The moon was brighter than usual. Valum had been observing the Blackwood manor all day, but a manor did not do itself justice; it was a massive estate in the capital.

‘These people must be loaded,’ Valum muttered to himself.

He had counted at least ten guards patrolling the manor grounds and a handful in the manor itself.

It was in one of the side wings of the manor that he had first seen her: the most beautiful and regal woman he had ever known. Even though she was middle-aged and a small tinge of gray streaks could be seen in her hair, it was without a doubt his wife. Besides an air of maturity about her, she still looked as beautiful as the day he set out that day.

It was apparent that she was no longer simply a maid but likely the stewardess of the entire manor. Her room was at the top floor in the very corner.

He had spent all day writing a letter so that he could reach out to her and convince her to meet him outside the estate. Since it was nighttime and all his abilities were massively enhanced, it would be no problem slipping past the guards. What concerned him was he had not seen a young woman who would be his daughter.

As the light in her room snuffed out, Valum made his move. Descending from a nearby rooftop and landing softly on the well-maintained grounds, Valum melded into the shadows, almost as if his presence was not there.

Two guards passed by, but he had not been noticed. Rapidly climbing up the wall, he came to her window and opened it ever so slightly, tying the letter to the handle of the window.

When she woke up tomorrow, she would see it and hopefully agree to meet him.

…

Valeri Felmark opened her eyes slowly, a slight chill in her room. The sun had peaked over the buildings. Today was her day off, and she planned on meeting her daughter for lunch.

Looking over at the window, she saw it had been left slightly open. With a huff, she stood up and went to shut it. She had sworn she shut it.

Slowly rising from the bed, she stretched out and let loose her hair. It was her daughter's second year out of the home, training with the Paladins of Caphaine. She had not been happy with her daughter's decision; after all, her father, her husband, had died in the wildlands, and rhetoric Paladins were dedicated to helping the heroes reclaim humanities' lost land and eliminate monsters and their spawn.

‘Nasty, dangerous profession,’ she couldn't blame her totally. She was two when she lost her father, and it had left a gaping hole in her, something her as a mother couldn't fill.

Walking over to the window, she saw something hanging. Snatching it up, she saw it was a letter.

Looking around, she felt as if someone was watching suddenly. She would have to speak to the guards to watch out for some stalker.

Flipping it over, it was rather simple and had no official markings. Maybe it was one of the guards as well, though.

Peeling it open, her eyes glided over the contents. Her hands trembled as she read what was in it and collapsed on the bed when she finished reading it.

After several moments, only two words could come to her as she blurted it out, “That… bastard.”

…

Valum was extremely proud of himself. The more he thought about the contents of the letter, the more proud he was. He had intentionally mentioned several things that only he would know, didn't give away too many details, and even managed to fit a bit of flirting in as well.

It was going to be a slam dunk—or at least, that is what he hoped. He was sure he wouldn't be murdered, at least.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

He told her to meet him at the inn, and that he would be sitting in the corner wearing a green hooded cloak, and two drinks would be there. Assuming she was a stewardess of a wealthy family, he assumed this inn was not the sort of place she would normally be found.

The time for her to show up was noon, and his nerves had begun to build up again, despite his best efforts.

As the time began to creep past noon, he wondered if she had even got his letter, but just as he was about to give up, the inn doors opened quietly, and a woman wearing a quiet nice dress and a hat which had a small net that obscured her face over it. Around her shoulders was a nice coat, and in her hand, a letter.

Valum smiled and let out a sigh of relief, even though his face was completely obscured.

Valeri scanned the inn and saw him. Seeing it, she walked firmly over and quietly slid into the booth opposite of him.

Just as Valum was about to speak, she interjected.

“Do you think this is a joke?”

Valum paused, not knowing how to respond.

“I don't know who you are or how you came to know of the things you know, but you are lucky I didn't call the guards and have you arrested. If it is money you want and my attention, well, you have it.”

Valum was completely stunned, his original thoughts scrambled at the absurdity.

“And frankly, using my dead husband as a way to get my attention or extort me isn't acceptable.”

Valum snapped to his senses. “You are mistaken, Valeri.”

The sound of his voice caused her to pause.

“Valeri… It is really me… Valum…” Valum did not reveal his face yet.

Valeri stuttered, “h-how can I know this?”

“This is absurd. Who besides your husband would know you have a freckle on yo—”

“Quiet! Are you insane saying that out loud?” Valeri took off her hat.

“Prove to me you aren't an imposter. You certainly sound like him, but there is all sorts of magic in this world.”

Valum sighed. “You cried about people in town saying our daughter didn't look like you, but I said she looks like you far more than myself and pointed to her nose and ears. You cried even harder after that, complaining that it was just nose and ears.”

Valeri shivered, recalling that moment. “Valum? Is it really you?” Reaching out, her trembling hand grabbed his hood and pulled it back, revealing his face.

Tears instantly welled up in her amber-colored eyes.

Valum hated crying; he was always better in cheerful moments. “Let's go to my room. I can explain there.”

Valeri nodded, firming herself up, and followed him in.

…

Valum spent nearly an hour repeating exactly what happened well over a dozen times, leaving no detail out.

“So let me get this straight. You, the stupid bastard you are, thought you would attempt to rob some bandits and entered, only to black out and wake up a year ago?”

“Errr… yes?”

Valeri, not saying a word, grabbed the rim of her nice hat and began to smack him over the head and on the back. “You. Stupid. Moron. Not only did you leave me to raise our daughter alone, you went and didn't age a damn day!”

Sitting down, the mature thirty-eight-year-old woman began to whine. “I was the younger one, and now I am old, and you don't look a day over twenty-four!”

“No, darling, you still look not a day over twenty. Besides, I like you older; you are more beautiful than ever!”

“You bastard, those are contradictory statements…but do I really look so young?”

“Of course, it is just a more…mature young woman,” Valum agreed intensely.

Valeri looked proud of herself for a moment as she looked over at the bedside mirror, giving herself a quick look up and down.

After a moment, she sighed. “Valum… I never remarried, but I must say this is not something we can just announce to the world. The Church of Caphaine is extremely suspicious of these sorts of things, and a man who doesn’t age and needs… blood to survive is not something we have seen before. It is very likely they may want to kill you. Our daughter is a Paladin of the goddess. How on earth are we going to justify this?”

Valum stood up and paced for a moment. “Okay… how about this… you’ve taken a younger lover.” As the words left his mouth, Valeri’s hat smacked him over the head. “That is the best idea you could come up with?” Valeri said annoyed.

“It would only be temporary until we figured out the best way going forward on how to approach this. On top of that, it would justify why you are going out more frequently,” Valum urged.

Valeri looked at Valum and sighed for probably the hundredth time. “Fine… I will start by telling our daughter. I have to meet her soon, and I am going to be late as it is…and don’t you dare follow. That girl has been training for nearly two years now since she was fourteen. Her senses will allow her to spot someone watching her… frankly, it is a bit eerie.

Valum nodded; he could wait a little longer until they figured out more details.

Standing up, Valeri turned to leave, but Valum grabbed her hand before she could leave the door. Spinning her around, he looked her in the eyes. “When I said young lover…I mean it… you have always been and always will be the love of my life, Valeri Felmark.”

Valum leaned in and brought his lips to her own soft lips before letting her go and ushering her out before she could make a peep or react at all.

Taking a breath as he shut the door behind her. Pumping his fist a few times. “You still got it!”

Valeri Felmark’s heart wanted to burst forth from her chest as she quickly made her way to where her daughter would be waiting for her."