Aamon Von Soren (2)

"Do you need anything else, My Lady?" The maid said as she curtly bowed.

"No, nothing. You may leave. I want to be left alone."

"Yes, My Lady."

The maid kept the clothes aside and left the room.

Adrienne was now alone in the tub. She reflected on everything that had happened to her up to this point. As a Count's only child, one would expect her to live a lavish lifestyle. Her father, on the other hand, ruled over the County of Luvia, the most godforsaken place on the entire map.

It served as a gateway to the south of the continent from the north, making it a place of strategic importance. Always covered in snow throughout the year, the County of Luvia lacked the natural resources necessary to sustain life. Due to these harsh conditions, they lived a harsh life.

Adrienne, as the Lord's daughter, had a difficult life as well. When she met other southern nobles, she was envious of their luxurious lifestyle, while she and her people had to make do with what they had. The Imperial Family did send them resources on a regular basis, but they were always inadequate. Even other nobles did not treat her properly, and she was almost regarded as an outcast.

Despite this, she never complained. Her father was the most important person in her life, and she loved him. Her father was everything to her after she lost her mother at a young age. But it appears that she was not meant to be happy because she also lost him.

Adrienne rubbed her body with a cloth as she thought about her past. The warm water made her feel good, providing respite to her otherwise chaotic heart.

Last year, the monsters attacked from the north, and Luvia was left to defend itself. No timely support arrived from the Capital and her father laid down his life to protect Luvia and his people.

Adrienne recalled how heartbroken she was at the time. Her only family had died, leaving her orphaned.

"Aahhhhh…"

She was brought out of her thoughts from the pain. She looked down at the bruises on her body, her swollen downwards from excessive pain, the hand marks on her waist from tightly clenching it – it all happened last night and he did all this to her.

Adrienne put strength in her hands and rubbed the swollen parts to make them go away but all it did was increase her pain. Frustrated, she threw away the cloth in her hand. She was all alone now and her heart was cold.

* * *

Adrienne and I were having breakfast in our bed-chamber. Going to the dining hall was too much of a chore and it seemed like my body wanted to spend some alone time with Adrienne, so I ordered the servants to bring the food into their bed-chamber.

"How does it feel like coming back to your home?" I asked, or rather Aamon asked.

'Hoh, I finally said something that's not hateful,' I thought to myself. It was quite rare for Aamon to show concern for anyone. Although his tone was still the usual calm and cold, it still meant something good.

"Why do you care?"

And yet the reply surprised me, a frown forming on my face.

"Why shouldn't I care? By the Imperial Law standards, you are my wife. It's only natural for me."

"Huh, wife, you say."

Adrienne glared at me, with anger flashing in her eyes.

"Why lie? You are engaged to Her Royal Highness, Princess Avila. I am merely a toy for you, something to keep you entertained until you're bored. A spoil of war."

Disgust was quite apparent in her voice, and I knew that she was right. But I can't do anything now other than to accept it since I now shared the body of her perpetrator.

But it didn't sit right with Aamon. My body stood up and moved on its own. It made its way towards where Adrienne was seating. Adrienne flinched when she saw Aamon walking toward her. She gripped the palms of her hands tightly, fearful of what might happen next.

She was aware of Aamon's cruel nature as it was widespread. And she had personally witnessed it when she attended the Imperial Academy. He was infamous among the students, especially the commoners who hated him to the bone.

She waited for the repercussions of her action to arrive, maybe a slap, or something similar to what happened last night, or anything of that sort. Yet, nothing she envisioned happened.

Aamon stopped before her and held his hands to raise her chin upwards. It was quite painful to raise her neck so high but she endured.

"Adrienne," he said, his tone as calm as a lake.

"Y-yes." Her whole body trembled at the mere mention of her name.

"I never had yearned for anything in my life for everything was pushed down to me."

He said, his eyes looking down at her.

"However, when I first saw you, you became my sole desire."

"If I can't even fulfill the only desire I have, what purpose do living serve? Better end it here."

Adrienne shivered at those words, an ominous feeling arousing in her heart.

"If I can't get you, might as well destroy everything that exists for your sake."

With these words, Aamon left the chamber, and Adrienne was left alone, her body sweating profusely.

*****

Outside the castle, the northern knights lined up in rows of five. Their new Lord had asked for them.

They had heard rumors of their new Lord and gossip about how their Young Lady had entered a political marriage for her people. This made them indebted and feel gratitude for the Young Lady, and contempt and anger for the Young Lord, with all the bad rumors about him.

As they were murmuring amongst themselves, Elric, the Knight's Commander beckoned them to straighten up.

A man clad in black attire appeared, descending the stairs. His noble gait, elegant appearance, dead eyes, and cold aura around his body increased the surrounding pressure, even gulps could be heard.

"I heard he's an Auror Knight," a small whisper left someone's mouth.

"SILENCE"

A cold voice suddenly echoed, putting everything in silence. The knight who made the sound shuddered.

"Yes, I am an Auror Knight and YOUR LORD," a clear voice followed the initial cold tone, "Any disobedience shall be met with execution."

Silence enveloped the grounds, with nervous gulps from the knights.

"Is that clear?"

"YES, MY LORD."

All sung in unison, as they bent one knee to the ground, a hand on their chest – a sign of total obedience.

"Good. We shall move for the north, crossing the walls. Get ready."

"YES, MY LORD."

Aamon, satisfied with the response, nodded. His lips moved upwards, forming a smile.

*********

The County of Luvia was undergoing construction. The monster wave last year severely damaged the town, and many lives were lost to it.

However, with assistance from the House Soren, one of the wealthiest families in the Empire, and Duke Aamon becoming their new Lord, the re-construction was undergoing at a swift pace. Life was slowly returning to the County and the townsfolks were grateful to their Young Lady.

However, at this moment, most of the streets were empty. The dreary silence was broken by a loud rumbling. On the street leading to the gate guarding the northern border, the people were lined up on both sides.

A group of fifty knights were riding their horses, making their way towards the gate. The one who led them was Elric, the Knight's commander while the new Lord moved in front. The townsfolks threw flowers on the road, wishing them a pleasant journey and success in their endeavor.

All this seemed overbearing to Aamon. He felt an inexplicable feeling in his heart at the sight of knights waving toward their family members while he rode alone. That's just how it was, always.

The biting-cold autumn wind dried-up, and boiled over the ground.

Suddenly, a voice as gentle as a lake sounded.

"Hail, 'O Mother Eva, hail,"

"Our life and our hope, hail Mother Hail"

"To you, we cry, your sons"

"To you, we sigh, stifling our weeps and groans,"

"Turn on us your merciful eyes,"

"For we walk onto our deaths"

"Let the kings bear witness"

"To our bravery, and to the fallen's glory"

"Bless us with your embrace and kindness"

"For our wife and mother worry"

"Hail, 'O Mother Eva, Hail"

"At our Motherland's call, we march, we march together"

"Knights, priests and our lords, we march, we march together, united under the banner

"No brother is above another, no brother is below another, for we are brothers in service to our King and our Motherland"

"Hail, 'O Mother Eva, Hail"

They all sang in unison as the sound of horseshoes hitting the ground sounded in rhythm, the falling snow painting a picturesque scenery.