"Woah." With the sudden command, the horses being reined by the knights stopped.

They decided to take a stop and rest since it has gotten dark. The horses needed to be quenched and fed too. They made temporary huts for shelter.

Sir Azai took a few fellow knights with them and hunted for food, while the commander went into the nearby lake to fetch water. The use magic potion crafted by the mages in the wizard tower to ensure that it is safe to consume.

After making a fire, they gathered as usual but this time the atmosphere has been more lighter and the tension was gone. It had been a rough day for all of them. It was nice to take it easy once in a while and just chitchat. Just a quick way to pass the time and bond too.

"At last we will be going home. My kid will turn five tomorrow. I wanted to surprise him." One of the Knight companion, Sir Kril said while resting under the tree.

"They grow up too fast eh? It feels like you just wink and they had become an adult already." The burly looking guy, Sir Aldin replied while looking in the night sky.

"Why don't you try to date, Sir Aldin, Sir? The youngest knight in the order, Sir Letto, asked while trying to kill the mosquitoes that kept biting him.

A burst of laughter suddenly rang. It was Sir Delio, a close comrade of Sir Aldin.

"He tried, but when the woman met him in person they run away." Sir Delio told them in between his laughter.

Sir Aldin's ears and nape turned red in shyness and shame. The former always gets mistaken for being violent because of his body build but the truth is, he may look tough but he is one of the kindest and softest among the

"Bastard, you dare blabbed nonsense about me?" He playfully slapped sir Delio in his forearm and laughed too.

Sir Letto looked at him apologetically and was near to shed a tear.

They didn't know how the guy joined the royal knights, but maybe because since he was still in his early twenties, he still act like a naive kid sometimes, just like this. Maybe because he grew up as a sheltered child so the older knights can't help but act like a father around him.

"But sir Aldin's a good guy. He's just scary looking and maybe he just need to bathe and shave more often so he can look presentable."

Another burst of laughter rang in the air.

"Do you wanna die, kid? Must be sick of living already?" Sir Aldin hit him on his back.

"What was that for? That hurts!" Sir Letto hid behind Sir Thitus.

"You're still wet behind your ears. You talked like you dated a lot. I bet you didn't even have your first kiss!" Sir Aldin snapped back.

Sir Letto looked at him, with a face full of grievances. He fell silent and stuttered before shouting.

"I did!" The Knight cheered and teased him.

"You did, when?" Sir Delio asked provokingly. Sir Letto immediately answered proudly.

"When I was three! Hmph. See, I did." The knights look at each other and wheeze in laughter.

Some had even began to slap their thighs due to the uncontained happiness while others have put their hands on stomach and had tears of joy.

"Does.. that does count?" Sir Letto shyly asked while tapping the tip of his index fingers towards each other.

He didn't received a reply because the knights haven't gotten over it yet. He just received a tap on his shoulder from sir Azai who shakes his head while smiling too.

The Marquess continue to watch the bickerings and teasing of his knight companions and kept smiling while he listens to them. It was pleasing for him to see them like this because in their job, their life isn't theirs anymore. It was now decicated to the Kingdom's welfare.

In the morning, they rode their horses again and now they have arrived in the Kingdom.

They were given a salute by the guards patrolling the entrance and the ones on the posts.

The King's assistant, Mr. Dane, welcome them personally and guided them to the private meeting hall.

"Your majesty, the royal knights are entering." Their arrival was announced and the big doors in the hall was opened for them.

They strided in, and knelt before the King as a sign of respect. The prince, their commander grandcross was there too.

"Greetings, your majesty and your highness the prince." They uttered in unison. The playful knights yesterday was nowhere to be seen anymore.

They are now the dignified and most trustworthy group in the kingdom now.

"You did well, Sirs. You may rise." Kin Edric Bethelbert stated with a pleased face while the Prince Amell nodded at them with a smile.

They stood up and face the king and began their report.

"Your majesty, we have completed the mission. We have eradicated the enemy faction located in the northwest. We have captured some of them alive to interrogate them. The captured has been sent to the wizard tower's infirmary for assistance. After recovering, they will be asked to be a witness to testify for the rebels' trial." The Marquess who wast also the Knight Commander stated.

"Very well. It had been a long and tough journey for all of you. I asked the head maid of the palace to prepare your rooms in the west wing of the detached palace. Made sure you rest well. I will throw a feast for your behalf as a celebration tomorrow. You may go."

"Thank you, your majesty." The order of the royal knights bowed and exit the hall. The servants followed them to prepared their bath and foods and to also show their rooms.

Few moments after the knights left, Prince Amell stood up too and bowed to his father to bid his goodbye.

"Father, I will go now too. I had some appointments regarding the celebration for the royal knights."

"Alright, you may go now. I'll talk to your sister about something." The father and son parted ways and both exit the hall too.

In his room, Ezra removed his chain mail armor suit and place his sword beside his bed. He also removed his padded vest and tunic. His well built body would be seen in his half-naked state. The healed scars that he got from the battles would be all over it too, symbolizing that he was a veteran in war.

He soaked his body in the warm water filled with fragrance in the wooden tub prepared by the servant earlier. He closed his eyes to enjoy it.

After taking a long bath, he changed into a fancy linen shirt with frills paired with a knee breeches. Then he put on his vest and a full-skirted knee-length coat. The light feeling of it was a breathe of fresh air. The chain mail armor that they use when they are on the journey was heavy because it was made by metals and all.

The title of a Marquess really suited him best when he was dress like this. His charming features had become more prominent too. He is indeed a Beaumont. After dressing up, he left his room and decided to visit the Princess. His bethroten.

It wasn't something new in the Kingdom to be engaged with someone for the sake of their own interests and not out of love. This was more of a contract than a marriage. He just wished his sister would get married to a person she loves though.

But before that, he went straight to the wizard tower's infirmary to check on the victims.

"The Knight Commander, Marquess Beaumont is here." One of the guards announced while the other mages squealed secretly when they saw the handsome lad.

"Greetings, Marquess Beaumont. What brought you here?" The mage attendant greeted him with respect.

The restraint squealing of the female mages would still be overheard. A just, brave and handsome duke of a prominent family were everyone's dream.

"How are the recuperation of the victims going?" He asked as they walked towards the ward where the mages where resting.

"They are now doing good, the mana transferring method has been effective so far." The mage reported.

"Good to hear. Thank you for your hardwork. Please continue to give them specialized treatments. After recuperating, I will formally send them a letter of cooperation to stand as a witness in the trial." He was about to leave when someone approached him.

"Marquess Beaumont?" An unfamiliar lady called him out.

"Yes, Miss? Do you have a business you need to talk about with me?"

The lady was standing awkwardly while her face was so red. He thought that she was sick or something so he asked her if she was okay.

"Yes, thank you. I was the lady you personally rescued the other day. I just wanna thank you. Without you, I might have been dead." She shyly said without meeting his eyes and just looking down.

Lady Amara did not know why her face heats up whenever she look at his face so she kept avoiding to look at him.

"I see. It's nice to see you have been recuperating well. I am hoping for your speedy recovery." He smiled at her which made the lady's face blushed more which he didn't even noticed.

Suddenly, his personal assistant came up to him to remind him of his schedule.

"Marquess, it's time to visit your fianceé. It's not good to make her highness the princess wait." He told him.

"I understand. Let's pass by in the flower shop first. I want to personally get her a bouquet of flowers." He said and the assistant left first to prepare his carriage.

After talking, he went to face the lady he was talking to.

"What's is your name again, miss?" He asked.

"Amara Sierra, Marquess." Ezra thought that she had been feeling sick again because she suddenly seemed so out of it.

"I see. Well then, Lady Amara, Please recover well. I have to go now." He bid her farewell and eventually went away.

Lady Amara was left watching him until he eventually disappeared from sight. She just realized that she had unconsciously held her breath the entire time she was talking to him. Her heart was beating so crazily too. Is she really sick?!

"You seemed like you had been smitten by the Marquess' charms. Too bad, there's already a long line of girls waiting in line to just even get noticed by him." The mage who was aiding her said when she saw Lady Amara acting funnily strange around the Marquess.

'Me? Like the Marquess? Impossible. I was never interested in men. It must be because of gratefulness because he had saved me. That must have been it.'

She even kept nodding to try to convince her own self.

She continued with the inner struggle until she went to her bed. It wasn't for long because she got distracted by the food served infront of her and ate all of it in her heart's content.