New

"Hmm.." Merry started mumbling when she returned to her consciousness in the middle of the mid night.

"How are you feeling dear?" Max suddenly snapped out from his small nap and asked as he noticed her moving.Merry's head seemed to hurt a little but she was used to endure this much pain. She turned her gaze toward Max who was looking at her with concern.Then she saw a little blood stain near the corner of his white tunic.

"A-Are you okay?D-Did you g-get hurt?" Merry couldn't help herself asking him how he was, as he had to fight ruthlessly nonstop with those invaders.

"It should be my question..You got so scared..I should have been more careful." Max said while looking at her with gloomy look.

"I'm s-sorry for making you worried..I-I really.." Merry felt quite disheartened by how he was still blaming himself for every slightest thing happening to her.

"It all happened because of my carelessness, I'm sorry for putting your life in danger." Max uttered while caressing her hands with an apologetic look.Merry shook her head in denial.They both maintained their eye contact Silence surrounded them.

'Why I am so weak..why I can't muster up my courage whenever I need to and make everyone troubled..Why?Why he still...' Merry thought to herself.She tried to break their eye contact when she felt herself dissolving in dissatisfaction with her own.She couldn't stand those warm eyes of his.

"Merry..." Max embraced her in his arms with frown.

"You have no idea, how lifeless I felt when I saw you trembling with fear...and that I would've lost you..." Max said while firming his grip around her.He gently kissed her shoulder and nuzzled along with his heavy breaths.

Merry felt getting goose bumps all over her body when his kiss and breaths brushed her pain with endearment words and actions.

She started melting in strong feelings of pure love. These feelings started to be termed as 'Love' now.

"Max." Merry uttered his name with passion while grasping his shoulders.

Max felt his ears burning up when her words reached his ears.He had heard his name multiple times from her but this time he couldn't help his encroaching desire to hear her say his name thousands of time.

"Huh! What are you doing to me Merry? " Max asked with detonated humbleness.

"Hmm? Wh-What?" Merry couldn't understand him properly.

Max suddenly pulled himself back and started starring deep into Merry's eyes.

'What the hell is wrong with me? I'm really a jerk...Fuck! I have to curb my feelings no matter what..or I might hurt her with my unfamiliar approaching desires...damn her eyes...' Max thought while looking into her eyes.

Max's cheeks were blushing hard. He was quite embarrassed because of how he let his guard down only just by her sweet words.

"Max?" Merry again tried to get what was in his mind.

"I guess you should rest now !" Max suddenly grabbed a blanket and put Merry to sleep.He placed the blanket on her and before she could say something, he laid down next to her and pretended to fall asleep.

Merry blinked in confusion while on the other hand, Max could hear his heartbeats still racing up.

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At dawn, without disturbing her sleep,Max got up.

He had called his leading knights at place where others could not listen to them.

"As per my suggestion, I think we should have been more alert about these noble aristocrats, they've always been hazardous for us." Fredrick stated with seriousness while looking towards other members.

"You are right... behind this, we can say that anyone from here is involved for sure.." Dready added agreeing with Fredrick.

"We have to increase security during our visit here."

"But who would dare to harm the ladyship?" Robert enquired with uncertainty.

"Now, it's time for me to hire some of you for Merry's protection." Max stated with consequential look.

"Then, you can trust my ability in this matter commander since I had trained for seven years as a silhouette Knight." Dready affirmed with confidence.

"How about me? I had been a personal knight of you lord for quite long time, you can trust my abilities too." Fredrick said, giving confirmation about his experience level.

"Alright, Fredrick and Dready, you both will be Merry's subordinate knights." Max told.

"But my lord who will get the responsibility of personal knight?" Dready asked confusedly.

"Her personal knight has already been decided." Max asserted.

"Who commander?!" Fredrick asked surprisedly.

"I will be her personal knight." Max answered calmly.

"What! But commander you.." They all were confused.

"Before becoming an emperor I was a knight...And I must be the one to protect her at any cost.. I even took an oath to be her personal knight...I can trust each one of you on this matter too.....And make sure to not let anyone know about this" Max added without any hesitation.

"Your words in our command Commander." Fredrick confirmed.

"Sir, but what about when you'll out for work or war?" Dready asked.

"Can I protect our ladyship?" While they discussing, suddenly Robert spoke up hesitatingly.

"Are you serious kid? Do you even know how serious this position you are asking for is? "

Dready added with a chuckle.

"I may seem weak but I am well trained and I can risk my life for my lord and ladyship just like you all..W-Why you always underestimate my capabilities?" Robert started sulking over their teasing.

Max looked at Robert with a smile filled with recognition of worthiness .

"Then..In our absence and during our visit here ,Robert will get placed as Merry's shadow knight." Max stated.

Other were surprised with this decision but they couldn't question his decision.

Max knew the worth of each of his knights.

And was sure that they all were so determined to make sure about the safety of their lord and ladyship.

He could feel that now they not only care for Merry because she is his wife but also as a person, they respect and care for her.He was relieved to know this during such unrest situations.

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