"I was a commoner's son," he started while gazing up at the ceiling. My head, resting down on his arm. Naked underneath the white blanket after we had a steamy night. As I close my eyes with only lending him my ears, he began telling me his backstory. I did not mind, hearing his words makes my wild heartbeat rest in calmness and it was easy to silence my loud thumping chest with his dominant voice.

"My father was a gambling addict. We were drowned by debt. Mother on the other hand, was a decent woman. She's gentle and caring. Always trying her best to sell the herbs she gathered."

His stone-cold voice that sounds like a music box, I will never imagine that hearing him like this was peaceful. It appears as if this man beside me had never swung a sword for a countless time.

"Then, where are they now?" I softly inquired. My warm hand on his up and down chest, feeling his calm heartbeat. I never saw them in person or in this mansion. So, I assumed they're not living in Celtic. However, I only noticed the portrait in his office.

"We couldn't pay our loan nor the tax that went higher each day. And all he does was leave a bruise to mother's fragile skin. I killed him on the spot, with my little fingers. To think the first crime that I will committed was strangling his neck. Mother was shocked but instantly recovered. Then, we decided to bury him secretly and to continue with our lives."

"Our peaceful life didn't last though." Even in this dim scene, only with the hope of the light from the moon that pass through in the glass window that I can see his reaction.

A sudden flash of him darkening his blue eyes that didn't escape from me. I wanted to ask, a lot of them were running in my mind. But I will give these seconds for him.

"Father, being foolish man. Before he passed away, he told his debtors that they can have his wife as a payment. The greedy lord of the land that always knock in our door to charge us the tax and the moneylender nobles have planned together to rape my mother and slit her throat in front of me, they killed her to hide the evidence."

A paused in the moment made me look at him sternly. "She said in the middle of the insolence, to close my eyes."

He let out a small broken laugh, enough for me to understand how he was hurt. "I would have killed them if she wanted to be saved."

"But you didn't and I'm glad." My hand crawled on his cheek, he then caught it and damp a light kiss on my palm.

Perhaps the reason why her mother said that, was for him not to be imprison. Commoners are people who don't have the power, the most lowly ranked in status. If they hurt a noble, they will be punished. It was a cruel world, indeed.

"Are you fine now?"

"That was a long time ago."

We stared each other's faces. Not letting each other's gaze. The silent was deafening so, I broke it first.

"Right, I was meaning to ask you. If you were from a poor family, how did you become a Grand Duke?" Usually, it was a hereditary title. A sovereign that rules independently called as Grand Duchy instead of being named as a Kingdom where a king reign.

"War, my wife. The Emperor is exceptionally wise, he bestowed me a tittle as reward and gave lands with full control. He calculated that someday, I will be a man deserves to be a leader. However, I requested to continue serving him."

"Why? Perhaps, he has a large contribution in your life?"

"You're wrong."

"Then?"

"Since controlling an estate was too exhausting. At that time, my mind was just full of battlefield."

I blink my eyes. Unbelievable looking at him. Did I mishear him? Every man, wants to be the absolute, the dictator among his people. A person who will have the final say in his owned lands. He just exchanged the opportunity for a risk. Even if it was a tiring job to manage some territories, wouldn't you earn an amount of golds just by sitting and signing the documents?

"What about your story life?"

"Nothing much to tell you." I turned my back at him and face away. His swiftly movement, causing me to bit my lips. So, cheating. Hugging me from behind as he sniffed my hair.

"I thought we agree to know each other?"

"Yes. Yes," I surrender as I feel ticklish from my ear.

I began telling my side. "I was once had a happy family. Not then for too long. My father bought a mistress that was pregnant with their daughter. My real mother was devastated with this news so she decided to end her life."

"After that?"

"She became my stepmother and I was cast aside." I turned around at him. "If time comes, you will have another lover. Please do inform me."

Father, was successfully able to hide his infidelity from us. The reason why mother was in a lot of pain and probably, I was scared that my fate might lead me like hers.

He clenched his jaw. "That will never happen."

I gently shrug my shoulder. Gazing him and smiled. He said that but I know that someday it will eventually occur. Because all men, will never be satisfied with just one.

"Rather, talk about your dreams." Perhaps, to change our topic that cause a gloomy air around us. He asked a random talk over the soft pillow of the mattress.

"Hmm," I hummed as I recall the past. "Before, I wanted to be a knight."

He raised a brow, amused with my ambition. His other free arm caged my waist to draw closer to him. "Oh, how come you ended as my wife?"

I chuckled. "Father was against it."

"Why don't you pursue it now? I'm willing to train you." He caressed my soft hand.

I shook my head in disagreement. "I want to. Such a tempting offer. Though I'll faint if I will see blood."

Knowing how he teach his knights. They were covered with sweats and dirt. Not one has ever escape without shedding efforts. From his cruelty, he wouldn't let end the day without staining the grassy ground with blood of his soldiers.

"Right. That's what happened when I first saw you."

My heart was beating so fast. I was wishing that he wouldn't hear it despite how close his body next to me. Our cold feet under the sheets were intertwine as we enjoy the late-night sweet talk, where noises from the outside are afraid to interrupt us.

It was a long calming conversation with him. I'm thinking that I was talking to a real gentleman. With how he touches my skin filled with tender and his voice that speak low, being wary not to scare me.

"You did great, managing the Persian, I mean."

"Really?" The mere fact that he's praising me seems beyond to what my imagination created based on the rumors. All along, I thought he was a conceited man. He will slay every person that hindrance his path.

Never judge someone on what you just heard. It was wrong of me and it was not too late to admit my mistakes. Though, why are we always easy to criticize and blame? Few of us couldn't even acknowledge our own sins.

"I heard your achievements. You build a school for commoners in a short period of time? Impressive. No noble wants to meddle with them."

I felt his rough hands from the back of my head. Where my mind rests on his arm, he brought me closer to his firm chest. The scent that he emits was incomparable to the flowers of the garden.

"But knowledge is power. If the people will be able to learn, wouldn't the land prosper more? You can say that I'm investing for the sake of the future."

"Sure. Whatever you say, I will agree."

I yawn and couldn't help but to look at him with my tired sleepy eyes. I felt his warm lips on my forehead. "Let's continue our talk for another time. Sleep now."

The chirping birds woke me up from my slumber. I moaned as the direct sunlight keeps resisting in slapping my cheeks. My hand innocently roamed the other beside me, wanting to touch someone. And yet, I only found an empty space.

"Are you up?"

"Hmm." I open my eyes with trail of crusts as the sense of morning. His body was leaning on the doorway. Cross-arms, watching me intently. Seeing him all dress handsomely with all of his black cape and golden belt, I get up and tried to cover my breast with the blanket.

He walks closer and sat down on the bed. "I'll be gone for another war."

"Again?" I wrinkled my eyebrows. Weeks hasn't even passed by when we reunite, then he's informing me for his journey in this early? This is absurd. I groan. "But you've just returned."

The corner of his lips raised. A smirk that I wish to turned back what I've said. "You're worried?"

"I'm not," I denied. He had quite the talent in assuming.

"Were currently preparing. Probably we'll depart next month."

"Which land, if I may ask?"

"Mazo."

I flinched. A neighboring country, a hideous King reign. I was torn between the decision when I read a book about them. If their Kingdom was an ally, which means that they are willing to negotiate to work together or they are a foe that scheming behind our backs. Guess they made a choice to move against us.

Rumors that slavery was allowed and every peasant were being punished by the whips if they refuse to work. Their treatment with their people was ugly as their leader. Though, it was the opposite when it comes to their natural resources.

What made their land to prosper, is all because of their mining. They were wealthy in terms of coals and I even heard that they're hiding magnificent gems that no stone can be compare.

But there was always exemption. How did it spread? How did the people know that such gems exist? Of course, there are two ways.

A noble lady and the merchants.

Rich women always want to boast something whenever there is a gathering. They like to spend on material things. Their mindset was to have that kind of gem and turned it into their owned jewelry then, they will be the center of the spotlight.

While the merchants on the other hand are willing to pay at the high price and travel from different country to sell it at twice of the amount. With how their mouths promote their products, it's not shocking if the world already knows about it.

The odd thing is, no one knows where the gems are being produce. Did they mine it secretly? Perhaps the King have the knowledge, but why does the people serve under him doesn't know?

What was the gem called again?

...

Ah yes.

It's called Datae.

If they were going to fight with that country, we must prepare something for us to be able to retaliate. I'm hoping that my gut feeling was wrong. Grand Duke Alcide always lead his troops, it's not already new to the other country.

Perhaps, the King of Mazo is scheming something. They wouldn't deploy their army in the battlefield if they were ready to lose their necks. I hissed.

Few of this know, that the Datae contained a little mana of magic inside. Though, it was not an attack magic but more like a protection barrier. That will be quite hard to match up the defense of the opponent if ever they will equip it.

"Do you need my help?" I offered. I should inform them the possibility that they might lose the battle.

No!

We should discuss a way or a strategy for us to be able strike back. With Arello being a one step behind when it comes to magic, we only rely much more to mechanical inventions.

"Let's talk about that tomorrow. Rest first, I tired you last night." He kissed my lips. Pushing me back to lay me down again.

"I thought I should rest?"

"Yes, this is how it should be."