(From Demetrius''s Perspective)


    I was losing my mind again. It was not something special to see someone with a dagger tied against their thigh, but here I was seeing my wife like that and losing my sanity.


    "I need to fuck her with that dagger tied against her thigh," I mumbled.


    "Did you say something? I couldn''t catch it," she said as we were walking on the castle ground.


    "No, nothing. Don''t worry," I said. "Just make sure not to step on pebbles. There are some sharp ones."


    "Oh, I''m careful," she said and smiled. Even in the darkness, I could see the glow of her blue eyes. It was the first thing that drew me towards her. Her eyes were captivating in a strange way. Every time I looked into them, I felt dizzy and restless, but even the restlessness was peaceful.


    "Who do you look like?" I asked.


    I never knew about her past much. If I knew what she was going through in her family, I would have saved her as soon as possible. But I never followed her around. I liked her, but I did not want to stalk her. I wanted to respect her privacy. But now it felt like it was a wrong move.


    If stalking would have saved her, I would have done so.


    "I don''t know. You see, I don''t look like my father or mother. The only simrity I have with Mother is that we both are short," she said.


    "Perhaps you look like your grandparent or something like that. It happens, you know..."


    "No, it''s not that," she said with a faint smile. "Max said that perhaps Mother had cheated on Father and had me. Because of that, Father always hated me. And Draven too. I think Max was right."


    "But it''s not your fault," I said.


    "I know," sheughed. "But what can I say? It has always been like this. I know it''s not right. And I tried to go to the police too. But I got caught every time.


    It was like they were always keeping an eye on me."


    "... You don''t mind me killing them, do you?"


    "You don''t mean that."


    "I do," I said firmly. Yes, I wanted to kill them more than anything else. If she said yes, I would do so without hesitation.


    "That''s not necessary," she said. "We will kick their assester. But the thing that they got ten million dors..."


    "Oh, that?" Iughed. "I''ve taken care of that already."


    "Eh? What do you mean? Did you rob them or something?"


    "No, I just had sent two of my people there..."


    "Werewolves?"


    "No, humans. They had evidence of them buying illegal drugs. That..."


    "Draven?"


    "Yeah, him. He bought those and he also harassed women and almost raped one as well. His father choked a man to death..."


    "Father killed someone?"


    "He did and more importantly, I would like it if you don''t call him father. I mean, just don''t think of them as your family. They don''t deserve it."


    "... You''re right. But when did he kill someone? Who did he kill?"


    "It was a random man. They got into a fight and then it sorta happened," I said.


    "Whoa, I didn''t know any of this. Why didn''t you tell me?"


    "I got the news five days ago. Well, I wanted to tell you that evening, but I was avoiding you, you know, because of the misunderstanding. And then when I came back that night, we fixed everything up and then you know what happened. For the past few days, we have been doing it every time we got together or we are busy teasing each other. So, I forgot. I''m sorry.


    I should have told you sooner. You''re not mad at me, are you?"


    "No, it''s alright. It''s not like it would do me any gain even if I know. It''s just... Are all their money is gone?"


    I nodded. "They are in jail."


    She looked down. I thought she would be happy. She did not love her family at all and it would be unfair if they got a perfect life after doing those horrible things to her. So I wanted to show them what misery meant. But to think she would be sad...


    "... But Max... He is not bad," she muttered.


    Oh, so she was worried about Max? I almost felt a bit guilty. No matter what I did, if she was not happy with it, there was no point in doing it in the first ce.


    "I gave Max enough money to cost for two months and he promised he would go to a university," I said. "I knew you would want that too."


    She did not say anything. It was hard to understand the emotion her face held. After a long time, it seemed like she had the same expression on her face that she had a month ago when I had brought her from the hellhole.


    I did not dare to say anything else. Perhaps she needed some time to think things through. We walked in silence towards the magic tower. I had never brought her here before. Truly speaking, I never suggested this ce either. Mostly because there were magical objects here and there and even if Luc said that most of them were harmless, I could not risk it.


    I knocked on the door of the tower. She suddenly smiled. I was caught off guard by the sudden change.


    "Thank you," I said.


    "... Are you feeling alright?"


    "Of course!" she smiled brightly, too brightly. But her smile was not the only surprise waiting for me. She wrapped her arms around me. I had always felt lucky that she was very tiny as I could hold her easily and securely. "I am really fortunate to have you. I can never repay you for what you''ve done."


    "Why would you ever repay me? I''m your husband after all."


    "That''s right," sheughed. "You''re just too good for me. But I''ve be greedy, you know."


    I wanted to know what she wanted to say next, but that punk Luc opened the door right that moment. If he was going to bete, then why couldn''t hee a bitter?


    "You''ve brought your wife too?"


    "Stop being rude, you punk!" I smacked behind his head. "Talk to her rudely, I will rip your ears off!"


    "Why are you acting like that again?" she whispered. "I thought you were in a good mood."


    "I was in a good mood, but this punk..."


    "Is he your friend?" she asked.


    "Friend? What friend?"


    "So he is your friend," she muttered.


    "Greetings, Your Highness the Queen. I am the master of the magic tower, Luc. Please forgive me for myte greetings," Luc bowed to her.


    That punk did not even bother to bow to me. Perhaps it was because we had grown up together since we were six.


    "It''s alright, Lord Luc," she smiled.


    "Can I talk to herfortably?" Luc asked me. "The formalities are tiring."


    "No, you can''t," I dismissed firmly.


    "Of course, it''s alright. I''m pretty bad with formalities as well," she said quickly. I looked at her with a questioning look. "It''s alright, right? He is your friend."


    "... If you are okay with it, then its fine," I sighed.


    "Wow, you truly have changed, haven''t you? Or are you like this in front of your wife only?" Luc asked.


    "That''s none of your business. Move away from the entrance," I said and pushed him away.


    "You''re being mean," I heard her muttering.


    "I''m just acting rightfully," I shrugged. "Anyway, what news do you have? Can you stop it from shining?"


    Luc closed the door and motioned for us to follow him. The tower was very tall. There were many stairs. I wondered if she would be alright climbing all the stairs.


    "Do you want me to carry you?" I asked.


    "Of course not!" she declined firmly.


    I chuckled. I did not want to carry her either. It was not because I would not love to, but because I did not want her to be like all those queens who were only used tofort. She needed to stand high without anyone''s help so everyone would look high on her. They would not care she was a human. The only thing they would remember was that she was the Queen of Querencia.


    Of course, it was not the same when we were alone. That was the time when I liked to spoil her more than anything else. I liked taking care of her and doing everything for her even though she would say I was going overboard. After all, there was nothing wrong with a husband spoiling his wife.