“Duke,” Detri called.
“Where is she?” Kael asked softly.
Detri lowered his head and grabbed Kael’s dirty clothes.
“She is resting in her chamber, waiting for you.”
Kael smiled and nodded.
“I’ll head to the bath before retreating to bed,” he stated.
“Yes…”
“Lord Kael!” William screamed from the entrance.
Kael and Detri paused and looked at him. He waved a letter in the air.
“William…”
“Bad news…” William panted. He handed the letter to Kael. Kael stared at the emblem that marked the letter's seal. “The Royal Family… had requested upon your reinstatement… to go to the Black Forest.”
Detri’s eyes widened.
“Duke, that’s insane—”
“So… they’re using this as an excuse to put me back on the battlefield… since I’m not dead yet.”
Detri tightened his jaw, glaring at the letter. William frowned, clenching his fists.
“What should we do? You just wedded—”
“What do you mean?” Kael asked. He looked at William and Detri. “My lovely wife would yell at me if I left her behind.”
William gagged as he rolled his eyes. Detri covered his mouth as he faked a cough—
“You bet I will…” Valencia’s voice descended from the stairs. They all turned to the stairs. “If the Royal Family wants to put you on the battlefield, I’ll come, too.”
“B-But… no ladies should attend…” William hesitated.
“Ladies? Before I became a wife, I was his Guide. A Guide must be beside their Esper to prevent a rampage.”
“Yes, but you’re an F-rank Guide… he’s an S-rank Esper, who needs A LOT of guiding!” William claimed.
Kael glared at William and grabbed his clothes from Detri, slamming them onto William’s face.
“Oh—” Detri paused.
“LORD!” William snapped.
“What’s wrong with my partner? I married her, so are you saying I made a mistake?” Kael questioned.
“No! I’m just saying—”
“So you would rather leave me here where danger lurks around the corner, right?” Valencia added.
William shot his glare at her.
“That’s definitely not what I mean…”
“Then, don’t be against me coming along. I would rather stay by his side than here…”
“But, Grand Duke and Duchess will take care of you—”
“My parents will protect her… but they cannot protect her in ways that are unpredictable,” Kael argued.
William frowned, crossing his arms.
“Why are you two against me? Why even have me as your advisor if this is how you two treat me?” he pouted.
Valencia chuckled and walked near.
“I did warn you… that having me as your master will be double the headache for you,” she teased.
Kael glared at William as he sweated, pretending not to notice Kael’s death silence.
“I… I won’t argue anymore! Bye!” he dashed out of sight.
Kael stared at Valencia in her thin nightgown and sighed.
“Why are you still awake?”
“I heard bickerings…” she answered.
Kael grinned and stepped near, but not to touch her.
“I’ll come to bed… so wait for me there,” he whispered.
She blushed and turned away.
“I never said that I was waiting for you…”
He chuckled and peeked at her from the side.
“I’m soaked in monsters’ blood. So, I’ll take a bath and be clean.”
Valencia closed her ears and stomped up the stairs.
“I never asked!”
“Come on… you were waiting for me. Just admit it!”
Detri watched them and smiled faintly.
“He has finally found his light…”
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