She had seen so much cruelty that care and affection did not touched her, have been abused to the extent where even an ounce of kindness was a virtue.

To become a goddess for people she had walked through the lowest of the paths and the dirtiest of the roads, so when she cried in her sleep, nightmares plaguing her Azarios felt his heart breaking. So beautiful she was, her heart and soul made of pure gold but she went through such torment everyday yet did not informed him.

So when the ice cold empress looked at him with those hopeful and longing eyes Azarios could not help pull her close and to his surprise the woman snuggled into his hold, burying her face in his chest.

"Husband Lord, how do you know about that?"

Earlier there were various banquets that were organized by her court officials to pay their homage to the monarch in Gaerin, beautiful men and women dancing with the grandeur unparalleled to another was presented before her but in reality it was not the wishes that were bestowed but seen as a way of appeasing and flattering the ruler.

"Now that this one has marked you mine with the sacred ink little tulip, knowing about you shall be understandable." The demoness held Azarios' shoulder before going on her toes to press a kiss to his jaw to show that she appreciated all his efforts.....that he held her heart.

Her birth anniversary was not something pleasant to remember, for Lilith it was not only a matter of distaste but also the time that she wished to escape from. Only now when Azarios clutched her hand guiding her to sit on a magnanimous white silk cushion huge enough to occupy twenty people did she realized the meaning of leisure and peace.

The entire kitchen was designed in an open arena with five black burners placed in the middle of the ground that was devoid of any grass. White jade like marble stones were placed as small low lying tables for eating right beside the snow cushions of silk.

Adjacent to the sitting arena, a little pond was elaborated with green emeralds that reflected the candle light to brighten the whole space like illuminating moonlight. Lilith moved her hand to dip in the cool soothing water and felt a black lotus of Silian river touch her fingers. If this was not a challenge to even the imperial extravagance then only heavens knew what was.

"I heard from commander Seros that the biggest gladiator ring in the capital city were caught in an assassination attempt and were butchered yesterday by an evil spirit they say....even their families were not spared, this one wonders who might be so daring." Azarios roasted the meat while Lilith looked at stars.

"This one is unaware Azarios."

"Does the little empress hate being caught caring for her husband? Will my virtuous wife would go killing everyone that has once offended this one."

"Who says this one is caring, Herodoctus was being impatient waiting for a hunt thus this one did as required."

The Solar Flame was the mercenary group that recruited Azarios as a child for fighting. The conditions inside the pit was rather ominous and very few people were capable to survive. There was unprecedented rule of starving a child till they could kill for food.

Although when Azarios was fifteen these practices were banned because of the manpower required in Ambrose army yet the dark hellish way of the gladiator pits was true once.

"My sincere gratitude."

A peaceful silence and the rose petals that were burning in the thick candle wax while the wick burned to produce light with a slight fragrance lulled Lilith to sleep by the time Azarios cooked for her, despite her insisting many a times he not only barred her from trying to help but also warned of binding her arms if she dared to go against his wishes thus the only thing the empress could do for the time being was to sleep while clutching her husband's cloak that covered her.

Unfocused and vulnerable, Azarios' watched her for more than an hour ,his fingers stroking her cheek to bring some comfort to her as she whimpered in her sleep.

"wake up little love." At that moment he wasn't a general and the girl lying infront of him was not an empress, she was just a girl who had not yet seen the world completely, only been awarded the harshest of the phases. Lilith woke up from her stupor realizing that she had shone a part of herself to him which should have been preserved, the trust she placed in him to protect her no matter what was a feeling that she had unconsciously developed.

Such comfort had been never written in her fate, this deep sleep where she could completely rely on her general husband felt surreal.

Azarios felt her yawn yet he did not comment, simply pulled her closer to sit up with her being automatically transferred on his lap and patted her head.

"Here little beloved, let me feed you." The thirteen imperial dishes were not the conventional ones that the royalty were served, not even in all of those banquets where aristocratic nobles from all over the world came has she ever seen something so......adorable?

Mouthfull of each cuisine was served to her on the silver plate with her husband making her eat them one by one.

"When you will wake up tomorrow, this one has many rewards for you."