Grand Duke Alcide Cajarte

There was a time that I ask something odd that I've never done to my entire life.

"What would make a lady happy?" I questioned Jackson out of nowhere while playing the quill around my fingers.

Around eight o' cock in the evening, my wife was fast asleep on our bed. Sleeping peaceful while I'm stuck with this old man, serving me a hot coffee on my desk as I slack with my job. Jackson stayed with me in my office, standing firm beside me. So, I decide to inquire him for an advice. With that, he would not be bored watching me sign the papers.

"You're talking about the Grand Duchess, right?"

"Who else is my woman apart from her?" I sigh and continue my work. "She doesn't seem like fond of jewelries."

I was pertaining to the gifts the last time I bought for her after the war with Ivium. "Nor flowers."

Certainly, she was allergic to it. What can I offer more to her? Just to make her feel at ease. To let her know that her presence, being here in the manor is appreciated. That I want to prove myself that I'm not going to hurt her so, she can stay with me forever.

"Is because the Grand Duke has changed."

"I don't understand such words. Care to elaborate it?"

He coughed before giving me an answer that was clearer than the water. "You know well, Your Excellency. Before she came here, you spend time fooling around in the brothel."

I averted my eyes and unknowingly scratch the back of my neck. "That's funny."

We chuckled with each other as we recall together my past however, my mood instantly dropped and throwed him a death glare. "Don't tell her that."

It's a fact that every woman in the country was terrified of me. But because money do their job well. I can let my steam off with someone randomly if I would just pay them a huge amount.

"Y-yes, of course." He fixed his eyeglass and plastered a smile on his face. "Other than that, your attitude also improved."

"Are you implying that I was mistreating you?"

"Not at all Sire. Rather, you are impatient and aggressive in every small detail. Hot-tempered and without any second thought in taking away one's life. I'm saying that somehow, you've become a tamed beast in front of her."

He has a point though. Before she came in my life and mess the beating of my heart. My blood is always boiling and my veins in my fingers were aching to swing my sword to kill.

She, from a different country can only have the effect of making me tongue-tied with her fierce gazing eyes that turns me into a fool. The only woman that I will listen at and acknowledge.

"Speaking of, Your Excellency. Have you ever considered your marriage with her? You gave her a ring, right?"

I stopped and gawk at him. As if his words strike the most vulnerable part in me. "Ring?"

"Goodness. You're not even aware of it," he said with disappointment in his tone while shaking his head. "Let this old man tell you a secret."

"You?" I scoffed and tried not to burst a laugh. "The last time I took your suggestion, she almost die from rashes."

He avoided his eyes and cleared his throat. "Well, there are unexpected things that are bound to happen."

"Alright, shall I hear it then."

"Your Excellency, I'm sure this time."

"Yes. Yes." I wave my hand in the air, a signal that I understand him and a permission for him to continue with his talk. While, I busy myself writing on the piece of a scroll.

"Why don't you give her the best elegant ring that every woman will be jealous of her?"

"She's not materialistic."

"That's not what I mean. Make her realize that it was worth it to be the tyrant's wife."

I frowned and thought about his idea. "And what emblem would that be?"

"Have you heard a gem called Datae? It's rare and only the high-ranking nobles can afford it."

"Never heard such a weird name. Where this such gem exists?"

"Mazo."

I clicked my tongue. "From the enemy."

"Yes. However, I believe that you can easily take down that country with the help of our Grand Duchess."

"I know that. She's too great for a being like me."

As if it was fated. The Emperor gave me the responsibilities to decide whether to conquered the land because he was suspicious of their move but he plead if it was possible to form an alliance with them without shedding blood. For the greater ally, the powerful the state it is.

I will choose the later if I could. I will gladly, slain all of those hypocrites in that country and turn their castle into a living hell.

If only their King didn't negotiate to begin with. Then again, I only agreed to my Emperor's request because of my goal from the start and that was to get a hold of those gems through making the Mazo Princess spit out the secrets. I don't give a care whatever happens next to that country.

Though, it did not cross in my mind that I will regret my decision.

"Fine, she will be my first concubine. Our country shall indulge in ceasefire."

"That is great! We should proceed to the wedding as soon as possible!"

I may know a little bit of their customs in terms of their marriage ceremony. The wedding of a royal must be grand and all the nobles will be invited. It will only take vows for the two individuals to be one.

"By all means." I glance at Josh and saw him sigh and shook his head. I grinned. "Now, go get a priest. The event will take place here at once."

Their eyes went wide and gasp with my rush decisiveness that probably made them deaf. "Pardon?"

"And the witness shall be all of them." I pointed all of the aristocrats kneeling at my sight with my open arms, welcoming them as if I turned the villain. Indeed, what a pleasure!

For them, a wedding happening under the war with flowing blood on the floor and dead bodies lying everywhere with captured nobles was a great insult to their cultures and beliefs.

"Bastard!" a nobleman spitted the black shoes that I'm wearing.

I glared at him and that was enough to send shivers to his spine as he can't do anything but gritted his teeth.

"You may..." I raised my hand to give my knight a signal that was restraining his moves. "Silence him."

Did he not learn enough when I instantly beheaded the Marquis?

"No, forgive me. I was wrong." He bowed, kissing the floor more than letting him kneel. I chuckled, he give-up his pride just to save his life as if an apology would make the world better and erase the moment that he insulted me. I ignore his act and allow the knight to slash his neck with a sword when the King interfered.

"Grand Duke, I beg of you to not add any more flesh disgracing the floor than it is. For I agree to hold the wedding this instant."

"Not my fault. You should have disciplined your dogs," I stated while emphasizing each word, staring down to his impudent followers.

I walk near to the cape that fell from the King's shoulder, he quivered so much that he didn't notice that his symbol of being a ruler was being stripped out from him. With a visible irritation on my face and not a second thought, I wipe my shoes against to the red cloth of fur without battering an eye.

They pissed me off.

The people present in the castle squealed yet, couldn't retaliate with my behavior. The King just look at me with his mouth open. Yet, the amazing part of him was being able to continue negotiating with me.

"W-what about the preparations? The gown that my daughter will be wearing?"

"I dare not to spend a single dime in making this an extravagant event. I don't have a whole day for you to waste."

"Howeve- "

"She may look like that as she please. Now, where is the priest?" I look around and it was a great time for Josh to came back with an old man wearing a white garment. Though, Josh did his task perfectly. We still act that the wedding will be something real to make the King be at ease and assured.

We bribed the priest for I do not want to acknowledge another woman aside from my current wife. Josh knew the plan in my one look. This is why he is my second in command so, he went ahead and prepared a fake marriage certificate.

"Good. Let's make haste, shall we? Say your prayers and finish this ceremony. I want to go home."

It's been months since I left her alone after all. She must be feeling lonely without me by her side at night. I cursed. She will never know how much I contented myself, imagining her pleasing me. To be blunt, who doesn't miss their wife that behaves like a bunny at my place and patiently waiting for me?

Now that it came to across in my mind. Will Madelaine look stunning in her white gown while walking the path of being forever with me? We could have a ceremony too. In that way, I could have announced her for being my official Grand Duchess and people would not be able to belittle her.

Her name was Crystal, the bold Princess that dared to request from me. I criticize her body from the top to bottom. Her dress and shoes were stained with dirt as she walks closer to me.

"I will sit with you," she firmly stated after I ride the carriage that they owned with the royal crest plastered which I snatch from them. I chuckled with her lunatic demand.

The army will go back to the camp while Josh will lead them. As for me, I will head directly to Celtic. Hence, I couldn't even wait a minute to see my wife. It would have been better if the Princess will go with the knights to delay her appearance and I will have the privilege to spend my time to be together with Madelaine.

Surely, my wife will get hurt if I won't inform her ahead. But if she asks the reason, I would have to tell her about the gem which will not going to end up as a surprise for her.

"I would like to offer a deal," the Princess broke the silence.

I raised a brow. They are really indeed, blood-related. "Not happening."

"Then, I will refuse to tell you about the information that you want the most. Like my father had stated. I am the only person in Mazo know the access to Datae."

"Let's hear it then, shall we?" I clenched my jaw.

She smirks that made me more annoyed. She must think that she can fool me around and play me on the palm of her hands. Controlling my desires was a wrong move.

"I will tell you where you can obtain the gem. In exchange, you will do what I say and never dare to raise your sword against me. Treat me as your precious woman and I will be satisfied with that."

"If I meet your so-called condition, when will I get what I want?"

"Perhaps, after the Crown Prince official announcement for the throne in your country?"

So, I behave the way she wants me to be even if she was annoying for seducing me. I restrained my lust in choking her neck and breaking her bones. I fake a smile and tried to laugh; I was never happy to begin with. I was only doing it for Madelaine to wear the ring that I worked hard and planned it very well. It was only for her.

So, where the hell things went wrong?