Gerhard sat in his study, sipping on some blood red wine to numb his senses.

He stared off into space with a scowl, clad in only his shirt and trousers, having already divested himself of his cape and coat.

Coming home to the Fra estate was torture. He'd live elsewhere if he could, alas, he was the current leader of the noble Fra family.

Flashes of her wracked his mind. She ran toward him, wrapping her arms around him.

Her sweet angelic smile, the way her rosy cheeks lifted up when she smiled.

The memory of her touch haunted him. Her soft buttery skin cupping his face, her amber eyes staring lovingly at him.

"Gerhard..." Her voice haunted him.

It echoed and resonated on a loop, making the top of his head, ache.

Shutting his eyes tighter to banish all thoughts of her, he found to his horror that it only brightened the memories.

Her straw gold hair billowing in the wind. Her face turning to look at him with a smile. That smile that made his heart race now haunted him and filled him with sadness.

"Gerhard..." Her voice wracked his tired mind.

Screaming to himself he held his head eyes flying open.
Heart pounding with adrenaline and shock, his chest heaved painfully.

Memories of his late wife troubled him. Being alone only amplified it.

Maria... The woman who left him bereft. The reason why he spent every possible second at work.

Gerhard promised to spend every day of his life with her. To cherish and love her, but their time was cut short.

Pulling his desk drawer open he contemplated holding the contents. A golden ring he'd gifted her.

At one point he had indulged in admiring the ring glint on her finger. It sat next to his own now in the dark drawer.

Thin long fingers reached out to touch it, but he quickly snatched them back as if the ring burned him. Pushing the drawer close he swiped a tired hand down his face.

Gerhard shook his head, wondering where he'd land once the spiraling depression left him.
He sat for many moments wallowing in the same thoughts he did had every night. After three years he still had no answer.

The sound of shuffling in the hallway caught his attention.

Lifting his head up at the sound of tiny footsteps he found his son Angelico standing nervously at his side, a curious stare in his large, innocent eyes.

Gerhard jumped in his skin, his heart jerked with shock once more at the sight of his son. He was the splitting image of Maria. A painful reminder of who he lost.

Gerhard tried best to avoid his son, but then Dali Delico went and placed that ridiculously awful condition of having to work and care for their kids.

His life became an ambiguous joke, mixing the two things he tried to keep far apart.

Catching himself, he sighed, chancing a stare at his son. The boy looked up at his father with a sweet innocence.

Gerhards brows drew downward in a sad frown. The child's hair colour, his large eyes and sweet smile; all of it a reminder of his Maria.

His heart ached, his body thrummed with the pain grief brought. The handsome goldilocks tried to hide his sorrow in front of others, replacing misery with anger and vulnerability with pride.

Taking on that mission with Dali helped him with being more kinder to his son. Gerhard shamefully realised how harsh he was with Angelico.

He'd shout at the child and deal heavy handedly with him to block out the resemblance he found of Maria in his son.

When the child had gone missing Gerhard realised just how wrong he was. He had almost lost his son, the son that his Maria had brought into this world. He started seeing Angelico in a slightly different light after that.

"Yes?" He asked his son in a clipped but soft tone.

"I-I heard a scream." Angelico said softly, his limpid gaze lifting up to his father.

Gerhard crumpled with his brow softening. Holding his arms out he waited for Angelico to come forward.

The little boy shuffled on and wrapped his chubby, tiny arms around his father's torso.

Gerhard lifted the boy and walked over to his room, placing his son into his crib.

Smoothing his hair he hushed the boy who fell asleep in the blink of an eye.
Gerhard continued to run his fingers through Angelico's hair, a replica of his wife's.

Kneeling down and resting his head on the edge of Angelico's bed a tear slipped down Gerhard's face.

A small silent whimper shaking his form.

"Maria...." He whispered in anguish, sorrow over taking his body all over again.

After what felt like a few minutes of hearing his sons sound breathing he got up, little Angelico sucking his thumb happily in his sleep.

Rubbing his sore neck that was bent awkwardly he left the room.

Gerhards booted feet clicked down the empty hallway. All images of Maria and their family removed. He couldn't stand any reminder of her. It was too much to bare.

After three years of loosing her, he still couldn't handle the loss.

His mind flitted back the evening at the banquet, when he saw Lady Serina.

Gerhard snickered humorlessly. The God Trump was having fun at his expense.

The woman named Serina floated around with his wife's hair and eyes. The same smile. It was a horrible joke.

He was gobsmacked and astounded to the point of disbelief. Gerhard watched her at the banquet, mentally hoping it was his wife in disguise.

But then memories of her corpse lying pale and lifeless in his house sliced through him.

Walking back into his study, he knocked back his drink, hoping that one more would do the trick.

Closing his tired eyes, he inhaled sharply, hoping that today he'd get to sleep a bit.

"Maria..." He whispered to himself as he climbed into bed and drifted off.

✵✵✵

The carriage jounced around as they travelled over the rough road scattered with stones and dried mud that made the road uneven.

Gerhard kept his gazed fixed outside, his proud jaw flexed in thought. The Lord of Fra was engaged in thought with the lady from the banquet.

Flashes of her smile and laugh tortured his mind, a shiver wracked through him. He could feel it. She was just like his Maria.

Gerhard strained his gaze in a hard stare out the window,watching the orchards and cottages pass by. He knitted his brows, a faint sadness in his perfect face.

"Something wrong Gerhard?" Henrique asked politely.

Gerhard turned his face to the Lord snapping out of his daze.

"No I am fine." He replied curtly.

Dino watched him silently, his gaze fixed on the Lord of Fra.

"What's that mark on your neck?" Dino asked after a couple seconds.

Henrique chuckled and Dali shifted to face him with a curious grin.

"It's nothing. I hurt myself." Gerhard replied swiftly, slapping the spot where the red blotch sat vividly on his neck.

"Looks like a lovers token to me." Henrique commented.

"Well it isn't!" The Lord Fra snapped.

"It's very odd place to hurt yourself. Did you fall on your sword?" Dali asked his dark humor making even Dino smirk.

"No. It was an accident." The Lord Fra replied vaguely.

"Eh? How does an accident like that happen?" Henrique goaded with a playful grin.

"It's beyond my imagination. I find it a very odd and distinct sort of mark. I have to two kids, I'll know." Dali said, whispering the last part in a mock conservative voice with a wink.

"I-I slept on my neck and didn't realise Angelico's toy was under me. It left an imprint." Gerhard explained, thinking about the night before when he fell asleep at Angelico's bedside for a short while.

"Ohhhh..." The three Lord's chimed together, the sound somewhat disappointed.

The four Lord's reached the Agency a few minutes thereafter. Gerhard swiftly walked off, ignoring the others.

His confident, sure strides catching the attention of admirers. He forged on indifferent to them, hoping that Johannes had a pile of work ready for him.

"WHAT!?" Gerhard exclaimed in disbelief after hearing their leaders orders.

Lord Johannes sat calmly, resting his chin on his linked fingers.

"I said I am posting you on a holiday. I need you rested and to go undercover as a guest. It needs to be authentic." Johannes stated patiently.

"Why?" Gerhard asked in horror.

"Because we have a lead on some illegal dealings but only families are allowed to go to the holiday Inn in question. Please help me on this case. I need someone smooth and calm minded." The leader replied, hinting to the others temperament.

"Then let Henrique have the honors." Gerhard bargained.

"Kate is arm deep in work and can't join him. It would be too suspicious." Johannes replied.

"I'll do her work. Anything. Just give me something to stay busy in." Gerhard begged.

"I did issue you with work. And Kate works for private intelligence so you can't look at the documents she works with." The Vlad Agency Leader replied with a stern frown.

"You'll be with Angelico, bonding time with your son." Johannes reasoned with a kind smile.

"You're going undercover, the child would be safe either way-"

"- What about the safety and missions here!?" Gerhard demanded, cutting Johannes off.

"We have new members in this division. We'll be fine." He assured Gerhard.

"Yeah, Women! That doesn't count!" Gerhard exclaimed, losing his composure.

A crisp, clear feminine voice cleared its throat behind them.

Glancing over his shoulder he blanched, finding Serina stand there.

She wore a long double breasted black coat similar to his with a high collar folded down neatly. The coat flared out like a dress at the end and was completed with her red shoulder cape slung across her on the left arm.

"I assure you, as a woman I am perfectly capable Lord Fra." She stated with an icy cold stare.

'Maria would never stare at me like that.' He thought indignantly to himself.

"The matter is non-negotiable, you leave in two days. You best be off. Thank you for your service." Johannes said, nodding to Gerhard.

With that he dismissed the Lord and watched him leave in a flourish of distaste for his missions.

Gerhard passed Dali, Dino and Henrique on the way out, but ignored them, bubbling in his own misery. The others filed in to receive their orders.

Gerhard walked out into a courtyard, steaming with fury. Lady Serina followed behind silently, matching him step for step.

Sensing someone behind him, the golden haired man stilled. His shoulders tensing. Pulling out his sword he spun holding it out straight.

Serina smiled gloatingly, the tip centimeters away from her.

"Pretty remarkable intuition there." She commented with a grin.

"Of course. Who do you think you're talking to?" Gerhard replied airily.

"The great Fra who apparently can't process what an undercover mission is." She quipped.

"Beg your pardon?" He said outraged.

"Excused. Seeing you question Lord Johannes in that manner has me wondering just how honorable you are."
Serina commented, tilting her jaw up haughtily.

With that she walked away, gracefully whisking herself off.

Gerhard pinched his eyes in a glare.

"Fine. I'll show you how well I carry this mission out myself." He mumbled to himself, not realising that he played right into her trap.

Turning on his heel, Gerhard stomped off back into the main building.
Serina smirked to herself, finding the golden haired aristocrat quite the amusing man.

"Wait till you find out who's shadowing you on your mission. I'm sure you'll be thrilled."

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A/N: Thanks for reading and let me know what you think. It was do hard to find out about Gerhards wife. But according to the original story her name is Maria and they hint at her passing.

Makes me feel bad for him 😢