Flashback

I nodded a little, looking at the pieces as he spoke. "Alright, I understand. Can we try playing?" I asked, looking at the board.

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He followed her down the stairs, opening the door for her as they walked. He opened his mouth to speak but closed it, not knowing what to say.

"Your mother is quite the character," she said to him as they walked out.

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He smiled,"sure,"

He laughed. "Yes, she's very...uh...good at inserting herself into things." He agreed softly as they walked. "Would you prefer we walked or take the wagon?"

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I nodded a little, moving the pieces around, trying to move them as close to his queen and keeping mine surrounded.

"About how far is it?" she asked as she looked at him smiling a little.

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He smiled a little,"You're quite good at this,"

I smiled a little. "I'm glad I'm fooling you, I'm running out of moves." I admitted, moving another piece, but leaving the queen surrounded.

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He shrugged. "Not too far on foot, but much quicker on horseback." He told her with a smile.

"Well, lets take a horse then," she said to him smiling a little.

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He laughed a little,"Well you're doing quite well for your first time I'm impressed,."

I smiled slightly, looking at the pieces. I moved another piece, it being the last one I had before my Queen was vulnerable. "Then you can take the credit of being a good teacher."

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He smiled and lead her to the barn and letting it out of the stable. He saddled it up and helped her on before climbing on himself.

she smiled a little and hid her laughter when she saw his mother's excited smile through the window.

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He smiled,"I think I will," he said as he made his move.

He took my queen and I sighed, looking at him and smiling. "Good job." I murmured, reaching over to pick up a pawn. "It was all his fault. If it weren't for him." I mumbled with a laugh.

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He laughed a little as they headed towards the market. "If only she weren't so planning and calculating." He said as they rode. "She'll never leave you be, Miss Elise."

She laughed a little,"I know exactly what she is up to, any mother with a single son would, especially if a girl fell into her lap with no family ties," she said to him, "It's kind of odd seeing as I won't have a dowry," she noted, "Either way do not feel pressured," she said to him.

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He smiled,"You played well, your pawns should be used as so," he said to her,"Move your front line up as much as you can," he told her.

I nodded a little as he showed me. "I want to do something else though. Not that I didn't enjoy playing with you. I just want to do something else."

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He sighed a little and smiled. "Do not worry, Miss Elise. She has been trying for years. I would just rather fall in love on my own then be coerced into marriage. If her meddling makes you feel uncomfortable let me know. I'll tell her to stop."

@ musicalpanda
She smiled a little,"It's quite adorable when you think about it, she loves you and wants you to be well taken care of. To be honest I'm quite flattered, I'm fairly helpless, I don't see how she could think I'd ever be a suitable wife," she said smiling a little. Elise was not suited for this time period, she always worried she'd say something off or mention something that hadn't happened yet.

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He smiled,"What would you like to do?" he asked her, "There isn't much and I'm afraid I may bore you,"

I shook my head and smiled. "I'm here to be your friend which means I'm partially in charge of entertainment. Now let's see." I said as I started thinking. There was no form of entertainment I was used to, and we couldn't go outside. I thought of a game, but he might find it childish. It was the only game I could think of. "Do you know how to play Hide and Seek?"

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He shook his head. "You're beauty is the reason. She knows I can take care of whoever I am to marry. She wants someone who will make me happy no matter what. She doesn't know much about you, but she'll use your appearance as reason enough." He said softly.

She nodded,"I see, I'm rather ordianary where I come from," she said to her, "Never had many... suitors," she told him as they rode the horse.

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He smiled,"I quite remember the game from my youth," he said to her.

I sighed a little. "It is childish." I admitted, looking at my hands. "I can understand if you would rather play chess again. I'll think of something else."

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"Can't imagine why." He said with a smile. "You are much more attractive than many women around here." He said politely.

She smiled a little as she shook her head,"If you're so sure," she said to him.

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He smiled a little as he looked at her,"No no I'm quite interested," he told her.

I smiled a little. "Really?" I asked a little skeptical. "Well, okay. So how will we play? Who will hide and who will seek?" I asked him, getting excited. I hadn't played in years and I was excited about it.

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He smiled. "You are quite beautiful." He said politely, slowing the horse as they got to the market. "Lets go find the salt."

"I will hide first, make sure to cover your eyes - and count to 100," he said to her smiling a little.

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She blushed a little as they got to the market,"Where do they sell it at?" she asked.

He looked around and took her to the spices booth. "Around here. They usually ask for a higher price than they should. So we have to make them lower it."

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I nodded with a smile. "Where are we going to hide? Throughout the entire manor?" I asked. "Is there any place that I shouldn't look?"

She nodded a little as she smiled ,"Alright," she said to him then pulled the cloak around here when she noticed eyes on her.

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He smiled,"Nothing is off limits," he told her, "We have the whole hous,e" he told her.