"Marriage... decree."

Evan mumbled when he recalled his conversation with the young prince. He closed his eyes when he felt the cold breeze passing through him. His lips curved into a small bitter smile.

'I'll have to refuse your reward, young prince.'

'Why?'

He didn't answer.

Because.

"Gabriella will probably refuse," the Duke mumbled as he opened his eyes. "How can she marry a man as old as her father?" He mumbled. "The renowned cold Duke, who his own daughter hated."

A small chuckle appeared on his stoic face when he remembered something. "Antonio Mikhail might collapse if that ever happened," he said as he shook his head. "He would never let that happen."

Having Gabriella as his wife...

...Is a warm dream.

A warm dream that wasn't meant for a cold person like him.

"It's time to go, Ravena." The Duke's crystal blue orbs went to a majestic white horse waiting for him at the stable. The horse's ears went forward as soon as she heard her master. "Yes, it's time to go," he said as he calmly brush its hair.

Evan's expression softened when Ravena rested her head on him, it only means that Ravena is showing her affection to his master. Ravena is Evan's favorite horse, she always travels with him whenever he has some expedition ordered by the king.

"Travelling...." Evan mumbled.

He remembered the first day that he used Ravena to travel with him.

••••••••••

Five years ago on a one bright day, the Duke of Chavez Duchy has yet to change his life for eternity.

"Hair as white as snow, face as cold as winter," Butler Jonas, one of the most loyal subjects of The Duke reported to Evan. The old man carefully glanced at his master. "We've confirmed it, My Lord, we traced Lady Maria's whereabouts in this part region in the countryside."

Butler Jonas pointed at the map. He continued to report the information that he gathered to Evan who had been observing him.

"It seems like Lady Maria was tricked by a skilled swindler and took her to the countryside, we don't know their intention yet...." Butler Jonas told to the Duke. "Shall I ask Your knight, Sir Allan, to go and get Lady Maria?"

Evan's cold and dry eyes went to the map that was placed on the table.

He stand up as he motioned his hand on his butler.

"I'll go on my own," Evan replied as he opened the small box on his table.

Inside of that box was a magic ring that could disguise the snow-white traits of the Duke. After wearing the ring, his hair turned brown and his clothes changed into a commoner's clothes.

Evan looked different with brown hair, but no one would be able to deny that his looks are still top-tier.

"I'll ready the carriag---"

"No," Evan, the Duke of Chavez Duchy interfered with his butler. "Bring me the fastest and strongest horse from the stable."

Butler Jonas, who heard the instruction of his Lord bowed his head, "Yes, My Lord. I'll do as you wish."

Evan nodded his head as he glanced at the window in his office.

"By the way my lord," Butler Jonas suddenly said in a low tone, the butler's eyes became serious as he cleared his throat. "I've listed the names of the pests who entered our manor. What shall we do to them?"

Evan became silent but you could see his rage in his clenched fist. Butler Jonas suddenly felt the sudden drop in the temperature of Evan's office. The papers, the chair, and the table suddenly turned into ice.

"Let's appease the crown prince," Evan said referring to Ian who was still a prince at that moment. His icy eyes glowed almost wrapping his office into ice. "Exterminate the pests and send their heads to the crown prince's Father."

"It's time to wage a war, I'll help Ian to Dethrone the Emperor."

()

The Duke traveled to the countryside with a horse that was named Ravena, Evan didn't feel any affection for the horse, but he was impressed by its speed and strength. The travel that was supposed to be 3 days became half day because of Ravena.

As soon as he arrived in the countryside, the Duke immediately searched for his daughter by sensing her mana which is similar to his. The Duke traveled with Ravena for 30 more minutes before arriving at Maria's location.

Evan was originally planning to take Maria home as soon as he sees her, but his mind suddenly went blank when a woman with dark midnight hair came in his direction.

She was the swindler that Butler Jonas was talking about.

"What a beautiful horse," The young woman mumbled. "Hey, Gabriel! Look at this horse, she looks like you, hehehehe," the woman shouted at the young man who looked like her.

"Just shut up, Sister. How about helping me with the work?" The young man replied, he crossed his arms with a mean look on his face. "Look at the newcomer you brought here, she can't even help in our household, just how is this family going to survive."

"Stupid brother, how about teaching her housework? And don't even act like a tsundere! I saw how your mouth parted when you saw her! Do you think I don't know what your type is? She's your type!"

"What type? Are you crazy? I will never get married!" The young man shouted with a red face.

"God Gabriel, I never said that you're going to get married," The young woman told him with a smirk. "I even doubt if I will ever have a nephew from you. No offense brother, I can't even imagine it."

The man named Gabriel shut his eyes before pointing at Evan who was watching them with his horse.

"You're just like me, you're not even better," Gabriel told his sister. "Ask that man if he's going to marry you, and he'll say no."

"This brat-- You're getting better at this huh?" The young woman glanced a the disguised duke.

"Traveler! Am I pretty?" She suddenly asked.

Evan who was questioning his existence flustered when the young woman asked that.

He unconsciously nodded his head.

"Yes..."

"If I ask you to marry me, are you going to marry me?" The woman asked again before smirking at her brother.

Unimpressed, Gabriel rolled his eyes.

"Shameless," he uttered while shaking his head.

Evan stared at the woman with a confused gaze. He was asked a bold question by a pretty woman who took her daughter away.

Actually, he wanted to immediately ask the young woman if Maria is in this place, but he can't even open his open. The Duke was stupefied with the woman's question, all he could answer was this...

"I... I've... never been married," He suddenly mumbled.

The woman named Gabriella glanced at him when he said that, her eyes suddenly lit up before grabbing his hand on a whim.

Evan who was unknown to the warmth of that woman couldn't help but to be stiffened as he glanced at the woman's bright face. He doesn't know what's happening, and his mind couldn't comprehend that unknown touch.

But it's warm like spring...

It's not like he liked the spring season because he naturally likes winter, but spring's warmth is comfortable, enough to make him not hate it.

"I'll take that as a 'yes' traveler," She told him with a bright smile, but that smile turned into a smirk when she turned her head at her brother.

"Bleh, did you hear that brother? He said he'll marry me, how about you? who's going to marry you?" She said with a teasing tone.

Gabriel let out a sneer before turning his back on her.

"Who cares? Marry that man if you like," He told her before going back to their house. "Don't be too shocked if he suddenly comes back here and asks to marry you. Proposing to a random stranger, really shameless sister Gabriella."

"This--- Just where did my little cute brother go?" Gabriella made an ugly face while staring at her brother's back. "Oi! Where the heck are you going?!"

"To teach your Maria Eleonor? She might be more useful than you," Her brother replied before shaking his head. "I can't believe I'm bickering with you in front of a stranger."

Gabriella who was left with the disguised Duke couldn't help but take a deep sigh. Her eyes went to Evan who was looking at their house.

"Maria..." Evan mumbled when a woman who had snow-white hair came out of that house.

The woman had a serious look on her face while carrying a bucket in her hand, however, when Maria saw Gabriella, a smile bloomed on her face as she waved her hands at her.

"Hey, are we going to work or you'll just stay and wave your hands at my lazy sister?" The man named Gabriel commented as he walked passed to Maria. "Let's go before I change my mind," he told her.

"Insolent," Maria mumbled before following him.

"I can hear you, My Lady," Gabriel told her with sarcasm.

Gabriella couldn't help but frown when she heard what Gabriel said. She just shook her head before facing the traveler who was still there.

The woman suddenly raised her hand that holds a basket.

"I'm so sorry you have to witness that, traveler. My brother is just moody right now. Here, help yourself, you can have the cookies that I baked today."

"By the way, are you looking for someone?" Gabriella suddenly asked.

Evan unconsciously accepted the basket as he nodded his head. "I am... looking for someone," he mumbled as he glanced at his daughter's location.

"Are you looking for a merchant named Leonardo?" She asked.

"Leonardo...?" Evan mumbled when he recalled a certain merchant who is making his name to the nobles.

The merchant had the potential to take over the business world, and many nobles have been keeping their eyes on him.

Evan glanced at that house for the last time before glancing at the beautiful woman.

"Indeed," He mumbled. "I was looking for that young merchant."

Maybe...

Maria should stay in this place for a while, he'll just take her next month.

He'll just use Ravena again for a faster journey.

"W-wait... Eh?"

Evan went away with his horse, leaving Gabriella with a weird look on her face. The woman scratched her cheeks as she waves her hand. "Erhm... Take care traveler, don't forget to eat the cookies, it's really delicious."

"Okay..." Evan mumbled as he glanced at the basket.

As soon as he ate one of that cookies, he just found himself wondering if he'll be able to get some of it once he takes Maria away.

Little did he know, he will keep returning to the countryside for five years.

And he never expected that he will also learn something each time he returns to that place. If he was able to learn that information before, his daughter won't hate him that much.

He can only watch Maria from afar while reflecting on the mistakes that he committed in the past. He never loved anyone, not his parents, and not his daughter. He was never taught to love, only to take responsibility.

Am I heartless?

"According to a book, to love means to cultivate feelings," A woman named Gabriella once said to Maria. "I can't love you right away but as long as we bond together and get to understand each other's feelings..."

"I will someday give you the love that will surely satisfy your heart and you might do the same thing to me like we are a family... I will understand you for causing us trouble for today."

The Duke who was listening from afar couldn't help but brush Ravena's hair while staring at Gabriella. His stern face softened when he learned something today.

Cultivate...?

So I am not heartless? I just needed to learn it.

"J'ai apprécié de la voir grandir avec vos conseils," The Duke mumbled in an ancient language unconsciously. He kept staring at Gabriella. "Maria found the right place to learn... and the right person to teach."

I'll come back next month

I enjoy watching her grow under your guidance.

The Duke couldn't help it, but he knew that he was starting to admire Gabriella.

Until one day, a silly question popped into his mind.

He wonders if Gabriella's proposal is still valid, because if it wasn't...

Can he renew the proposal?

(Lulu who was trapped inside the medallion: That White-haired uncle is a stalker! Why do you keep looking at the witch?! Are you really here for the white-haired lady?!)

••••••••••••

"Father."

Evan came back to reality when he heard a familiar voice, his head immediately turned to the woman with the same hair color as him. It was Maria who is with her husband, Gabriel Velasquez.

"Maria Eleonor," The Duke mumbled. "What is it?"

Maria bit her lips before averting her eyes. Gabriel held her hands tightly with a small smile on his lips.

"Come back safely..." She said before taking a deep breath. Her hand went to her stomach before finally glancing at her Father. "You still need to give a lot of gifts and money to your future grandchild,"

The Duke stared at her daughter for a while, his expression became softer before he raised his hand and patted Maria's head.

When Maria felt her father's in her head she glanced at Gabriel who was only watching them.

"Yes... I'll come home safely," He told her.

Somehow, saying these words to his daughter made him feel better.

His eyes went to Gabriel who resemble his sister. Evan nodded at him as he started to ride on Ravena's back. "I'm counting on you," Evan said to him. "Do not disappoint me."

"Yes, Father," Gabriel replied in a respectful manner.

Evan who received Gabriel's reply continued to stare at his face for a while. He couldn't help but take a deep breath as he averted his gaze from his son-in-law.

It'll be perfect if his sister is also here to bid me a goodbye.