It was a week after the wedding when she comes back to University and already her friend is asking her all sort of question
"Did he abuse you?"One of her friend ask
"No"She answer
"Is he cruel?"Another asked
"No"She answered
Then one question annoyed her
"Is he good in bed?"One girl asked her
Don't get her wrong she didn't hate anyone but she is already feeling a bit possessive of Dante and she doesn't want any of them to know that he is actually a good man
"Oh, yeah I heard rumors that he is very experience"The girl said as the other giggles and that made her blood boil
"Well, he may as well be a brute in bed"Said another
"Uh, girls his wife is over here hearing what you all are is talking about"She said as she felt annoyed and angry
"Sorry"All of them said
"So how was your wedding night?"She heard an annoying voice
"It...went well"She said not lying and not disclosing anything
"I bet he is so good that he made you scream his name all night long"Vincenzo said bitterly
She blushed but didn't say anything
"Is he gentle or rough? Does he knows how to work his hand?"Vincenzo said
"Can you stop sounding like a girl wanting to know her friend first time?"She ask sarcastically
"Wha?"He asked dumbfounded
"That is none of your business"She said
"You should have been mine"He said angrily as he walks away seriously how desperate can he be?
After class she hears several girls screams and giggle and she saw her husband waiting for her
He wave at her
"What are you doing here?"She asked him as she reach him
"Thought we could go home together and go to the grocery"He said as several women eyed him and giggle not to mention several others across the yard, for someone who is a brute he sure is popular
"Sure"She said grateful for the ride
He opened the door for her and she went inside
"I thought you'll be busy"She stated
"Didn't I tell you I'll always make time for you"He said as he smiles gently
She blush
"Anyway, Buy anything you like"He said as he drives
A minute later they are in the grocery store and Dante took one loong list and her mouth drops
"Dante?"She called
"Hmmm?"He reply
"Do we have to buy that much?"She ask
"Yeah"He said as he grabs one item in the list
When they are done she is both astonish and amuse at What he buys
When they got home she is suddenly greeted by a beautiful platinum haired woman
"Dante"She said
"Virgillia"Dante said cheerfully
"So this must be, Madam"She said referring to Beatrice
"Uh, nice to meet you"She said
"Anyway, Renato is here now so leave the cooking to him"She said
"I'm Dante's personal and only maid and Renato his personal and only cook and also my husband"Virgillia said
She smiled this household is definitely cheery
She is looking for Dante when Virgillia spotted her
"If you are looking for him he is in his study"Virgillia said
"Where is his study?"She asked
She gave her the direction to his study
She found a giant door and knock
"Come in"He said and opens the door
She is impress by the size of his study, he has two sofa on both side of his mahagony desk and a center table made with mahogany and a bed and bathroom, he has a radio and on the wall he got huge bookshelves and lots of book for someone who doesn't read much he has lots of books of different kind not to mention the mansion's library is the grandest and the biggest room in the whole mansion it practically occupies the whole of the West wing
"For someone who doesn't read much you have lots of books"She tease him
"Well..."He scratch his head
"Anyway, I want you to know that papa is throwing a party tonight for and I want us to go"She said
"I'm about to ask you the same thing"He said
"I'll get ready"She said as she wants to be early
They arrive at the Castiglioni mansion and as they enters the mansion she spotted several officials and some of her friend
"Angelo"Dante called him
"Captain Lucas"Angelo salutes him
"We are not at the formation so stop acting so formal"Dante said softly
Bice looks at her Husband, he is wearing his uniform as all of the other officers and soldier and her mind drifts to their first night and wonders how can his uniform hide all of that muscle, he has muscle but not as bulky as the body builder, he is more on a lean side.
"Fiorella"She heard her father and she is suddenly tackle and lift and being spin around
"Happy Anniversary, mama, papa"She said as he smiles
"Happy Wedding Anniversary, Captain and mother"Dante Salute
"Please, Call me Father as you are my son-in-law now"He said
"Sure...Father"He said
"Anyway, enjoy the party"Her father said
"Or better yet, you can go to Beatrice's bedroom"Her mother said and she blush
"Mama!"She exclaimed embarass
"Mother!"Dante exclaimed at the same time
"Hahaha, with your red hair and Violet eyes and her blond hair you'll surely have a beautiful children together"Her father tease
They kept quiet as her father tease them
The party went on
They went home early as Bice has class tomorrow and he has work. She went to bed as soon as they arrive home only putting her nightgown and then she is suddenly jolt awake at 3 she assumes when she hears Dante's footsteps walking back and forth, he is panting as if he just runs on the marathon and then she hears a quiet sob that's when she decided to get up
"Dante?"She called him
"Beato!"He is surprise
"Is something wrong?"She asked him
"No, nothing wrong go to sleep"He said
"Do you want to sleep with me?"She asked unconsciously and somehow she knew Dante is grinning in the dark
"Hoh? I didn't know that my wife wants to do it late"He said teasing her
She realize the indication of of her word
"No! I meant next to me!"She said embarrass
"It's okay"He said
She got up and tugged at his arm
"The bed is cold and you are warm"She said as she forcefully drag him
"Lay down"She said
He lay down as she lay on her side and he lays down next to her, his back to her
"Nightmare?"She asked him
"...Yeah"He said as he calms down
"Turn around"She said
And he did and she saw for the first time his sadness shining on his beautiful Violet eyes and it breaks her heart to see it as she decided that smiling suits him better, she touch his cheeks
"It's okay, I'm here"She said rubbing his cheeks and smiling gently, he took her hand and kiss it
"Go to sleep"He ordered
Sleep claimed her rather quickly.
The next day she snuggled into a warm pillow
"What a nice smelling pillow"She mutters as the scent of chocolate and coffee with a muscular scent invade her gradually waking senses, she heard a steady beat and her eyes snap open and did a double take that would have made Dante laugh
"Dante?!"She exclaimed silently as she was confuse why is Her husband is still in bed sleeping as she found out that he is an early riser, much early than the birds or chickens and she remembers that he is tired, she looks at the clock and saw that she had to get ready for school, she ruffles her husband's red spiky hair (an: he looks like battler) to wake him up and she is surprise at how soft it was and not the pointy and hard hair she imagined, she took a moment to stare at her husband's face, if he looks handsome when he is awake then sleep just enhance his looks and it become cute and adorable like a child rather than the usual tense and stern looks he has that make him a man, his eyelashes matches his hair and it was long and his eyebrows also matches his hair, his jaw line are strong and he is a little rough around the edges but matching his looks and his gentle and kind personality, no wonder any woman he meets ended up melting.
"I know I look good but please stop staring at me as if you want to eat me"An amuse voice spoke and she saw pairs of beautiful Violet orbs looking at her in amusement
"It's not like I was staring, idiot"She deny as she feels her face getting hot
"Aw, someone is blushing"He said as he poke her cheeks
"No, am not...it's...just...hot, yeah it was hot"She said as she looks away
"Good morning"He greeted her
"Good morning too, Dante"She reply
"Go first I'll lay down here for a while"He said
She rush to the bathroom realizing that she need to get ready
When she is done, she saw Dante rubbing his right shin and his expression is pained
"Dante?"She called him worried
Dante snap in attention
"Yeah?"He asked smiling
"Does something hurt?"She asked him as she walks toward him and her concern is increasing
"No, not at all"He said as he stands up and he stumbles when he steps his right foot
"Dante!"She quickly rush to his side to support him
"Just a cramp, go get ready or do you want to eat breakfast now?"He ask her as he leans on her for a while
"I'll wait for you"She said as he walks or more like limps toward the bathroom
She goes down to the dining hall and saw Virgillia
"Good morning, Madam"She said as she set the table
"Virgillia?"She called her
"Yes?"She ask
"I want some ointment for a sprain"She said
"Do you sprain something, Madame?"She ask worriedly
"No, Dante"She said and that was enough to make Virgillia to run to their room
A minute later and Dante and Virgillia emerge as Dante scratch his head it was clear that Virgillia gives him a stern talking to
"Dante is your right leg alright?"She ask
"Yeah, it is now"He said as he drinks his coffee
"Tell me if it start hurting again"She said as she grows concern for Dante
"Sure"He said as he bites his toast
He seems preoccupied again as if he is thinking of something
"Dante"Virgillia called him bringing him out or his stupor
"Yeah, I know"He said silently
Virgillia eyed him warily
"I'll go get the car ready"He said as he left
"Really, that child"Virgillia said as she sigh
"What's wrong?"She asked Virgillia
"Sorry, Madame but it's not my place to tell you"Virgillia said
She is puzzle and worried what if something happen to Dante because of that
"Don't worry, he is a strong man"Virgillia said reassuring her
"Huh?"She said confuse as to why? Virgillia knows
"It was showing on your face"Virgillia said
"..."She silently as she munch on her breakfast
"Just a little warning"She hears Virgillia said
"What?"She asked
"Don't fall in love with him"Virgillia said and she almost choke on her tea
"W-what?! That's..."She stutter
"Because I can already see it"Virgillia said
"That's unlikely..."She said blushing
"I hear that word before and believe me that person ended up falling for him"Virgillia said sadness is evident in her voice
"Why can't I fall in love with him?"She asked her
"That child's heart is already dead and has been for three years now"She said
"What do you mean?"She asked curious
"He only find pleasure in life like exploring, reading, or just blankly staring at something or being in the military"Virgillia explained
"Then..."Bice feared the worse
"Yes, he is looking for a way to die"Virgillia said
She is shock at this revelation Dante doesn't have the sign of someone being depressed or anything
"I did say his heart is dead but that doesn't mean that you can't revive it"Virgillia said
She is thinking about that conversation when a lesson caught her interest.
"Did you all know how Sauville falls a month ago?"Her professor asked
"When the king Ian De Musgrave is shot by his own daughter Victorique De Musgrave during the announcement of her impending marriage to Albert De Blois the current head of the ministry of defense"Bice answers as that event is still fresh as it happen recently
"Correct, Mrs. Lucas"The professor said
"Now, during that time a lot of protesters storms the palace in the middle of a riot and the propaganda is announced requesting for the abdication of the current king the crown prince Michael De Musgrave and agree but in one condition in the last order of the kingdom of Sauville The Princess Victorique De Musgrave will be executed"The professor said
She knows that as it was announced all over the world and she remembers her father's shock expression
"Now do you know that Sauville has a lot of legends and ghost stories?"Her professor asked
This piqued her interest and also the entire class
"The queen berry, Headless countess, The Springtime Grim Reaper, The Golden Fairy of the tower,The alchemist Leviathan, Gray wolf and Monstre Charmant"The teacher said
She raise her hand
"Can you tell me about the Gray wolf?"Bice asked
"They are wolves who lives in the mountain deep in Sauville, it was said that they talk in human language and knows everything"Her professor said
"I don't mind meeting that"She said
As the whole class laughs
She made a mental note to look for Sauville stories when she got home.
Sure enough there is a book of Sauville's ghost stories and legend, she took it took and takes seat in one of the couch as she reads it and weird enough she enjoyed every story but one story she finds interesting Monstre Charmant, she found more of love story than a ghost story, she reads the whole book and fall asleep on the couch, she was jolt awake the moment she was lifted on the couch and she is not surprise it was Dante
"Don't sleep on the couch you'll catch a cold"He scolds her
"Sorry"She said
"Do you want to eat?"He asked her and suddenly his stomach growl causing him to blush
"Did you wait for me?"She asked touch by the gesture
"Yeah"He said embarrass
She smiled
"So, should I head to our room or the dining hall?"He asked
"The dining hall"She said as she too is famished
They ate dinner together and she told him what she learns at school
"Sauville, huh?"He said
"Yeah and the ghost stories"Bice said excitedly as she miss the nostalgia in her husband eyes
"And then there is this particular story that I like"She said
"And what is that story?"Dante asked
"Monstre Charmant"She said and she miss the sad look in her husband's eyes
"What is that?"A girl ask
"I'll be your escort"The man said as he offers his hand to the golden haired girl which she shyly accepts
Four weeks pass and for some reason her body felt heavy and she finds it hard to rise from bed
"Beato?"Dante is confuse as to Why she is still in bed as he usually eat breakfast with her
"I'm fine"She said though not really
Dante frown and touch her forehead
"Fine my foot, you are sick! Why didn't you tell me?"He said angrily
He is really a weird man instead of being angry at her for being lazy, he is angry at her for not telling him that she is sick.
"You are confined in bed you are not allowed to leave the bed"He said
She giggles, seriously he is a worrywart and she finds it adorable
"You better leave you'll be late for work"She reminded him
"And leave you alone? I don't think so, I'll be here taking care of you"He said as he brush off her hair on her forehead
"But..."She tries to protest
"But you are more important than work"He said gently
Her heart beat faster
"And I'll always make time for you"He adds and that was enough to make the fever rose higher which didn't escape him
"It's getting worse, I'll go get something"He said as he rushed to the bathroom after grabbing a towel in one of the drawers, he comes out with a basin with cold water inside
He puts it on her forehead as the cool water alleviates her heat
"I'll go get some medicine and the thermometer, okay?"He said as he goes to the other side of the room and grabs their first aid kit
He puts the thermometer on her arm pit and after a minute or so he observes it
"A fever"He said frowning
"Is it bad?"She asked him playfully
He frowns
"I'll cook you something"He said as he left, she fell asleep a minute later
She woke to the smell of chicken soup
"Did I disturb you?"He asked worried that he steals her sleep
"If the delicious smell of soup is any indication, then yes"She said and he smiles as he helps her sit up and grabs the bowl and spoon
"Oh no! I'll feed myself"She said embarrass and he nods as he grabs a mini table and put her dinner in front of her
She doesn't have much appetite but the soup is enough to put something in her
"Here medicine"He said as he hands her a medicine and a glass of water, she fell asleep after that
She woke up at 12 midnight and saw Dante on a chair dozing off, she felt a tad better than this morning
"Beato?"She heard Dante
"Lay down here"She said
"But I'll make you uncomfortable"He reason but that won't do she saw how tired He is
"It's cold and you are a perfect heater"She said and he yield and lay down and embrace her and she embrace his waist and buries her face on his chest and it was more effective than any medicine and she is lulled to sleep immediately.
The next day she feels better but Dante is
"Oh gosh, you are burning!"She exclaimed
Sick
"You can leave me"He said and of course she didn't and instead takes care of him as he did to her
Really in sickness and health.