I left my most skilled knights to protect Theodora, ordering to cut off any hand that approached the cage except for the soldier that brought her food.

Then, I walked away, reaching a corner, and I observed the situation from afar.

Thea didn't complain. She just observed the cage in silence, and then she stepped in. She sat in the centre, far from the bars, and hugged her legs with a lost expression.

I folded one of my clean capes and made the guard deliver it with lunch. She didn't touch any food, but she covered herself with the mantle. She wore the hood, hiding her face from the world. Her white fingers clenched the cloth as she pulled it down to conceal her face in the shadow.

Healing her from that offence wouldn't have been easy. She would have hated me if she knew. Forever.

At least, everyone just avoided the area around her. They would stare in silence, but they didn't dare to walk any closer.

Thea didn't feel in danger, even though she asked if it was necessary to keep her there. Still, she didn't try finding a way out.

Her face didn't show all the emotions she must have felt, but I knew her enough to realise she was suffering. She didn't like that she couldn't hide from foreign eyes, but it was necessary for her safety.

I couldn't think of any other way, and I was in a hurry.

«I have to go, now,» I informed the general before riding towards the capital. «If anything happens to her, I'll deem you responsible.»

Once I reached the Palace, I had three days to make sure everything was ready for my wife's arrival.

The first person I met was Martia. She stared at me for a minute before uttering her thoughts.

«You've really overdone it, Xander.»

«What?»

I was expecting her to jump in my arms like when she was a child, but she had become Princess Lyland those last few years. She wasn't that little girl anymore.

«You didn't have to conquer Polis,» she specified.

«Are you unhappy that you won't become the Archduchess?» I teased her, but she didn't laugh it off as expected.

«You're such a cruel man!» she shouted, attracting some attention from the other few people in the garden. «How do you think she will even meet with you? You destroyed her country! You brought her here as a captive! I don't think you Queen will accept you after everything you've done.»

«She doesn't need to know it's my fault,» I pointed out.

«Oh, you still don't understand. What if your Queen finds out later after she finally settles down? You haven't considered that she might prefer death than living as a nobody?»

«Come on, Martia. We're not nobodies. She'll be an Archduchess if she agrees to marry me.»

«And you think she will because it happened the first time?»

«I know how to approach her.»

«Seriously? Are you hoping to conquer her heart after doing the same with her country? You're crazy.»

«I don't want her to die,» I revealed. «I hadn't told you yet, but I remembered how she died. And how I died.»

«Oh, Xander,» she whispered. She hugged me, trying to comfort me with her presence. «You won't be able to make her fall in love with you.»

«I have to.»

«You want to,» she corrected me.

«No, I need to make sure my son is born again.»

«Oh, my!» she sighed. «Sit down and start from the beginning. This time, though, don't spare any detail.»

«I didn't hide it on purpose, Martia. I remembered two years ago. I didn't have time to stop and think till now.»

«I still think that you made the wrong choice, but I understand why you wanted to bring her here. However, you have to tell her!»

«No, she'll run away afraid. She'll think that I'm crazy, or even worse that I'm a bastard that just wanted to marry her and made up some weird reasons.»

She shook her head, considering my situation.

«I'll talk with his majesty. At least, he listens to me.»

«Don't get involved. I will solve the matter on my own.»

«Just like you did it till now, right?»

«I'll figure something out.»

«Just keep in mind, Xander, that she will feel like a prisoner, and she will act as one. Don't forget that she doesn't remember you. You'll have to be patient. Let her get used to you, don't force your presence too much.»

«I know,» I frowned. «I'm not that crazy. I still understand how the human brain works.»

«She won't accept you without a little help,» she continued, looking at some flowers in front of us. «But first go and prepare a place for her to stay. She will need a chamber for herself, possibly not too far from yours.»

«Not too far?» I inquired.

I agreed a hundred per cent, but it was Martia who just said I shouldn't be too clingy.

«Don't let your emotions cloud your mind.»

«Of course not.» Even though I had lived years with a clouded mind.

«And let me organise the rest.»

«Yes.»

Was there even a point in arguing with her?

«Remember: she doesn't know you! She thinks you're a cruel warmonger.»

«Yes,» I nodded. That was a problem.

«You two already fell in love once... It could work if... All right, I'll help you!» she decided. «But that doesn't mean I've forgiven you. You better tell her about it all before things get out of control.»

«She won't believe me.»

«I believed you.»

«It's different, Martia. I didn't destroy Kyre before telling you.»

«No, in fact, you healed it.»

«It's better if she doesn't know.»

«Again? Do you think the Queen you've told me about will feel worse if you tell her your story? Do you really think she can't understand? You are the one that doesn't believe in her. Not the other way around.»

That said, she marched away with her fists clenched and her shoulders trembling in rage.