"Uhh, the milk is hot."
"You should have been more careful, little one."
Brienne's sturdy voice came around quite gently.
So how did I get in this position? Sipping milk, seated in a chair, with a blanket wrapped around my body.
3 hours earlier:
"Where am I?"
"Where is Miss Mary?!"
"Max! Sarah!"
Why are there so many people here? Huff! Huff! I can't breathe properly.
Please, someone call Miss Mary. Please, someone make these people go away!
I am a strong boy, strong boys don't cry. Please don't cry...
Tears always roll at the worst situations, and I started crying.
"Uaaegh...."
"Uaaegh..."
Wait! This was actually working! People were noticing me, the thick crowd was vanishing, and the light was coming back after all.
A hand finally grabbed my waist and lifted me up in the air. It was a rather big hand.
(Sniff) (sniff). Her hand was warm, her whole body like a warm lantern.
Lines of expression were on her face—a little loose skin, which was a sign of aging—and a scarf-like cloth on her head.
She had a badge with her name on it: Brienne Baker (SECURITY MANAGER).
"Now, now, my little one. You are safe."
She had tucked me into a blanket from a nearby shelter. The warmth of the blanket replaced the warmth of her hands.
And that's how I ended up in this situation and in this chair. Brienne had brought me a cup of milk, which was extremely hot, but I was still grateful.
"I have contacted the police, little boy. They will be finding your caretaker and informing me."
"Drink your milk and wipe your tears. Strong boys only cry when they want to cry, not when the world wants them to."
I didn't understand a word she said, but it sounded cool, and I was happy that Miss Mary was coming.
"What is happening here today, Brienne?"
"It's a public apology of a knight. Apparently, he smoked in a public space. It wouldn't have been such a big issue if he were any knight."
"But it was Sir Vlad of Ploi. He comes from a family of loyal followers and subordinates. The people of Ploi are forbidden to have any types of things that can cause addiction or are harmful to human health."
"It's a political stunt to please the voters and subordinates, nothing more."
I again understood nothing. I got that smoking is bad, apologies are good, and political stunts are... I don't know?
It had been over two hours of sitting on the same chair. It was rather boring, but I wouldn't dare move a muscle when I was getting free cookies and milk.
Crying has its own benefits sometimes, I guess.
The crowd roared, and the noises started to swell up again as they had hours ago due to the initial excitement.
Brienne had crossed her arms and was sitting on another comfortable chair.
"Finally, the main man has arrived. These guys are late even for an apology!"
The commotion was too heavy, or rather, the crowd surged to see his car. Well, I could assume, seeing him dressed in a royal blue dress with an emerald on his right chest.
Knights are not meant to be handsome, Miss Mary always told me whenever she read any fairytale.
This knight was the living contradiction to that statement.
His hair was somehow dark black with white spots like endless stars in a black sky, complemented by deep eyes as if asking for blood in the black night.
He passed through the crowd without glancing at the audience. Anyone could sense his proud and calm demeanor.
The stage was larger than any other stage for any public gathering. Miss Mary took me to one election campaign last year; that's the only thing I can compare it to.
The knight had fastened his steps and was now standing at the mic for his apology.
He inhaled a whole lot of air, as if to calm his nerves.
"Ufffff... Good afternoon to all the people who are present here on this short notice."
His eyes were stark, his voice unshakable like he had done this a thousand times.
"I know you people. The lady who is managing today's event's security—Miss Brienne, a strong and stern lady. To the old grape seller in the back who fights with his customers about the price, but then after some time also offers them a cheaper price..."
"I am a son to you all who don't have one, and a brother to all who don't have my blood."
I stared at Brienne as if searching for something.
She gazed toward me.
"They pay you well when you let them be your family for a moment."
I could understand this much: she didn't really know the knight.
"My friends, today I am here in front of you to publicly apologize for a sin that I have committed against my religion and my people."
"Am I feeling sorry for what I did? Am I guilty of this treasonous crime? Will I still do it in the future?"
We all knew how the speech usually went: he would say no, promise everyone, get back in his big car, and leave.
His eyes twinkled with mischief.
"I am not sorry, my friends!"
Silence filled the area and the hearts of the people. Saying he isn't sorry is the type of sentence you don't hear very often.
"I am not sorry for what I am and what I do for some bullshit religion!"
The crowd started to roar with anger.
"I love you all, that's true, but that doesn't give you the right to meddle with my personal affairs. Why I smoke, and how?"
"Only a broken man can be a religious man. When I become so broken in my life, I will quit smoking."
"Thank you."
The speech was over. The crowd was booing. I liked the sound of the booing and the commotion.
But the knight? He was far from finished.
Everyone was awestruck. Even Brienne, who never showed any minor emotion since we met, had a face of shock.
Sir Vlad had taken out a pack of cigarettes. He took out a piece very slowly, as if showing off what he was capable of.
Not one person moved a muscle. Not one person spoke. He lit the cigarette and started smoking right on the stage.
He looked super cool, but it wasn't the cigarette that was cool—it was Vlad himself.
The knight was leaving. After causing such a ruckus, how could one be so calm?
Brienne suddenly lifted me up in the air and spoke loudly:
"Sir Vlad, this boy is lost. Can you please take him to the police station at the Red Keep?"
"His caretaker is waiting there."
That was such a sudden announcement. Why was she in such a hurry?
The knight glanced at me quickly, as if checking what type of creature he was being saddled with.
"Sure! Don't worry, Brienne."