"It's dangerous," Nathan mumbled.

I pouted at him, only slightly because that would be too childish, you know. And I am not childish. I am merely expressing my dissatisfaction.

Honestly, why do I sound like a spoiled brat? Hmm...

"How dangerous would it be? We're just going to walk around, aren't we?" I insisted.

Heck, the sun is still up in the big blue sky. I was planning to waste my time loitering around here until night falls before deciding to go home but my brother is thinking otherwise.

This happens when you have such an overly doting brother who is also overprotective to you.

Nathan's face fell, "Nadia..."

He looked so torn that it's also making me feel guilty for pushing my luck and insisting on what I want. Man... He really wants me gone.

The Crown Prince smiled at me. The kind of smile that is meant to get someone to understand his point. He always uses that when he's about to drop a sick-ass string of words that moves mountains and parts seas.

He is a politician through and through.

"Come now, cousin. This is the duty of the knights. How would we feel about letting a citizen do our job?" He said.

Always to the rescue, aren't we? My brother should be thankful to have someone back you up this good.

"Just go home, little miss stalker," Lukas joined the bandwagon as well.

Don't add fuel to the fire! Damn it...

'And quit calling me a stalker!'

I looked at the three macho men with me. No no no... they aren't macho. They're too pretty to be called a muscle man. Sure, they have muscles but– wait, shit. I am being sidetracked again!

Yeah, so I looked at them with an exasperated expression on my face.

"But I'm bored," I grumbled my frustration.

My true feelings came out of my mouth because I could already foresee that they weren't going to take me with them. Even if I push further and use everything at my disposal. After all, they really are tag-teaming right now just to get rid of me.

"I have nothing to do at home. Nothing at all. Am I even a functioning citizen at this point?" I added, already feeling the existential crisis dawning on me.

I'm almost twenty... ladies my age are either married or getting married... They have roles to uphold in society now and then there's me...

"Then I promise to bring you somewhere fun next time," Nathan then tried to appease me.

Somewhere fun? Where is that, huh?

And when will that be? You're too busy these days that the only time I see you is when you get home and say hello in the middle of the night.

"Hmph. Fine," I agreed nonetheless.

I heard Nathaniel let out a relieved sigh.

"Uno."

A man with fiery red hair appeared out of thin air and saluted to him. It was Uno.

"Here! Dos is already on standby in the carriage," he then informed him.

Very efficient...

Nathan nodded, "Good. Bring your miss home and make sure to keep her safe."

"Yes."

Haaah, Uno. During the whole time that Lukas lobbed me around as he pleased, you didn't let me see even your shadow... Just where did you go?

"I'll walk you to the carriage," Nathan offered.

He doesn't have to but okay.

"I'll come along as well!" The prince says.

The four of us, plus one, resumed walking. For some reason, Lukas had also gone with us but I didn't say anything because I was thinking that the three are planning to band together for later. The others did not comment on it too which just further cemented my thoughts.

It's not like it's a big deal either so... Whatever, I guess.

—**

"Bye!" Nadia bid as she waved goodbye.

Nathaniel watched the carriage with the banners of the Herman family rolled away from there. He didn't move his eyes until it disappeared out of his sight. When they were finally gone, Nathan heaved a deep breath and turned towards his comrades.

Ezekiel was there beside him and so was Lukas whom he found staring in the direction where Nadia went off to. A frown marred his forehead, feeling rather curious as to the reason why this man... or how the two knew each other.

Judging from the way his sister acted, it wasn't recent when she met him and that's how Lukas came off as well. For that, Nathaniel felt suspicious. Uno had always been reporting everything to him regarding the matters of Nadia.

Wherever she goes and whatever things she did there, it will always be passed on to both him and the marquis later that day. Even when she first came to the mercenary guild and the stuff that happened within it, they all knew about them.

So... When did Lukas and Nadia meet? How did it escape their radar?

Nathan stared at the dark-haired man in all seriousness, gauging him.

"What's your motive?" He then asked.

Ezekiel glanced at him and then to the person where his eyes were glued to with a puzzled expression. Lukas looked at him as well and raised one fine brow.

"To my sister... What do you want from her?" He inquired.

Nathan knows Lukas's caliber, acknowledges him, but it doesn't mean he knows him that much. He's still unaware of his real strength and only relied on the things that Ezekiel told him. Plus the rumors circulating around the time he rose to power.

He went to the battlefield without an army to back him up, only a couple of people. The craziest one was that there were just three of them but everyone else thought it's an exaggeration. No one knows of the truth, except the man himself and the barbarians who are all dead.

Truth to say, even though he's the captain of the knights, the man still outranks him. Not because he's a duke but because he's apparently the leader of the elite force, Silver Wings. And not only that, but the Emperor also introduced him as a Supreme Commander of the empire's army.

He was astonished. Looking at the man, he looked like he is only a year older than them yet held such great power. Being a duke is one thing but a general of the entire armed forces... He didn't even know about it when he had gained his captain title not until the day he officially met him. Which only meant that it was confidential and the emperor purposely kept his identity a secret.

So, if Lukas met Nadia way before they first met, why didn't he say anything to him?

Lukas's electric purple eyes glimmered.

"What do I want? Nothing for now," he replied as he whirled around, about to leave them– "I'll be on my way. Ciao," and had walked away without glancing back, waving his hand as he did.

Nathan's frown deepened as he processed Lukas's vague response.

'For now? Does that mean there will be in the future?'