Chapter 151

Chapter 151: Chapter 151

Kath’tan took her at her word and rose to his feet, slipping out of the kitchen. He intended to quietly sit in the gardens until it was time for dinner but Azra called to him when she saw him.

"Did my mother scare you off?" She asked humorously.

Kath’tan walked over to her, having no reason not to. "A little," He matched her tone.

"I completely understand. I’m lucky I have a sweet tooth, It would have been difficult to survive otherwise."

"I don’t like sweets." Kath’tan moved even closer to get a better look at the painting.

"Then it’s no surprise you’re out here. Do you care for painting?" She continued the conversation with ease.

"I don’t know," He gave an honest answer, "I never tried my hand at it."

"It’s a past time I scarcely enjoy," Azra muttered, glancing down at her stained hands, "But I suppose the feeling of accomplishment is always nice."

Kath’tan grew quiet, finding himself thinking of how Azra saw finishing a painting as an accomplishment - was it so generously given?

"Do you have any hobbies?" The Fiend asked, rising off the stool and taking her stained apron off.

Kath’tan thought about it, hobbies were once a privilege he didn’t have, but now... between his Mother and Dulce, he had all the time in the world and all the freedom.

"I don’t. Make me a recommendation," He requested, still observing the painting. He doubted he could be gentle and patient enough to create something so detailed.

"You can try them all," Azra shrugged, wiping her hands on the discarded apron, it didn’t little to clean them. "And then continue with the ones you like."

Kath’tan was less as open to that suggestion, still unable to see how hobbies had any use. "Which do you like?" He asked in turn, a furrow between his straight brows.

"Lying in the sun, swinging from the hammock at the edge of the garden, watching birds..." Azra immediately launched into a lengthy list.

Kath’tan narrowed his eyes, processing her words. "Those hardly sound like hobbies."

"Anything can be a hobby," She said simply.

"Even fighting?" Kath’tan blurted out, it was the only thing he did and he did enjoy it, he just didn’t think it counted as a past time.

"Of course, that’s your mother’s hobby." Azra stated dryly, walking away from her easel.

Kath’tan instinctively went with her, his guards lowering. It was just a harmless, mostly meaningless conversation but it meant everything to him.

His mother did like to fight, he knew that although he knew very little about her. He only knew she was strong and had a sweet tooth... it made him frown.

"Do you know her well?" He asked quietly.

Azra glanced at him, "I do, I’ve known her all my life. Although a long time went by without me getting to see her."

"What is she like?" He kept prodding, forgetting that he was speaking with a stranger for a moment.

Azra stopped by a marble bench and sat down, there was a large bird fountain nearby, and as the suns grew dimmer, birds flew down to drink. "She’s very lively and often forgets her standing. She’s strong and never turns down a fight, although she should more often. Grand Duke Yamra’s hair can’t get any whiter, all of his hair will start to fall out if she keeps beating people..."

Kath’tan listened to Azra ramble on about his mother, taking a seat as well on the marble bench. It was perfectly positioned to watch birds flying down for a drink, their colorful feathers and light chirping pleasant.

"...But because she so lively and strong, it’s difficult to see when she’s suffering." Azra said quietly, a hint of guilt in her eyes. "I think she needs a shoulder to lean on more than most, her responsibilities must be burdensome..."

Azra’s quiet words fell to silence and for a while, they both quietly watched the birds drink, some dipped their feet into the water, but eventually they all flew to the sky.

"So how do you like bird watching?" Azra asked lightly as the last of the birds flew off.

Kath’tan didn’t even realize that he had joined Azra to birdwatch until she pointed it out. "Surprisingly pleasant." He admitted honestly, although the company was what gave him the patience to enjoy it.

"It’s almost time for dinner, next time I can show you the great hobby of swinging from a hammock." Azra promised.

Kath’tan doubted he would be as inclined to enjoy that, struck with a thought. Azra had a laidback aura, for a noble lady, she was surprisingly easy to get along with.

"Do you know how to be gentle?" He asked without thinking, regret for his choice of words seeping into his skin.

"I can’t say, my hands are delicate but they still break paintbrushes and crush flowers. It takes a lot of effort to be gentle."

Kath’tan thought about Dulce then, the Vampire was incredibly strong, and yet was gentle. He had viewed it as foolishness at first but now he wanted to be a little foolish for Dulce’s sake.

"So even I can learn how to be gentle?" He mused, deeply thinking about it.

"I’m sure you can if even Lady Valrena could. I saw you once when you were a baby, Lady Valrena had not the faintest idea how to hold you, used to holding her batttleaxes. But she kept trying, worrying her wet nurses to death." She said with a faint smile born of an old memory.

Kath’tan couldn’t remember, he had been too young but his mother’s hugs now were always gentle. She did learn to carry him gently, even after he was gone.

A servant soon came to fetch them for dinner, Valrena dozing off at the dinner table from how many pies she stuffed down much to Grand Duke Yamra’s chagrin.

On the way back to the castle, Kath’tan offered his shoulder to her to rest on. She held on to his arm and took his offer, her eyes slipping shut. In a short time, she was fast asleep, leaving him alone with the Grand Duke and the sound of the carriage wheels going over cobblestone.

"Thank you." Grand Duke Yamra said, so quietly that Kath’tan almost missed it.

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