Konnor was already devouring his meal under the eyes of everyone, they were all trying to think of a way to ask him the one burning question. Finally Richard decided to break the silence.

  " Boy, I have a question "

  His mouth still full, Konnor turned towards him.

  " Wot? "

  " Are you alright "

  " Yes and no, yes because I get to eat but no because I'm thirsty! Malik, can I get some water? Oh and look at this! " He took his fork and tried stabbing his own hand, the fork simply bent against his skin. " Pretty cool huh? Some guy even tried to decapitate me and it didn't even leave a scratch! "

  Malik looked at Richard with a worried look, Richard simply nodded at him and Malik went away to get some water. Still eating, Konnor raised his head and realised he was the only one eating.

  " What's wrong? It's super good, eat up people! "

  Izi remained silent, he knew something happened to his friend but the guilt of letting it happen was preventing him from speaking. As for Maureen, she just hoped Richard would get through to him. Richard placed his hand on Konnor's shoulder.

  " Can I tell you a story? "

  Still stuffing his face, he nodded.

  " Yesh of courshe. "

  " During the war I was tasked to find and kill a commander in an enemy camp, get in and get out, an easy job I had done hundreds of times. I thought it would be one of those usual jobs. When I entered the camp, there was no one, it was completely empty. I entered the main tent and discovered all of the soldiers and their families dead. The last person remaining was an old woman. I asked her what had happened, she told me that the commander knew what life would be if they lost. They knew they couldn't win so they asked everyone to kill themselves, their family, their own wives and children. She then laughed at me and said " Enjoy your successful and easy mission ". After what she simply slit her own throat still smiling at me. I went back to my camp and Malik can tell you what happened. "

  Malik heard part of the story Richard was telling and continued it while pouring Konnor some water.

  " He came back, full of energy, and could not stop doing things around camp. He had never been so full of life. Everyone around could feel something was off, he was not sleeping, he was hyperactive around camp for almost two weeks. Then, he got assigned a new job and I saw something I never saw in all the years I knew him : he was terrified, he was shaking. "

  Konnor was still eating.

  " Richard, scared? Well that is a rare sight ahah! By the way, it's gonna get cold. You all should eat. "

  Richard sighed heavily.

  " I was keeping myself busy so I wouldn't have to deal with the images inside my head. I wanted to quit the army and almost gave up on my goal. Thankfully I had Malik by my side to help me talk it out. Do you understand where I'm going with this boy? "

  Konnor paused. And for the first time since he sat down, he stopped smiling.

  " Yeah ... "

  " I can only imagine a fraction of what happened for you to turn like this. Do you want to speak about it? "

  He looked at Richard worryingly.

  " Do I have to? "

  Richard gave him a pat on the back.

  " You don't, just know that we are here and you don't have to smile if you don't feel like it. "

  " Ok, thanks. All of you, if you weren't there I would not have had the strength to push myself out of there in the first place. " The silence fell on the small party. " Don't get all gloomy on me everyone! Come on, let's eat. "

  At last, Maureen and Izi started eating their meal as well and Richard walked away and went to the place he always spent his time when he was not working : at Isabella's house.

  On the road to her house he kept on thinking about the night the duchess had invited them to eat at the Castle. Something felt off about that night although nothing suspicious transpired. They went there on horseback and on the way the two of them were making plans.

  " Richard? "

  " Hmm? "

  " Are you sure that what I'm wearing is not too ... sober? "

  He looked at her from over his shoulder, she was wearing a sleeveless leather vest with an ivory shirt under it, she had brown cloth pants and her typical hiking boots. The sun coming from the front was making her hair look even more flamboyant than usual.

  " You are looking perfect to me. "

  " Richard ... "

  " What?! "

  " I'm nervous and it's not usual! I don't really like going so far from home and also all those people ... judging nobles ... "

  " Hey, no need to panic, look at me, I'm wearing my usual clothes minus the throwing knives. "

  " It's not the same! You have something about you that makes you seem noble even in the simplest of apparel. "

  " I am the son of a king after all, do I hold the same elegance even in my birthday suit? "

  Bella blushed slightly, leaning forward she gave him a small kiss on the cheek and hugged him tighter.

  " Yes you do, my prince. "

  When they reached the Castle gate the sun was now almost down, only some faint rays of light were getting through the mountains and over the outer walls. It was the first time Isabella entered such a place. The scale of the building was giving her vertigo. Once they were in the courtyard, Richard helped her dismount. Two familiar faces came greeting them at the main entrance. Markok followed by the young Eixien, both of them had radiant smiles at the sight of Richard. The giant royal guard greeted him with a warm embrace and slightly bowed to Isabella.

  " Please follow us, milady and the guests are already here. "

  They started walking through the numerous corridors until they reached the same room in which Richard had to duel Felix while injured. The room had been changed in order to host a banquet, there were around thirty guests at the tables and two empty seats on each side of the duchess. She was wearing the classiest of dresses she had, it was a bright red dress with gold laces up to her chest. As soon as they entered, Olivia stood up from her chair and held her arm up signaling to everyone to remain silent. All her focus was now on Richard, she took a deep breath and thought " This is it. ".

  " Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome one of my dearest friends, mister Richard Regeaj and the herborist that helped many of my townsfolks. "

  As soon as she was done speaking, every guest clapped. Isabella slightly leaned to the side to whisper at Richard.

  " I had no idea you two were such good friends ... "

  " Honestly me neither .. "

  They both walked forward under the applause of the guests and bowed to the duchess. She raised her arms once again and the silence fell in the room.

  " Please take a seat, Richard you are here to my right, Isabella on my left. "

  As they were requested they both went and sat on each side of the duchess, she then clapped and lines of maids came pouring out with prime meats and drinks for all the guests. Isabella was feeling suffocated by the number of people and all the chatter around her. She looked over at Richard and as if he could feel her anguish he was already looking at her with his usual charming smile, as if he was saying " I am here, it's going to be ok ". The weight on her shoulder got a little bit lighter and she loosened up. But her rest was of short notice as a hand placed itself on her shoulder. She looked over her shoulder and a guard with a similar armor to the one that led them here was smiling at her.

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  " Hi, my name is Felix, I am one of Lady Olivia's personal guards. "

  " Hi ... nice to meet you. "

  " The pleasure is all mine, I have yet to see another lady with such a beautiful hair color, may I know your name? "

  " Isabella. "

  Felix then slightly bowed down to her and kept one hand on his heart.

  " Such an angelic name you have, all those noble women and maids they are so .. boring. "

  " Hmm hmm. "

  She did not like him, behind his smile she could see the same thing she saw thousands of times behind a man's smile. As if he was not close enough, Felix leaned over and moved his hand from her shoulder to her thigh.

  " You on the other hand seem like someone I'd be dying to know deep - ARGH! "

  Before he could finish his sentence, one of the maids had stumbled on him and spilled wine all over his cape and armor. The maid was apologizing to him like her life depended on it. Most of the guests were laughing at the guard's misfortune and his look of rage towards the maid switched to a gentle look. He then grabbed her by the chin and made her come closer so he could whisper in her ear.

  " I'll take care of you later but if you spill anything on me again, I'll make sure you can't use those hands anymore. " He then turned around and smiled at Isabella. " It would seem I need to go change, I'm sorry our exchange was so short. "

  He then bowed to her and walked towards the exit. Eixien was next to the maid and was helping her clean the floor.

  " Pssst. "

  He raised his head and the redhead woman was smiling at him.

  " I'll act like I did not see what you did. "

  " I didn't do anything, I swear .. "

  " You won't get in trouble, I don't like that guy, and so do you apparently. "

  He thought no one saw him actually stepping on the maid dress to make her fall towards Felix but this woman was perceptive. " No wonder Richard likes her ". He smiled back at her and resumed his cleaning. Olivia decided it was time to start her plan, she leaned on Richard's side and gently touched his wrist.

  " Richard I am overjoyed that you could come, you are like a ray of sunshine that pierces how cloudy my life has been lately. "

  " I'm happy I could provide such feelings to you, milady. "

  " I don't know if you heard but the duc is bed ridden now, the doctors say I will be a widow soon. "

  " I'm very sorry to hear this, how did it happen? "

  " Hunting incident, Felix found him after I sent him to look for his hunting party, the poor men have all been killed and butchered. " She leaned over to him even closer. " To be completely honest with you, I'm pretty sure he was targeted and it was covered as if a beast had attacked but the men there, from what Felix said, were all disfigured and whoever attacked my husband wanted him to be found and to die a slow death. He ... He got ... Oh god please excuse me. "

  As she was telling her story, she started tearing up. Wanting to save face she quickly got up and used one of the backdoors to retreat from her guests's sight. Isabella noticed how quickly she got up and looked at Richard.

  " What's wrong with her? "

  " I will tell you later, I'm gonna go check on her. You are gonna be ok? "

  " Honestly I don't know, all those people might be more dangerous than anything living in my forest but I'll manage. "

  Richard stood up and gave her his usual charming smile.

  " You are the bravest woman I know. "

  " Go, another woman needs rescuing mister hero."

  Richard walked through a backdoor that was leading to another corridor. He did not think this would turn into such a labyrinth. But thanks to his kin sense of smell he was able to follow her strong perfume, he walked and found a half open door. Slightly peeking inside of the room he caught a sight of the duchess standing on her balcony with her face in her hands. He entered the room and slightly knocked.

  " Olivia? "

  She turned around and her face was bright red, she turned back towards the horizon to hide her shame.

  " Please don't look at me, I don't want you to look at me this way. "

  " In what way? "

  " With pity in your eyes. Do you know how devaluing and shameful it feels to be told from the age of six that you are nothing but an accessory to someone else's greatness? That you are not your own person but something someone else owns? "

  " Well milady I've been in the army, I have been someone else's sword for ten years while telling myself I was doing it for myself. At least you were smart enough to realise it and move away from it. Because as I see it right now, YOU are in charge, YOU are your own person. "

  " I wish I could believe the words you say, it's never enough, I could not even complete the task I was given when I married this man. I'm such a failure as a duchess and as a woman. "

  " I believe you refer to your ... fertility issues? "

  She turned around with a look of shame mixed with shock.

  " How do you .. "

  " I know Isabella pretty well and we got to talking and I can assure you, even if you haven't given birth, that doesn't make you any less of a woman than all the others in the world. I'm a man but my mom always told me that the value in a woman was not only the size of her chest, the wideness of her hips or how many children she could give to her husband. A value in a woman comes from how much good she can do in the world for the people around her. "

  " Your mother was a wise woman. "

  " Yes, and yet she raised a foolish son that joined the army despite her worries. "

  " Ahah, Richard? Could you stay here with me for a little bit? Just .. watching the sunset? "

  " At your service milady. "

  She had a little chuckle

  " I told you to call me Olivia "

  He walked up to her on the balcony and smiled at her.

  " My apologies milady Olivia. "

  She was now deep in watching his features, he has never been so close. The small scar under his jaw, the intensity in his eyes. And this smile, this genuine smile that could make all her worries disappear. Following her instinct, she rested herself a bit on him, grabbing his right arm. Richard stood still. " The poor woman, she seemed to have gone through a lot. "

  " Richard, will you share a glass of wine with me? "

  " How can I refuse? "

  She smiled and started walking back towards a cupboard. She got two glasses and a wine bottle out of it. She then poured the wine into both glasses.

  " This is the wine my husband's family gave us when we got married. As the tradition said it was to be consumed after our honeymoon but my husband never managed to get to the bed ... "

  " Are you sure you want to share it with me? "

  " My husband is not gonna be able to drink it and I'm too old to marry someone else so I think it's perfect. "

  She gave Richard his glass and held it up in front of her.

  " To our friendship and our future. "

  " To our friendship and our future milady. "

  They both emptied their glass. The sun was now down and Richard thought it was a good time to get Isabella and go back home.

  " It was a fantastic evening Olivia but I must now go and escort back to her home the little herborist. "

  " It's way too dark Richard, you could .. stay the night and depart tomorrow morning? "

  " Well we could .. I would hate to impose. "

  " It would be my pleasure! Just wait a second. "

  She walked towards the door and clapped in her hands.

  " Lucretiaaaa! Come my darling! "

  As soon as she said that Richard could hear the tapping of the maid shoes on the tiles. A young blonde handmaiden appeared.

  " Yes milady? "

  " Can you show mister Richard here his room for the night? Give him the amber room. Also fetch his redhead friend and give her the ruby room, quite fitting. "

  " Yes milady, follow me mister. "

  Richard simply nodded and started following her. Olivia decided it was time for her to go back to her guest and have them assigned rooms.

  A few hours passed and Richard wasn't able to get any sleep. He wanted Bella in his arms. Not able to just stay idle, Richard decided to go on a little stroll. Ever since he got to bed he was feeling a powerful craving, maybe it was just the wine that was making his head feel this way but he wanted to be with her now more than ever. The corridors all looked the same but at the corner of one of the hallways he heard a faint laugh, as if it was but a whisper in the wind he recognized it.

  " Bella ? "

  " Richard "

  He turned around and saw a fancy white dress disappear at a corner. Once he had reached that corner, the pale figure had already turned at another angle. " So we are playing hide and seek huh? " . This little game continued for a moment, each time he got closer, she seemed to evade him just barely until he came to a door that was open. He entered the room and discovered Bella in a rich dress.

  " Where did you get this dress? "

  She had a look of genuine surprise on her face.

  " What do you mean? It's mine obviously? "

  " You were the one telling me you were scared of being dressed too sober, where did you hide it? Or did my favorite witch hide one of her tricks? "

  As an answer she simply got closer to him and laced her arms around his neck.

  " Richard, what do you see right now? "

  " I see the woman I am in love with. "

  No more words were needed as they exchanged a passionate kiss. This intense craving he was feeling earlier was getting stronger and stronger. Listening to this feeling, he gently picked her up and dropped her onto the bed. The only light in the room were the rays of the moon piercing through the curtains. The moonlight was making her pale skin look like it did not belong in this world. Such perfection, Richard lost himself into contemplating her beauty. She slowly took her dress off, uncovering her chest. The both of them would spend a long night connected to each other in this surreal moment.

  When the first rays of lights touched his face, Richard woke up and realised he had come back into his own bedroom. " Was that a dream? No ... it felt too real. But I don't remember coming back to my room ... " He could not give this any more thought as one of the maids knocked on his door.

  " Yes? "

  Lucretia peeked her head through the door.

  " Hmm mister Richard, your horse is ready and your friend is up. "

  Richard yawned and scratched his chin.

  " Just give me a minute. "

  Isabella was already outside waiting by the horse, she could not wait to go back to her home. Finally Richard emerged from inside the castle followed by a young maid.

  " Ahhh there he is! You sure like to make a lady wait. "

  " Had a rough night. "

  " Yeah same. "

  She had a cheeky smile and looked over his shoulder.

  " Where is your best friend Olivia? "

  Lucretia stepped forward and bowed slightly.

  " Milady is already busy handling some affairs but she says you are welcome to come by anytime. "

  Richard simply mounted his horse and helped Bella to get on it.

  " Well Lucretia, tell your mistress it was a pleasure. Good day. "

  " Good day to you and have a safe travel back home. "

  Richard gave a slight kick into the horse's flank and as it was trotting away, from one of the various windows of the castle, Olivia was watching them go away. A small knocking on the door did not even make her lose eye contact with them.

  " You may enter. "

  Felix entered the small room and walked up to her.

  " Did everything go as you wanted milady? "

  She had a small smile and rubbed her belly.

  " Oh yes it did my dear Felix, And I can't wait for my next meeting with the both of them. "