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If you were to ask a noble what the most secretive group in the Empire is, they would probably answer their exclusive clubs that you can only get in with an invite.
If you asked a commoner, you may hear about underground gambling rings posing as taverns.
And if you asked a knight, they might mention organizations that are always looming in the dark.
None will give you the correct answer,
Because the true answer is a group so secretive that only its six members are aware of its existence.
That exact group is holding a meeting at this very moment at the palace, and their last member has just arrived.
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“Forgive my lateness,” apologized Nathan, “my Lord had requested a batch of the new cakes produced by Baron Ail’s favorite bakery,” he sat down at his usual seat around the table.
At his right, Enon groaned as he picked up a lemon from the plate in front of him. “That brat is spending the night there again?! Does he ever use his own room?!”
The room fell silent, knowing from experience that anything they say to him right now will just aggravate the pharmacist more.
After the pharmacist calmed down a bit, and was no longer shouting things that would usually have him arrested, Gakane spoke up.
“Are you certain that they don't suspect anything Nathan? The Commander I can handle but I think Yuder may just kill us…” Kanna who was sitting beside him, nodding nervously along
They were the most recent addition to the group, and were still worried about their friend finding out.
“Positive, they seem unaware of our meetings”
Said meetings had started a few months ago. At first, it was just Nathan and Enon meeting at the Calvary infirmary whenever they had enough of the two lovers.
At one such meeting, they didn't realize that Keilusa happened to be looking in using his abilities, and after having to sit through one too many of his brother's speeches about how adorable his assistant is, he offered a room in a palace and along with Faria joined the group.
Not too long after, Enon realized that his little brother’s friends should also be included in this. Especially the poor Deputy Commander of the Jung division.
“Now that we are all here, shall we officially start” Said Faria, sitting beside her husband, “I had been waiting to ask, did something happen with Kishiar? He asked for my help picking a new outfit for Yuder, and specifically requested for it to be red with gold accents. Of course, I was happy to help but it's unlike him to ask so suddenly and he has never asked for such color before.”
“He may as well write his name on him! Does that man have no dignity!?” Shouted Enon, before the two cavalry members explained what happened.
“There was…an incident, two days ago after training.” Kanna paled as if she'd seen a ghost when she started talking. “Yuder was leaving after overseeing training, when a recently manifested Alpha from Shin…asked him if he would be interested in going out together. It wouldn't have been so bad if it ended there, but apparently seeing this a bunch of other members started confessing to Yuder”
“Of course he refused everyone, but the Commander happened to arrive just then, to meet with Yuder.” Gakane added, matching Kanna’s expression. “We didn't see either of them for the rest of the day.”
“I can confirm that neither left my Lord's quarters for the rest of the day.” Nathan also added, “the following day we also got a large number of reports from Alpha awakeners expressing concern that Baron Ali's scent was slightly different than usual.”
“…Faria, if there isn’t an emergency remind me to not meet with Kishiar for the next few days.” Keilusa rubbed his forehead. “I sometimes wonder if my brother has any shame…”
He reminisced—shivering—at the number of times he had to listen to his brother talking about his assistant while, wearing the marks that said assistant left on him like trophies.
“At least it means that Yuder took a break from traini—”
Enon interrupted Gakane, “What break?! If that idiot took more care of himself, I would have run out of back pain remedies! But of course, he never lets me give him any, saying how he is fine!”
“Kishiar should take better care of such an important member of the Empire.” agreed Keilusa
The two of them had been petitioning for the group’s name to be changed into ‘Yuder Can Do Better’ but they keep getting rejected.
“Moving on…” Kanna awkwardly tried to change the subject, “I had to go to the Commander’s office recently, to read something.”
The room’s atmosphere changed in an instant, everyone’s face now painted with pity.
“Oh dear,” Faria murmured, placing a hand on her shoulder, “how bad was it this time.”
“I don’t think I will be able to look at Yuder for a while…” After the first unfortunate incident that led to her finding out about her friend and boss’s relationship, the poor psychometrist has worked even harder to control her abilities. But sometimes when she is using her abilities, she can’t help but also pick up strong memories from other objects.
“Why is always that office…and I don’t know if it’s better or worse the fact that I know the couch in that room is new…”
“How many has it been now? At this point the Empire will face a couch shortage.” For the sake of his sanity Keilusa will pretend to not know why his brother keeps having to get new ones.
“The artisans seem to have realized that their couches keep getting destroyed, on account of how often we request replacement, and have now started an internal competition to see whose will last longer.”
“Nathan, you deserve a raise. And after all this messing around, how is their relationship still under wraps?!”
“Everyone is too scared of Yuder to gossip.”
None could refute Gakane’s words.
The meeting went on for a while longer, the group continuing to exchange stories, some from missions, others from official meetings and more from the closed doors of the Cavalry.
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Back in the Cavalry
“They are having another one of their meetings, aren’t they?” said Kishiar as he hugged Yuder, playing with the other man’s hair, as they both drank each other’s presence in bed.
Yuder nodded, “Kanna and Gakane were acting nervous and exchanged signals with Enon and Nathan.” A faint, almost imperceptible sigh escaped him “I need to make sure the two of them work on their secrecy.”
Kishiar's chuckle as he pressed a kiss on Yuder’s neck, “I take it you aren’t going to let them know that the reason why they have extra training is their little meetings?”
“I don’t see an issue with their meetings.” Yuder said, his voice low and relaxed as he closed his eyes. “As long as it doesn't get in the way of their duties.”
Kishiar left another kiss, this time on his lover's temple.
“If my adorable assistant says so, we can let them have their fun”