“My lord,” she bowed stiffly, her voice almost emotionless but articulate.

  “Welcome. Please, have a seat.”

  The pine sap lamp bathed her beautiful face in a yellow glow. I pulled myself back from appreciating her beauty and got straight to the point.

  “You are twenty-one, the oldest of the group. Why aren't you wed or spoken for yet?”

  “I haven't found anyone worthy.”

  Self respect. Good sign.

  “Don't your parents badger you about it?”

  “Yes. Constantly.”

  Persistence. Another good sign, but could also be pigheadedness.

  “And what makes a man worthy in your mind?”

  “Someone who wouldn’t disregard me as if I were a child, and wouldn't raise his hand against me.”

  I tried to hide a grimace. It was rather sad that her expectations were so low, but such was the norm in these times.

  “I can do that. Tell me, why are you here to be a concubine?”

  She hesitated, eyes darting around.

  “Truth will serve you better,” I warned.

  “You are our leader. I've been hearing about the new things you're making and... my father is sick. I was hoping you could help with that.”

  “I'm not a healer, so I cannot guarantee anything,” I told her, “but I can take a look to see if I can do something.”

  She bowed deeply. “I would be in your debt.”

  That talk ruined the mood, but she was the best candidate by far. As I was thinking about how to turn things around, she broke the silence herself.

  “My lord, why are you looking for a concubine instead of a wife.”

  “Politics. When we become rich and prosperous, and trust me, we will, powerful countries will want to possess us, by any means possible. If I'm an eligible bachelor, they might consider throwing a noble daughter at me, instead of an army. It would be highly irresponsible of me to close that door.”

  There was also another obvious incentive, and I had to threaten my mind into submission before it made me smirk.

  “But what about all the weapons! I thought they were supposed to protect us!”

  “They are, but I would rather avoid violence if possible. In the end, we are just three thousand people, and Nanon doesn’t lack for nobles who would be willing to sacrifice the lives of hundreds or even thousands of peasants to get what they want.”

  Her eyes widened.

  She seemed to have accepted the facts as she took a heavy breath, and trained her eyes back on me. “Do you plan on leaving me once you've had your fun?”

  “No. If I just wanted to have fun, I wouldn’t have arranged for this meeting. If I come to like you, you will have to be the one to push me away, as we will be wed in all but name.”

  She thought for a while, her eyes unfocused, and finally seemed to come to a decision. She hesitated for a moment before asking, “If I may ask… what do you find appealing in a woman?”

  Finally interested, are we?

  “Loyalty, compassion, level-headedness, and of course, beauty.” I replied honestly.

  “I… I think I have those traits,” she stammered, a blush creeping up her face. “I'm loyal, sensible, good with children and... you have already seen the rest.”

  “And fairly smart and assertive as well,” I added, while smirking, as I made my decision. I wanted to hug her so badly.

  “You don’t hate that?” she asked, confusion evident on her pretty face.

  “No. As long as you’re not assertive to the point of being pushy.”

  “I’m not!” she said nervously.

  At least I didn’t have to wonder whether she genuinely liked me or not, even if only a little bit.

  Internally, I began sweating. Even though this wasn't officially a marriage, the part of me that was scared of any sort of commitment was rattling around like a caged animal. I told it to shut up by imagining the things I wanted to do to the gorgeous young woman in front of me.

  She gazed at me with her beautiful silver-gray eyes, which suddenly narrowed. I felt a chill run up my spine. Is this what marriage was supposed to be like? Should I bolt?

  “Who is Kathie Lee?” she asked in an icy tone.

  “Who?”

  “When you were sick, I took care of you for a few days. You were mumbling about her in your sleep, saying how you would love to lay her down and lick every inch of her body with your tongue.” She said in a stern voice.

  I was confused for a moment, then had to step away from her as a laughing fit overtook me.

  When I finally managed to catch my breath, I told her, “it's a , though I do plan on doing all those things to you.”

  Her blush deepened further.

  My time with my new girl was interrupted when I was asked to attend an issue. Some boys had seriously hurt a peer during a brawl.

  “Walk with me,” I told her.

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  We crossed the yard together, the sound of hammering and men groaning under the weights coming from all directions. The palisade was almost finished.

  “How would you handle the situation, Aprilia?” I asked her.

  “Me?”

  “Yes, you. You seem to have a fairly capable mind in that pretty head of yours, so I would put it to good use... or do you just plan on staying in bed all day, waiting for me?”

  “No, I don't. Lash the idiots to know the pain they've caused. Then put them to hard labor.”

  “Harsh,” I said. “I think they're young enough for a gentler approach.”

  “They are fourteen! Almost grown men!”

  “Have you been around fourteen year olds? They are half children. Their brains aren't even physically grown, let alone matured.”

  This harsh world might have forced them to lose their innocence, but even the Cha's brutal experience couldn't expedite the growth of their brains.

  “I still think your gentle ways will spoil them.”

  “Maybe, but I'm willing to take the risk.”

  Three nervous boys were brought in front of me, none of whom looked older than fourteen. Dirt smeared their faces, and guilt their eyes.

  “So you think you are brave strong men, do you?” I said quietly.

  None answered.

  “Do you know what strong men do? They treat violence as a dangerous tool, not dish it out willy-nilly. They use it to protect their people, but that requires more than just being brave. Real warriors have skills.” And a sense of responsibility, not that it would mean anything to the youngsters.

  “They know how to hunt, how to fight and how to survive. How to identify what is edible, what is not, and other skills. Do you want those skills?”

  I got some hesitant nods in response.

  “Tomorrow you will report to the hunters. They will teach you how to track, how to find food and protect yourself. Then you’ll patrol the Triangle route, Cradle to East Gate to West Point and back. You’ll carry limestone back each trip.”

  Their mouths were slightly open in surprise, and the adults were frowning. The standard procedure here would’ve been beatings, but they didn’t achieve anything productive.

  “That’s how you will become actual strong men,” I told them. “Welcome to the Boy Scouts of Chadom.”

  Delinquents disciplined, route patrolled, and a hot girl gained. I was having a good day.

  On our way back, Aprilia turned to me. “You turned punishment into free labor.”

  “And discipline. Three birds with one stone,” I said, stifling a chuckle.

  She shook her head, smiling despite herself. “You are strange, my lord.”

  “So I’ve been told.”

  Aprilia and I discussed a few other matters, which only reinforced my decision to choose her. I bid her goodbye and invited her to join me on one of my patrols the next day.

  The next morning we went to the nut grove together, had a nice picnic, and talked about our past, well Jack's past and hers, our dreams, hopes and whatnot.

  I decided to extend the courtship and met her several times over the course of the next few days, under the guise of her bringing me food.

  Seeing how both of us were attracted to each other and were fairly compatible, we finally made the decision to begin a relationship.

  We went to meet her parents. I recognized the man sitting in front of the tent.

  “Master Almar?” I blurted out.

  “My lord,” the master potter said, confused.

  “You- you are Aprilia’s father?”

  “Yes,” he said, then turned to Aprilia for an explanation.

  Her face was burning red, as she pointed to the tent.

  We all went inside.

  I found out that little miss responsible hadn't told them that she had answered my call. I promised her parents that I would take care of their daughter for the rest of her life and explained to them why we couldn't marry.

  They were not thrilled about us not marrying, but understood my reasons. They were glad that miss picky had finally chosen someone, so grudgingly agreed to the union.

  I took a look at master Almar, who didn't look very sick.

  “Father has been complaining of joint pain for weeks,” Aprilia said, her voice tense. “And suddenly his gums started bleeding!”

  “Aprilia, it's not a big deal!” he protested. “Even Matilda said so!”

  That sounded like scurvy.

  “What were you eating during the exodus?” I asked him.

  “Hard tack and jerky, like everyone else.”

  Standard malnutrition.

  “Now the food is much better, right? Have you been eating any berries?”

  “No,” Aprilia replied, scowling at her father. “He gives them away to the children. Says they need the treats.”

  “What about the seaweed?”

  “He hates it.”

  “That’s the problem. Your condition sounds like a disease called scurvy,” I told him. “Sailors on long trips, who don't have the luxury of variety in their diet, often suffer from it. You will need to eat at least a handful of berries or some seaweed everyday for a month or two and you will begin seeing improvement.”

  “Thank you, my lord.”

  They decided to throw her a farewell party the next day in lieu of a marriage ceremony, and she would move in with me the day after that.

  I took her aside to confirm something. “If you agreed to be with me only because of your father's condition, you can back off now. Last chance.”

  I badly wished she would not. She was beautiful, smart, humble and responsible. If she turned out to be loyal, she would be the perfect package. My eyes must've betrayed my desire as she got very close to me.

  “Did you truly mean it when you said you would not throw me away?” She said, barely above a whisper.

  “Yes. We haven't known each other for long, but from what I have seen, I think we are quite compatible. If our relationship works out, it will essentially be a marriage.”

  “What about the woman you will be officially marrying?”

  “She will have to accept our relationship. Plenty of men of means have mistresses on the side, so it's not something unexpected. I promise you: I won't throw you away, ever.”

  “Okay,” she said, her voice soft, and took my hands in hers. “To be honest, I want to be with you. You saved our lives, you are smart, handsome, value me for more than just my body, and a good man who is looking after everyone. You need someone who will look after you.”

  She got even closer. I was going to pull her into my arms when she pulled me towards a secluded area. I let her drag me into the shadows. Looking into my soul with those beautiful silver-gray eyes, she went on her tiptoes to face me, and before I could do anything, crushed my mouth with her luscious lips. I quickly recovered and eagerly reciprocated her enthusiasm.

  “This is for saving our lives back then,” she breathed between kisses. “You almost died saving my family.”

  I tried my best to not show the guilt coursing through me. Poor Jack deserved that kiss, but he would never receive it. A part of me urged to end things with her, as I wasn't the man she thought I was, but I was too selfish to give her up. I would just have to tell her the truth sooner rather than later, and hope for the best.

  ──────── ??? ────────

  Adlersthron, Capital of Nanon

  A soothing breeze stirred through Hohenburg Castle's courtyard, as unseen birds sang from the trees. For Laira, it might as well have been one of those bleak days when the windswept rain never seemed to stop. Her heart was a knot of worry, as she stood in front of her father.

  “Father, are you sure about this?” she asked the King.

  He smiled at her, though his eyes betrayed exhaustion. “You’ve read the same reports as me, sunbeam. The waves of thousands of refugees pouring into Sindhu are already straining their resources. If Zoran takes advantage of that, it might turn out to be an easy victory for them. We must form an alliance now, or our fate will be sealed as well.”

  “That is what I fear! Let me go there instead,” she pleaded, clutching his hand, clammy with fear. “Zoran's agents might have already infiltrated Sindhu. You know the Zoranians are not above employing unscrupulous tactics, and Nanon cannot afford to lose you.”

  Her father lowered his voice. “I’m not Nanon’s future, Laira, you are. I want you here to safeguard our realm.” He put a hand on her cheek. “I just wish you weren't shouldering the burden alone.”

  “Linus?” she asked skeptically.

  “No,” he said, sighing. “I think that ship has sailed. I meant someone you could share a life with.”

  “There is still time for that. I’m not that old.”

  “I know, I know, but a father worries.” He squeezed her shoulder gently.

  She looked around and noticed her brother glowering from across the courtyard.

  “Father! The coaches are ready!” He called.

  Her father smiled at her one last time and walked away. All Laira could do was pray for his safety, and for the strength to face the uncertain future. If Nanon was to survive, they definitely needed alliances. Speaking of alliances, she considered her father’s words and decided to finally search for potential suitors.

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