Up in the North of the Earldom of Monarey. A place where it was cold all year round. However, the climate didn't bother the Earl's knightage as they trained with their tops off. Considering the freezing cold during winter, they considered the climate now much tolerable.
From the Earl's office, a young man stood in front of the window. He was watching the knights do their extensive physical training led by the knighthood captain, Klaus. The latter's shouting was so loud the young man could even hear it from there.
"Is he planning to kill all the knights? They never had a break since this morning," he murmured, clicking his tongue as the knights looked exhausted now. "But well, if they died, that only ans they are weak."
Just then, Klaus from the training grounds raised his head and caught the young man watching them. The side of his lips stretched until his eyes squinted, making him appear very evil.
"This is why people keep comparing our knightage with the military general." The young man let out a sigh, shaking his head while Klaus finally gave the knights a break. Everyone was exhausted that they just collapse on the cold ground, making the young man sigh once again before walking back to his desk.
As soon as he plopped down on the seat behind his desk, he picked up the opened letter he just read earlier.
"Auntie Lilove," he whispered gently, replacing the coldness in his eyes with warmth. The once young prince who was kept in the royal palace back in the capital now had grown into a fine young man. How ti flew so fast.
"My lord!" Claude raised his eyes towards the door. His gaze instantly fell on Klaus, who barged inside his office and shalessly strutted his way in with a towel over his head.
"Uncle, I an, Captain Knight, are you planning to kill all our people?"
"My lord, don't exaggerate! I'm simply strengthening their body. Their skin should be as thick as tal so they don't die so easily!" Klaus shalessly argued as he walked towards the chair around the round table inside the office and sat down comfortably. He raised his feet up and tilted his head back. Using the cloth he used to wipe his sweats, he covered his face.
Claude fixed his eyes on his uncle's figure, sighing faintly. "A letter ca from the south."
"Fucking Hell," Klaus snorted indifferently, holding his hand behind his head. "What does he want this ti?"
"Uncle, I advise you to refrain from cursing the Emperor. Even if he is not here, people might misunderstand our loyalty."
"Fucking Hell."
Claude's lips opened, but he decided not to speak and simply shook his head. "I will travel across the empire. The sooner the better, since the north is so far away from the south."
This ti, Klaus frowned as he lifted the cloth from his face. He cocked his head in the Earl's direction, batting his eyes lazily.
"Did Hell tell you to go to the south? Did he finally lose his mind this ti?" asked Klaus in dismay, obviously displeased by this. "For what reason does he need the Earl's help?"
"Uncle, do you still think I am soone who can't protect myself?"
"Oh, no, my liege! Don't misunderstand. The south is so far and marching to the south with a large troop is a hassle." Klaus shrugged and looked away. Obviously, he wasn't underestimating Claude because Klaus trained this young man himself. However, there was a reason Klaus didn't want to go to the south.
"Uncle, do you still bla the emperor for what happened to Auntie Lilove?" the young Earl inquired after so ti.
The crackling sound of woods in the fireplace slowly filled the room, along with silence. Claude was aware of how Klaus also grew fond of Lilou. She was the first person who believed in Klaus' capabilities, after all. His uncle respected and swore his life to Lilou. Even Claude was unsure who would Klaus choose between him or Lilou.
"What's the point?" Klaus finally spoke, breaking the silence in the room. "Until now, she is still sleeping. Her son will be a year older this year again, but she will miss another year of that child's life. Before we know it, her son will be married already."
Klaus paused montarily as his eyes softened while staring at the ceiling. "It will shock her to death if she wakes up with a grandchild."
"Uncle, I thought you were slow, but it seems your training made not only your heart race and blood run but also your thinking." Claude humored with a nod, letting out a faint chuckle. "My cousin is still five and you are already thinking about his children. You aren't even married yet."
"No, thank you."
Claude let out another wave of dry chuckles as he glanced at the letter. "Even Uncle Yulis and Auntie Silvia don't want to get married. Are you that afraid to have children and do them wrong, just like the late king?"
"My nephew, my Lord." Klaus lazily set his eyes towards the dashing young man sitting behind the desk. "I heard you are considering marriage. Just in case, you don't have to marry for political reasons."
"I will not marry. I'm letting them talk about marriage so they get it out of their chest. The only woman I will marry is Auntie Lilove since I promised her marriage, after all."
"Wow..." Klaus withdrew his feet away from the table and gazed at Claude in disbelief. "My lord, just get married to strengthen the Earldom."
"But you just said I don't need to."
"I changed my mind after knowing the dangerous fantasy you have in your head. Are you planning us to get killed?!" Klaus clicked his tongue continuously while Claude chuckled. He raised a brow when his nephew's eyes softened at the letter he had been holding since he ca in.
"Who sent that letter? Is that a love letter for you to smile like that?" he asked, out of plain curiosity.
"You can say that." Claude raise his head and offered Klaus to read it. "I'm going to the south because I received a love letter."
Klaus knitted his brows as he sauntered towards the desk. He didn't idle and snatched the letter, gazing at Claude suspiciously.
[ To my little Earl in Monarey,
How have you been, my Lord... ]
His eyes slowly dilated upon recognizing this handwriting and the content of the letter. Klaus gazed down at Claude, only to notice so torn parliant on the side of the desk.
"Right. I accidentally tore the letter for you.." Claude smiled, feigning innocence at the separate letter for Klaus.
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