PeaceMaker

Dominic felt a slight breeze against his face as Axel hurriedly bowed before Dominic, "I wouldn't dare to, your highness."

"T-then answer my question. I know the family you come from, so your r-resistance is useless to me," Dominic muttered, "Your family is full of highly skilled guards, everyone from your great-grandparents to your little brother is a guard, except for you. But that would mean you would have received martial arts training and learned the art of strategy in war so you are more than qualified to answer my question."

"It seems like his highness knows a lot about me and my background," Axel commented, staring at the ground while he remained still, bowing.

"I did say I will try to get on a personal level with all of the people who work beside me. And that also includes you," Dominic grinned slightly, "so, answer my question."

"Yes your highness. I would suggest going through with what Mrs. Milti suggested" Axel replied.

"Stand up," Dominic commanded, "I can barely hear you speak when You're so bent over like that."

"My apologies. I said I would suggest going through wit Mrs. Milti's suggestion," Axel repeated, "I agree with her prediction that most of her people would have lost the trust they have gained from staying with us since we hid something that was one of the most important and basic information they should have known from the very beginning. They might question your motive behind helping them now or even what other secrets you might be hiding from them."

"I know that much," Dominic sighed, "and the past they seem to be hinting at having with us might also have a big factor in this."

"I would suggest you going out to meet Desliva to fix the issue as Mrs. Milti proposed but you are in no condition to walk or even talk for much longer," Axel continued, "I can no longer give you large amounts of anesthetics as your body might grow resistant to it and you wouldn't get the chance to get used to the pain. So you will most likely be bedridden for the rest of this month and more than half of the rest to get used to the pain slowly."

"But in that time, matters may get worse if I don't quickly patch things up with Desilva and reassure the villagers," Dominic mumbled, thinking out loud.

"That's why I would suggest bringing Desilva into a position where she needs to see you everyday and you get ample time to slowly make it up to her and therefore reassure the villagers," Axel grinned, "You can make her the main link in communications with the villagers."

"What?"

"Mrs. Milti mentioned Desilva being one of the things that all of the villagers deeply care about, so she may as well serve at the connection between you and them," Axel recalled.

"Hmm," Dominic muttered, understanding what Axel meant.

"By making your bond with her something more than just someone to have a brief conversation with and making her feel like she has enough rights to talk with you, you have more of a chance to talk to her and convince her again."

"Agreed," Dominic smiled.

"That way- what?" Axel paused, surprised at Dominic's answer.

"Agreed. It sounds like a plan, I'll do it," Dominic elaborated.

"But that is only my humble idea, I highly suggest consulting an actual strategist like Feline H. Hane or Lieutenant general Litian," Axel nervously replied, taken aback by Dominic's comment.

"I made my decision," Dominc shrugged, "is there a reason why you doubt yourself this much? I find your suggestions actually helpful."

Axel hesitated, a sad sigh escaping his lips.

"Like you said, I am from a military based family so my decision to be a medic in my family was seen as 'unimportant' so I was never given the chance to actually be used in political matters" Axel sighed, thinking back to his time with his family, "it continued while I was a physician. I would heal, get paid, and go back to my chambers for when I would be needed again so I got rid of the idea that I would ever be needed in any matters other than medical."

"Ah…" Dominic muttered.

"What was that?" Axel asked, thinking he missed something Dominic had asked.

"What a waste," Dominic snapped, his teeth grinding against each other.

Axel flinched when he looked at Dominic, the aura of disgust sent chills down his spine. Even though the hate couldn't be seen on Dominic's stiff face, the disgust steaming off him was harsh enough to raise the hairs on Axel's back.

"I wouldn't say that… but at least now I can be useful?" Axel chuckled nervously.

Dominic laid on the bed silently, he knew how that felt like all too well. He was the youngest in the family and was never really present during official matters, even if he asked to be present. It made him feel so useless.. So helpless that he had sworn to never be that way again and pushed himself into every system in the palace to learn every skill he needed. Just so he could raise his hands to enter a meeting and be accepted immediately because he was needed.

He never wanted someone to feel the same way he did, especially if he had the power to change it...but. He clenched his fist, despite his fingers screaming out in pain from the continuous hours of holding a sword in battle, and let out a deep breath. He couldn't be rash this time. 'Step by step, one problem at a time,' he swore to himself.

"Lucky me, I get an untapped mine of information," Dominic sighed with a smile.

Axel turned to him, a blush spreading across his face, "I'm honored to hear that your highness."

"Only facts," Dominic replied, wishing he could make a dismissive motion, but his fingers refused to move after he clenched his fists.

"Right…" Axel blushed.

They remained in silence as Axel fanned his face while working on the medicine.

"When should I let out the order to have her by my side?" Dominic asked, breaking the silence.