I'd Give Up The World For You

Rukelion was getting progressively more frustrated with his apparent lack of progress as the weeks passed even though he was now a semi-established person in this world. He knew the basics of mathematics, science, the English language, and social studies. He could drive. And as of today he had a job. 

It didn't feel like enough. He had already been here for over a month. A horrible, miserable month. 

He had to share a space with the person he hated most and rely on her for help. His nightmares were unceasing so he hadn't gotten a proper night's rest since before losing Daisy. Worst of all, everything he saw made him think of her. 

This was the world she had grown up in. The world that had rejected her. She had told him quite a bit about it but nothing she said could have prepared him for everything he had seen since coming here. 

Rukelion found himself wondering about her job, her car, her old schools, her favorite foods aside from cinnamon rolls, and how she spent her free time. There was a lot more variety available here than in his world. Plus there were so many objects that made chores quicker and easier that there would be more free time than there had been at either the farm or their house in the officer's row.

Most of all he wondered who she was. How had she never once mentioned her last name? Though he supposed he hadn't told her his real first name until after conducting his coup.

The matter of her last name, the city she was raised in, or even what she looked like never came up. He was troubled that she hadn't told him about her real body but it explained a few things. Why she looked so much younger than she was for one. A twenty-four-year-old soul had been transplanted into a fourteen-year-old body. 

He was upset that the woman he loved hadn't trusted him. She had been so insecure about their age difference so it made a sad sort of sense that she would be insecure about not looking like Veronica May as well but that didn't matter to him!

Nothing did but getting her back. He didn't care what she looked like or who she was. The sunshine in her soul would never change and that was what he had fallen in love with. 

Daisy's endless enthusiasm, cheerfulness, and kindness had been what saved him after he lost everything. If he had been taken in by anyone else, he wouldn't have cared about them and would have left the moment the mercenaries offered to train him. But he hadn't because of who she was as a person. 

Rukelion knew she hadn't been happy in her own world, likely because she had been alone. She was the type of person who needed to have someone to laugh with. Now that she was alone again she was probably as miserable as he was right now. 

The thought made his heart twist. He didn't want that for her. 

She had been so unhappy in the castle and seeing that killed him. He never wanted to see her be miserable again. He was going to work hard and help her save up for her dream but first he had to find her. Which meant he had to work hard dealing with Juliet and other people from this world that he couldn't care less about first. 

He drove the two of them to work and listened to her admonishing about how to act again until he couldn't take it anymore and told her to shut up before he set her car on fire. He wasn't stupid. He didn't plan on saying a single word more than necessary while he was here. 

Why would he? He didn't want anything to do with these people that couldn't help him in his quest to be reunited with his wife. 

Unfortunately, everyone was curious about him since he was the new person in the office even if it would only be on a temporary basis. His trainer asked him countless questions he had to skirt around the answers to but that wasn't nearly as bad as what happened at lunch. 

He was crowded by a large group of people wanting to know the same answers he had already given to his trainer and then some. One woman approximately Juliet's age looked at his wedding ring in astonishment and asked the worst question of all. 

"You're married? But you seem so young!" 

Rukelion was likely younger than she thought since Juliet had lied extensively on his application to get him in. Things must work differently here. She wasn't married and had to be several years older than him though that might be partly because of her terrible personality. 

He had noticed that most younger people in this world didn't seem to wear wedding rings. That was reserved for people who appeared to be in their thirties or above overall. 

"I've been married for over a year," he said emotionlessly. 

The reminder hurt. He hadn't had nearly enough time with his wife. They were supposed to have their whole lives together but now they were apart and he didn't know exactly how long it would be until he would see her again. 

This was different than when Rukelion had been in the capital or off to war. Back then he had known he would be coming back and was able to be in contact with her in the meantime even if it was sporadic. 

Right now he had no idea where she was. He had to believe he would see her again but what if the private investigator Juliet told him about wasn't able to find her?

He would have to do his soul-searching magic again but that would cause a major disturbance in this world since no one here knew about magic. They would likely think it was some sort of natural disaster. That would cause both him and Daisy problems so he would like to avoid it at all costs. 

"Wow!" the woman exclaimed. "Were you childhood sweethearts or what?"

That was what everyone back in his world had believed so it was easy to stick with that story even as his heart felt like it had been wrapped in lead. "Yes, we were. I've known her since I was twelve."

"Aww, how sweet! What's her name?"

"Daisy."

"That's a pretty name! I've always enjoyed flower names myself. My little sister got to be named Rose but of course I got saddled with Amelia. That's so old fashioned!" she complained dramatically. 

Rukelion desperately wanted to escape this torture. Talking about Daisy was so much more painful than thinking about her. Especially because these people didn't know the truth about his situation with her. They thought he would be going home to her at the end of the day but he had never felt as far away from her as he did now. 

He had loved coming home from work and seeing her puttering around in the kitchen or living room before greeting him with a bright smile and usually a hug or kiss unless she was in the middle of something messy. After so many years apart it had been a balm to his soul. 

What he wouldn't give to have that again! Coming home knowing the person he loved most was there after a long day had meant the world to him. 

He clenched his fists under the table. He would have that again. He had to. 

Rukelion was so close—SO CLOSE—to having his wife back. He simply had to endure three months of this nonsense before he would be able to pull it off. He had endured worse for longer in the royal army, hadn't he? He could do this!

Thankfully, the attention was finally off of him because Amelia had gotten people to have a conversation about names. He was barely holding it together right now. Only the thought of seeing Daisy again and holding her in his arms as she truly was kept him from going insane. 

=== 

Rukelion learned a lot more about how this world worked in those three months because he continued to spend any time he wasn't working researching. But after he got his first paycheck Juliet tremulously put her foot down and told him he needed to get his own phone so she could have her laptop back. 

That was fine by him. He would need one anyway. Phones were very important in this world and he had been using Juliet's phone number for his bank account and whatnot. That wouldn't work indefinitely. 

To avoid being too set back in his savings he paid the minimum deposit he could get away with on his phone and set up a payment plan that would last three years. He didn't spend a single cent he didn't have to before his temp job ended because he knew he wouldn't be getting another one until he got to Ohio.

Much of his free time was spent looking up job interview etiquette and how to make yourself seem more hirable. He planned to start job hunting the moment he found out where Daisy was while he worked on travel arrangements.

Rukelion was beyond relieved the last day of his temp job and went to meet with a private investigator first thing the following morning. He had found one who was relatively inexpensive but still had good reviews online and hoped the man was up to the task. 

"I need you to find someone for me," he said without preamble the moment he was let into the private investigator's office. 

"Easy," Maxwell Campian replied confidently. "But first, are you able to pay $75 an hour until I find them? I always double check before I get started with new clients."

"Yes."

"Wonderful! Sign this contract then tell me everything you know about them."

Rukelion scanned it and saw that it was an agreement to pay in full when the work was finished and that legal action would be taken if it was not. Simple enough. He would pay anything to find Daisy again. 

As soon as he had signed his fake name he looked up at the man desperately. "Her name is Daisy. As far as I'm aware, she would be in either Cleveland or Cincinnati, Ohio and got into some sort of serious car accident at the beginning of October. She's twenty-five years old and works as an accountant. I'm afraid that's all I know."

"You don't have a physical description or a last name?" Maxwell asked. 

"No."

"Alright. I should still be able to find her. The car accident tidbit was rather specific and Daisy isn't a super common name. I'll call you when I have something."

"Thank you," Rukelion said fervently as they shook hands before he left the office feeling truly hopeful for the first time since coming to this world. He was finally, FINALLY getting somewhere!