Chapter 122: we'll Miss you both

"I am saying this once more." Hakimi's voice was quiet and stern, his gaze darted for just an instant toward the whistle secured tightly on her wrist. "But in case you find yourself in some real trouble, you have to blow that whistle immediately."

"I understand." Dune nodded calmly.

"You shouldn't wait till the last second, like you did the previous time." Hakimi said with an increased pressure in his voice. "If there is something you can't handle on your own –"

"I will blow the whistle." Dune finished the sentence without any worries. "You should concentrate on your performance in the capital too. Do not leave Diana unsupervised, just as you did the other day."

""I won't." His jaw tightened a little bit because of his guilt, and he leant forward a little bit closer and spoke even more quietly. "And Sabrina, you shouldn't do anything foolish."

Dune tilted her head, listening to something only she could hear, then she whispered back. "Sabrina says, she was truly sorry about the last time. She promises not to endanger me again."

"Ahem." Diana stood not far from them, her arms crossed while one of her eyebrows rose in questioning scrutiny over the two of them who were leaning into each other much more than necessary.

Hakimi immediately stepped back, ensuring that there was some distance between himself and Dune once more.

Felix looked Barbra over for a moment with a tilted head. "What's the matter with you? You're that upset about leaving me behind?"

"I'll punch you." Barbra's words came sharp and fast but were hushed soon afterwards. "I'm just feeling a bit nervous. I know how the capital people treat Lady Diana; I've already told you how they always made her feel as an outsider there. And with all the things that have happened lately, what if they find out about it too and start to laugh at her once more?" She clutched herself tighter. "I don't want to see her going through that again. Not after everything she's been through."

"I feel you." Felix extended his hand and stroked her head tenderly.

She quickly swatted his hand away. "I don't want your sympathy."

Felix chuckled softly. "What about a piece of advice for how to get closer to Lady Diana?"

Barbra's face turned crimson in an instant and she tore her gaze away, mumbling. "I don't know what foolishness you are suggesting. I am close enough to Lady Diana right now. I don't need any advice from you."

"That's fine by me." Felix shrugged as he turned to leave.

But Barbra's hand grabbed his sleeve. "Tell me," she whispered, not looking into his eyes.

"What about—"

"Just tell me!" she squeezed his arm tightly, hissing through her teeth.

"Alright, alright." He leaned down near her ear, his mouth hovering just next to her skin. She stood rigid and listened carefully, glancing at Diana once before turning back.

"Are you kidding?" She pushed him away roughly, her face turning red again, right up to her ears. "Lady Diana would never agree to such a thing."

"Do you need her permission for that?" Felix asked as though it were nothing, his hands dropping back into his pockets. "You'll never find out until you try anyway. Deal with the repercussions later."

Barbra made a loud scoffing noise and turned away from him, even though there was no hint of red gone from her cheeks.

"Listen to me, dungeon girl." Diana spoke up again, a bit stronger than before. "If he asks you to do something reckless, don't do it. Understand?"

"Yes, I understand." Dune replied calmly.

"And if he's a pain about something, give him a good whack." Diana folded her arms, looking at Dune seriously. "Even scream at him, if you must. He should know that sometimes he's supposed to listen."

"I won't be able to hit him." Dune said, tilting her head a little bit.

"Yes, you will." Diana spoke as though it was an obvious truth. "If he's being a complete jerk, then someone needs to straighten him out and tell him he can't have things his way all the time."

"Okay." Dune agreed with a nod, storing the order away without any further argument.

Not far away, Hakimi joined Felix in looking out over the grass field that the wind moved across, pressing down upon their jackets.

"You really don't know what's actually happening in the capital?" Felix asked, glancing over to him.

"I don't." Hakimi said, his jaw clenched for a second. "But it matters, given the order came directly from the crown itself. That's not something sent lightly."

"The crown, yeah." Felix said, breathing out heavily. "Anyway. I'll stay in touch. If I find out anything more about Dune, or about your sword situation, I'll reach out."

"I'll do the same, if I learn anything on my end." Hakimi kept his gaze ahead for a few seconds longer before turning to look directly at Felix.

"And you already know this, but don't let Lady Dune anywhere near real danger."

"I won't. That much I can promise you."

"And Sabrina." Hakimi lowered his voice somewhat. "It will be easier if you learn to communicate with her properly, consistently."

"Yeah, yeah, we are already working on it." Felix scratched the back of his neck and looked in the direction of the river. "Feels like a lot's happened, now that I actually think it all through."

Hakimi did not answer, he looked away towards the hilt of the sword on his hip.

"Are you two done there?" Diana's voice called from the other side of the carriage.

Felix and Hakimi exchanged glances and then simultaneously nodded and went towards the others. Hakimi went to stand next to Diana, while Dune silently moved to Felix's side.

"You are welcome to come see us whenever." Diana added more softly. "Just in case if you find yourself in the capital for some reason."

"Yeah, if that should happen, we'll definitely drop by." Felix nodded. "Visit you properly."

"We'll miss both of you." Diana looked at Dune for a second.

Felix gave a faint smile.