"Who are you?" the girl asked picking a book that lay on her bed and holding it in front of herself as a weapon.

"Ace, your brother! Don't you remember me?" Ace asked mockingly. He came closer and flopped onto her bed. "What were you reading?" he asked trying to read the cover.

She took a few steps back. "I could scream."

Ace rolled his eyes. "Yeah and then I'd leave, you'll be thought a lunatic and continue with your ill-fated marriage. Feel free to shout any time. I'll have my work cut short."

She hesitated for a second, her eyes trying to see right into him. "Did father send you?" She finally asked but didn’t lower the book.

"In a way but we have bigger problems now than him. Like h-"

"What happened to my father?" she asked cutting him off and looking terrified.

"So you knew this might happen?" Ace asked raising an eyebrow.

"No... No! I didn't... I had thought..." she tried explaining but her brain wasn't complying.

"Stop it" Ace said waving his hand in front of her face. "I don't really care why it happened or how. As I told previously we have real problems at our hands."

"But father..."

"He's a corpse now!" Ace hissed without any intention of being nice about it. "You killed him and that's all there is to it. Now either you calm down and help me save you as he had pleaded me to do or I leave and you can punish yourself by marrying the idiot who wants your lands!" Tonight his patience ran thin.

"Father wouldn't forgive me if let his lands fall into his enemies' hands!" she cried out loudly and a set of feet came rushing towards the room.

Ace glared at his pretend sister and went to hide under the bed, a place where monsters belonged. He put on [Shadow Veil] and waited for the unknown.

Heavy footsteps reached the door and threw it open. Light spilled in from a candle carried and Ace could see fluffy slippers and the end of ground reaching night robe.

"What's happening here? Why were you shouting?" a female asked and Ace instantly recognized the demeaning tone she used; it was the woman he had made fun of in the ball. 'So having a nice chat with them and making them see reason is out of the question' he noted, not that he had planned to go that route.

"I-I was surprised" his sister murmured under her breath.

"I don't doubt that. Now what happened here?" the woman muttered angrily and went to the window. By the curse that escaped her lips he knew it had opened easily. "I thought I told you to never open it!"

"I didn- I felt constricted, needed some fresh air."

Ace almost groaned hearing those words and the terrified tone they were said in. Hasn't she lied even once in her life?

"You dare to lie to me?" the woman hissed in outrage, her hand colliding with the girl's face. "Where is the bastard? I'm going to kill him with my own two hands!"

The girl hiccupped quietly while the woman went on a rampage through the room. She threw everything from the closet, kicked the doors and threw the chair away from the table. The bed's coverings went flying too and Ace saw the woman lowering herself to him.

'It is dark here' he prayed. 'And she won't be able to see through my veil.'

But the woman was having none of that and reached her hand to drag him out by his hair. "Ha! Found you scoundrel!"

Ace didn't think much and just punched right ahead between her eyes. The hit took her by surprise and she fell back with a thud.

"What did you do to her?" the girl yelped and Ace heard another set of steps coming their way. "When will you learn?" he asked her impatiently and positioned himself behind the door. He was through with trying to hide himself.

"Wha-" a male voice asked opening the door and staring at his unconscious wife. Ace used that moment to hit the back of his head with the hilt of Kris and sent him rolling forward. He fell but wasn't out yet so Ace remedied the situation by hitting a few more times.

"Can you keep quiet now?" he asked with a steely smile, turning to the girl. She had both of her hands over her mouth and tears were streaming down her face. "Oh, stop with that. They deserved it and you know it. Now help me drag them to their room."

"They're alive?" she asked through sobs.

"No, I killed with a single punch. Of course, they're alive!" Ace was running out of patience. If she was going to cause so much trouble and question his every action, it was doubtful it was worth the effort to help her out.

He gave her a last chance to redeem herself and started to drag the man out. There was a room nearby with its door ajar so he went there. A gigantic bed stood in the middle of it and he debated whether to push the man up on it or not.

And decided not to bother. From the bums in their heads they were going to know that it was no dream so there was no point in trying to prove them otherwise. Hopefully, the veil had at least concealed his features enough so as not to be recognized.

The girl came in heaving and puffing, dragging the unconscious woman by a hand. Ace helped her out and took out a sleeping potion which he poured into the two's mouths in case they thought about waking up.

"Wha-" the girl started to ask and Ace sent her a glare which she finally understood and closed her mouth.

When they were in her room, he sat on the edge of her desk. "It was a sleep inducing mixture so they won't interrupt us again."

"Who are you?" she asked with fear in her tone but this time quietly.

"I told you. Ace, your new brother."

"I'm not asking that!" she whisper shouted. "You say you know my father, my story, manage to fool even the Duke that you're my lost brother, play the mesmerizing tune, stop the announcement and climb into a well-guarded mansion! And all that in a single night! How am I supposes to trust someone I can't even get my head around to start to understand?"

'It was guarded?' Ace wondered surprised when he noticed the girl had quietened down and was looking at him for an explanation. "I needed a way into the ball and your father was at the right place at the right time. That's all there's to me and agreeing to help you out. What concerns my way of doing things... That's my problem and leave it alone. Did I answer your every question or do you have some more?"

"Do you really plan to help me?"

"If you stop asking stupid questions, then yes."

"Why?"

"Oh for the love of..." Ace cursed. "Can't you just accept it and let us move on? I want to leave this place and get going."

The girl noted his aggravated tone and gulped, nodding quickly. She really wanted out and if questionable ways were to be used, she had to be up for it. The man had lied to her professing eternal love and that meant she could be untruthful too.

"Do you know a way to make everything right again?"

"I suppose first I would have to become the legal heir to the title and get the power over you that your father had" Ace said trying to remember how things worked in middle ages. Father passed the title to his eldest son and he was the lord. If lord died while his eldest was still a child, a protector was appointed and he had all the rights of a lord beside selling the lands. Girls were to be married with a dowry of land or jewels and it was arranged by the lord and the future husband in question. It wasn't much knowledge but it was going to suffice. "Can you fake your father's handwriting?"

"I wouldn't kn-"

"I don't care about your morals. I asked can you, or can you not fake it?"

The girl nodded shyly.

"Good. I need you to write a paper where you pass all the power to me because there's not a person you can trust with it. Think of some dead people to be solicitors and try to get their names at least close to the way they wrote."

"I couldn't!" the girl refuted instantly. "It's impossible for someone like me!"

"You want to stay? I'll be going then" Ace sad calmly and after a nod her way went to the window. He was about to open it when the girl stopped his hand. "I'll do it."

"Good. You have some two-three hours."

"What?"

"I'll need to leave before the sun rises and I need my legality paper by then. There's a limit to how much nonsense society can take" Ace said and went to lie down on the bed. "Wake me up when you're done."

And with that he fell asleep in his fake sister's room while she watched him with uncomprehending eyes.

Over four hours later he felt a feather like touch on his shoulder. "Wake up!" a voice whispered and he groggily opened his eyes. "What time is it?" Darkness met his gaze and he turned on another side. "Too early. Leave me alone." "I could actually believe you're just a child now."

Ace noted the insult but was too sleepy to react. "Do I really need to?" he asked the girl's whose shape finally took form in his glazed eyes. "Yes. Sun is almost up and you need to be out of here. I don't want to imagine what would happen if you were found here."

Ace nodded and threw the blanket off himself. He couldn't remember going under one but he dismissed it and yawned widely. The girl dragged him under the table where a small candle burned and an envelope lay. She closed it tightly and dropped some melted red wax in which she pushed his hand with the ring on. It made a mark of the bird and sealed the envelope.

"What is in it?" Ace asked, taking it in his hands and feeling some weight not from a single sheet of paper.

"I used my marriage contract father had sent me as a base and wrote all the reasons and protections of you receiving the title that I could think of. I don't believe it's really close to what it's supposed to look like but if you prevent them from looking at it too carefully, you should pass."

"Marriage contract?" Ace asked in disbelief. "You used a marriage contract as a base for testament?"

"It's not that different!" the girl said, defending her hard work. "Marriage is also just another contract. It's not like there's anything more to it..."

Ace noted her sorrowful tone and decided it was time he made his exit. "I'll see what I can do. Try to stay alive till then, okay?"

She nodded. "And you too. Be careful."

Ace raised his head, surprised. "Thanks" he murmured and left through the doors this time. Hidden under the veil he wandered some until he found the exit and went straight through the half asleep guards. 'Is that called heavy security?'

He left the house behind himself and went along the street until he remembered to have forgotten to ask where their town house was.

He chose to go where there were sounds and saw an inn shining brightly in the night. Next to it stood a bunch of carriages and he chose the most respectable looking one.

"To Fallon Manor" he said and was about to get in when the man's voice stopped him in his tracks.

"I'm taken. You should find some ponies to bring you home, kid." The man laughed and other drivers snickered around. Ace prayed for patience so he wouldn't kill them all here and now.

"You're above three gold for a short journey, then? So sad. I hope I can find someone else to accommodate me then" he said deliberately shining a few coins in his hand and turning to leave.

Pregnant silence lasted for but a second and everyone was fighting over who will get to drive him to his destination.

Ace leaned on his walking stick and watched them with delight. Usually the pay for driving around the city was some silvers. It was barely enough to feed the horses and their drivers so the animals tended to look like empty eyed creatures of bone and skin; no meat involved.

Punches were thrown, noses broken, knuckles bruised and all for a few gold coins. Ace waited patiently for the victor to emerge. He had slept for some time and was in no hurry to return to the kingdom of dreams.

The guy with the most decent carriage won. It was no surprise really since he was the beefiest and healthiest looking among the lot.

"So now I'm good enough?" Ace asked with a raised eyebrow, passing him the gold coins. The man grunted something unintelligible and Ace got into the vehicle.

Something rushed past his boots and he barely stopped the yelp escaping from his lips. This was no carriage for nobles.

For the first time he was appreciative of the darkness inside as he sat down. He didn't want to know what kind of animals had made their home here and what else he could find. Some adventures just weren't worth it.

He was released near a large mansion next to which stood Fallon carriage's driver. He looked cold and half-asleep, but a bright smile blossomed on his face when he noticed Ace coming over. "I knew you would be coming and would need someone to let you in!" He looked really proud of himself and Ace rewarded him with a small smile. "I appreciate it."

"It's no problem! Because of you I was finally able to buy my sick daughter her medicine and soon she'll be running around like previously! I owe you my life!" The man said happily taking Ace's hands together and shaking them in emotion. Then he noticed what he was doing and jumped back falling on his knees. "I didn't mea-"

"Calm down" Ace said, shaking his head. "I'll forget about this incident if you'll manage to get me inside before the morning comes."

The man nodded and went to talk to the soldier standing behind the gates. In a moment they were opened and Ace was led in. All servants stood in two lines as if all this time waiting for his return. Maybe they had.

There was something wrong with this reception.

They had no reason to celebrate his coming. First they didn't know their true lord has died and secondly they had no way of knowing whether he was telling truth or not. He could be just anyone pretending to be a long lost son for the sake of the title and lands.

Warily, he walked through all of them in a steady fashion. He didn't hurry but neither did he dally to enjoy the attention. Next to the mansion's steps a middle aged man stood. In his hands he held a pillow on which a medal like thing lay with a bird of prey's symbol drawn on it.

"We welcome you, our Lord. This is a gift given to all lords when they first come after receiving the title." His voice was hard and stony, eyes lacking warmth but there was no displeasure there either.

Ace allowed the thing to be attached to his coat and went inside followed by all the servants. The house wasn't anything spectacular; one could even call it sad and lonely. All the surfaces were cleaned to shining but Greek sculptures, white arcs, greyish tapestries all radiated cold. Everything was in tones of light blue and white giving a feeling of a hospital or a mad house.

He kept his observations to himself and walked up the stairs that there right by the end of the gigantic room. Oak handle was glistening and it felt like a crime to touch it and maybe dirty. Ace did it anyway and walked up. Most of his followers left, glad to be able to go to sleep, only the old man remained.

"Why the ceremony?" he asked him not beating around the bush.

"The lord would have never given up his seal ring if he was alive."

"You mean I killed him and stole it?" Ace asked not turning to look back but searching for a nice room by opening all doors. All of them were too clean and lacking in color. He had never noticed that he needed it until now that he saw a house so bereft of it.

"No. You're helping the young miss which means you're on our side."

"It seems I underestimated the power of gossip. Well, no matter. So are you going to help me strengthen my position?" Ace asked, backing away from a sickly bleached green room. He would have to debate whether to give it to his worst enemy or pity the man.

The lead servant took his time answering, three minutes to be exact. "Yes. We need you to save our Miss Leo."

Ace nodded at that and took out the envelope. “Here are my papers; I need them approved by tomorrow midday." He then handed it to the man and entered master bedroom. "If you really want to help your little princess, that is." And he closed the door right before the guy's face wishing he could see through walls and an expression the man should have carried.

Unfortunately, he had no such powers so he turned towards his second room tonight. It was much larger but as cozy as the last one. Warmer brown colors did nothing to improve the emotionless atmosphere. It was like ghosts or spirits lived here instead of humans.

At least, it's not that sickly green room Ace consoled himself and plopped down on the bed. It was king-sized and he found out he enjoyed one thing in this room.

It was going to be torture to return to his real life room or sleep with Par in the wild.

Midday sun met him still in bed. He knew he should be getting up but the bed was so comfortable...

He took out the little piece of paper he'd received in the ball and read it before [Flare]'s light.

It was a card of sorts.

*Damon – Night Hunter.

Middays behind Lucky Hoof*

"Lord! Lord!" a young maid bellowed bursting in his room. "There is terrible news!"

"Can't they wait?" Ace asked covering his ears to keep them functional.

"Your sister is already at the church!"

"Why sh-" His mind zoned on the subject and he finally understood the problem's degree. If the ceremony wasn't stopped, the girl won't have any chance of escaping her predicament. "How did that happen?" he asked jumping out and glancing at a mirror. His clothes looked spectacular like the night before and nodding towards his reflection he turned towards the maid.

"It is said someone broke in to the Handerwell estate and tried to abduct the poor girl. She managed to escape such a fate but to prevent it repeating they're marrying today and will leave for her estate this evening." She was crying by the end of her speech. "You must save our Lady! She doesn't deserve that!"

Ace ignored her nonsense. "Where's the head supervisor?"

"In the Lord's - I mean Your office."

"Lead me" Ace said rolling his eyes. It was not even close to being his office.

She nodded eagerly and rushed off, Ace almost running after her.

"Have the carriage prepared" he threw to her before entering the study and closing the door behind himself.

The man stood looking through the window. His shoulders were sagged and desolation was written on his back in bold letters.

"I don't think we have time for delicate feelings now" Ace said coming to the desk. Stacks of paper occupied it; he didn't even try to guess what they contained. "Were you able to do what I asked of you?"

The man turned and ice cold grey eyes bore in Ace. "I give you power over our whole household, over the title, the lands and the young lady's life. We're all at your mercy." It didn't really seem so from his gaze but Ace guessed the man was terrified. He was giving everything to an absolute stranger, who he didn't trust, in a vain hope he would manage to save a single girl, not even his daughter.

"I take it you succeeded then?"

The man passed him a paper. Ace didn't take it but scanned quickly. It was a letter from some heraldry that agreed to his hold over the Fallan title and all that came with it. However, there was an added note that if his sister was to be married the land would belong to her husband until he came of age.

"Perfect" Ace said and turned to make his way out. He understood the man's play but paid it no heed. He had promised to save the girl, anyway.

"Where are you going? And take the letter; you'll need it to prove yourself!"

"Am I such a lowlife to have to prove myself to them?" Ace asked stopping and half turning to face the man. "If they don't believe me, they better come and check themselves." With that he reached for the door. "And I'm going to cause the greatest scandal this city has ever seen."

He left the house and entered the carriage waiting for him by the steps. It flew through the empty streets, leaving Ace no time to think of how exactly he was going to stop the wedding. He hadn't tried anything like that before.

It made excitement boil in his blood system and he smiled impatiently. This was going to be fun.

The church and its surroundings were full of people. Driver had left his carriage and tried to make a way for Ace, pushing people aside, but soon he got himself in a fight and the kid was left all alone.

It was better in a way. He knew the general location of the entrance and alone he could slip through people unnoticed. [Hiding in Plain Sight] helped to keep out of trouble too. Soon he was by the door and walking through horrified servants that kept the crowd from entering the church.

Everyone's gazes shifted to him and he saw disgust in them, displeasure. He kept his eyes on the front and didn't look around anymore.

There stood the bride in a white monstrosity which supposedly was a dress. It swallowed her whole and on the steps stood only a mountain of fabric. Not a single part of her body was on show, like for example a face.

He reached the front and at the right saw an empty seat. Relief washed over him like a wave and he wondered what he would have done if there was none. Would he have made a scene for a seat or simply announced his plan to destroy this fabulous wedding? Running away ashamed had never been a choice.

Those, who were beside him, made not so secretive attempts to distance themselves by leaning to their companions as if to say something. None did.

Silence that had descended with his untimely coming has yet to be broken. Ace felt like waving a hand a saying please continue but kept himself in check allowing only a wry smile escape.

Some five or ten minutes later the priest coughed out and started the ceremony from the very beginning. There was an almost audible groan from the audience. Ace chuckled in his mind.

His mirth didn't last long.

After first five minutes he was fighting to keep his eyes open. The priest droned on endlessly without even asking anything from the bride or groom. He talked about their good qualities, what made them perfect for each other, their family stations, worshipped gods and what future was predicted for their match.

An hour passed like a year.

And the priest continued. To bless the new family and teach them the right way to live he recounted many old tales and explained their meanings. He was really passionate about it. Ace would have enjoyed the stories if not the constant moralizing throughout them and after.

Another decade long hour went by. Ace well understood the horror of having to listen to this twice and stored it as a punishment for his worst enemies. He couldn't imagine a place where brain would decline quicker than here.

"Now if nobody has anything to say I hereby call these two people-"

Ace almost slept through his queue to move out. "Wait, wait, wait! I have something to say against it" he said standing up. His first words might have lacked a lord's disposition but the last were said with emotionless authority that expected to be followed without question.

The priest took a step back from surprise. "You can't do that! The ceremony is almost finished!"

"Did you, or did you not say if anyone has something to say that they should?" Ace asked in a mocking tone.

"I did but..." the priest muttered looking like a slapped puppy.

"It's just a part of the wording?"

"Yes!" the man jumped at the helping hand not noticing it was a trap. "It is simply how the ceremony is supposed to be."

Ace smiled; now no one could refuse his right to talk. "Then it means you have to honor my right to stop this thing."

"What do you mean stop?" the priest asked wide eyed. "You can't..."

"You yourself said that I have the right to talk by gods' laws and I'm using it now and I say this wedding is annulled" Ace said taking slow steps to the altar. "And I'm taking my dear sister with me."

"You're not the lord, you've no power regarding this question" the lady he had once insulted said standing up from the first lines. She had her hands crossed and was smirking his way; she thought she had all the cards in her hands. "You're ten years too early, boy, to be making any demands. Hurry and go back to your daddy" she taunted.

Ace gave her one of his most dazzling smiles. "I would if you hadn't killed him. It kind of complicates the matter."

Shocked faces met his remark and he used that time to grab his sister by the hand and get her away from her husband-to-be. "What are you doing?" she managed to hiss at him before the crazy women recovered.

"I would have my husband call you to a duel!" she said threateningly, eyes flashing anger. "How did you dare to make such an accusation?"

Ace wanted to laugh out loud. She might have admitted she killed him with her own hands by the way she said it and the words she had used. His fake father's death hadn't been made public yet. Even a moron could guess now she wasn't as innocent as she pretended. "But you won't since it would damage his reputation more than a broken engagement of his son. I can already imagine the headlines stating how your husband fought a kid for your sake, such heroism!"

She looked to be searching for words appropriate to call him but failing even in that. Not that it was an easy task when she was a lady of the society and couldn't utter anything even close to a curse. "Show me your papers" she hissed finally, trying to regain some dignity. "You're no lord but a child playing one."

"Should I be carrying them with myself?" Ace asked, looking at her condescendingly. "If you feel so insecure about your knowledge, run to my manor and check it. I can have a servant sent with you in case you don't know where it is."

"You..." she seethed. “You're a kid; no one's going to believe you're anything but a spoiled brat."

Her words were followed by a wave of fluttering fans and exclamations of surprise and disapproval. Women in society gatherings didn't get angry, lose their temper and most importantly didn't insult others. That is if they wanted to receive an invitation to a gathering ever again.

"It may be true that I'm just a child" Ace said with perfect calmness. "But I'm a lord of Fallan and I'm tired of hearing your nonsense. Come" he said to his sister and descended the stairs. She followed him extremely happy for the horrible dress that made her look like a pudding. It hid her shaking and most likely ashen white face. The kid was making fun of one of the most influential families in the city and seemed not to care one bit. He was either used to playing with fire or didn't know what he was up against. She was afraid it was the latter.

"You're not allowed to stop the ceremony!" the woman hissed standing in Ace's path. "Priest, please, continue th-"

"And who's going to stop me?" Ace asked quietly, making everyone strain to hear him. "You? Or that weakling of a husband of yours? Maybe the shell-shocked son?" He laughed. It was a mirthless thing meant to mock. "It is you who has no power here so get out of my way and hope that you'll never be there ever again. I don't treat idiots kindly." His voice was velvety soft, eyes liquid pools of shining silver. He looked anything but a kid at that moment and the woman took an involuntarily step back.

Ace gave her a mock bow and left with everyone's eyes following his every step. He had not to fail now. Eyes had to be kept straight ahead and disposition relaxed but most importantly he couldn't stumble. That would be the biggest defeat ever.

Every step brought him closer to the steps from the church and he glared at them as if they were his worst enemies. At the moment it had truth to it. Then he raised his eyes and smiled at the commoners who had seen everything transpire through the open doors but hadn't been able to hear. Seeing wonder and amazement in their eyes he felt better and bowed almost to the ground like an artist after a successful play. The crowd stood frozen for a moment and ignoring their own better judgment burst into applause.

When he went forward, they parted like a sea and Ace chuckled. He had made a habit of having people leave a path for him. Hoorays and encouraging shouts led them to the carriage along with recitals of the events that grew farther through the truth with every retelling. Ace was sure by morning he will have flown into the church with wings of an angel, burst fire on the poor woman and her son and flown out carrying his overjoyed sister.

Well, he knew how to make a spectacle of himself when he wanted to.

"What have you done?" the not so overjoyed fake sister asked when the doors closed and they started to move. "We'll be dead by come evening."

Ace rolled his eyes. "You're overestimating them."

"I'm not! They killed my father just because he m i g h t have been a problem to their plans! How do you think they'll react when you've broken the engagement, humiliated them in front of all the nobles and then commoners by making it out like a play or something? We'll be dead any second now!"

"My threat wasn't idle one" Ace said leaning against his seat. "If they get in my path again, I'm going to kill them myself."

"You wouldn't..." the girl started to say and stopped. "You would, wouldn't you?"

Ace laughed. "You seem to have some brains. What prompted you to believe my words?"

"I've had a friend once..." she started seeing into nothing. "His name was Rock and was a very happy fellow. We played together every day since my father was too busy grieving to care about my upbringing."

"So what did he do?" Ace asked.

"Nothing. I grew up thinking he was another kid just like me. He liked playing tag and hide-and-seek. We often went adventuring around the estate" Her voice went quiet as if she didn't want to continue talking. "No, I shouldn’t talk about such things. It's not very nice of me. I'm sorry to have begun it." She shook her head trying to clear it.

"Come on!" Ace whined. "You can't stop before reaching the conclusion! And you know I don't really care about any rights or wrongs. They're a twisted mess in my head."

"I noticed..." the girl said wryly remembering the scene he had made in the ball and now at her wedding. He had absolutely no sense of propriety.

"Now that we settled it continue your story. You owe me at least that!"

She looked at him surprised. "Owe you?"

"Well, I saved the rest of your life and I don't think you're planning to pay me for it so I would appreciate it if you finished your story."

"You're not getting paid?"

"Well, your father died so unless he comes back to life to give me a reward I'm not" Ace said shrugging. "Not that I really mind. It was pretty fun and I had a chance to be a lord. It's way too much work if anyone asked me."

"So you're not planning to stay?" she asked in disbelief, debating in her mind whether she was thrilled or terrified at the prospect. The kid was clearly dangerous but he had helped her and she wasn't sure she could deal with all the trouble he left behind by herself.

"Yes and now come back to your story! I won't have you changing the subject" Ace said crossing his arms and glaring at the white mass before him. He wondered fleetingly how she actually saw anything through it.

The girl sighed. "Fine. A year ago I found out that at the mere age of five he killed his father who had been drunk and threatening his mother at the moment. It was around the time I met the kid. Then at seven he got into a brawl and stabbed his opponent almost dying from a flesh wound himself. And that's all that I know for sure. There are many rumors saying that many thugs were last seen loitering around his house before disappearing from the face of earth." The white mass lifted somewhat and Ace guessed she was looking straight at him now. "I hadn't an idea about it back then. He faked being a normal child so perfectly; no one could have mistaken him for a monster he was."

"Monster?" Ace asked wryly. "Is that what you call people who protect what is important to them? Your friend is nothing but a victim of one of fate's crueler games."

"He killed! That's no way to act for a... a... a human being! Lives are sacred!"

Ace tilted his head. "Would you still think that if you saw you father beat your mother to death? If you saw other men take advantage of her weak state? If you were almost killed because someone decided you looked at them wrongly? It's so easy to act righteous when you have lived a life bereft of violence. Black and white morality exists only for those who keep their eyes shut to what is before them."

"I don't want to be taught by a child!" the girl complained annoyed.

"I'm not teaching. I was complaining that you promised a story of a monster and yet told one about a human being desperately trying to survive and do what is right. I can see it every moment of my life."

"You're talking nonsense now."

"Suit yourself" Ace said and knocked on the carriage's roof. It stopped immediately and made his way out. "Bring her to the manor and keep her alive until I return. Can you manage that?" he asked and the driver nodded. Ace noted the girl trying to follow him out so he closed the doors behind himself and motioned for the driver to move. He did it instantly and soon enough Ace was standing in a street on his own.

He walked around until he found some carriages and paid one to drive him to Lucky Hoof's tavern. He just thought of a plan that would free him of a lord's title and for that he needed the Devon guy. Hopefully, he was still around.

The inn was nothing more than a shady house with a cow's hoof hanging above the door. Ace was glad he had no need to enter the place.

Behind the falling apart house he noticed a man pacing back and forth. He was muttering to himself. "... have made a better impression. What if she's in trouble? It would be all my fault." Some silence. "He's not coming. Why am I still waiting here? I'm acting like an idiot... But what if she needs help? I left no other way to contact me! Damn it! I didn't think she'd be threatened! Why did I ever tell her the truth? Idiot. Moron. I could have it all now." He hit the wall and it groaned loudly. Ace took a step aside from it in case it planned to fall down. It seemed like a gust of wind could make sure of it but in some miraculous way it stayed in place. "Monster. Why did I ever tell you that?"

"As much as it is amusing to hear you rambling, I think that's not enough of a reason to let you destroy the vice house."

"Who- You came!" he screamed in joy.

"I start to doubt my decision with every passing minute" Ace said wincing. "There was no need to shout."

The chagrined man lowered his eyes and Ace took a better look at him. He was a bit over twenty, had short brown hair and simple unmemorable face lines. He wore brownish workmen clothes that left his scarred arms on full view. They had seemed genuine work judging by the hard muscle but the knife slashes of ages ago were evident none the less. He was no simple worker.

"I'm sorry. What use would you have for me?" he asked quietly. He was either very submissive, which seemed like a far cry, or wanted to help no matter the consequences to his pride.

"I need you to bring a priest to the manor. It would be better if that was made secretly and he should have as high authority over the church as possible."

"What happened? Is she injured?" the man asked, his eyes widening with fear.

Ace looked at him incredulously and let his eyes stay that way until the man remembered his place.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't be asking questions that do not concern me." He sounded so miserable Ace had to smile. It felt like he had stolen candy from a baby. "Exactly. Now that we have understood each other tell the priest that I need him to hold a wedding. It'll be a short ceremony with only a few people because of certain circumstances. The church will be highly rewarded for its discretion."

"Ma-" The man caught himself on time. Ace smirked at him. "It would be nice if you were done before the evening."

He left the distraught man behind himself and returned to find the carriage he had come with standing around. "I knew you would need a ride back" its driver said with a toothy grin that lacked a few teeth answering the question in Ace's eyes. The kid smiled at the man's merchant like thinking and throwing him a gold coin entered the couch. "Fallan manor."

He was welcomed by teary servants. They called him godsend and a saint come to save their lords. It was quite hilarious especially when he was called an angel. He couldn't think of anything that was farther from how he acted towards people. Devil's incarnation would have fit much, much better.

The head servant had gratitude in his eyes too even if he kept his mouth shut. "How is the lady doing?" Ace asked walking up the steps.

"She wasn't particularly happy about you leaving her to come back alone but she has calmed down since then. I believe she just came to a realization that she really isn't marrying today and is in shock. It is not unexpected since her father wouldn't have dared to do anything you did and she had known her plea was all what it looked like a plea."

"I'll give her space then“ Ace said going to the second floor, the study. "Has there been anyone to check on my rights to the title?"

"Eight servants. Shall I tell the households that they belonged to?"

"No need. Are the papers still here?"

"Yes, I told them to go to the heraldry if they needed more proof."

"Good. Leave me here now and allow a few guests if they come."

"Guests, my lord?"

"Young man with a priest."

"Priest?"

"What's with everyone questioning my every action?" Ace asked annoyed. "Just do as I say."

The man bowed quickly and made his way out closing the doors behind himself. It felt good being able to order everyone around.

He took some stacks of papers off the table and made himself space to sit. He fell on his back, legs hanging from the edge, and looked at the ceiling. It was grey and boring.

Just like being a lord.

It was fun having servants to do your bidding and making scenes felt extremely rewarding but it all paled in the shadow of propriety. He would have to attend weddings, which he had seen one too many, balls, which lasted way too long, and be surrounded with idiotic people, who knew nothing more than to look wide eyed, snicker and gossip. He would go mad from it in a day or two.

That left him with a single solution. He had to get rid of the title he had acquired by spilling so much sweat of others.

/Where are you?/ flashed a message before his eyes. He looked at the sender and saw Monthu's name. Too lazy to write, he called. The guy picked up instantly.

"In some manor. Is anything wrong?"

"Beside the fact that you promised to meet Par today? No, nothing."

"Dammit" Ace cursed under his breath. He remembered saying very clearly that this time no one, and he had made an emphasis on it, was going to stop him from coming and having an adventure with Par. It was so like him to say such things and then forget all about it. He was rarely annoyed by his own character traits but this time was one of those.

"Do I dare to guess in how much trouble you got yourself into this time in the half a day you were away from us?"

Ace though about his last evening and today. "Don't waste your time, you're out of your league" he said dryly.

"So you're not coming?"

Ace calculated the chances of succeeding with his scheme. It wasn't really that high. "Buy supplies and find some quest to go to the fields in the north. Where are you staying?"

"In Broken Flute. You sure you'll manage to leave the mess by tomorrow? I don't want to have him disappointed once again."

"I'll be there tonight. I promised that to Par."

"I hope you won't forget it. Again" Monthu said and Ace cut the connection.

'I need to stop with the making of promises, I'm becoming too good of a guy' he berated himself and promised to improve. And cursed again for not managing to survive a few seconds without making one.

He sat up again and picked the paper that had been lying under him. He read it thoroughly. His plan fit it perfectly. If only the people it concerned would be nice enough to follow along.

He had huge doubts about it but if they refused he was going to just leave and be done with it. The promise to the old man was to save his daughter and if she got herself killed after that it wasn't really his problem. He had done his part.

"I wish he would hurry up" Ace muttered after a few minutes of sitting, doing nothing. He felt no wish to go and talk with the household or its mistress but being alone wasn't that fun either.

For that reason he sneaked out of the room and the house itself. His feet took him back to the city. It took almost an hour but he reached the shopping district and found a shop, one that sold canes.

He made his way inside it. Oppressive silence met him there. The shop had been open but no one was manning the counter. It was really dangerous for the items inside. Ace picked a few canes he found to his liking but were too long for him and pocketed them before going deeper in.

The work room was dark but he could discern two shapes who hadn't noticed him yet. One was sitting at the table with half his body fallen over it. He was snoring lightly and clutching a container in his hand.

The other human was on the ground next to an open chest. The girl was picking coins, rolling them in her hands and then throwing them back. It was a desolate picture.

Ace made his way towards her and [Flare] lightened the room somewhat. It made the girl raise her head and the kid noticed her bloodshot eyes.

"What happened?" he asked looking around. Everything looked perfectly normal.

"You" she said with a glare. Ace tilted his head; he hadn't done anything to them. His lack of understanding seemed to fuel her anger which had been simmering under the surface. "Don't act all nice and innocent now! You knew you were going to make a racket in the city! Play a flute before all the nobles! Break an engagement in the middle of a wedding! There's not a single soul that wouldn't recognize you for miles around and know what you've done!" she screamed bursting into tears and then falling into hurt calmness. "You cheated us out of all we had. You’re not a human" It sounded exceptionally cruel said softly, neither anger nor hatred or disgust coloring it.

Ace eyed her with patience a parent has for his child. Guilt rarely plagued him and the girl had played right into his hands herself. He hadn't forced her to accept the wager. If she wanted to blame someone for it, she should fault herself. "Why would I have risked if I wasn't sure to win?" he asked voicing some of his thoughts. "You should have known."

She hiccupped. "It doesn't change the fact that you lied."

"Lied?" Ace asked with disbelief. "And please tell me when?" The girl stayed quiet for a few minutes so Ace chuckled. "I told you I had an invitation to the ball. It should have signaled you that I was more than a random traveler and might be able to keep my end of the bargain. But you were too focused on my clothes and age." He laughed. "Never underestimate people because of how they look. I advise you to remember it well."

"What for?" the girl asked with a humorless laugh. "I'll be dead in a few hours."

"And why so?"

"Unlike you I won't survive on the street" she said sneering. "And my father will be dead even faster if he keeps drinking like that."

Ace glanced back at the snoring man. Now that he was looking at him the thing in his hand looked like it was in the shape of a bottle. "And how exactly it is my fault?" He had an idea but making sure was never a bad move.

"We won't survive without our shop! Cane making is the only thing we know how to do!" she screamed, clenching her hands into fists. He was pretty sure she would hit him if she could walk.

"And who said anything about you leaving the shop?" he asked taking some box lying around and sitting on it. "What would I do with an empty house?"

Her head snapped up, eyes locking on his. "You're not throwing us out?"

Ace rolled his eyes. "No. All I want is to have absolute priority in this shop if I ever need repairmen for my walking stick" he said, putting the cane on his knees and sliding a hand through its sleek surface.

"That's all?"

"Yes."

"Really really?"

"Yes" Ace said with a sigh. "If you've made it look like the end of the world, it's your fault."

Her tears dried up and cheeks tinged pink. "I'm sorry of accusing you..." she said with her eyes down.

Ace chuckled. "I'll survive. Now that we've understood each other I'll get my gold back and suggest you go to the Fallan manor tomorrow with your father. I'll be leaving the city in a day or two so ask for my sister and tell her I sent you. She'll make all the necessary arrangements to have you under our name."

The girl nodded and Ace stood up to leave. His work here was done.

"Wait! You need to know something!"

"Hm?" Ace asked turning around.

"Give me your cane for a moment." Ace came back and handed her the item in question.

She touched it tenderly. "Makhila isn't a normal walking stick" she said, her hands sliding to the silver bottom. "It is made while the tree is still alive to give the graceful lines and create a hidden compartment." The worlds were followed by a swift movement of small fingers and the end separated from the whole cane leaving a gleaming blade in its place. The girl raised it pointing to Ace's heart and he smiled. It looked like she was holding a spear, a very extravagant one but a spear none the less.

"My grandfather made it for me when my legs started to weaken. He said it was important that I had a way to protect myself."

"He was a great artisan."

"That he was" the girl agreed.

"Thanks for revealing it to me" Ace said taking his Makhila back and slipped the end back on. He tried to open and close it for a few times so he understood how it worked. It was a pretty simple mechanism once you got it. "I'll take good care of it."

"I'll trust you this time."

Ace chuckled taking his leave. Next to the door he turned to say a few parting words. "Doubt people or else you're only going to get hurt. It was your luck that I hadn't actually wanted anything from here or you would be freezing outside now and your father wouldn't even be able to drink himself to death because of lack of money."

Her eyes widened at such a possibility, mouth opening to say something but he didn't stay to hear it. There was a very long way home.

He had only sat down on the table and taken the title transfer paper in his hand when a knock interrupted him. "Come in" Ace said wondering what it could be. It was still somewhat early for the priest to have come.

Devon entered with a furious girl on his heels. "What is he doing in this house?" she asked in a shout. "He's not supposed to set a foot in this direction!"

Ace turned to the door putting the papers down and ignored her completely. "Have you finished the task?" he asked the man who nodded uncomfortably. "I did. The priest will be here in two hours."

"Don't ignore me! Why did you call for a priest?" his pretend sister asked glaring both at him and Devon.

"To marry you off, of course" Ace said in a tone implying she was stupid. "Why else would I need one?"

She staggered; all her energy leaving without a fight. "You're worse than father. At least he didn't force me."

Ace rolled his eyes. "Thank the head master for sticking the title to me unless you got married."

"Who is he?" Damon asked angrily, his voice low. "Who are you going to force her to marry?"

"You" Ace said nodding his way.

"But I'm no nob-" Damon stammered out, Ace cutting him halfway. "Are you desperate for a title?" "No, I wou-"

"Then it makes you a perfect candidate."

"But she doesn't want to marry me!" Devon said, finally managing a full sentence. Ace noted how he didn't mention anything about disagreeing himself so it was going to be a piece of cake.

"I've seen her choice last time. To say it was a disaster is an understatement and I'm not that nice to stick around and save her from future troubles. You either take that position or I go and find someone else. I met a good driver today. He might be missing a few teeth but he's dependable."

"You wouldn't..." the two said in unison and Ace laughed. "Are you really sure you want to try me?" They looked at each other and both had distrustful expressions.

"Lord!" headmaster screamed and Ace waited for the study's door to burst open again. He was pretty popular today.

"We're under siege!" he rasped, holding on to the doors, out of breath.

"Calm down and tell me exactly what is happening." They were in a middle of a city. How was one to even lay a siege in such a location?

Glass broke and he saw an arrow fly past him in slow motion. It missed his eye by inches. 'I suppose someone actually found a way to do it.' "Get down!" he said pushing his shocked companions to the ground. Carefully he went to the window and leaning against the wall sneaked a glance outside.

There stood an army. Whole street was flooded with soldiers in armor bashing at the wall and gates trying to get in. Archers had made their way onto carriages and stone walls to be able to shoot straight at the house. One of those had almost hit him.

"We're surrounded" he informed the room, getting his head back before another arrow flashed by. It seemed like only a single archer had a position and skill to reach them here. "Leo go and hide in your room. You two organize the servants and see what can be done to salvage the situation."

"We're not soldiers! We can't do anything" headmaster said.

"What will you do?" Devon asked. "It would be safer wit-"

"I don't work well in a group."

"You're running away!" the girl said accusingly, her fighting spirit returning for some reason.

"Yeah, right. It's not like we're trapped like rats here with no way out, or anything" he said in mock seriousness. "Now go hide from the world and let us take care of this."

"What did you say?" she asked taking a step towards him and towering over him with her superior height. "You think you're all that just because you managed to win a word fight against a woman and a church in all of places?"

"Leo it's not the ti-" Devon tried but was cut off. Nobody was listening to him today.

"Shut your trap. He thinks he can do whatever he wants just because he fulfilled my father's wish! I'm not going to let someone like that have power over my life! He must understand it! Now!" she was screaming by the end of her tirade, her hair flying wild.

"You sure you want to contest me?" Ace asked coldly. "You who has never drawn blood in her life? You who has never killed? You who thinks that life is all rainbows and unicorns?" His eyes darkened into the blue of night sky.

"And what do you know of it?" she asked mockingly. "Do you believe to know everything yourself? You're even younger than me!"

Ace moved at blinding speed and before anyone could understand what was happening slashed at Devon's arm lightly; a red line ran down the sleeve. He then pointed Kris at the guy's back where heart was and turned to look straight into Leonorogvarda. "I've drawn blood on purpose, I've killed and walked on the darkest edges of society. I know not what a word sacred means. Now tell me do you still plan to tempt me into losing control?"

She shook her head, fear evident in her wide eyes.

"Good. I hate spoiled brats."

"She's not spoiled" now Devon said. Ace took deep breaths not to kill them all be done with it. He really wanted it but saving and then killing was bad taste. It made one look undecided and even a bit stupid. "She lost her mother when she was a kid and her father went into grief. She had no one growing up!"

"Servants spoiled her then. Everyone pitied the poor girl, I wouldn't be surprised if half this household actually belongs to the estate in the country and had only come to help her in any way they could." Headmaster's shoulders drooped. "And there was you. Wasn't it Rock?" Ace asked with a sneer. "So intent on protecting your princess, you stand by her side even when she has betrayed you and thrown to the dogs."

"So what life did you have to believe that everything else is spoiling?" Devon asked not having how to refute. The words were like knifes into his heart reminding of the better times and what he had to see in the last year after telling her the truth.

Ace laughed. "I had loving parents, still have. The whole town adored me and I was the soul of every gathering. I received everything I ever asked of and everyone wanted to be my friend."

"When why..?"

"Why I became so twisted and uncaring?" Ace asked with a smirk. "Every story has one little secret that turns paradise into hell, dream into a nightmare."

Those words still echoing in the room, he reached the window and jumped out. He heard Leo's scream when he rolled into some bushes and hid under the veil. The room had been on second floor so it hurt some but not enough to make him regret jumping out. It was the fastest way to leave the room and stop the idiotic conversation. She actually thought she knew something about life; it was laughable.

He made his way towards the gates and saw them being broken down. It was too late to save them. But it wasn't too late to use the fact that people were all cramped like herring in a barrel.

Ace used [Wild Vines] to slow the entering and cast [Ice Field] on the street. Because of all the levels it had gained in the dungeon, it could now cover a very large surface and be even slipper.

Yelps of annoyance and curses sounded as men fell. They had no idea what the ice was a prelude to.

Ace didn't make them wait long by climbing on the wall, his cloak bellowing behind him. Like a death bringer with black wings he stood there for a moment before taking out elixirs from his backpack and throwing them on the soldiers' heads. They watched him with wonder until pain blinded their senses.

Ace had no more alcohol left to play with fire so he had to use his precious poisons. Only a few were deadly without being injected right into a blood system but most did something from being breathed in or landing on a face (it was the only part not protected by armor).

Skins turned red and burned, wounds opened up, it begun to hurt or tickle. Eyes watered and seared. Acid eat at armor and unprotected heads.

People screamed and slammed into each other trying to run away from the poisonous rain. They fell and shouted being stomped on by their comrades. They managed to get up only to slip again and bring others along in their plight.

The street became a mess of metal and limbs.

And screams of pain.

Ace watched them all with disgust. It wasn't going to kill them. Not even close. It was nothing but a little suffering. They scurried away like rabbits after seeing a shadow of hawk pass over them.

He opened another bottle and threw what was inside away using [Gust] to carry the bottle further to where the last stragglers were. "Run, little critters, run" he laughed.

Rain started to pour.

Ace looked up and water washed his face. 'When had the storm come?' he wondered watching the last idiots leave. It was good that they did since a minute more and rain would have made his work go to naught. 'I should pay some heed to weather next time'

He didn't feel the need to go inside so he sat down on the wall and wondered why the soldiers had run away so quickly. Shouldn't real fighters ignore pain and finish their missions no matter what? What is a few a burn or damaged lungs compared to a chance to say to his master that he had done the work? Ace chuckled at the way he had made out the soldiers as masochists and for a moment enjoyed the rain washing all over him. It wasn't icy but couldn't be called warm either; it was an autumn's storm.