I'd Give Up The World For You

Oh. OH! That explained why Daisy cared so much about taking in kids with nowhere else to go. She had been one herself. But if that was the case, was she shunted from noble family to noble family or was her mother the one who had been the noble? She definitely had experience with amenities befitting one.

"If it makes you feel any better, my family's dead," Rukelion blurted.

"…how would that make me feel better?" she asked in disbelief.

"I don't know. A sense of solidarity, I guess? We're both all alone in the world except for each other."

Daisy cracked a smile, her gloom slightly lifted though her eyes were sorrowful on his behalf. "You've never talked about your family. Forgive me, but I assumed they were terrible like mine for you to run away."

A reasonable assumption to make given her life experiences. But that wasn't what happened at all.

"My family was wonderful. I lived with my parents, two older brothers, and younger sister. I loved them all very much and was devastated when they died. I still am whenever I think about it."

She scooted over on the sofa to hug him tightly and caress his hair. "I'm so sorry, Leo. I can't imagine what that's like."

Rukelion didn't want her to. It was too horrific. Instead he savored soaking up her love.

"Thank you," he said softly, unable to mutter useless platitudes such as 'it's alright.' It was not alright. It was so far from alright that it wasn't even funny. Nothing could be less alright than what happened.

"For what it's worth, you do have me," Daisy told him.

"That's worth a lot."

"I'm glad you think so, anyway. I think your roots are starting to show. I'm going to dye your hair for you."

She got up and he immediately felt the lack of her comforting touch but it was back once the tea cooled enough for her to scrub it through his hair. He sighed and leaned back into the tangible proof of her affection. She didn't have to do this for him now that he knew how to himself—especially since his hair was so short—but she did because she cared.

Rukelion thoroughly enjoyed the rest of the time he had off to spend with the woman he loved before having to go back to work. No matter how much time passed, Daisy was still Daisy and the only one he was capable of having fun with.

He wasn't particularly happy when he had to return to the military compound but at least his alibi was secure. He had been gone on his assassination mission for such little time and while making wedding preparations he and Daisy had been spotted all over town by various people, including members of the army on their days off.

"Did you enjoy your vacation, Major May?" General Pace asked as they passed in the hall on his first day back.

Rukelion replied politely. "Very much so. We managed to get everything scheduled for the wedding and spend some much-needed time together so thank you again for giving me the time off."

"Not a problem. You only get married once! I've heard your fiancée is quite a beauty too. Major Armistead saw you together the other day and happened to mention it."

"She is. The most beautiful woman in the world."

"Ah, young love. You have quite a bit of paperwork that piled up in your absence, by the way. I would get on that as soon as possible so you don't have to put in any overtime. It would be a shame not to make it home on time when your woman is waiting for you."

He grimaced at the very thought of being stuck here a second longer than necessary. "Noted, sir. Thank you."

Rukelion gave his farewells and scurried off to his office. The mountain of paperwork in front of him was truly impressive. Couldn't they have given some of this to any of the other officers while he was gone?!

He worked rather begrudgingly on his paperwork but his mind wandered. Part of him wondered how Daisy's first day at the flower shop was going while the other part speculated on when Conrad would come bursting in here looking for news.

It ended up happening at lunch, which was about when he expected. Conrad had taken his tray from the mess hall and was eating at the other end of the desk with an expectant look on his face.

"How did your vacation go?" he asked between bites, meaning 'how did the mission go?'

"It went perfectly. We got everything done that we needed to. Mark your calendar; the wedding is September 2nd," Rukelion told him.

The first half of what he said referred to dealing with the crown prince but the second was information he actually needed to pass on about the wedding. He had mastered double talking by this point because it was so much easier to get intel across that way while people were listening.

"I wouldn't miss it!" Conrad exclaimed. "I'll let everyone else know too. What time is this happening?"

"10 AM."

"Got it!"

He continued cheerfully questioning Rukelion about things he and Daisy had done together while simultaneously scribbling something down on paper. A clever trick in case anyone was listening in.

'What did you do with the bodies? News barely made it back here that the crown prince never arrived in Zel. A search party was sent out yesterday'

'No one will ever find them. I torched them into nothingness and disposed of any evidence a fight had happened at all. They can search all they want and they won't find anything incriminating' Rukelion wrote back.

'I know you're meticulous but are you absolutely positive?'

'Yes. I spent hours cleaning up after myself. I didn't miss anything. We're in the clear'

'Good. Because the king isn't going to accept this lying down. He only has one other son and he's too young to take the throne any time soon' Conrad scrawled.

Rukelion knew that. And that all of the kings' daughters were already married off to other countries and had been for years. Killing a child would be disdainful but he couldn't leave anything to chance. Goodness knows he knew what could happen when a weak prince was left alone with thoughts of revenge.

He had become strong—stronger than anyone else on this continent—so nothing and no one could stop him. The second prince of Mirea might be cut from the same cloth and it was a chance he couldn't take.

'I know. We'll take care of him when the time comes and wipe out the entire Mirean royal family. They're all bad seeds' he replied.

Conrad asked, 'When will the time come?'

Rukelion honestly wasn't sure. He would have to see how the king reacted to his son's disappearance as time went on. They might be able to use the chaos to take over earlier than expected.

'When we have all the information we need to do this safely and not a moment before'

'Alright. I trust your judgment'

Conrad handed the paper to Rukelion to be burned before smiling and clapping him on the shoulder, continuing in the same vein he had been babbling about this entire time as a distraction. "I'm sure Veronica will make a beautiful bride. You're a very lucky man."

He knew it was a generic compliment but it still got to him. He was actually a rather unlucky man whose fortune was all used up at once by meeting Daisy. Not that he was complaining! He was grateful for her every day.

"I am very lucky to have her," he agreed softly. "See you later, Conrad."

"Later, May!"

Conrad left the office so Rukelion was left alone with his mountain of paperwork again. At least he had gotten some of it done.

He couldn't deny he was curious about how this was all going to play out. The king would want to retaliate but it would be difficult without knowing what happened. For all he would know, the crown prince could have been kidnapped and was being held somewhere for an unknown reason.

It was better to keep him wondering. He wanted the king to suffer even more than he had suffered. Slowly going mad as his control and everything that mattered to him fell apart sounded like a good place to start.

Rukelion's revenge may be a long time coming but he would get the last laugh. He was absolutely sure of it!

Nothing in this world would stop him from getting what he wanted. He was not the type to jump into the fray heedless of the consequences. He was careful. So very, very careful. It was what had kept him alive this long so he could carry on doing it longer.

He would get there in the end. That was what mattered.. Whether it took him another five years or even another ten he would destroy the monarchy and the whole corrupt system in Mirea that allowed the tragedy to take place.