The sun appeared from the roofs of buildings, rays of light shining directly into her eyes through the window. She covered the light with her hand but her attempt failed. She decided to roll to the other side.

"Lady Leila, you are awake. Mr Longbart calls you to have the breakfast together."

A servant broke her uncomfortable news soon after she woke up. 'What a bad start' she thought to herself.

"Tell him that I won't be joining. ...and call Mrs Borger here."

"But Mr Longbart said..."

"Please, Betty."

"I will, lady Leila."

Leila looked out the window while waiting for her nanny. People outside were wearing colourful clothes, smiling to ears, laughing and chatting with each other. Young Missies were particularly wearing very beautiful garments and dresses, waiting for young gentlemen to be escorted. The town was already bustling with guests from across the kingdom before noon. All of them were filled with excitement and thrill.

"They must be going to the competition," she concluded.

Every two years, an exam was held in the Rode region by the Temple, to birth Templers from the ranks of captains. These talented captains were called Templer-to-be. Ethanial was one of them.

She walked to her wardrobe and undressed to change into more comfortable clothes. Yesterday she slept in her dress.

"I knew Mr Longbart wouldn't let me so I snatched some directly from the kitchen. Oh, are you going too?"

Seeing Leila changing dress, Mrs Borger asked in surprise. She thought Leila did not want to join Mr Longbart so she carried a basket of food and a small bucket of water just enough to wash her face to the room.

"What? No. I just want to change into something comfortable."

"I see. I thought you were going to watch the competition with the family. Your lover is a Templer-to-be I heard. Will you not cheer him on?"

"... No. He won't compete. He is accused of ...something he didn't do. It is the reason why I went to the Temple yesterday. I am the only one who can prove his innocence."

"I see. You must be exhausted. ... Yet your face is still glowing even in the morning. I am jealous."

"I am sure you were a beauty at my age too, nanny."

"No, I wasn't. Or I would have married a better man than Borger."

Mrs Borger made fun of her husband and laughed at her joke. Leila touched her hand and comforted her.

"I am sorry about your husband nanny. He was ...in front of me. I could not help him. That wyvern..."

"Don't worry. I am fine. I hate that old man anyway. Selfish bastard he was. I married him because Mrs Longbart forced me."

The two spent their first hour happily like a mother and child. They talked about the past while Mrs Borger combed Leila's hair. Mrs Borger had no child of her own so she treated Leila as her own.

"So you fell in love when his hand touched you? You should not. Not that fast my lady."

"You don't understand nanny. It was destiny."

Leila said as she stared at the roof, reminiscing of that day while smiling deeply. She continued, "And he was so cool. Even under a dark moon, he was shining when he rode beside my carriage. It was like stories mother used to tell."

"You are no longer a child. Don't find a man from such stories."

"There is more. In Ronstead, there was this monster..."

"A mantila I heard."

"Yes. We were there. Deep inside that monster reach. He gave me his horse so that I could run away while he lured the monster. Is it not enough to fall in love with such a man? When did Mr Borger ever give his life to you nanny?"

"Humph* Borger. He would feed me to the monster so he could run. I understand you, my lady. But do know, it was his job. It may not be particularly because he loves you. I am sure all warriors would do the same."

"I doubt that."

"Hahaha. Sure he seems to be a fine man. But be careful. Sometimes interest is wrongly perceived as love."

"I am sure of it. He loves me. And I do to him."

"You must be thrilled. Anyway were you not scared to death when you saw that monster, you are afraid of bugs, are you not?"

"I am. But strange. My mind went blank when I first saw that monster. Then I saw myself putting a spear in its back. I was so startled at myself."

"I see. You were more afraid to lose him than yourself. You have grown, my lady."

They were enjoying chitchat for a while. Then Betty came into the room while they were having fun.

"Lady Leila, Mr Longbart is calling you to come down."

"Tell Father, I will not be joining them."

"I am not requesting you, Leila. When I say come, you come."

As if Mr Longbart knew she would reject, he came upstairs to take her by force by himself.

"No, father. I will not go to the competition with you. As you see I am in my nightgown which is improper for such an event. You may go on your own or you will be late."

"Mrs Borger. Betty. I want her to change clothes immediately and see her downstairs. Use force if necessary."

"Fine. You may force me without my consent. But I shall act crazy in front of the Duke."

"You... I will let you be for a day."

Knowing how stubborn Leila was, Mr Longbart decided to leave her alone till she calmed down.

"Are you really going to rebel against your father, Leila?" Mrs Borger asked Leila.

"... But you said I was right."

"I did. But not like this. When Lily decided to marry your father, who was just a peddler back then. So she persuaded her father and her family one by one. She sweet-talked them to see her side."

"Sweet-talked to my stepmother? Hell. She will never listen to me."

"You have your father."

"My father is an idiot who only sees her and my brother in his eyes. He only listened to her. I doubt he remembers my mother's face."

"Give him a chance. You will see him love you more than you believe."

"... ... I will. But that is not the end of the problem. Ethan. He was accused of desertion. I heard it was a capital crime."

"Oh, poor child. Tell me if there is anything I can help."

"I... I do not know. I thought I could do it. I thought I could prove his innocence if I just stated the truth. But I don't know anymore. Will my words hold any meaning? Will they believe me? I feel lost."

After hearing her, Mrs Borger put the comb aside and kissed her crown gently.

"Sweet child. You already had one who believes in you. Tell me."

Leila told her nanny the entire story. The two put their heads together to find a loophole or strong proof that could not be dismissed. They crammed together all day but did not find anything useful. The two stopped only when Mr and Mrs Longbart came back from the competition. They heard a familiar voice which was long gone for a year with them. It was Leila's brother, Bran.

"Father! Did you see how that person dodged the log? It was pure talent."

"Right. We should hire him as a caravan guard next time."

"Exactly my thought."

"Alright. Alright. Enough with boys. Let's talk about something more important."

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She had been hearing about the valour and talent of men along the road till earful. Mrs Longbart switched the conversation.

"About girls. Third row, yellow dress."

"I don't like her nose, mother. It is too big."

"Then the one at the farthest right."

"With purple dress? I heard her mouth smell like trash."

"I see. It must be why she stayed away from the crowd. How about the red one in the booth? She must be royalty but I think she is interested in you, my handsome boy."

"Oh, she is a beauty indeed. Until she smiles that is. She has crooked teeth and the way she laughs is weird. It sounded like a horse."

"She won't be laughing all the time. It is negligible compared to what we will gain. How about the blonde one on the first row of the booth with a black dress? Her choice of garment is dull but she has a stunning beauty."

"The ones on the first row are high royalties from the capital. It is impossible with our status," said Mr Longbart. As a businessman, he understood his limit. He was no daydreamer.

"Oh darling, our son is the executive of the crown city branch. I am sure he is already acquainted with her. Right?"

"Err... No mother. She is off-limits to us. It is Princess Cleo, sister of the king."

"See. I told you. Don't be too ambitious."

Even though her husband told her to know their limits, Mrs Longbart was an ambitious woman.

"Why not? If we manage Leila marry to the Duke, even the princess can be ours."

"That would truly be great. She is a catch indeed mother. ... Though I heard she hates men."

Hearing their disgusting conversation full of greed, Leila felt like vomiting. She knew Mrs Longbart was an ambitious woman but she did not believe her father would be in it too.

"Father, you are back! I have prepared dinner."

Leila spoke in her sweetest voice. She decided to sway her father to her side. At least she wanted to save her father from becoming a greedy person like her stepmother.

"Leila, my beautiful sister. You are as pretty as ever."

Upon seeing her, her brother complimented her beauty while looking intensely at her body. She was only wearing thin comfortable garments since she was at home.

He greeted her with a hug which she rejected and got away from him.

"Thanks for the compliment but I hope you stop looking at me like that. It is inappropriate."

"How dare you! Call your brother a pervert!? You are the one wearing inappropriate clothing. Go wear something on top."

Leila understood the situation was not in her favour to persuade her father. She decided it was best to do her mission when she was alone with her father.

"I am about to rest anyway. Father, I have finished my dinner. May I leave to my room?"

"Sure."

"Then enjoy your dinner, Father. Nanny, prepare the bed for me please."

Mrs Borger nodded. She went to the dining first before she left for Leila's room. She took out the plate for Leila from the table and pretended like Leila had finished then went to the kitchen to snatch some food for Leila.

"I have a family yet why do I feel lonely," Leila talked to herself while looking at the moon through the window, "I wish you were here mother."

The next day, Leila and her nanny repeated the same routine, looking for a way to prove Ethanial's innocence. The rest of the family were also the same, going to the competition. Her father let her be again.

The sun was already high at noon yet the two progressed no further than yesterday.

"Damnit. He is right. They will not believe me over their own man. He is an honoured templar while I am ...nothing, just a girl, a daughter of a rich man. I have never thought I am this powerless."

"Leila. Talk to your father. He may have connections within the Temple. I am sure Mr Longbart will listen to you if you talk openly. See how he did not push you to meet with the Duke this morning. He is patiently waiting for you. It shows how much he holds dear to your decision."

"But what can he really do, he is just a rich merchant. He has no real power."

Dejected, she sat on the floor. Then she saw something shiny under her bed. She took it out.

"A gold?" It surprised her. Then she remembered it was the gold she took from Ethanial to keep it for him. She could not return it because Ethanial was abruptly arrested and detained in the temple.

"Nanny. Do you know a gold-smith?" She asked.

"No. But Betty went to a gold Smith recently on your father's errand. Why?"

"I want to make rings from this gold."

"Sure. I will get it done for you."

"No. I will go there personally. They need my fitting anyway."

"Your fitting? The rings are for you?" It surprised her nanny. "Are those for you and that man?"

"Yes. Why are you so surprised? I have already told you that we gave the wedding vow to each other."

"You told me that you said it as a joke and it was in front of an inn."

"But my intention was real."

"Leila. You are being irrational."

"No. I had waited five years. I am way past my eligible age of marriage but I waited to be with the one who truly care for me. I have good experience with men. Trust me. I wouldn't be like this if I suspected an ounce that he is not for me."

Mrs Borger contemplated for a while. Leila was right. She rejected every man in five years cold-heartedly. She would do the same if Ethanial was not worth her time. Mrs Borger finally agreed and told Betty to go with Leila.

"This way my lady. It is in the plaza."

"It is? How did I not know?"

"Because you were never interested in jewellery. Many rich go to that store."

"Then I don't want to. I want mine anonymous, Betty."

Betty chuckled after hearing her. "Everyone is the same as you. How do my lady think they gifted their secret lovers jewellery?"

And so with the recommendation from her nanny, they went to the store. As Betty said, all the customers wore cloaks and hid their identities. Each was given numbers and had to enter the room separately where they could discuss with the gold-smith.

"Welcome mysterious customer, what can I do for you?" Said the gold-smith.

"Could you make two rings from this gold?" She gave the chunk.

"Hmm... absolutely. What would you like to add?"

"No. Just pure gold rings."

"Classic."

"Can you make them like this?" She gave another ring to him. It was a ring made of a string, the same one Ethanial made for her in front of the inn.

"I see. It will be hard to imitate the knot. I shall try my best."

"Thank you."

"Any curving? Like words or names. Don't worry. Your secret is safe. Secrecy is the reason why I get customers."

"... Leila and Ethan."

"Simple is perfect. Three hundred will be your cost."

"Could you make it in three days?"

"Three days?" Her sudden request flustered him, "My lady, your request is impossible. There are many before you. I can't skip them and make yours first."

"I will give the amount you asked."

The smith contemplated for a while then accepted with seven hundred gambers.

"Come back in three."

She left the room with the number given in her hand. As soon as she left, another person entered the room. She was thrilled by the new experience.

"How is it?" Betty asked.

"Intriguing." She replied.

Then she saw a sight she never thought would see.

She saw his wisdom bowing to a man with grey hair. She was shocked by it.

"Betty! Do you know that man his wisdom was bowing to?"

"Whom? Him? The tall man with grey hair and a big carriage? Of course. He is the Duke."

"The Duke? Right. I see." It was like an Eureka for her. She smiled brightly for an interesting idea that just came into her mind.