The appearance of the jinzidal army easily spread in the capital. People became afraid. Everyone was talking about it. The calm atmosphere suddenly turned into a riot.

At Zána market in the western region of Jekis, traders lined up and spat about the situation.

"Did Commander Uznu Ururu come by himself?"

"It's true, Zalas saw him. And he has about 20,000 troops with him."

"But what about the rumor going around that he doesn't come for war, that he just wants Armad and he will be gone for good once the King gives him what he comes for? Shouldn't everyone else be safe if that's true?"

"Yeah... You're right. But the King won't just give Armad to him. Since Armad is married to his daughter, he has automatically become royal blood too, and anyone who touches him is going up against the crown."

"Yes... But no one wants to fight with Ururu. They also said Armad was the one who started it a few days ago in Dúka. I'm no expert but it looks like it's his fault, right?"

"Who knows? I only know the final decision will be in the King's hands. Our opinions matter little."

"You are right about that. Anyway, all civilians living near the walls have been asked to move to the center of the city. There's a place reserved for people there."

"Ah, that's right. Let's hurry before the war begins. I heard that Uznu Ururu has given us a 24-hour deadline to hand Armad to him otherwise 'the blood of our people will flow in the gutters'."

Similar discussions circulated among the community. Everyone was in shock and didn't know what to think.

But the people still obeyed the royal command and returned to the metropolitan area.

While Uznu was standing outside the city waiting for Armad to be handed over to him, inside the palace, there was a small house covered in red flowers. Inside the house, two people were relaxing. They were Armad and Nostalgia.

Armad looked at the princess' bruised lips and said, "How many days will that take to heal?"

Nostalgia looked like she would burst out crying. "How would I know?"

Armad burst out laughing looking at her teasingly. He didn't know how it happened, but after hours of intimacy, his wife's lips were swollen. They looked even more seductive now. The young princess couldn't withstand it anymore and she tried to hit him with her slender hands. He jumped to the door. Nostalgia chased after him and they ran around the house playing hide and seek.

Armad enjoyed the chase and didn't stop laughing at all, which caused the angry bride to start throwing things at him. Even though the things being thrown were women's underwear, Armad felt they could do some 'real damage'.

The two love birds spent half an hour throwing things at each other before Nostalgia abruptly stopped. She held her chest and gasped for air. Armad quickly turned around to help her up.

"You should get some rest. You know you aren't that strong and you've lost even more energy after being 'eaten'."

When Armad was close enough, the princess dropped her act and grabbed his collar. "Wululu... you lose, I win."

"Hey! That's cheating."

"No, it's not. You lose and you dare play the sore loser in front of me. Your verdict is..." she paused and looked at him mischievously. "You'll wash all my clothes. Ahem... You shouldn't think about doing a half-ass job. I'll be watching you, closely."

Closely? Damn it. Nowadays, whenever she said 'closely' she meant she would be on his lap. How could he do anything with her on his lap?

Before Armad could defend himself, Nostalgia had gathered all her innerwear in the house and placed it in front of him. Then she stood with her hands on her hips as if daring him to refuse. "Let's go."

Armad looked at the clothes that were never meant to be touched by a man and he looked pleadingly at his wife. She glared at him instead.

When he realized there was no way out, he picked up the clothes and began to wash them. From time to time, you would hear his grumbling but Nostalgia seemed to be unaware of it. She kept singing and enjoying herself as she threw her slender legs while sitting on his lap.

It was late in the afternoon when Armad finished his 'laundry'. They heard a knock on the door.

Armad quickly tried to hide the 'things that shouldn't be seen' but Nostalgia was already opening the door. Damn it. If someone were to see him right now...

Ilias greeted her and asked permission to enter. Nostalgia frowned. Why would Ilias disturb them? Did something happen?

The atmosphere in the house changed. Armad looked at him with a questioning look. Ilias hesitated for a moment, but he ultimately told him about the army outside the walls.

Ilias said, "Commander Damjinu Djinn has already assembled an army and they are about to go out to confront Uznu. The King commanded everyone not to tell you about it, but I and Spoon felt otherwise. We feel that you have the right to know. Besides, we aren't bound by the King's command since we aren't his citizens."

So they'd finally come for him? Armad jumped to his feet. His face contorted. Lightning danced in his eyes. Without saying anything, he went into his room and prepared for battle. Then he went out of the house without looking at Nostalgia or Ilias. In his heart, he felt that if he looked into his wife's eyes and saw that she didn't want him to go then he might not be able to go, so he decided not to even look at her.

Ilias turned around and saw tears streaming down Nostalgia's eyes. Deep in his heart, he felt some regret for destroying his friends' honeymoon. He sighed and followed Armad.

As they left through the door, Nostalgia found the courage to run after them.

"Armad," She called out with a weak voice.

Armad paused. He turned around and saw his wife's tears. His fighting spirit immediately evaporated. He ran into her arms and lost himself in her passionate embrace.

Time passed slowly. Ilias quickly left the scene. He kept cursing himself for coming and interrupting his friends' honeymoon. Why would he even do that in the first place? Because he'd no sense of romance in his entire life. Damn it.

"Just say the word and I won't go," Armad said as he ran his fingers on her back.

Nostalgia took a deep breath and replied calmly, "Knowing my father, he won't mind it even if you don't go. He will prefer that you don't go. But if you don't go, people may misunderstand you. I know the hero I married. Show our enemies that we aren't easily bullied. And when you come back, I will have good news waiting for you."

'Good news?' Armad's eyes widened in thought.

"What good news? Hurry up and tell me so I don't think about it while killing my enemies."

Nostalgia laughed and put one hand on her stomach and the other on Armad's chest. She said, "You just make sure you come back to me. Why are you in a hurry?" She narrowed her eyes in thought. "What? Don't tell me you aren't confident about winning and coming back?"

Armad looked at her hand touching her stomach suspiciously. 'Don't tell me she's pregnant already? Did I succeed in just a few attempts?' An evil grin appeared on his face.

Nostalgia realized he'd figured it out and just slammed the door on his face. She said, "Come back to me. I'll be waiting for you, my husband."

Nostalgia and Armad stood on either side of the door. They couldn't see each other but they could hear each other's hearts.

It was a long time before Armad shouted excitedly and then sang praises at the sky.

'Jackpot...'

He ran after Ilias to tell him he was going to be a father.

That afternoon, Armad went to battle for the first time in his life.