Alicio stepped inside first, while Emine still stayed outside. Bending down to her son's level, she said, "Go to your room and close the door."

Aydem followed what she said, stepping towards the room beside the staircase, meanwhile taking a glance at Alicio who sit leisurely on the only chair in the hall with his legs crossed. Looking back, he saw his mom slamming the door shut, the last scene he observed before going to the room.

Leaning behind the door, Aydem listened to the talk between Alicio and his mother.

"It's been a long time, darling!" said a sonorous, warm voice, belonging to Alicio. "How long has it been? a year? perhaps more."

"Don't call me that. I'm not your 'darling'," Emine responded.

"Still cold as always, huh,"

"Just tell what you've come here for and get lost already."

"That's not how you treat a guest. Why don't you bring me something to drink? Wine is my favorite, as you should know."

"We've got no wine here."

"All right, fine. I guess I will make do with something light to eat."

"We don't have that either."

"We have to get creative then," Alicio said, this time with a noticeable tone of strong eagerness.

A lengthy silence followed, ended by Alicio himself.

"Hey, stop looking at me that way. It seems like you want to rip my heart apart."

"You've got sharp senses."

"Why? What have I done to deserve such a cold treatment by you?"

"Stop bothering me and my family."

"Bother you? When have I done that?"

"You're doing it right now!"

"Augh, fine. What can I do to make everything OK?"

"Getting out of here would be a good start. Now!"

The voice of his mother had become much louder. She was shouting furiously at her target.

"B-But..."

"I said now!"

Emine's shouts turned deafening in strength and would shatter ears from dozens of feet away.

"Stop raising your voice, woman!"

This time, Alicio roared at her, followed by a series of fast heavy steps and a sudden distressed sound of surprise.

In a sobbing tone, Alicio continued to speak.

"But how am I supposed to offer my love to you if I leave right now? Huh? I've been in hell for the past year, fighting for the sake of our kingdom, all while thinking about how you're sleeping with that hideous piece of shitty rabble. Do you have any idea how that hurts me? And keeps hurting me. Just because that shit met you sooner than me, he gets to enjoy you and I get to suffer? And the first time I see you, I know I love you, but then you're raising the child of that filthy peasant, and the kid is already 2 years old! But you see, I'm a gracious man. I'll raise him just like my child. Yes, that way you wouldn't have a problem either? Right? I'll just send that peasant through a dangerous route to get killed, so we can get married and live together for the rest of our lives!"

Aydem couldn't hear his mother responding to Alicio's long rant. Moments later, an intense sound of hit on the wood broke the silence in an unexpected way. He could even sense the wall beside him shaking.

Alicio's voice grew even more tense as he started his yells and cries once more.

"I know! I know! A woman of your beauty and intellect can never be serious about living with a lowlife insect like him, right? You must have been forced into that marriage. Such a tragedy! Don't worry! I'm here to save you! Just come with me! Yes! Let's run away and go for an adventure! We can bring Aydem with us! I'll teach him everything he needs to become a powerful warrior, and not live the rest of his life in horse shit like how his lowborn father does.

"It's OK if you're still not comfortable. I can understand. I'll let you think about it. Any time you choose. Yes, any time you like, we can get the hell out of this shithole and start a journey to anywhere you want. I've got money. I've got men and horses. Everything is prepared for you. Just wish it, and you shall get it!

"Accept my love, become my wife, and I will give you the world! What do you say, Emine? Would you marry me? And forget about that reeking piece of shi—"

A thunderous slap interrupted Alicio's tirade, from which ensued a drawn-out, everlasting silence.

"Tell me. What is in me that you don't like?" Alicio asked calmly. "Tell me. What is that thing you can't find in me?"

"Love," she said.

The house became dead quiet following that, and it lasted for minutes until Aydem could hear the slow steps, growing softer while moving away from him in distance. Opening the door slightly, he found Alicio staying at the home entrance.

"From now on, I, Alicio Aristo Eraldim, first son of the ruler of the Northgate, will promise to bring hell upon you, Emine, and your family, so that you'd wish for a painless death every single day. I will only show mercy to you and your family if you become mine.

"Also, tell your low-born man that he has to find another job. I'd advise him to look for it in another place, for if anyone in this town hires him, they will be in a huge trouble. I'll make sure of it.

"If I can't have you, no one shall."