In a rectangular hall with high windows, the throne place in the middle-end from the door and King Philip sat anxiously. His face lights up now he sees Carlisle entering the Throne's Hall.

"Greetings, my king," partly, he bowed.

"Captain Carlisle cut the formal greeting. This is urgent, I have no further explanation, but I want you to travel immediately to our western border, today."

"Today? Like as instantly as the possibility?" he queried as he feels confounded with the bad news he receives at the moment.

"The British army is on our walls already. I want you to lead the war in our borders."

"What? But my king!"

"Carlisle!" a woman's voice echoing the entire hall.

Genevieve has just arrived. Hearing how her son seems declining the king's order, she cannot hold up not to barge in the conversation and scold her son. 

"How dare you refuse the king!"

Carlisle turned around to face his mother but just to sends a dull grimace at her.

Genevieve gripping tightly on her fan, she feels infuriated about how her son serving disrespectful at her. Remaining her posture, Genevieve ignored him but stride closer to the king's throne.

"Greetings, my cousin, the king."

"Genevieve! Thank you very much for the a.s.sistance you lend to me," the king expressed grat.i.tude.

Carlisle glances at his mother with a suspicious glare.

"We are family. There is none should help each other, but us. My sons would serve the king." She stated, gazing at her son meaningfully.

Carlisle doesn't want to hear any statement from his mother's mouth. If he hadn't known his mother, he would believe she's sincere and truly concerned about the present's king ruler.

But everything is just an act, Carlisle would love to throw loud applause for his mother. But he held himself to show obvious gesture in front of the king.

"Your Highness, there are other Royal Armies you can send to this war. I kneeled before the crown as your knight. I must stay closer to you to protect you, my king." Carlisle attempt to remind the king.

"Carlisle, you are the one I trust most, more than anyone that is why it is you I want to confide the Northward-Western walls."

Carlisle clenches his fists. Tonight is the night he supposes to hide Marivella, to prevent her from going to Korea. 

But why in all the day, today is one of the unluckiest days of his life?

Whether he goes to the war, how long it will last? That day, Marivella must be already away and sailed with the prince of Korea. He needs to find a solution, quickly. 

"My king, I understand that this is urgent, however, could you give me a day, and I will ride the first thing before the dawn break the next day?"

"Carlisle... I want to grant your request, but—"

Before the King finishes his words, a noise outside the door and then the queen comes in.

"Is he here?" asked by a soft, but troubled voice. "Carlisle!" the queen run toward them.

Her maids who're following behind, their faces filled with concerns. "Your Majesty, please, slow down. Don't stress your body," the Royal maids reminded her.

"I am glad you are finally here. Please, help us bring back my cousin." the queen pleaded.

"Your cousin? What do you mean about that, your Majesty?" He asked the queen and glanced at the King with a puzzled gaze.

"That is one thing I want you to ride immediately, Carlisle. Mary's cousin, Isabella Bennett, held up by the British soldiers," the King explained. "We antic.i.p.ate her arrival last night, but only a report I received that the British Army hasn't granted her to leave Britain."

"Duke Bennett made a personal request to save her daughter. Carlisle, I cannot refuse him. We cannot turn him down either. He is one who works on a peace treaty between ours and the Italian borders so that we could continue our trading business with them and other countries."

Isabella Bennett, cannot remember who is she, but her name does often mentioned. "Your Highness…"

"I beg you, Captain Williams, bring my cousin safely!" The queen begs one more time.

"Your Majesty!" The maids cried out.

"My queen!" King Philip runs toward his wife's side. The queen falls suddenly; losing consciousness.

"Queen Mary—" Carlisle also joins the unconscious queen.

With the help of Carlisle, he carries the queen and brought it to the Royal chamber.

* * *

"The queen bearing my child," the king announced to him.

"Would you give your children a burden? Would you offer them a gray future?" He added.

"This is not about to protect me or the throne, Carlisle, but the future of this country and my citizens."

The king brought up about the citizens of France. He sighed. Now that it was mentioned, could he has another choice to delays his decree?

Could he choose the woman he loves against the future of this country with how many citizens relying on the King?

"You would like for me to make a negotiation with the Britain Imperial Army?"

"If it is necessary, and could be done to make an agreement between our borders and country, please do. I have to maintain the relations.h.i.+p we have with our Italian borders as well."

* * *

Carlisle heaves a lonely, depressing sighed upon recalling his conversation with the King. It pressed him between two converging rocks.

When it comes to protecting his country and its people, he could not turn down the king.

Why is it such hard to bring happiness for himself? He sighed distressingly.

Carlisle roaming his gaze within its reach into the horizon displays in front of him. He loves this country as much as he loved Marivella and he had known that she also loved this country as she offers herself for the good relations.h.i.+p between the Korean Imperial and France. 

Sadness lingering his chest, his chamber door opens, Genevieve made a gradual step inside.

"Carlisle, bring Isabella safely to this household."

"And why I should do that? It is the queen who made a request, why I should present her to you?" he questions his mother.

"Have you forgotten? She is your fiancée! When both of you come back, I want to announce your engagement, officially." Genevieve lifted her head, then went on. 

"I just cannot bring up when the war broke suddenly. That is why, a.s.sures the king, that you will win the war in our borders!"

"Hmm… now I remember," his lips tore a mocking smile. "She is the woman you want me to marry, but have you forgotten, Mother, of what I once told you? If you wish her to be part of our family, then marry her yourself." he fearlessly provoked the d.u.c.h.ess.

"Carlisle Williams!"

Ignoring his mother, Carlisle picks up his suitcase and walks past her.

Genevieve, which trembles; clenching her fists upon infuriating by her son's a.s.sertion, displeased surging her chest. Carlisle never fails in disappointing her and contradicts everything she works on harder. 

Whatever, every time she attempted to lay her plans, Carlisle won't listen.

All she dreams is to secure the name and honor of the Williams family. Having a good relations.h.i.+p with the neighboring country could keep her position and even earn praise among the Aristocrats.

"By the way, Madam, I forgot to question you this," halted at the door, he spoke without looking at Genevieve.

"When you talk to me, don't forget to show me your face! I am still your mother!" she yelled at her son.

But Carlisle only glancing over his shoulder. "Have you planning to arrange my sister to a British lord?"

"So what? This is for your sister's future!" Genevieve replied with a firm in her voice.

This time, Carlisle turned around to face his mother. "Dare to, and you will have me as your enemy," he retorted boldly that made his mother enrage furthermore.

"How dare you talking to your mother this way!"

"You know what, Mother? I prayed, that in my next life, even she is a poor woman, but I wish for a compa.s.sionate mother."

At first, Genevieve ignores her son's words. But the more she would think of it, the more she cannot control not to withstand her enraged toward him. Her lips shaking in anger, and she wanted to scream, which she did.

"Do you think, I also choose you to be my son! I do everything for you, but you have guts to defy me!"

Carlisle could hear the d.u.c.h.ess's outcry upstairs. The servants and maids exchange glances at each other. They have been witnessing how the d.u.c.h.ess cannot control him, and so, this is already a normal scene to them.

Unlike the other son, Klein Williams, he does everything whatever the d.u.c.h.ess orders him, a complete opposite between the twins…

"Have safe travel, young master." The headmistress wishes.

"May G.o.d bless your battle, young master." the butler bowed and open the door for him.

"Thank you. Don't mind my mother, she must be on her menopausal period." It is not a joke, but he is aware of how his mother treated them.

The maidservants gasp in awe; they withheld not laugh at his remarks. Truly, they suffered a lot in the hands of the d.u.c.h.ess. If it weren't for the kindness of their young master Carlisle and the young lady, they won't last longer to stay serving the d.u.c.h.ess.

"G.o.d may with you, young master!" they recite in unison. 

Carlisle nodded at them. He strides toward the carriage where Gen waiting for him. He climbs inside and Gen sits in front of him.

"Gen, I want you to bring the letter I wrote for Marivella."

"Yes, Captain."

Carlisle presses his back into the couch. Pressing his eyelids, drops of tears escape from his eyes. Gen who witnesses this. He could not help to wish in silence for his captain.

"You may grant the next life; where you could live a peaceful, and happy life with the woman you love…"