Chapter Text
Claudia made her way into the busy tavern. In the past month she had visited the establishment more often than she ever would have before. The lighting inside was low, as were the patrons that often visited the Squeaky Wheel. Looking around, everyone seemed either way to hary, way to drunk, or in the women's case, way to slutty.
In a far corner, Claudia found the man she was looking for. If Claudia had seen Gideon passing on a street she may have thought he had looked handsome. His long blonde hair and light green eyes usually had that effect on people. However Claudia couldn’t help that he effected far too many people, far too often.
“Sir Avlet, do you think you could stop flirting long enough to do your job,” Claudia huffed, obviously annoyed at the knight.
Gideon’s eyes flicked over towards Claudia. Claudia watched as Gideon’s eyes looked her up and down, something that he had been doing since she had known him. Claudia simply glared back at, willing her cheeks not to burn the way the wanted too.
“Very well,” he said turning back to the women he was speaking too. “It appears that I leave you. It truly is such a travesty but I fear our kingdom needs us. I being the man I am will carry the weight that is given to me.”
You know what, I can wait outside for you to finish,” Claudia interrupted.
Claudia stormed outside, eager to leave the Squeaky wheel. The smell of tobacco smoke was beginning to give her a headache. She leaned against the outside of the tavern, breathing in the fresh air and trying to clear her head.
“Look what we have here.”
Claudia decided immediately that today was not her day. She looked up finding a young man staring down at her. The man had dark curly hair and light hazel eyes. His skin was fair and flawless, his clothes made of the finest material. He was surrounded by other men, all of them sons of nobles and dressed in a similar fashion.
“What can I do for you, my prince?” Claudia asked with a slight bow.
“Now Lady Quincy, how many times have I told you, there is no need to address me so formally, a simple sir Rylan would do,” the prince said cockily.
“I apologize my prince, but your father has stated many times his disagreement with your attention on me.”
“What my father does not know, will not cause him harm Claudia.”
Prince Rylan got on Claudia’s last nerve. If he wasn’t spending his days prancing with the nobles son’s, he was gallivanting with noble woman, or occasionally peasant women. Claudia had even seen him with a man once. They way he insisted on flirting on her despite the king's exact words, “do not fraternize with my knights”, it infuriated Claudia to no end. To think, this was the man who was supposed to one day rule the kingdom. The thought made her sick.
“Come Claudia, we both know that you are getting tired of feigning disinterest, why not give in,” the prince said with a cocky smirk.
Claudia was about to once again remind him of the king's words, however at that moment Gideon exited the tavern. He stopped, confused and curious as to what was going on.
“Ah, Sir Avlet. Now that you are here we can be on our way, the king has requested our presence immediately. I apologize my prince, but we are required elsewhere.”
“I see,” Rylan said looking between Claudia and Gideon before smiling. “I suppose I must let you go then. It was nice to speak to you Claudia and I shall hopefully run into you again soon. Very soon.”
He whispered the last part for Claudia's ears only and she had to suppress a shiver at the chuckle that followed it. Claudia waited as Rylan entered the tavern, followed by his nobles.
“Are you alright Lady Quincy,” Gideon said, looking genuinely worried.
“Not at all. I fear we may be keeping the king waiting.”
With that Claudia began walking, eager to get away from the infernal tavern. She really did hate going there.