Bernardo was taking a stroll on the beach outside his villa early in the morning when the sun hadn't even risen yet. He felt the sea breeze going through his hair. He would always take solitary walks on the beach when he felt things troubling his mind. He then stopped in his tracks as he saw a pretty shell on the ground which he crouched down to pick up. He sat under the shade of a large tree to keep himself cool as he inspected the shell while smiling.

"You're up very early." He heard someone say in a sort of dry tone. When he looked up, it was of course the Lady Leonia whom only yesterday he had released from a brothel. She was wearing simple clothes and pants.

"I have many things on my mind... I could say the same thing about you, my lady." Bernardo returned the question to Leonia

She only gave him a soft smile with dry eyes as she sat on the spot next to him.

"...Nightmares..." she said solemnly "I did just lose everyone important to me just about a week ago..."

"Of course! I'm sorry for my lack of tact."

Leonia only curled up in a fetal position, resting her head on her thighs. She then looked at Bernardo with pitiful eyes.

"I was expecting you to comfort me by rubbing my head." she said dryly

"Oh, sorry!" Bernardo immediately did as she asked "I didn't expect you to actually welcome this gesture."

"Just be quiet and keep doing it." Leonia retorted. Bernardo only smiled at the odd girl beside him. After a while, the atmosphere lightened a bit. Leonia then spoke up again.

"To be honest, my elder brother would do this kind of thing too." Leonia said "He was many years ahead of me, but he made me feel safe... His name was Vasco... he was the first of my brothers the Gissario had killed... Well, long ago my brother Delgado had first died but it was due to a sickness he contracted in the colonies."

"Wait was that brother of yours Senor Vasco de la Valamen? El Caballero Valiente?! He was your brother?!" Bernardo asked with excitement which incited a curious smile from Leonia

"Si. You seem awfully excited." Leonia still tried to maintain her aloof tone though a smile was on her face "Do you know him?"

"Of course! I don't know if he would remember me, but he saved the lives of me and my troop when we were fighting the native rebels. We were moving supplies to a nearby village when we were ambushed. The natives had greatly outnumbered us and there was only a slim chance to get out of there alive. I took a dozen of my men to act as a diversion for the main troops but to my surprise, the main force under Lord Vasco did not retreat or escape. They stayed by their comrades and we fought hard... Miraculously, we actually managed to win!"

"...Now that I think about it, Vasco always told me of a 'brave Gissario boy' who thoughtlessly volunteered to sacrifice himself to protect his comrades. Besides your perverse tendencies, I guess there's something commendable about you..." Leonia said half-teasingly to which Bernardo only laughed it off

"Your mannerisms make me think of you as an overgrown cat." Bernardo's hand was still on her head to which she gave him a snort

"We Valamens are tigers... not some house cats you can put your hands on whenever you feel like it... the only reason you're doing this is because I allow it."

"If I'm not mistaken, I believe the Valamen in Rumasil actually do keep tigers as pets... but that's beside the point..."

After a while, they only kept quiet with each other until Bernardo finally broke the silence.

"They're really gone, huh... Your family..." Bernardo said with a sorrowful tone. Leonia looked at him with her usual scowl, but somewhat gentle eyes.

"Thanks for reminding me that I'm now a homeless orphan."

"I'm sorry about that... to be completely honest with you, I was very shocked when I heard the news of what had transpired in the capital. I only just returned a few days ago."

"You had no idea of this coup?" Leonia asked somewhat in disbelief "At all?"

"A bastard son is in no way looked upon highly. There is no reason for me to have any information on things such as that. It's precisely because I am unimportant that they sent me to live in the colonies for months..."

"You must be somewhat important. After all, you do have this villa..."

"It was my mother's before I inherited it. She was just a common girl. Of Rumasilian descent if you would believe it."

"Rumasilian?"

"I believe her last name was Sihoras."

"Sihoras? I believe that's the name of one of the great houses of Rumasil."

"I know. Her father was a close subordinate of King Enrique... But it was during the puppeting of King Enrique when all of his Rumasilian retainers were deposed by my family... This house is the only thing I had to my name before my uncle took a shine to me for my military prowess... I was lucky enough to be granted a short interim governorship of one of the colonies..."

Bernardo then just glanced aimlessly towards the sea and the waves.

"Funny, isn't it?" He said

"What is?" Leonia asked in confusion

"One day I'm fighting in the name of the Valamen King, the next I'm told the King is an illegitimate usurper and that I must swear loyalty to the new Queen..."

"...So what are you gonna do now?"

"As I promised to you. I'll find a way to get you to Siesia... And hopefully I can come along."

"...Que?! What do you mean?"

"Exactly what I meant." Bernardo said as he looked to his left and right to make sure nobody was hearing him as he softened his voice "...I don't like what the Gissario are doing and truth be told none of them really like me anyway... I don't want to die..."

Leonia then looked at him with a surprised expression.

"Call me a coward if you must, but I see no future in the Gissario. My uncle believes the Latinites will come to aid us, but I am sure they have no intentions to do so... I will not die for a cause I know is unjust..."

Bernardo then looked at Leonia with a wry smile.

"...I am honestly surprised by what you just said." Leonia said "What makes you think the King would believe you even if we do get to Siesia?"

"His majesty must know you. You are his cousin after all... you will vouch for me, right?"

When Bernardo said that, Leonia looked at him for a long while with her usual stern expression.

"...So that's what this is?" she said coldly "I'm just a ransom for you so you would be rewarded... I thought to myself that it was impossible a sincere man would still exist in this day and age.. You just want titles and riches, don't you."

"Don't get me wrong, senorita." Bernardo said "I never said I wanted riches and the like. All I desire is an official pardon, a place to live, and a job. He could put me in a shack for all I care... even without rescuing you, I was already considering leaving this place."

"...Why are you so adamant to leave?"

"I have nothing left for me here. My immediate family are all dead, the Gissario hate my bastard guts, and frankly I assume when King Esteban comes back here, he'll have the Gissario house eradicated, me included."

"What makes you so sure the king is coming back here?"

"Call it a gut feeling... and the fact that while sailing here a few days ago, I came across a small trading ship with news that they saw a giant fleet heading towards Siesia and the fact I saw the Aerlish armada heading towards the colonies... The Gissario are fucked."

After hearing Bernardo say that, Leonia only looked at him with a dumbfounded expression before she unexpectedly laughed.

"Pffft.... Hahahahah!" Leonia laughed and giggled "I can't believe you're actually serious..."

Seeing her laugh, Bernardo couldn't help but smile back a bit before he joined in the laughter. After the two started to calm down, he finally held out his hand for a handshake.

"Do we have a deal, senorita?" He asked as he put on a sincere smile

Leonia looked at him with a serious face this time. But then she gave out the cutest smile Bernardo's seen yet. It's a nice change from her usual scowl. But she rejected Bernardo's hand to his confusion. But she still kept her smile.

"Is there something wrong?" Bernardo asked

"I don't think a handshake as equals is going to cut it." Leonia answered with a cheeky smile and sharp gaze

"What do you mean?"

"Well, senor. I want you to show fealty to me as a loyal retainer and kiss my hand and swear your allegiance to me! Such is only fair considering your trespasses against me, including laying your disgusting gaze upon my delicate flesh..."

"Are we honestly still on about that?" Bernardo said as he scratched the back of his head to which she shot a glare at him "Alright, alright. Could you please stand up, then?"

Leonia obliged as she stood up while dusting the sand off of her dress. Bernardo immediately took hold of both her hands as he looked at her meaningfully with a serious look. All of a sudden, Leonia felt her face blush slightly as she realised that Bernardo wasn't all that bad looking, especially compared to his brother who had his way with her. Bernardo then opened his mouth as he started speaking.

"I, Bernardo Luis de Gissario, swear an oath to forever be loyal to you and always protect you." Bernardo started seriously "...a lady whom I have just met yesterday who I am currently choosing over my own house..." He started to smile and slightly giggle

Leonia who had been blushing as her heartbeat had increased only felt embarassed as she heard him continue and treat it as a joke. She cringed before trying to get her hands off Bernardo. To her surprise, though, his grip remained firm as she saw his face return to its original seriousness.

"... even so, as a soldier sworn to His Majesty, el rey Esteban, I place myself in the side of justice, in the side of the rightful king... and by extension, I make it my new goal to give you the justice you so rightly deserve, even if I have no means and no riches to do it, I will keep on striving for it... Do you accept my fealty, senorita? Will you put your trust in this stranger?"

"... I... will. From now on, you are my knight! You shall do all in your power to ensure my safety first above your own and swear it in the sight of God!" Leonia spoke with determination, even if she was slightly flushed.

Bernardo nodded and bent his body forward to kiss her hands. Afterwards, he looked at her and smiled.

"I am now your dashing knight, milady." Bernardo said

Leonia was still slightly blushing, but managed to compose herself somewhat. She then reached her hands inside one of her pockets and took something out. It was a sort of crude bracelet laced together and looked like it was made by a child and also looked a little worn out.

"This is one of my most precious belongings..." Leonia said "Laugh all you want, but it's true. This is a special gift someone long ago gave to me. It was given back to me by the owner of the brothel after you freed me from my shackles... I give this to you for you to wear and as long as you wear it, it will be proof of your fealty to me..."

Leonia noticed how intensely Bernardo was looking at the bracelet she was holding. She then glared at him intensely as she thought he was going to make fun of her. But to her surprise the look on Bernardo's face showed no signs of mockery as he grabbed it out of her hands forcefully which surprised him.

"Where did you get this?!" Bernardo asked a little forcefully to Leonia's confusion.

"I told you already, someone gave it!" Leonia answered in an annoyed tone

"Who gave it to you?!"

"None of your business!" Leonia said as she snatched the bracelet back from Bernardo's hand

Leonia kept on eyeing him intensely before he saw him calming down. "What's gotten into you?"

Without saying a word, Bernardo had placed his hand inside one of his pockets and took out a similar looking bracelet. Leonia was surprised and dumbfounded when she saw that. He then began to explain what it was.

"This is one of my most precious possessions... It was a bracelet my sister made for herself..." Bernardo said as his eyes began to focus on Leonia "She made one for me two but she made me give it away... to a girl who had just lost an older brother. It was at a formal party nearly..."

"...twelve years ago?" Leonia finished what Bernardo was about to say "At the yearly ball. Your sister's name. What did you say it was again?"

"Blanca."

As Leonia heard that, she pieced together everything in her mind. She was now sure of it.

"You two were the sibling pair I met that day. My, you look different." Leonia said as her expression grew softer "We used to play a lot back then. I was so happy when you two gave me this present to cheer me up. The first real friends I made."

"No wonder you looked familiar." Bernardo said as he looked at her "You introduced yourself as Nia back then."

"So that means, Blanca is dead... The girl I knew back then is no more." At the sudden realization, Leonia couldn't help but drop her head as she realised the girl who had been her first friend had long perished

"It's alright." Bernardo said to console her "She is now at peace in a better place."

"Where in the world did you two go?" Leonia then asked "Ever since that day, we played with each other almost always but then one day, you and your sister just vanished."

"It was the day my father died. I was sent to join the army while my mother and sister were forced here to stay out of public eyes." Bernardo gave a bitter smile "My mother's status as a mistress was never a respected one, nor were we the bastard children. My father still had a bit of compassion to recognise us, but after his death, we had all been effectively disowned by the family."

"It was not your fault. You didn't choose to be born a bastard." Leonia said

"Such is life, senorita. But all that has happened has led us here to this path. And now, I am your knight."

Bernardo then bowed and looked at Leonia meaningfully.

"What is your first bidding, milady?"

"First off, why don't you escort me back to the villa. The sand is starting to get into my clothes. After that, why don't you tell me more of yourself? After all, I need all the information I can get on my new retainer."

"Very well, milady."

The two then returned to the villa and continued to talk to each other, catching up on the happenings in their lives. Bernardo noticed that Leonia was beginning to relax around him and wasn't as guarded anymore. He felt that she was finally showing her true self.

But then, in the middle of the conversation, the two could hear the sounds of a commotion outside the door. Bernardo had a feeling that it wasn't something good so he had asked Leonia to stay put in her room until he called out to her.

When Bernardo was just about to head to the entrance of the villa to see what was going on, the door burst open to the sight of his enraged half-brother who immediately charged at him and held him up on the wall by the collar. His brother's eyes were bloodshot indicating the rage.

"WHERE IS SHE?!" he said while shouting angrily

"What are you talking about?!" Bernardo inquired while struggling

"Answer me, Bastard! Where is that Valamen bitch you took from me?!"