Chapter 24

Ayda started knowing the knights very well by then because of all the time she spent clinging to Nifsara. The latter was really loved and admired by her men. Ayda had to admit that she was a fascinating commander and her men would have given their lives for her without questions asked. That alone meant something. Ayda always thought that knights were serious and boring people that couldn't make their own decisions but these men looked more like puppies than anything else.

They followed their commander around with sparkling eyes and hearing someone confess their feelings to Nifsara made them really excited for some reason. It must have been the first time that someone showed feelings for Nifsara. Ayda couldn't say she was surprised. After all, Nifsara wasn't the warmest person ever. Ayda looked at Nifsara. It really was a shame. Nifsara looked exactly like a main character which meant that her face was conventionally attractive. Even Ayda had to admit that if she didn't have such an awful personality, she would have been attracted to her.

Seeing her men stare at her made Nifsara cough. The knights didn't understand that sign and continued staring at Ayda with round eyes. It seemed they had no desire to leave any time soon. They just stood there, waiting for what would happen next.

"Please carry on. Pretend that we aren't here."

Seeing Nifsara frown made Ayda happy. It seemed she didn't like having her personal life being exposed of the sort and she immediately jumped on the occasion. Ayda made her eyes water and started rubbing them:

"I am so ashamed... I just wanted to tell Nifsara how I felt about her. But it seems she doesn't want to hear it..."

The knights immediately started panicking:

"Please don't cry Madame."

Ayda forced herself to cry even more:

"Why would such a gorgeous and talented person love someone like me? I should have known better."

That was the last straw and Ayda was worried that the knights would actually cry. They turned from Ayda to Nifsara, having no idea what to do:

"No! That's not true!

-Our commander is just very shy!

-Anyone would be flattered to have such a gorgeous Lady confess to them!"

Ayda thought that she would get dehydrated because of all her tears:

"I didn't want to tell her like that. I wanted it to be very romantic but I just messed it up... I'm terrible. I understand why she wouldn't want to love me. I messed up everything!

-No, Madame. There's nothing better than passion! Your declaration was impressive!

-Really?

-Yes! Really impressive! I would love you to confess to me of this sort."

Nifsara's tone was harsh:

"Go back to practice."

The knights already looked exhausted as they were but they didn't dare argue:

"Yes, Commander..."

Some of them still turned back to show thumbs up to Ayda and pushing her to be more confident in herself. Ayda did find them a bit funny and she couldn't help smiling. They were nice. Way nicer than she would have thought. Her smile quickly froze however, when she noticed Nifsara's stare. She suddenly remembered that she was supposed to be sad and went back to rubbing her eyes:

"I am so sorry, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I just wanted you to know how I felt. Do you hate me now?"

Nifsara looked at Ayda for a bit before sighing:

"Why would I hate you, lady Ayda?"

Ayda made her eyes sparkle:

"Really? You don't find me disgusting or annoying?

-Not at all."

Ayda wasn't pleased by that answer. Seriously? What more did she have to do to be hated by this woman? It shouldn't be so hard to be hated. Usually it was the other way around.

"Are you sure?"

Nifsara dared to smile.

"There is nothing that the young Lady could do that would make me hate you."

Ayda's blood started boiling. Just you wait, Nifsara. Ayda could easily be annoying. She would be the clingiest person on Earth and make Nifsara go crazy. The Commander would plead with Ayda for her to leave by the time she was done.

"Then... Wouldn't you mind me expressing my love more?

-You don't have to express your gratitude, lady Ayda. It is a pleasure to have you around. I wouldn't have done anything differently."

Ayda frowned. There were so many things wrong with that sentence. She didn't even know where to start.

"What? Gratitude?

-Ayda is a very generous person. I fear that you think that you owe me something. As I said, I helped you because I wanted to. Seeing you healing is more than enough. You can thank me by being happy."

Healing? On the contrary, being close to Nifsara was making her sick. Ayda couldn't hold back a nervous laugh:

"Wait. I think there's been a misunderstanding here. I love you. As in L-O-V-E love you."

Nifsara didn't hesitate a second:

"And I love you too."

Ayda hated the sound of that.

"No, I mean, I love you as in : I want to kiss you."

Just thinking about it made Ayda shutter. She wanted Nifsara's face to stay as far away as possible from her. Just as she was thinking that however, Nifsara's face suddenly turned cold. Really cold. Ayda got so surprised that she forgot to talk for a second. She had never seen Nifsara so irritated. The next second it was gone but it was too late. Ayda had seen it and it seemed her plan was finally working! Nifsara seemed disgusted at the thought of having Ayda in love with her.

"Lady Ayda... I think you are being mistaken."

If Nifsara said one more time that Ayda confused love with gratitude, she was going to kick her.

"I am not. I really do love you. I love you with all my heart."

Ayda never confessed to anyone before therefore she had no idea if she was doing it right. Maybe she should have yelled less and pretended to be a bit more shy. It was too late anyway. It seemed to be working because Nifsara looked speechless. Ayda jumped on the occasion:

"I never felt such a thing before. I always thought that people in love looked stupid and cringe but I am one of them now."

Ayda hoped that that would be enough to convince Nifsara because she was running out of ideas.

"Lady Ayda... I would love to believe you but I am afraid you would feel the same way if it had been someone else that extended a helping hand. I don't mean to criticize you, lady Ayda. It is only natural.

-No. It can only be you."

Who else could kill her? Even the villain didn't succeed.

"I didn't fall in love with you because you helped me. I fell in love with you and that's all.

-Then what made you develop such feelings?"

Nifsara seemed very sure that Ayda was lying. Way too sure for it not to be annoying. Ayda wanted to prove her wrong but she couldn't come up with anything. What would she love about Nifsara?

"You... You are gorgeous!"

Who wouldn't be attracted to someone conventionally attractive? Ayda felt really proud of her excuse but it didn't seem to be enough for Nifsara:

"I didn't get the impression that you are the superficial type.

-What is wrong with that? Can't I be attracted to you first and then fall in love with you?

-I believe that your vision of love still needs to ripen."

Did she just call Ayda childish? Seeing Nifsara's smirk was the last straw and Ayda had a hard time controlling her breathing.

"I beg to differ. At first I was attracted to your beauty but soon I came to fall in love with every aspect of you. I realized that you were serious, calm, thoughtful, righteous... You are an amazing commander and your men trust you for a reason."

Ayda suddenly remembered what she liked most about Nifsara:

"And you are very sexy with a sword!"