-Thank you, Mr. Duke.

Lev nodded at the young woman before him. Pregnant, she was livid, with red eyes and hollow cheeks. Yet she gave him a pale smile, before leaving with the old woman who shared his home.

The Shield's stomach was in knots. This was a backstory that the citizens of Gentem never saw.

Those left behind by the victims of the wasteland. Women, children, parents... The Southern, Eastern, Western and Northern Battalions had losses. Every year they lost elite soldiers, despite their vigilance, caution and skill. The Protectors made it a point to attend the funerals of every one of them.

To take care of each person left behind, like this woman with her unborn child.

That is why, with the agreement of King Oktar, the Dukes and Duchesses had set up two villages. One at the border between North and East, Tranquillitas, the other at the border between South and West, Serenitas. They were currently in the first one, with Rainier.

The villages had existed for eight years now. Wives, husbands, partners, children and relatives of the dead lived in harmony here, with the help of the Duchies. If the first times had been hard, the newcomers were now welcomed by the older residents of Tranquillitas. Everyone here had lost someone, everyone knew why they were here.

Everyone had a job when they arrived, the economy of the villages was real, but it did not serve to enrich the place. Everything was put back into the paychecks of the inhabitants, into the management of the orphanage, the hospitals, the garrison, in short, into what made life here possible.

And if the income was not sufficient, Lev and Rainier took care of filling the gap in the coffers. Lev's spa, mountain and winter tourism generated a lot of income to manage all this, while Rainier was unbeatable in the maritime trade.

Between them, they could provide for the families of their fallen soldiers.

-Gentlemen, said the oldest lady, whose son had died too young. I thank you for your help.

-You're welcome, Lev replied with a big smile.

-If I may say so... The orphanage would love to have you visit. Do you have the time?

-Of course! Rainier? Do we have a margin with your children?

The colossal Duke looked up at the sky to assess the time, before nodding his head.

-Yes. Dana will take care of their meal. But I'd like to get home in time for the evening story.

This made the dean smile.

-Ah, sir... You are an exemplary father!

At these words, Rainier blushed slightly. It was necessary to know him well to see him, with his dark skin.

-I... I'm doing my best, he murmured, running an embarrassed hand over the back of his neck.

-Like all parents, chuckled the old lady. Come on, let's go! Let's not waste time, then!

If Rainier was flattered by this remark, Lev discerned the shadows in his eyes. Patting him on the back, the Shield said nothing. He was content to be a silent supporter.

After all, Rainier couldn't do anything about it if his wife was like she was.

*

The birthday of the Duchess of the South was something special. Hundreds of guests from all over Gentem gathered to attend. There was singing, dancing and eating of local produce, as the duchy was the granary of the kingdom. Everything grew prolifically, to the pride of Cara Malleus.

Yes, it was absolutely great.

So when Lev told her that there would only be Cara, her son, Rainier, his children, Eleazar and them, she was stunned. In fact, the big reception was a political façade. The real birthday party was always like that, with Vera as well. The truth is that Cara couldn't stand the pomp and circumstance that cost her a fortune and forced her to rub shoulders with all the hypocrites in the kingdom.

It seems that both Dukes and Duchesses had the same character!

Even though spring was just beginning, it was already warm in the south. And Cara looked stunning in her simple pants and loose top. Very... homey. Like all the guests, in fact.

- Hi! she exclaimed, her long black hair flying in the air as she turned toward them. Flavia! You came too! Oh, I'm glad!

Jumping towards them, Gentem's Hammer was smiling like a child.

- Flavia, come on, I'll introduce you to the kids!

In the perfectly manicured gardens of the southern fortress, there was a huge grassy area where all sorts of games could be played. A table and a few chairs had been set up, while three little boys played happily. Eleazar unceremoniously ran after them, playing a monster that made them howl with a smile.

A little girl, judging from her little dress and her blond pigtails, was standing on the shoulders of Rainier, the ebony-skinned giant. The little girl, who must have been at most one year old, was having fun pulling her hair while chewing on it.

A rather unique view of the dreaded Gentem Protectors.

-Ah, hello, Flavia, said the Lance, smiling at her.

The running pups stopped, and ran towards her with new cries, Eleazar at their heels.

-You're Uncle Lev's wife!? exclaimed a little blonde boy with pale skin.

-Of course, decreed a second, almost identical one. They are holding hands. Only lovers hold hands.

- You have to be in love to get married!?

The reflection came from a little one with chocolate skin, silky black hair and big red eyes. He was undeniably Cara's son. Besides, from the way she ruffled his messy hair, it was obvious.

-Flavia, this is my son, Tamir.

-I'm ten years old! he declared in a very proud tone, with his fists on his hips.

-Nice to meet you, Tamir.

- And here is Autem, also ten years old, and Eorum, six years old. The little one on Rainier's shoulders is Ena.

Oh... But who were those three little blonds? Suddenly, Flavia remembered something. Apart from the Lance and Cara, no one else here was related. So... The three white-skinned blonds were Rainier's children?

The latter was watching him, obviously waiting for his reaction.

-Mmh... You look as strong as your daddy, she declared for the two little blonds in front of her.

They smiled at him with all their teeth, before running off to their father.

- Daddy! Daddy! Did you hear that!? She said we're as strong as you are!

-Oh, yeah? She has a good eye, then!

While holding his daughter on his shoulders, Rainier welcomed his sons on his lap. Flavia couldn't help but smile. There was probably a story behind this. But this was not the time to tell it.

-Dana couldn't make it? said Lev.

Dana was, Flavia learned, the nanny for Rainier's three children. She usually attended Cara's birthday party with everyone else. But in this case, she was sick. So Rainier had come alone. She didn't dare ask where the children's mother was.

While chatting with everyone, Flavia was again surprised by the family atmosphere among the Protectors. They lamented Vera's absence, before promising to have a catch-up meal when she returned.

The children ran around while the adults talked and ate, all the while taking care of little Ena.

- How come your wife didn't come, Rainier? asked Flavia innocently, after a while.

-My wife? Why would she come? said the Duke of Hastam.

Oops. Flavia glanced at Lev, who came to her rescue. More or less.

-His wife is a bitch, he declared. Her absence is a blessing.

-Oh, uh...

-Don't worry about it.

Rainier smiled at him.

-You can't know that. But... Let's just say my relationship with my wife is not going well.

-That's the least we can say, said Lev, taking a drink of orange juice.

- Lev, do you really want to crack our little Hastam? giggled Cara, putting an arm around his neck. You want him to hit you?

-I'm not violent with my friends, said the "little" Rainier. By the way, Cara, when is your official birthday party?

-Tomorrow night. But I have a secret hope that a sudden attack in the wastelands will make me disappear.

Flavia raised her eyebrows in surprise. Could one really expect that kind of thing? When Eleazar burst out laughing, she understood. Obviously, this wasn't the first time she'd done this to her guests! A simple call from the Mage on the communication jewel, and she would have to leave at once. Nevertheless, as Rainier reminded her, she couldn't leave her son alone.

Tamir, right next door, said he could. He could handle the whole bunch of rats that came to enjoy the banquet instead of his mother. The two blond heads added that they would support him in this ordeal.

A nice group cohesion for such a young age.

In any case, Cara thanked all three of them, reminding them that the role of parents was to protect children, not the other way around.

- Rainier, Dana isn't too sick, is she? asked Eleazar. Do you want me to come and take care of her?

Ah, the nanny. Obviously, she had to be part of the group somehow.

-She told me it would be okay, but I'll let you know if I need to.

Things went smoothly. So much so that Flavia forgot all her worries, all her fears. She forgot her scars, her past, and her concern for Lev. Playing with the children, she did not see her husband's gaze on her. She didn't see his smile, nor his thoughtful look. She didn't even see the reassuring look the other three Protectors exchanged.

*

Lev took off his shirt, with an appreciative snarl as he looked at his wife. Coming to meet him, she lost her unbuttoned dress... well, from which he had torn off all the buttons running down the front. He had forgotten his strength. Kissing her savagely, the Duke grabbed her by the buttocks, pushing her to tie her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck. His unusual strength allowed him to hold her without any problem, even kneeling on the bed.

They had been circling each other for a good three hours. They had started kissing in the portal room, and the trip back to the room had been a bit of a hassle.

- Do you feel ready, he murmured against her lips, or do you want to wait?

The fact that she slipped her hand between them to pop the buttons on his pants was an answer in itself. Making her fall on her back, Lev placed her pelvis against his, leaning on an arm. More practical to slide the hand under the lingerie covering her delicate buttock... He found her so wet that his sex sought to escape from his pants. That his wife desires him at the point to wet so much made him mad.

-Flavia, he moaned against her lips.

-Lev...

Inserting a finger in her, he made her arch against him in a voluptuous moan. Oh... he could never get enough of that sweet sound. Flavia passed a hand behind her head, to kiss it while he printed movements of return. Receptive as she was, she already approached the tops... But he stopped, pulling a hoarse complaint of frustration to him. He wanted to tease her. Nevertheless, he did not expect that she would make him roll on the side, to put herself astride on him.

Ah... He liked it.

The hands on her thighs, he had a magnificent vision on her chest which rocked, while her sex came to slide along his. The torrid glance of Flavia... He did not hold a long time at this rhythm. She made him mad. Taking again the top, he caught her buttocks with full hands. His wetness met his glans, and...

And... The door to the room shattered.

Stunned, they froze, at one millimeter of the penetration.

-Lev Clypeus, you are a dead man!

Oh shit! Vera was back from a mission!