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nHeidi knew that no matter how much she knew about his painful past, the weight that he carried all these years it probably wouldn’t change. He was the kind of man she had come to know who covered his scars behind that skillful mask he had grown over the passing years which had now been blended into him as his own. Maybe she would never understand the amount of depth it carried but the least she could do was to offer her hand for him to know she was there. And even though no words were spoken or shared, Nicholas gave her a soft smile, like he knew what Heidi wanted to say. Leaning forward, Heidi placed a kiss on his lips. They laid down next to each other, legs entwined while they rested on their sides.

n“I will be called to support the men fighting against the witches in Mythweald soon. Will you be alright in my absence?” Nicholas played with the ends of her hair with his fingers.

n“I will be alright,” she smiled at his concern, “There’s Stanley here. Lettice too. I will be fine,” Heidi was still finding it hard to call her as Emma and maybe Lettice will always be Lettice to her.

n“Is that so,” he murmured.

n“Will Timothy and Rhys be joining you to Mythweald?” she inquired to hear him hum in response.

n“Timothy yes but I think Rhys will stay here. We do need someone to make sure that everything runs smoothly when I am in the South. There is something I wanted to say to you,” Nicholas ran his finger down her shoulder to her fingers, to only be picked as he brought it in front of his lips to kiss the back of her hand, “I spoke to Reuben already about the little change we have made to the truce that Warren will be stepping down the position which will be announced once the problem with the witches settles down in the South empire. We can hold a wedding, Heidi,” he stated.

n“Right away?” he nodded his head, “Won’t people question about it after listening to the sudden change?” Heidi could barely contain her thoughts on what his relatives would have to talk about him.

n“Do you really think I would bother myself with unnecessary people’s opinions?” he raised his brows in questions, “You shouldn’t either. People will hear, speak and forget about it after sometime.”

nTwo days later, Heidi was at the horse shed feeding the lamb with fresh grass she had picked from the forest personally when she heard a pair of footsteps walk towards her. When she turned around there was no one but a servant of the mansion trimming the bushes of the garden. Going back to what she was doing, she continued to feed the lamb when she heard someone speak to her out of nowhere.

n“You seem to be very fond of the lamb,” startled she looked around to find there was no one again. Was she hallucinating? No, that couldn’t be, she had enough amount of sleep today.

n“Who is there?” she asked getting up from the crouched position she had been in.

n“Lady Heidi,” a man jumped from a tree, dusting his clothes. Heidi stepped back cautiously while she looked at the man cautiously. His curious grey eyes reflected hers, “Please don’t look frightened. I am Malphus Crook and am here for Lord Nicholas Rune.”

n“What are you doing on a tree instead of sitting in the drawing room?” she asked him suspiciously.

n“The lord isn’t back yet and I prefer to sit outside than in confide spaces. It makes me feel very stuffy,” the man named Malphus answered and when he ran his hand over the front of his shirt did she noticed the dark patch that had been formed.

n“I think you’re bleeding,” she pointed, dropping the cautiousness she had been guarding herself with, “The butler is very skilled. He can help you fix it up before Lord Nicholas arrives.”

nThe man gave a thoughtful look, his unwavering eyes staring back at her before he agreed to her. Taking the man inside, Heidi asked Stanley to help in dressing the man’s wound. She stood at a side, seeing the butler wrap the bandage around the man’s stomach. The wound seemed to be healing but she wondered why he hadn’t treated it.

n“Malphus Crook,” Lord Nicholas arrived at the drawing room.

n“Lord Nicholas!” Heidi saw the man stand up while leaving the bandage loose in the butler’s hand, “Your presence has been asked in Mythweald right away,” his words filled with urgency.

n“Alright. Stanley,” Nicholas looked at his butler, “Get the carriage ready and send word to Mr. Rufus and Mr. Meyers.”

n“Yes, master,” the butler bowed and looked at the man who sat on the couch, “I will ask a maid to fix the endings.”

n“That won’t be necessary. You can leave,” he ordered his butler. Heidi looked at Nicholas confused at why he would ask the man from being tended.

n“Yes, master,” the butler bowed again, taking the first aid box along with him and out of the room.

n“Don’t worry, darling. He won’t die. He’s already dead,” Nicholas answered when he noticed the questionable look he received from her. Heidi looked at the man to see him nod with a mischievous smile.

nThe butler got the carriage readied as told. Putting the necessary luggage the Lord would require, he brought the cloak his master would require. The entire time Heidi sat quietly with the man in the drawing room. When the lord and Malphus were set to leave, Heidi couldn’t resist herself from asking the lord on when he would return back.

n“It shouldn’t take more than a week. I might need to go visit the council before I head here,” he informed her.

n“Have a safe trip,” she wished him.

n“Stanley,” the Lord looked at his butler to receive a reply right away, “Yes, master,” and like that, the carriage left the Rune’s mansion as it headed to the main city of the South empire.

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