The second day after my arrival, I met my cousin Bertha. She was near my age, so it was quite a mystery how come she didn't get married.

She had waited for me to settle down and greet Martia, so I couldn't see her before lunch.

«Hey, cousin,» she smiled when she saw me.

I was just crossing the door to the dining hall, and she was a couple of steps behind me.

«Bertha?» I muttered, surprised. «You haven't got married yet?»

«Oh, it's so nice to stay here. Also, proposals have been arriving with no end. I've got almost as much as you.»

«I got some proposals?» What was I, a maiden?

«I guess Countess de Ruis hasn't told you yet. Every noble family in Ethiro wants to send you their daughters. And a couple of foreign dignitaries as well. You're famous, now.»

«Oh, that's what you mean... I won't get married yet! It's too soon.»

«And when will it be time?»

«In about ten years.»

Eight, to be precise. The time needed for my Queen to grow up.

«I can do that as well. After all, once married, life is over. I should play around like you boys, now that I can.»

«Oh, don't be stupid. By the way, I can't understand who wants to marry you. Are they deaf and blind?»

«Don't be too much, Xander. I'm wonderful. And I'm related to you.»

«Oh, wait a moment...» I stopped her. «We're not that close.»

«Are you suggesting we get married,» she laughed.

«Of course not. But it's troubling if people start thinking I'm the reason you haven't found a groom yet. It's not my fault. If anything, it's my merit if you're so popular.»

In that second life, being related or friends with the Lord of Kyre wasn't a disgrace to hide at any cost. It was an honour, from any point of view.

«Your merits couldn't find you a partner for life.»

Because I already had one. And all my effort was so that she wouldn't need to feel ashamed of me.

«There is a proposition my parents are willing to accept, though. It's from an important person. It arrived a few days ago.»

«Who?»

«Samuel Grahm.»

«Oh, I've met his father, the Count. He advertised his elder daughter to me.»

«The elder daughter? She's like... Ten years old?»

«Count Grahm said eleven,» I say with a shrug.

«She's just a poor young girl. It's better if she doesn't end up in your clutches.»

«Hey, I'm not interested in children.»

Even though my Queen was twelve, at that moment. Did that make me a sick maniac?

I would have liked to see her in her early teenage years. It was curiosity, nothing more than that. Was she already stubborn and wise? Was her face solemn and crude, with her gentle yet firm eyes? Or was she just like any other girl who would throw a tantrum or two?

Ah no, the war made her grow up fast. She must have been already a solemn person and a capable ruler. Her strategies must have been immature, yet she was managing to resist the attacks from Ethiro.

All of a sudden, I wanted to see her. Just dreaming about the past wasn't enough. And the more I thought about her, the more the name Elias came to mind. Who was that?

I felt as if an important part of my being was dormant, but I couldn't do anything to wake up.

«You're surrounded by women, Xander. Don't tell me you're afraid of taking in another one,» Bertha said.

Taking in? Oh, that sounded alluring. Showing my land to my Queen, the way I've followed her example in managing the territory... It was so damn alluring.

«I'm not afraid,» I chuckled. «I just know that my destiny is another one.»

«Oh, right,» she rolled her eyes. «You're going to rule over half of the world. You'll have even more offers when the Emperor officially names you as the crown prince.»

«It won't happen,» I muttered, but I didn't repeat that sentence about his majesty's natural son.

It was already the second time. Would all those people feel disappointed after hearing about my real purpose, my destiny?

My memories were so incomplete that it was a bit scary. Sometimes, I would catch a new scene.

However, some things couldn't come to mind no matter how hard I tried.

One of them was if Bertha would really end up married to Samuel Grahm. I didn't have any particular reason to push her in that direction, and I didn't have anything against it either.

However, I couldn't remember if she was married to him in my first life.

After years, I've concluded that all those dreams were purely my memories. If I hadn't paid attention or known about a certain event, then I couldn't remember it.

Just like that, I felt like meeting Jeffrey and Bertha for the first time. They were my friends in my first life too, but I hadn't talked to them that much. So, every moment felt new.

I wonder if it would happen in Polis too. That time, though, I was settled on enjoying the marriage to the fullest.

I wouldn't just sit and stare at my bride like a dumb idiot. I would at least ask her to dance. I would also invite my friends to the ceremony.

My second marriage would have been one I was going to remember even better than the first one.

«When are you going to reply to the proposal?» I inquired, seeing how Bertha was pouting at my absent-minded expression.

«In a couple of months. Father doesn't want to sound hurried.»

«It's enough time to make memories for the future. Once you're married, you won't be able to fool around anymore,» I suggested. «Do you want to come with Jeffrey and me to Albios? We're going to celebrate the end of the war. I promised him. He wanted to party right next to the front, but I was in a hurry to go home.»

«You're inviting me to a brothel?» she said, narrowing her eyes and crossing her arms. «Are you out of your mind?»

What brothel?

«I'm not that type of person!» I defended myself, but Bertha didn't seem convinced by my words.

«Everyone is. But I can't afford to be spotted there. I'm a lady. It won't make you any ill, but it's different for me.»

«Oh, Bertha. We're not going to a brothel, I promise you that!»

«Hmm?»

«I need your presence to convince Jeffrey to avoid that kind of place,» I confessed, in the end. «Please.»

«All right. But only if the other girl comes. I don't want to be alone with you two...»

«For the sake of your reputation,» I finished the sentence for her.

«By the way, what was her name? She told me, but I forgot...»

«Lyana.»

«Oh, right! She's a dowager Marchioness, isn't she? How come that you brought her here?»

«It's a long story, and it would be better if Lyana told you, not I.»

«Your wife will be jealous, Xander. You're surrounded by women.»

It had been like that for my whole life. It wasn't such an event for me.

And my wife wasn't going to know about it, either way. I wouldn't have any reason to tell her about the gender proportions in Stoneyard, and she wouldn't think to ask.

At least, I was safe from that point of view.

«My wife will be an understanding person,» I replied to Bertha.

She snickered, turned away to hide her expression.

«I'm looking forward to seeing that,» she whispered, maybe thinking that I couldn't hear her if she talked in such a low tone.

The year passed before I could notice, and it soon was time that I headed to the capital for the umpteenth time. A few little wars happened here and there, but no one asked me to go and help.

All those small battles were something an army like Ethiro's could solve with little effort.

I was surprised that no one had thought of sending me to Polis, but I was also thankful for that.

Ethiro was struggling so much against that city, but the Emperor didn't want to give up. The harbour was too alluring.

However, it wasn't easy at all.

It probably was because of my Queen. The Empire didn't want to send one of its best generals to fight against a child.

The fact that she had resisted for so long was proof enough of her competence and our weakness. If I, the man that was said to read the enemy's mind, lost to her... Then, the whole Empire's reputation would have been involved.

Not that I cared. I was planning to lose if I had to fight with my Queen. I just didn't want her to look at me like an enemy.

Not during the war, not after it.

All my desires could be summed in one single wish. I wanted to love her again and to be loved by her.