'You mean, kill him?'

"I am telling you, brother, it wasn't his fault!" Vance watched as Amelia's voice rose a little higher and louder every time she answered back. "There was no need to exaggerate things." She was sitting at one of the armed couches in Vernon's study with her elbows propped and her hands together on her lap.

It was already almost nine in the evening when Elias and the young duchess arrived last night. Their arrival wasn't one to miss as they were shouting at each other from the entrance through the hallway until Amelia was brought back to her room, where it was reported that she slammed the door on the Mulford heir's face.

"You're smarter than this, Amelia," Elias sounded disappointed, the soles of his shoes tapping loudly against the floor as he continued to walk back and forth behind Vance, who was just sitting at one side, not sounding a peep.

"I know what I can and can't do. I'm a duchess. It's not seven years ago."

"Being a duchess doesn't guarantee you better judgment!" Vernon looked at his son with a scrutinizing gaze as he leaned back in his seat.

They had been going at it since breakfast finished. Vernon and Vance decided to meet with Alexander hours before they headed out to meet the rest of the Order currently in Aclador. They were waiting at the duke's study when the door suddenly flung open, and in came Amelia like a raging bull with her brows furrowed, slightly pouting lips, fiery eyes, and heavy steps, followed by Elias, who looked just as equally mad.

Vance looked at the duke and then to the young duchess who sat just a reasonable distance away from him. Vernon asked what the commotion was about, but Amelia refused to answer, and Elias was fuming to have any sound reasoning about him.

"What exactly happened, Lia?" Vance asked calmly when the two of them stopped to take a breath.

"What happened was Alexander sneaked her out of the palace just when everyone was not around, and she aimlessly went with his whims despite what happened to her!" It was Elias' voice that bounced from the wall.

"I did not aimlessly go with him." Amelia scoffed and waved her hands around, making small gestures, "I wanted to get out! I was with Alexander. I was safe! You didn't have to make a scene in front of his sister and his men."

"So, you're sneaking out and then protecting him now? Is that how insignificant we are now to you?"

"I am not protecting anyone! I am just stating that what you did was unnecessary!" Amelia was shouting, and she rarely lets her emotions get the better of her. She rarely insisted on her own thoughts either. Usually, whenever an argument arose, the duchess would quietly listen from her seat until the other person was done talking. Then she'd respond in a calm, fluid voice, always considering the other's opinions and taking note of their suggestions.

"I can't believe you taking his side…." Elias murmured as he wiped the sweat off his forehead with his palm. Amelia heard it, and she slammed her hand on her seat's arm.

"I am not taking sides!" she yelled, and both Vernon and Vance were left with their eyes wide.

Amelia's not one to yell too.

Vance shook his head slowly, massaging his temple. It's too early for him to be stressed out, but he knew that even though Amelia's always been considerate, she's also very stubborn. She wouldn't leave unless this fight becomes hers, so the old advisor looked at the duke to try and appease the two. Vernon's a duke himself; surely, he's used to resolving disputes like this one in a peaceful manner.

The duke cleared his throat and leaned forward; his elbow propped on his table.

"Both of you have their own points, and both you did something wrong," Vernon started with a firm voice, "Elias," he called, and his son quickly turned to face him. "Alexander's a duke. You can't just casually grab him by the collar on the street and in public. You're going to inherit my title, so you better control that temper of yours." Elias' jaw tensed as he clenched his fist tighter, but he seemed to submit himself to his father. "And you, Amelia," he continued, but the young duchess refused to face him. "You know very well how these past few months have been for you. You know that everything you do will eventually have a consequence whether you like it or not. You said it yourself. You're a duchess now, not a kid—then behave like one."

Amelia's gaze narrowed at Vance, and he returned it blankly. She looked like she wanted him to tell the duke otherwise, but it wasn't the time for the advisor to take sides since he knew what transpired that led Elias to overreact. If he was the one that Laila showed the note to, he would've turned everything upside-down just to find her.

"Now, we have things to attend to. Both of you leave and go back to your rooms or the quarters. I don't care. Sort out your thoughts better. Reflect on your actions, and you both better have beyond good reasons for this nonsense yelling so early in the morning." Vernon demanded; his eyes fell on his son. Elias grunted in frustration before storming out. On the other hand, Amelia waited a few minutes in silence before she finally stood up and left. Saying nothing to both the duke and her advisor.

"Young'uns these days…" Vernon murmured while slowly shaking his head, stacking papers from his table, and setting it aside at one side.

"Wasn't that some half-assed meddling? And you call that resolving the problem?" Vance asked when the door closed behind Amelia, and her footsteps vanished.

"If they're old enough to make their own judgments, then they're old enough to realize them," Vernon waved his hand nonchalantly, then continued saying, "It's just a fight between siblings. I'm sure you're well aware of that with your own sister."

Sure, Vance did a lot of small quarrels with Priscilla's mother before, and he would still kill a thousand times for her. This way, the duke's oldest son's action seemed plausible. But he wouldn't want to ignore Amelia's feelings too. After all, she's just like her mother, always wanting to walk through adventure's path and trying to live in the moment. She's been deprived of that.

She deprived herself of that. And Vance understood that in some way or another, the fact that Alexander brought that sense of adventure in front on a silver platter made sense why she would defend him. The young duke was like her gateway to doing the things she usually wouldn't do.

"I wouldn't deny that," was the advisor's short reply, and then they were back to minding their own businesses as they waited for Alexander to arrive.

**********

A few minutes after the clock stroke on the tenth, a knock interrupted Vernon whose busy sorting through paperwork while Vance was reading something he got off one of the duke's bookshelves.

Eyes narrowed at the door, and Vernon straightened himself as he permitted the servant on the other side to enter.

"Pardon our intrusion, your grace. Duke Alexander Clement of Thuenia's House Clement has arrived," the servant said as he bowed parallel to the ground.

"Come in," Vernon gestured for Alexander, and as he took a step inside, the young duke greeted both of them with a good day before the door slowly closed behind him.

"I believe I've been called here for a different matter than what happened last night?" he sounded a little sarcastic, but his eyes were serious for some eligible business.

"Let those who wronged you apologize. I am not apologizing for anyone just because the blood that runs through his veins was the same as mine."

"So? What am I here for?" the young duke's eyes shifted from Vernon to Vance as he took a few more steps to the seat that he was not offered. Once seated, Alexander leaned back and crossed his legs, his arms resting on the couch's arms. "It's still about Amelia, isn't it?"

Vernon stared at him blankly, then looked at Vance, who was already looking at him. The advisor gave him a slight nod and turned to look at the duke. Taking a deep breath through his nose, Vance exhaled slowly, adjusting his glasses to a comfortable height.

"I'd like to help you get the emperor's approval," he started, and Alexander's brow raised.

Of course, why would he believe him? From the start, Vance had been keeping information from Alexander—from Amelia even. And unlike the duchess that he can control the information that she received, the duke's a different matter. He knew about him and his past, and if he wished to divulge it to Amelia, he couldn't stop him unless he kills him, which was something out of context. So, instead of going against him, the advisor thought he'd help him instead. After all, he's more useful as an ally than going against him.

"And what would you want in exchange?" Alexander questioned back. His eyes darted straight at the advisor as if telling him that he already knew, but he wanted to confirm it nonetheless.

It's alright. Vance was used to this kind of conversation. He has received and given threats. He has opened and closed deals—this kind was but child's play.

"As you know," the advisor started casually, "I am the next in line for the Grand Duke of Pradour's seat. It should have been mine earlier, but due to… circumstances, I declined it. But now it's back in my hands." There was only silence in the room, and Vance continued after gauging the reactions of his audience. "I got word that my distant cousin, Uric Gyttins, has made significant efforts to ensure that he's given the seat once my other cousin whom I recommended to my father died."

"Do you have any proof of it? About you're distant cousin's plans?" Eyes turned to Vernon.

"I have my sources. And I wouldn't be this troubled if it weren't the case."

"I don't get what you're saying, Vance Salwyn," Alexander emphasized the advisor's real name that Vance couldn't help but throw a glare his way. "You're just repeating what we already know. Cut to the chase."

Vance sat motionless, calmer even. His breaths were slow yet deep. For some reason, he was feeling a little better, like a huge rock has been lifted from his shoulders. He eyed Alexander and thought that maybe leaving Amelia with him wouldn't be so bad after all. That if it's him, he might be able to protect her in his stead. The Whitt family's loyalty to the Florence's was up to the last drop of blood, which would serve as extra protection for her.

That seemed enough.

For how long this silent, covert war this distant cousin of him was trying to initiate, Vance didn't know. But one thing has been sure of since it all started to come to light—that it wouldn't end unless he saw to it himself. To take what was given back to him with his own hands. It will be bloody, and he might not be able to come back given his old age. But he wanted to be certain that he wouldn't leave Amelia—his granddaughter—like how her parents did years ago.

He knew about the things that Alexander was trying to achieve before, and he was the one to prevent his success. The young duke then had the right sources, and if he continued further, he would've eventually found the truth. But knowing the truth doesn't always guarantee a better justice to be served. Sometimes, the truth needed to be buried and forgotten for the good of the whole.

The Order of the Void thought the same. And with their help, Vance was able to completely take ahold of that information and move quicker.

There was also no way that he would let a kid be tainted in the ways of finding and taking a life. What happened after that, continuing to take in lovers and his violent ways, was out of the advisor's grasp. Alexander decided to continue through that path, and there was nothing Vance, with his status, could do anything about.

"Alright," Vance cleared his throat and shifted in his seat. He looked at Alexander, then to Vernon, and back to the young duke. Inhaling sharply, the advisor straightened his back and said, "I am leaving for Pradour once I have gathered all the information and resources I needed," his hands were on his knees as he leaned forward to bow his head, "I… will leave Amelia in your care, Duke Alexander Clement," Vance continued hesitantly in a lower voice, a little shaky than he initially wanted.

**********

Alexander's perfected dukely composure broke in a matter of seconds when he heard what came out of the old advisor's mouth. A little taken aback, Alexander unfolded his legs and leaned forward to the advisor awkwardly. Looking at his grey crown, he contemplated whether to reach out his hand or not, to tell him to stop bowing or not.

Silence fell in the room again. Even Vernon had a tough time taking in the information. The legendary and mighty conqueror and heir to the Grand Dukedom of Pradour's bowing his head to a young duke—Alexander felt proud, but it also confused him.

What did Vance say? Leave Amelia in his care? Would he really leave Creador and go back to his own empire when he could just give in his title, and the rest would be history? He gets to live peacefully in Creador, and his hell of a cousin could have his desired title.

Questions popped out one after the other, which made Alexander's head hurt, and he tried to massage his temple to appease it. It was too early to be stressed out. Also, he did tell Alexander that he would help him get the emperor's approval. Though Alexander already has something in his sleeves, he also couldn't deny the fact that what he has might not be enough—might not even budge the dragon of the empire. An extra push that the advisor's willing to give might just be what he needed.

Should Alexander accept? But what did he mean by gathering resources?

Alexander was readying himself to clarify things, but their attention shifted when Duke Mulford suddenly stood up, slamming his hand on the table that rattled a few of the ornaments and small frames.

"What?! You're leaving Creador?" he asked firmly, controlling the loudness of his voice.

"I don't want to, but I don't have a choice either." Vance briefly answered the duke before he turned to look at Alexander, "I want to have a number of my men who's in Pradour to come here. But I don't want them to go through the usual checkpoints at the port. Uric probably has men everywhere as he may be acting wary after the second failed assassination, so he might have the port guarded too or have men among the laborers."

Alexander only nodded, a hand covering his mouth as he tried to contemplate the situation little by little. Honestly, it wasn't such a big job to fill. He could have their own ship travel to Pradour on the premise of something else than meeting the advisor's men there. Leticia could command it, and since it's a private one, not to mention with his House's crest, no one would dare lay a hand on it. They could pose as one of their crew, and they'd be set to travel back.

But it's not as easy as planned. They better start praying to the Heavens early if they want a small chance of pulling off this stunt.

"Duke Clement…" the advisor returned his gaze to him. His slightly drooping eyelids and eyes that looked like a duller version than that of the duchess looked at him, determined and at the same time expectant that he would agree. "Please protect her like you did years ago. If it's you, I think I can carry out what I have to do without looking back," he continued, and Alexander felt his heart beat faster.

Could he?

Could he protect Amelia this time when all this while his failures from years ago still haunted him? She was even poisoned in front of her! He wasn't there when she was beaten so badly that she had to be drugged repeatedly to sleep so her body could recover faster. He wasn't there when she almost got stabbed. He's only always there after it happened.

"I don't think I can protect her…." Alexander's voice was almost a whisper, but enough that Vance heard it. It dawned on Alexander that he's not someone Vance thought could protect Amelia. He didn't want to admit it, but it's the truth.

"You can," Vance placed a hand on top of Alexander's and looked at the young duke with a small smile. Alexander's eyes slightly widened; it's the first time the advisor has ever smiled at him. "You always aimed to protect her. Now's your chance to do it."

True. This might be a good opportunity for him to redeem himself. To wipe away the nasty aftertaste of failure and start new.

"If you want my help, you have to tell me everything. I wouldn't know what to provide exactly if I don't know things in detail. Trudging blindly is not how I do things." Though Vance nodded, the young duke wasn't expecting him to be a hundred percent honest. No one ever has been, regardless of who they're promising to. Alexander knew that much, but at least, with what the advisor's willing to disclose, he could be certain that he was going to trust him.

"I received a letter a few months ago. It came from one of my trusted men back in Pradour, asking me to go back. Initially, I wasn't going back since things have been happening around Amelia. But when I learned that the poison given to her was from that place, everything just sorted itself. That's when I decided to leave."

"But Amelia, Vance. She's your granddaughter. Are you going to leave without telling her? Without the certainty that you're coming back?" It was Vernon that spoke. By the manner he worded his concern showed the times that the two gentlemen went through. Aside from the emperor, only Vernon knew about the advisor's life, the only one Vance could confide to.

Looking at the two men talking to each other, the young duke scratched his forehead, trying to internalize the conversation that went on between them. Should he be happy? Proud that Vance finally trusted him enough to let him in their secret, or should he be more prepared for whatever he might discover in the future? Nothing will be the same anymore once the conversation's over.

"It's better for her not knowing. I won't be able to rest in peace knowing that she lost another family member. It would break her more than she already is."

"Are you really going to let yourself die in Pradour?" Alexander butted in, and both Vance and Vernon stared at him. "I won't let you die, Vance. I'll pull you out of the ground and bring you back to Osmea even if the last thing I'd do." The young duke didn't know where that statement came from, but he meant every word of it. Whether family or not, Amelia would be heartbroken nonetheless, and Alexander won't let that happen as long as he lived. She has experienced enough for a lifetime. There's no need to add any more to it.

"What's your plan, Vance?" the duke asked, more composed than he was earlier.

"I'm planning to leave probably in a month or two after Amelia's birthday. The seas are rough during the coming season, and I am certain that even Uric wouldn't be foolish to risk sending men over. Unless…" Vance stopped to take off his glasses, "Unless he's working with someone in the empire. If so, that would make things easier for him and harder for us."

"Someone from the empire?" Alexander repeated.

"Are you saying…" Vernon let his sentence hang and waited for the advisor to finish it.

"George Walton. I recently received a report that he is indeed involved with Uric." Vance stated, his fingers fiddling the rim of his glasses.

"How can you be sure of it?" Alexander thought it was too good to be true. If this was presented to him years ago, he would've believed it, but not now.

"I have one of my men dismissed from my services so he can work for Walton and spy for me. Walton's a simple guy. He would want to have someone that knew the palace well. He'd gladly take in any help. He's a greedy man but not smart enough. For all I know, he's just another disposable piece for my distant cousin to use. So, before I leave, I want to at least get Walton off our backs."

"You mean, kill him?"

Vance answered with a blank stare but then simply said, "If worse comes to worst."

Alexander mentally shook his head.

No, there's no way George Walton's getting out of this alive. Not with Vance handling the matter.