them wearing ceremonial; in fact, the other people dress in typically. Everyone look at them including King Brylto and Queen Erin with alienated eyes. Then, everyone laugh on them; all thanks to blabbermouth William. Queen Erin then announces the celebration is begun.

“What the?” Kincaid dazed when he saw other people dress in as usual.

“Hee… My bad then. I thought we must being proper when attends someone celebration… Sorry…” Grace claimed that was her fault.

“Oh man…. Now everyone will think that THIS IS our anniversary.” Kincaid stares at her and said.

“Well, it seems there are two people are really concern about their Queen. Applause them, my people.” King Brylto amazed and praised both Kincaid and Grace.

But people rather laugh at them besides clapping hands. Kincaid wasn’t deaf. He can hear their voice of cackle. Kincaid look at Grace and Grace keep whistle and pretends there is nothing happen. In the same time, Queen Erin glances at Kincaid and expects that Kincaid will bring something big gift for her. Queen Erin saw many gifts from other people including her sister, Rina. Queen Erin feels frustrate when she saw nothing on her close chum, Kincaid’s hand. After the celebration was announced to be started, Kincaid go to his group; Grace back to her group. William then makes funs of Kincaid, same goes to Virile to Grace. Their hitch became bigger when Kincaid stares at Grace from a far distance and noticed by Lieutenant Ethan. William humiliates Kincaid starts from his clothing.

“Nice tuxedo you had, dude!”

“This isn’t funny, Willy. Now everyone thought that I have relationship with her.” Kincaid says this wasn’t comical and he called Grace as her.

“Her? Which her? Queen Erin or the girl that you rescued last time?” William implied something.

“You already know the answer then why you still bother to ask? You rascal.” Kincaid take a drink after his speech.

“She is quite a beauty if look closely. Don’t you think so?” William still humiliates Kincaid but Kincaid rather ignore him and continues enjoy his drink.

“Well, I saw a couple going out together; choosing their gift to their Queen, finding a better suit for themselves and the guy bought a cat for the girl, right? Mr. My-Name-Is-Kincaid-Kincaid-Bladewolf.” William continues.

After heard William’s words, Kincaid is puking his drink. What Kincaid worries wasn’t only about him and Grace but also the secret between him and Queen Erin. Kincaid already guessed that was William’s artwork to letting other people knows him and Grace. Then, Kincaid tries to play along with William, to knowing if William already finds out their secret. After a several tries, Kincaid finally can relief that William does not know everything about his secret. Soon, a dance party will be begun. All people were asked to dance. It is better if their had their partner. From here, William take this advantage and drags Kincaid out and go to Lieutenant Ethan there and ask if Grace and dance with Kincaid. Grace refuses but she was pulled by Virile as well. Lieutenant Ethan agreed to let them dance.

“Well, it is already became OUR celebration.” Kincaid said.

“At least you are lucky can dance with me. So don’t complaint!” Grace tells Kincaid that he is lucky and asks him no more complaint.

At least, Kincaid and Grace able makes Queen Erin smile. For Queen Erin’s knowledge, Kincaid never kind to other girls ever except herself, so as their other two close friends. For Queen Erin, this is quite rare to seeing Kincaid dancing with a girl. Without hesitate, Queen Erin orders one of her guard and asks Grace’s group leader, Lieutenant Ethan since Captain Joshua still lay on his bed come and see her. After questioning Lieutenant Ethan, Queen Erin decides invite Kincaid and Grace to Secret garden where only Queen Erin and King Brylto hangout after she received all gifts. After the dance event, here comes the gift event. Everyone presents massive and attractive gift for Queen Erin until Kincaid and Grace’s turn. Everyone stares on them since they seem does not prepare any gift.

“Thanks, Rina… I mean General Rina. The teddy bear is cute!” Queen Erin is very like the gift from her sister and she maintains her position as a Queen.

“Hey, I am glad you like it. My Queen. Wei! King Brylto! If you dare to bully her, then my claws won’t forgive you, got it?” Rina is a very mind for her sister until she forgot her position and gave an advice to King Brylto frankly.

“Hey, why we should go and present the gift together?” Kincaid asks Grace.

“If you want your secret being revealed. Plus, our gift represents Ying and Yang.” Grace replied. Everyone stare at them once again since they are talk secretly. Both Kincaid and Grace do not realize.
Kincaid and Grace then take their gifts out from their pouch and hands over to Queen Erin. Queen Erin smiled and lifts both the gifts from Kincaid and Grace and combines their gifts. The gifts that prepared by Kincaid and Grace wasn’t emblem of Ying-Yang but a medal with a heart shape, just half of them is pink; another half is blue. Kincaid and Grace start sweat-drop because they know people will laugh at them again. Plus, Queen Erin also joins to humiliate them. Queen Erin said that is her most favorite gift ever from her best friend and a lover of her friend. Without hesitate, Queen Erin invites both of them to secret garden after ceremonial dinner time. Everyone stares at Kincaid and Grace again and feeling jealousy since only they were invited. Rina also laugh it out loud while pointing at Kincaid; William dares whistles loudly; Captain Siegfried also shouted loudly “That’s my boy!” and both King Brylto and Queen Erin also laugh.

“My Queen. Here’s our gift for you.” Kincaid presents their gift.

“What is this? Its looks like some kind of medal….” Queen Erin curious.

“It is a Ying-Yang medal, my Queen. It will be a medal if you combine them.” Grace smiled and answered.

“Let’s see” Queen Erin then give it a try.

“But its looks like a heart shape medal more than Ying-Yang….” King Brylto said. Both Kincaid and Grace start sweat-drop.

“Psst, you say this is Ying-Yang medal?” Kincaid secretly asks Grace.

“How could I know? I just remember Chinese Ying-Yang is like that and I am not sure about the color of Ying-Yang.” Grace answered.

“Well, I bet no longer they will laugh at us again…”

“Yeah…”

“HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!” People laugh at them again including King Brylto and Queen Erin. “I knew it…” Both Kincaid and Grace’s thought.

“Anyway, this is the most remarkable gift that I had. Thanks, young soldier. Ah, before that, I and King Brylto would like to invite you two to our secret garden.” Queen Erin inviting them to her secret garden.


*Whistle*

Everyone once again laugh at them. Kincaid and Grace had no option but admit the offer. Kincaid still sweat-drop but Grace is feeling happy that she could met Queen Erin and King Brylto by live.

“I expect you already who I really am, Miss Grace Laychock?” Queen Erin already knows that Grace revealed their furtive.

“Eh?” Grace seems puzzled.

“You seem very close to my best friend, Kincaid. So, I assume you already who I am.” Queen Erin said.

“But, Queen Erin. How did you know my name?” Grace still puzzled when Queen Erin already knows her name even though this is their first meet.

“Simple, I just used a little trick and ask the well-known lieutenant from your group. Anyhow, you are quite pretty and adorable. No wonder Kincaid will fall for you.” Queen Erin said.

“Enough talk. Shall we enjoy our dance? Kincaid, you know what to do, don’t ya?” King Brylto invites Kincaid and Grace dance as well.

“Yes, King Brylto and Queen Erin. He! He!” Grace has to accept the offer.

“By the way, would you mind don’t call us King or Queen? Just straight says our names. But of course, you must be formal when in front of people.” King Brylto claimed that Grace is one of them.

On that night during Queen Erin’s centenary celebration, there are four people who enjoy their dance at the secret garden meanwhile the rest of people are enjoying the celebration inside the hall. It is quite rare that Queen Erin inviting outsider like Grace Laychock to the secret garden. That will be unforgettable memories for Grace Laychock; for meeting King Brylto besides Queen Erin and being invited to the secret garden.


But still, there is someone who already drunken…

“Oi, more beer pleasssseeeeeeee! Give me moooooooooreeeeeeeeee!” That will be Queen Erin’s sister, Rina.

“Hey, Rina. Consider yourself. You are a general.” Nora alongside her.