A few days later.
"Of course, I have to go to their place. Damn Rotavel, why can't you agree on a meeting on neutral ground."
Alexander was on his way to the Rotavel residence. Or more like to the lion's den.
As his carriage arrived at the entrance a butler welcomed him.
"Mr. Agami my master is waiting in his study for you, pleas follow me."
Alexander visibly displeased followed the butler. "His study, seriously I'm not some commoner asking for an audience I'm here for a meeting on equal ground." He whispered under his breath.
Alexander knew that Rotavel had two studies and one resembled more a throne room than a study and he was pretty sure that he wouldn't be escorted to the normal one.
After they arrived at an imposing door the butler knocked and announced Alexanders arrival, afterwards they were allowed to enter.
It was an imposing room and Rotavel sat on a throne like chair which was positioned on a podium. In the room were two guards on the side of the podium and on it was Rotavel and behind the chair stood an average looking woman. Her eyes were unfocused, it was obvious that her mind was somewhere else
"My dear friend Agami, we didn't see each other in a long time even though we are neighbors."
"It is really a pity how rarely we see each other. I hope that life was kind to you."
"Haha, of course! You know I am a darling of fortune. I always get what I want."
"That is true, say how about a duel, for the old times sake? Of course, without magic."
The only thing in which Alexander is better, is in weapon wielding / martial arts.
"You still are as untalented in magic as ever right."
"But unmatched when it comes to combat without it."
"My dear friend, I heard that you are plagued with bandits."
"Yes, sadly I am not able to get rid of them by myself."
"You want my help?"
"I hoped that my dear neighbor would help me."
"Haha! Of course! I will help you. But my help comes with a cost."
"That is only natural, what is it that you would like?"
"I heard that you're wife is struck a serious illness and won't live much longer." He gestured at the woman behind him meanwhile Alexanders face turned ugly.
Rotavel hat to cough to get the woman's attention afterwards she made a step forward.
"This is my fifth daughter."
-What is this old pervert even thinking. I'm not some pervert. Sight how old is she? Most likely 10 yeas younger. What kind of father is he? –
"I'm really sorry but I do not intend to remarry anytime soon."
"You know that I get what I want one way or another. I just hope that the bandits do not increase their activity."
-That bastard even threatens me. Fine I won't need your help. –
"I am terribly sorry but if there is no alternative, I will have to get rid of the bandits by myself."
If you do change your mind, do not hesitate to give me word."
Alexander did his best to mask is anger till he was a safe distant away from the Rotavel mansion.
…
In Alexander's carriage.
"THAT DAMN BASTARD!!!"
"Pleas sir, clam down." Alexander went onto a rampage inside the carriage and if it wasn't reinforced with magic there would only be smithereens left.
His advisor had his hands full trying to calm Alexander down with little to no success.
***
After the meeting the 'bandit attacks' grew more frequent. Alexander tried to station guards and even went himself to defend his land but because of the randomness he hardly managed to intervene in any attacks.
On Alexanders desk the reports of the damage piled up to a small mountain. To add insult to the injury Melissa's health deteriorated visible to the naked eye.
***
In Alexander's study
"That damn Rotavel, I don't have time for this."
"Sir, with all due respect but if we don't find a solution soon, we will be in grave danger. You are aware that Marquess Rotavel will endanger your family if that is what it takes to get his will."
"You don't have to tell me that."
In the middle of their discussion they heard shouts.
"Sir… Sir… Milady… Milady…" A maid stumbled into the study completely out of breath, but Alexander got what she meant form the stammering he went pale and took off to Melissa's bedroom.
"Pleas oh great Magus, let it be nothing serious."
[great/dear Magus is the equivalent to god/lord]
As he entered the room, he saw Melissa violently coughing, the handkerchief in her hands was stand in blood a maid rubbing her back and the healer helplessly standing at the side.
Alexander went to her and started rubbing her back instead of the maid. Even though he wanted to look reproachful at the healer he knew all too well that at this point healing magic couldn't do anything anymore, at worst it would harm her.
So instead he kept his contempt for the lack of useful healing magic inside and showed how worried he was for his wife instead.
"Don't look so distressed I won't die just now."
"Sight, I hope so too, but after you coughed up so much blood, I can't help but worry."
Her white handkerchief was died in a deep red, so much so that one would anticipate that the blood would start dropping from one corner.
"I will life to see Anthony's seventh birthday."
"That is in two months."
She smiled at him. Her pale face, the dark circles around her eyes, the colorless lips and her fragile body that is no more than skin and bones support the fact that she hasn't got much longer.
Alexander's eyes became glassy and he pulled her into a hug.
***
Later that evening at the dining hall.
"Father, is it possible for you to train with me tomorrow?"
"Anthony, I don't think… you know what why not, I'll make some time for you in the afternoon."
***
Alexander taught Anthony regularly as Melissa's health was still good but as her health declined so became the training's sessions rarer.
The two months to Anthony's birthday went by in the blink of an eye and so did Melissa's health. It was as she said, her health spiked on Anthony's birthday. It was a happy day, with him and his father sparing his mother healthy enough to attend his birthday and sit on the table and eat cake with them.
But this came at a cost her health faded completely and no sooner than three days later was the day everyone had to say goodbye to her forever.
***
"Mother, I will hold you dear, I promise that. Even though I did not know you for too long I will treasure the time we had together."
"Anthony, you sound too rigid, loosen up a bit. Especially when it's your family. Please take care of your father and be honest with him, I know that that is asked much, but please take care of your father-son-relationship too, if it's up to him than it'll vanish soon."
"With that being your last wish, I probably can get him to do everything now." He looked behind him to his father with his emotionless expression. But if you knew him and looked closely you notice that in realty, he had a mischievous expression.
"Haha, cough cough…. Don't be too hard to him. I'm sure you'll grow up to be a fine young man, I wish I could meet my further daughter in-law." She hugged him and ruffled trough his hair one last time, afterwards he left the room.
Subsequently the healer and the maid said their farewells so that only Melissa and Alexander were in the room. As soon as they were alone, he couldn't hold back the tears anymore and became glassy eyes.
." He went to her bad and sat down. "Honey, I'm really sorry to put you through this." She held his face in here hands as she said this.
"I can't say that I like this pain but it's better than never even have known you."
"I knew back then that you didn't know what it would be like, but I couldn't refuse, nonetheless. I really love you and I wanted to be with you even though it's selfish because I'll leave this world way before you and you're the one to suffer. I was aware and put, no I'm still putting you thru this, I am really sorry."
"I'm really glad about your selfishness, because if you had decided otherwise, I wouldn't have had a chance to change your mind. I wouldn't change the past years with you for anything."
They laid back into the bed. Melissa on Alexander's chest listening to his heartbeat, he playing with her hair while the talked one last time.
"The only thing that I hate is that healing magic is useless, I mean the promised 14 years aren't over yet." He whispered with a broken voice.
She drowsily answered: "That was the best possible outcome unachievable for the healers in this country. You know… it's nearly impossible to get a foreign healer into this kingdom. And… if you manage to get them legally… and voluntarily in, you'd have to pay them a horrendous sum…"
"That damn useless healing magic. And that damn king who doesn't care what happens to his kingdom nor his citizens." He murmured under his breath.
"I really love to fall asleep to the sound of your heartbeat…"
"Sweet dreams my love." He said in his usual loving voice while tears run down his cheeks.
He silently cried till he fell asleep.
***
Alexander started to shut himself up from everyone more the more time passed without Anthony and Melissa's last wish to him he probably would have completely lost contact with the world.
Nonetheless he barricaded himself into his study and worked himself to near death. With this attitude he manages to cope with the 'bandit attacks' for one year. Till one day…
***
In the woods Anthony's Trainings place.
"I need to at least be able to from the basic runes otherwise I won't be able to be a good successor."
…
…
"Sight, I even came here so why do people keep getting in my way?"
…
…
"Boss I found him."
"He is stupid enough to go to the forest. Hahah he is making it too easy for us."
…
"A water rune yes."
He formed a water ball and shoot it at the bulky man who just called out to his boss. It didn't do more than make him wet tough.
"Haha he got you. So now get him into this bag we don't have forever."
The bulky man nodded and went to Anthony, who drew his daggers.
Anthony knew the terrain and that he wouldn't be a match for either of them, so the only opinion was to run.
He circlet with the bulky man till the boss wasn't behind him then Anthony ran straight at him and slit between his feet and cut the never there to prevent him from moving properly.
He accomplished what he wanted the bulky man yelped out in pain and the boss was too stunned to reacted immediately and with the few seconds Anthony won with that little stunt he run as fast as he could.
"I won't be able to run all the way home in one go, so either I meet a guard, or I hide. I should pass a fox den soon. They shouldn't be able to spot it and I should be able to get inside."
He did as he said and forced himself into the fox den. It was hard to spot and the 'bandits' just run past it cursing.
After some time, more precise, after he caught his breath, he got out and started running towards his mansion.
***
After Alexander heard of this incident, he accepted the marriage proposal. The arrangements took another year put after he accepted the 'bandit attacks' stopped.
He had to give Rotavel a generous betrothal gift. The good part was, because he didn't have to work so much anymore, he could spend time with his son.
The year till the marriage was a happy one.
…
…
On the day of the marriage. Shortly before the ceremony, the bride went to the room of the groom.
"I want to make something clear. I want two things and in exchange I'll act as your wife whenever I need to. First, I want a child, whatever happens to it after the birth is your responsibility second, I want funds for my alchemy. As much as you can afford." After she said that she left the room. Left behind was a dumbfounded Alexander.
After the marriage Alexander grew gloomier every day.
***
"That concludes the story."
"Wow wow wow wow. There is so much…. Sniff sniff… Melissa is so awesome to just kiss him, father was such a loving husband, you managed to keep your cool even though you were attacked by two mean looking man and that explains why father dislikes me, at least he decided to raise me and not to kill me. But why did my mother care for me when I was born?"
"Probably the effect of the upgrade. We still have some time to practice swordsmanship."
He got up and I followed him to start practicing. "Seriously you had such an awesome mother, I on the other hand…"