Three years have passed since Rosalyn and Prince Liam got married. Duke Tedric has been an honored guest of the Royal Palace and visited his daughter, Princess Rosalyn, as often as he could. And every time Duke Tedric went to the Royal Palace, he took Mina with him, claiming that a young lady should not be left home alone. Mina had begged her uncle not to take her to the Royal Palace, but no matter how much she pleaded, Duke Tedric never listened.
A year after their marriage, Rosalyn gave birth to a son, and Mina tried to be happy for them but failed. There have been many days when Mina thought she was a bad person because she wished Nolan, Rosalyn's son, would have been her son. Mina loved Nolan with all her heart. And how could she not love little Nolan, that looked at her with eyes identical to those of Prince Liam?
Duke Tedric still refused to let Mina attend balls, claiming she was still too young. Even if women younger than her were married and many already had children, Mina had fallen into a routine and was content with her life.
Some days she would go to the Fire Church to help the Fire Mages and the novices. And other days, she would visit her friend, Ivy. But most of the time, Mina would sit in the garden or the Drawing Room doing embroidery or cross-stitching.
Hugo returned from war two months earlier. His blue eyes, once full of life and joy, were sad and full of pain. Mina had tried talking to him, but Hugo kept brushing her off. There had been many days when Hugo locked himself in his room, drank wine, yelled, and destroyed all the furniture. There were also good days when Hugo would spend time with Mina in the Drawing Room. They would sit on the sofa, Hugo would put his head on her shoulder, and she would sing for him. Hugo had always told Mina she had a beautiful voice.
A month after Hugo returned home, the Kingdom of Nodor won the war. The final battle took place in the Litus Kingdom, on the Cursed Mountain. For five days, the Nordorian forces fought against the Necromancer.
The Necromancer was winning; his army of undead was almost unstoppable. But a young Nodorian Commander and his warriors attacked the Necromancer from behind, taking him by surprise.
The Necromancer was strong, but the Commander was faster. After a long fight, the Necromancer was badly injured, and he ran to his tower. The Forest Elf Seer sealed the tower, trapping the Necromancer inside.
Even if the army of Nodor had yet to reach Athea, celebrations had been held in the name of the young Commander and his warriors.
One morning, after breakfast, Mina and Hugo went to the Drawing Room while Duke Tedric went to do some errands.
"Hugo, I am worried about you," Mina said after they sat on the sofa. "Ever since you returned, all you do is drink or–"
Hugo interrupted her, "You haven't been there, Mina! You haven't seen what I saw! What he did to them!"
Mina didn't have to ask to know to whom Hugo was referring. Since returning, Hugo has had nightmares, and he would yell in his sleep.
"I might not have been there, Hugo, but I see how much the war has affected you. And I want to help you, but I do not know how."
Hugo looked at her with tormented eyes, "Just sing for me, Mina."
Mina was about to start singing when they heard the bell from the main gate. She wondered who could be visiting so early. Usually, people visit in the afternoon.
"Are you expecting someone?" Hugo asked.
Mina shook her head, "Ivy is visiting some family in Ora Dorei. She won't be back for the next five days or more."
Ora Dorei was the second biggest city in the Kingdom. Mina had never been outside the walls surrounding Athea, but she had heard stories about Ora Dorei. Elves and humans lived and worked in harmony behind the tall walls of Ora Dorei.
A few Forest and Air Elves lived in Athea. Mina wished more Elves lived in the capital, but the families from the high society did not look with good eyes at the Elves.
"Maybe some man that wants to court you?" Hugo said.
Mina snorted, "What man, Hugo? You know uncle Tedric refuses to let me go to balls. I haven't met any man."
Hugo shrugged, "Perhaps he saw you on the street. One look in those green eyes of yours, and you stole his heart."
"One look at my skin and he would have ran as if he would have seen an Ogre," Mina said and looked out the window. She had seen many people take one look at her skin color and avert their gaze as if she was something impure.
"Look at me, Mina." When Mina did not look at him, Hugo put a finger under her chin and tilted her head so he could look into her eyes. "You are beautiful, and I know that you will find someone to love you one day. Not for your skin or the family or your money. But for who you are. And not only that you are beautiful, Mina, but you are gentle, sweet, and caring. And your voice, Mina, is more beautiful than those of mermaids."
Mina rolled her eyes, "As if you ever heard mermaids sing."
Hugo was about to reply when Anette, the maid, entered the Drawing Room. She looked at Mina and appeared to be a little embarrassed.
Hugo shifted on the sofa and waited for Anette to talk. "What it is?" he finally asked.
"I am sorry to interrupt," Anette said, "but there a... a gentleman wanting to see the Duchess."
Mina's eyes went wide. Who could possibly want to talk to her? She rarely spoke to men that were not from the family.
Hugo arched an eyebrow and looked at Mina, "A gentleman, you say? Lead him in!"
"But, young Duke, I have to warn you that–"
Before Anette could finish her thought, a tall man with short black hair, blue eyes, and breathtakingly beautiful entered the Drawing Room. He was dressed in black pants, a brown shirt, and a black jacket. On the left shoulder of the jacket, three wolves were embroidered. He had tall brown boots on his feet, and next to him was a big black wolf.
But Mina was not looking at the man's clothes or his wolf. She was looking at his face because he had a piercing on the bridge of his nose. A long-forgotten memory of Rosalyn talking to a young man that was also a bastard born came to her mind. Mina had a bad feeling that the man standing before her and the young man from her memory were one and the same.
Mina and Hugo stood.
"Anette, bring some fresh-made juice and some of those cookies we made this morning," Mina told the maid.
"Of course, Lady Mina," Anette said and left.
The man walked until he was standing just a few feet away from Mina and Hugo. When he stopped walking, the wolf also stopped and sat on its haunches.
Hugo looked at the man for a few moments before speaking, "Commander Jayden?"
Mina looked at Hugo, "You know him?"
Hugo shook his head, "I haven't met him before, but I have heard of him. Mina, this is the man that won the war–Commander Jayden of the Wolf Army."
Mina has heard many things about Commander Jayden. He has been on the lips of everyone ever since he managed to defeat the Necromancer.
The Bastard Commander some called him, while others named him the Wolf Commander.
She wondered why the most important man after the King and Prince Liam came to visit her. She did not know him.
"I didn't come here to chat," Commander Jayden said. "I am here to see my betrothed. Where is she?" Commander Jayden asked in an irritated tone.
'Oh, Gods!' Mina thought. She had a very bad feeling. And she prayed it wouldn't be what she thought. Surely Rosalyn hasn't been this foolish. Because if Rosalyn has promised this man to marry him and she married the Prince, a big scandal will start.
Mina wondered how Rosalyn and Commander Jayden knew each other and in which circumstances she ended up promising him she would marry him.
Hugo frowned, "I don't know what betrothed you are talking about."
"Duchess Castex! Where is she?" Commander Jayden asked in a loud tone.
Mina spoke before Hugo could say anything else, "She is not here. There is nothing for you here. Please, leave."
Mina hoped the Commander would leave. She was glad that Duke Tedric wasn't home because he was known for his short temper.
Hugo looked at Mina. Then at Commander Jayden. "Who are you talking about?"
"Where is she?" Commander Jayden asked Mina, ignoring Hugo.
"I already told you, she is not here!" Mina said. "Leave!" The wolf growled. "And take your beast with you!"
She took a step towards the Commander wanting to make him leave before her uncle returned home.
The wolf growled again, and Mina stopped walking.
Commander Jayden said in a loud tone, "I am not leaving until I know where Rosalyn is!"
Hugo growled, "What do you mean Rosalyn is your betrothed? She is married to Prince Liam!"
Jayden stilled, "What did you say?"
"You heard my cousin!" Mina said. "She is married. Just leave!"
Commander Jayden snarled, "She married another after she became my woman and promised to wait for me?"
Hugo turned pale, "She did what?"
Commander Jayden folded his arms, "You did not know that she gave me her virginity and accepted a bracelet from me saying that she will marry me when I return from war?"
Suddenly Mina felt sick. If only she had watched Rosalyn more closely, nothing would have happened.
"Commander Jayden," Hugo said, "I have no idea what my sister did, but she is married now. She even has a child. Forget about her. You are an important person now, and I know many young women will want to marry you."
Anger flashed in the Commander's eyes. "I do not want any other woman except my woman! And I am going to have her!" Commander Jayden turned on his heels and started walking as fast as he could. "Aksel, we are leaving!" he said, and the wolf followed him.
Mina knew she had to stop Commander Jayden. He could not go to the Royal Palace. Dear Gods! The scandal!
Her legs started moving. "Wait!" she yelled after the Commander.
Commander Jayden did not stop walking. In fact, he was walking so fast that Mina had to lift her skirts.
Anette was returning with a tray with cookies and three glasses filled with juice, and Mina almost bumped into her in the hallway.
"My Lady, I did not see you," Anette said, but Mina did not hear her.
"Commander Jayden!" Mina yelled, seeing the man and his wolf turning left in the hallway. "Wait!"
"Mina! He can't go to the Royal Palace!" Hugo said from behind her.
"We have to get there before him!" Mina said.
She grabbed Hugo's hand, while in the other, she still had her skirts and started running down the hall.
When Mina and Hugo made it out of the mansion, they saw Commander Jayden on top of his horse, going out through the main gate. His black wolf followed him.
"I will ask Paulo to prepare the carriage!" Hugo said.
"There's no time!" Mina said and tugged Hugo after her. "We will have to rent one!"