Silas puts a little more effort in his appearance because today marks the first day of the expedition of the streets of Varusa. He runs his hand through the side of his hair so it sticks and the other side hangs in front of his face, giving him that allure that will attract her to him. He runs his hands down his chest and brushes the invisible dust off his shoulders.

"You do know that she will be paying more attention to the surroundings than she will you," Jothan points out. Silas glares at him through the mirror.

"You will lose that tongue of yours one day." He bluffs and turns to face him with his arms stretched to his side. "How do I look?"

"Like a King." Silas smiles, taking Jothan by surprise. The number of times Silas has begun smiling since Delyth's arrival is beginning to scare him yet have hope for him. With each passing day, he sees a small glimpse of a young Silas pre-Boaz torment. "The same as every day."

"Keep an eye on that consort fiance of hers. He's looking at me funny and if he doesn't remember his place, I might have to break Delyth's heart." He tells Jothan then a look passes over his face as a plan conjures in his head.

If Tiarnan dies and no one can prove that he killed him, then he can swoop in and console her; be her blanket while she grieves. In no time, his compassion will compel her to him. Finally, she will be his queen.

"You are stupid." His head whipped up to look at him so fast he almost got whiplash. Did his best friend just call him stupid?

"I beg your pardon."

Jothan rolls his eyes, not seeing him as a King at this moment but as a man who has an unhealthy obsession with a woman that is already taken by another. "The plan won't work. It won't be like the stories your father told you as a child every night about finding the right woman and fighting for her. She is in love with Tiarnan Holian and I believe if anyone were to hurt him, it would not go well for that person. She is smart enough to find the culprit. I would say it is in your best interest to leave him alone."

Seeing Silas Casteron willingly giving Dame Aiken a tour around Varusa, created a stir throughout the towns. Initially, they thought someone was going to die and they scurried in their houses or to the nearest building or object they could hide. However, when they saw him pointing to various lanes and buildings, they relaxed. For the first time, they didn't have to worry about the safety of their lives around him.

"There, is called Oakenfell. They gamble there and often fights break out; sometimes people die. I don't recommend going there any time after the setting of the sun. They care little if you work at Lardel Castle. Once you walk through that lane, your titles and castle position mean nothing." He advises while she squints her eyes to get a good look of the lane. It situates itself in the shadows. She could've sworn she sees someone getting punched and it's in the middle of the day.

They turn left and he points to different locales. "From here to that abandoned library is Dawncairn. Fairly good people. Not much goes on there. It's quiet." The blossoming flowers on the trees complements the good nature of the people.

A little blonde girl, hiding behind the leg of her mother, waves at Delyth shyly. She picks up the nearest flower—a yellow one—and bends low to tuck it in the girl's hair.

"You look like a Princess." The little girl giggles at Delyth's compliment and comes from behind her mother's leg.

"Thank you. You're pretty, are you a Princess?" The girl's eyes go wide in hope which melts Delyth's heart.

"Thank you, little one but n–" She begins but Silas cuts her off.

"No, she's a Queen." Delyth's head spins around so fast. Surely, she mistook what she heard but the curtsy that the little girl does tells her otherwise. Why would Silas say something like that? It will give people ideas which she cannot afford for an engaged woman.

"Filius canis," she mumbles and sneaks a look at the cute little girl and mother but they show no indication that they understand what she said.

The big smile on the young girl's face couldn't bring her to tell her the truth, so she forgets it. "What is your name, sweetheart?"

"Priscilla," she answers in a sweet voice, rocking side to side. Delyth hears the hiss in her pronunciation from the space where her two front incisors once were.

"Such a lovely name. My name is Delyth. It was a pleasure meeting you, Princess Priscilla." Priscilla throws her arms around Delyth's neck in a tight hug which scares her mom, afraid of Delyth and especially Silas's reaction.

After releasing her, Delyth stands to her feet and shakes the mother's hand. "You have a personable little girl. Have a great day."

"Thank you and the same for you, Lady Aiken." She nods which makes Delyth smile, glad that she didn't believe Silas's comment on calling her a Queen. Though, it may be her uniform. No normally Queen would wear something like this.

The mother steps forwards, placing her mouth next to Delyth's ears. "I believe that you might change the King. Whatever you're doing, continue doing it. We believe in you." Is all she says and walks away with her daughter holding her hand while waving her goodbye with her other hand.

"What did she say?" Delyth doesn't even look at him. She wants him to know how displeased she is about what he said.

"That she admires my courage," She gestures her hand to the length of her body to the uniform.

Without another word, the tour continues and the more she learns Delyth begins to fall in love with the nation. Its rich soil, wonderful people, beautiful landscape. It's an ethereal place run by a soulless man.

"Holian." Tiarnan turns his head in the direction of a monotonous voice to see Captain Kersey walking towards him. "Come with me."

He follows behind him until they are at a secluded area. Well, secluded after he gave the guards a stern look with the clear message to leave and give them the room to speak in private. It reminds Tiarnan of the power he once had in Swuybia when he was Captain and he gave it all up to follow the love of his life to Varusa when he could be serving beside his best friend who is Swuybia's new Ruler. Who would've thought. Funnily enough, he would do it again in a heartbeat if given the chance to.

His mind is running through several theories at once. The King's right hand man calling you to the side, calms no man. Therefore, Tiarnan is subjected to think the worst in this situation. "Is there a problem, Captain Kersey?"

"You love Delyth Aiken, do you not?" He asks, bluntly.

Tiarnan's eyebrows furrow in confusion. "I don't understand what that has to do with anything."

"You were Captain of the Guards once, so you're a smart man. It matters not what Silas Casteron says, he has full intentions of making Delyth his Queen. You need to make sure your love for each other is strong enough to withstand anything Silas throws at you. Delyth is a good girl and I would hate it if Silas sank his claws even deeper into her. But," he pauses and scans around for lurking ears. He bends his head low in order to speak low in case there is a peeping Tom he doesn't see. "You must also be careful. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir." He got the message loud and clear. Silas considers a threat to his plans and will do anything to get Delyth even if it means to remove Tiarnan like a chest piece. One wrong move and it's checkmate.

"From there to the forest is Mythmire. Also not a bad city but some of them can be sly, so watch out for that. Despite the whispers, Varusa is a reasonably good nation. You are safe here, Pu-" The look she gives him makes him change how he addresses her. "Dame Aiken."

They stop in front of—by the ravenous smell that lingers even outside—a small bakery. "I personally recommend Witching Flours. I used to come here very often as a boy and would spend hours talking and laughing with Mrs. Farshind, who is the purest of souls in this wretched nation. I regret to admit that my visits ceased due to endless responsibilities but when you come here, do send my apologies and greetings.

Delyth makes a mental note to visit the bakery with Tiarnan upon his recommendation. She surveys the area carefully and she softly smiles at the wonder of it all while Silas points to the tavern named 'Dirty Spade'. She hears the pleasant and harmonious sound of a choir singing in the near distance. Dare she say it, Varusa is better than Swuybia. She hears a commotion and curiosity convinces her to follow it. She sees a man dragging a woman on the ground by her hair in front of everyone and calling derogatory names. A 'whore' he labeled her. All while stones are being thrown at her by the people in the crowd.

Silas stays back to watch how the set of circumstances play out as he sees Delyth push through the crowd, grab some of the rocks from their hands and march toward the man. He has never seen her in action but he heard a few of the guards grumbling amongst each other about a horse she has and how disrespectful it was for her as a 'woman' to threaten them for a horse they think she doesn't deserve.

Curiosity got the best of him and he went to take a look at the horse. On the first look, he understood what had them in a tizzy. He was a beautiful creature. White as snow with a great structure. The others' horses had nothing on him and he was the right fit for Delyth.

Now, he has the opportunity to see how she will control the situation if it gets out of hand—which he hopes it will—so he can see what about her annoyed Ruadhan Dinan.

"Sir, I would like you to release the woman at once," Delyth warns in a deadly calm yet professional voice. "And if another person throws another stone, you will lose your hand."

"Whores deserve to be advertised on the streets since they want to spread their legs for men who are not their husbands." Delyth flinches at the word he uses to describe the weeping woman. Furthermore, he is speaking loudly for all the villagers to hear, putting more shame on the woman. She catches two men in her peripheral vision taking his declaration as an invitation to throw more stones at the woman.

Feeling the vein in her forehead pulsing, she walks over to a section of the crowd and faces the men. "It would bring me the greatest pleasure for you to switch places with her while the masses throw stones at you."

Fear crawls up their spines and the men glance at each other hesitantly. The stones fall from their hands and they hold their heads to the ground. "Apologies, my Lady."

She hums and brings her focus back to the sad excuse of a man. "If this is how you treat her in public, I wonder how you treat her behind closed doors." Delyth's eyes land on the woman and she observes her until she sees how red her cheek is. This boils her blood and her lips scrunch in a thin line.

"This is a familial matter, not of the palace," He scorns as his eyes scan her from head to toe.

Delyth takes a threatening step towards him, his eyes slightly widen in fear yet holds firmly onto his wife's hair. "You brought your familial matters on the street, sir, hence it automatically becomes palace matters."

"Listen, Dame. I caught my whore of a wife cheating on me with her lover. She embarrassed me. I'm returning the favor." A whimper is heard from the woman. She doesn't support adultery but this woman doesn't deserve this. There are many alternatives to dealing with this issue. Like in the comforts of their home.

"Ma'am, is that true?" Delyth asks, sympathy pouring through her voice and fixes her gaze on the woman, who holds her head down in embarrassment.

"I just told you. Of course, it's true," the man protests, continuing to speak loudly.

Delyth keeps her focus on the woman and gives her an encouraging smile to speak without fear. "Yes. He also beds other women and he hits-"

The woman's confession gets interrupted when the man has the gall to slap her against her face in front of her. Delyth slowly looks at him, her left eye twitches and her body emits heat in anger and disgust.

What a vile hypocrite! Delyth shouts in her head.

Without thinking, she fluidly removes a dagger from her hip and throws it in the shoulder of the arm that grips the woman. As the pain shoots through his arm, he releases the woman and Delyth bends to pick her up gently.

"What were you saying earlier?" She asks as she stares at the man. She takes another step closer and puts more pressure on the dagger in his shoulder resulting in him lowering onto his knees, howling and begging.

"He hits me and my son." The woman tells her, tears streaming down her face in both sorrow and happiness. This might be the day that she is free of her husband.

For years of hoping that her husband would stop the affairs and love her again, she gave up and one day when she was out in the market, she met a man who helped her pay for her food when she was a few Bruins short. They fell in love and have been sneaking around ever since.

"Huh." She scoffs and leans down to look him in the eyes. "You will regret this day."

"Don't worry." Silas's voice causes a huge gap in the crowd and gasps from the people. "I have a special place for men like him." Guards show up behind him and move toward the man, harshly pulling him to his feet. Delyth removes her dagger from his shoulder and wipes the blood off on her shirt.

"Guards, this man is charged for committing heinous crimes. Have it so that he is thrown in the dungeon without food and water."

"I hope your life is changed from this day and those to come. I am so sorry you had to endure such a life for so long by the hands of that man." The woman bursts into tears by Delyth's kind words and hugs her. Allowing her to let out the tears she believes the woman has been holding in for who knows how long, Delyth runs her hand down over her hair like her mother would do when she would cry as a kid.

"Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. You are a gift to Varusa, Lady Aiken." Silas looks at her with intrigue at the marvelous woman. He feels weird to witness such an act of kindness but for some reason he likes seeing her do it. It created a somewhat more appeal to her.

"I heard about your heroic act." He feeds her a piece of cake. One hand cupping her chin, brushes against her skin then raises it to push her hair behind her shoulder. "That was generous of you. Some would've turned a blind eye but you helped. That heart of yours is why I love you."

He leans forward and pecks her lips. Delyth's hand glides to his hair and pulls him deeper into the kiss. They both moan into each other's mouths in pleasure. Tiarnan's head moves down to her neck and leaves tiny kisses until he is in the crevice of her breasts.

"I was thinking we could push the date of the wedding night to next month," he whispers against her skin.

"Yes. The sooner, the better," she gasps.

He lets out a deep chuckle and brings his head back to look into her dark brown ones that are blown due to ecstatic satisfaction. "Happy birthday, Delyth."

She leans back with the widest of smiles on her face. His eyes light up at the fact that he is the reason behind her smile. The smile he loves so much.

"Turns out with a name like Dame Delyth Aiken, it's not hard to get things around here. I told them I wanted a cupcake for you but they made this." A Marzipan cake. It has a sweet nutty flavor in the mixture, it's fluffy and cuts like bread. It's the most delicious thing Delyth has ever tasted in her life.

"I'll be sure to thank Elinor in the morning. Thank you for this and the flowers. They are beautiful." The smile remains permanent on her face. She thanks the heavens every day for allowing Tiarnan in her life and giving her his love.

"Yet you still manage to take my breath away every day in the same way those flowers do to you." His voice falls in a lower tone and he looks at her with hooded eyes and a slant smile while he slowly moves towards her and snakes an arm around her, pulling her flush to him.

"Delyth Aiken, you are the best thing that has ever happened to me. Thank you for choosing me."

"I would choose you in every life." Their lips lock in an amorous kiss. This is the best birthday Delyth could ever dream of.

And it's all because of Tiarnan.

22/07/22

Au revoir...

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