The faint morning light spilled through the curtains when I stirred awake. My body was heavy, but my thoughts were heavier. My chest felt so tight from crying to exhaustion last night. 

My last clear memory I had was the cruel laughter, Redmund's cold words, Lilith's malicious acting... and then... My hand stilled as it brushed over the faint hollow etched into the edge of my bed.

Someone had stayed by my side until sleep overtook me. I remembered the warmth of a calloused hand caressing my hair, the heat of the body emitting, and the low murmur of a voice I knew too well.

"Lucretius..." I whispered.

I gasped and sat abruptly, my heart pulsating from the realization. Oh, my dear Moon Goddess! Had it been real? Was Commander Lucretius really here in my room last night?

My eyes roamed around and saw that nothing had been disturbed, yet I could see that some slight details had changed. My muddy shoes were resting neatly on the bedside, and even my cloak I used last night was lay draped over my chair. I went to grab it and smelled the familiar woody scent clinging to it, making my eyes widen, knowing who owned it.

"No way... He was really here..."

I covered my mouth in shock as the memory of him carrying me in his arms crossed my mind while my crying face was buried in the crook of his neck. My body shuddered when I managed to recall begging him to stay here in my room. 

Lucretius didn't protest and still stayed with me!

"This is... not happening..." I was in denial that I really met him, but the evidence lay in front of me. There was no denying it.

Commander Lucretius was here last night! In an unexpected moment!

"Shit... Shit.. Shit..." My feet began pacing back and forth as nervousness overtook my whole being. I was too consumed by the grief of Redmund and Lilith's words and the rejection of the mate bond with Redmund that I let that man become close to me.

Could this mean that he remembered me? It was impossible, right? He didn't even tell me last night that I was one of the women he slept with. We just happened to meet by coincidence, and he was the last person that I thought would be my salvation.

"Right... Salvation..." I licked my lips, my hands trembling because right now, I felt in debt to him. And I didn't know how I would suppose to return his kindness towards me.

There were other things I also had to mind. How would I seek vengeance against Redmund and Lilith? The betrayal they did to me was unforgivable, and I wanted to plan how I would exact my revenge.

Conflicted, my eyes darted at the wall clock, and horror plastered on my face. Thirty minutes before seven. I immediately rushed to the bathroom, but was horrified to see that my swollen, red-rimmed eyes stared back.

"Moon Goddess, I look miserable!"

As I finished, I nearly tripped over myself rushing out of my quarters, but only to stop for a while at the sight by my door. My stomach churned upside down upon seeing a chrysanthemum lying on the floor. This time the color was yellow. Not only that, there was a note tied to the stem on it again.

Not again... I mentally said as my fingers tremored upon reaching it, as I unfolded the note. 

'Do you wish for vengeance, Lady Euphyllia?'

I froze, my breath trapped in my throat, before my eyes inspected the hallway from left and right, as I found no one around. I took the flower and laid it on my desk, shoving the note into my pocket as I scurried out of my room. 

By the time I arrived at the records hall, the message on the note pressed against me more heavily than my emotions I felt last night. 

Vengeance...

This mysterious person must have seen my horrible state last night. I couldn't be wrong. If it weren't, how did he know that this word was what I wanted to do as of this moment, but too frustrated to even execute, given how my job couldn't be able to reach Redmund and Lilith.

If I dared to approach the war council, they would deem me unreliable if I reported that Redmund wasn't fitted to be a captain, after all. 

Who could I approach so I could execute my revenge against them? Something close to either of them... Or rather, something close to Redmund... 

Out of nowhere, Lucretius' striking face came into my mind. I stiffened as shivers ran down my spine from the realization. 

Of course... He was Redmund's uncle... and his sworn enemy, too.

"Euphyllia," one of my comrades whispered, snapping me back to reality. "Are you all right?"

I blinked. "H-Huh? What?"

Clara pointed my eyes. "Your eyes looked puffy," she said, looking concerned at me. "Did something happen?"

In my peripheral vision, a few of our comrades were looking in my way. I secretly clutched the hem of my tunic, my heart felt like about to explode from embarrassment.

I turned to Clara and chuckled nervously. "I was reading a very sad romance novel last night, and... you know, I can't help but cry." My upper lip curled into a wry smile, hoping that she bought my excuse. I even made sure that I slightly raised my voice so my other comrades would hear it. 

I didn't want any gossip going around later, and it might reach Redmund and Lilith's ears. That was the last thing I wanted to happen.

I wouldn't want them to win because they had hurt me emotionally.

Clara chortled and patted my back. "I see. You had me worried." Relief washed over me from her reply.

I coerced a smile and found an excuse that I would be returning the record books to their shelves. I might be smiling, showing them that I was fine, but my insides were in deep turmoil as of this moment. Not only that, I was thinking about Lucretius as he was the one who brought me back to my room. I didn't even know how I was supposed to thank him, but thinking about it, it would just remind me of our night rendezvous I wanted to forget.

And there was this chrysanthemum flower and a cryptic note that I had to think about that appeared this morning. The word, vengeance, kept echoing in my head since I had thought of it last night, and upon seeing the note. 

I also kept thinking about who the person was behind this, and they knew so much about me. Who kept prying into my life? What did I do for them to be obsessed with me?

This incident only occurred since the day I found out about Redmund and Lilith's betrayal and their affair with Lucretius. If I were to dissect the events, this was the plausible reason it started.

But who could that be? 

I massaged my temple. My plate was so full, I don't think I could handle myself right now.

When I returned to my desk, Cerys creaked the door open and stuck her head inside. "Ms. Euphyllia? Sir Marlin summons you. He said it's urgent."

My stomach lurched. Marlin rarely called me to his private study unless there were matters related to the strategic plans that needed my involvement. 

Bewildered, I followed Cerys while she was handling a clipboard. "We're busy today, huh?"

Cerys nodded, slightly pouting. "Sir Marlin keeps ordering me left and right. And..." she paused and leaned closer to me. "Alpha King Claudian is coming home soon, so everything must be arranged perfectly. I heard he's quite frightening." 

I chuckled at her statement until we reached the old oak door at the far end of the west wing of the record hall. Cerys knocked one and motioned her hand to let me in.

"Come in," Marlin called when I stepped inside. The scent of parchment and ink, mixing, smelled earthy and smoky. His study room was full of shelves of scrolls and books lined on the walls, as well as some cabinets. He glanced up as soon as Cerys left. "Euphyllia. Sit."

Gulping, I grabbed the chair and sat next to him. My hands suddenly felt clammy against my lap.

I hope this was some good news. I didn't want some bad news to add to what I already had. It was too much for me already if that happened. I didn't know what I was going to do to myself if this time would give me a bad day.

May the Moon Goddess protect me.

He leaned on his seat, his hands folding together as they rested on the desk. "This morning, I received a peculiar request. One of the commanders approached me, asking for the best tactical keeper to serve as his assistant."

My heart skipped. "A-Assistant?" Did I hear it right? A commander looking for an assistant from tactical keepers?

Marlin's lips tugged upward in a faint smile. "Indeed. Naturally, I recommended you."

My jaw dropped from his statement. "Me? Assistant to a commander?" Marlin nodded.

My eyelids fluttered at his response. I would never dare to imagine something beyond this, especially after the shame and heartbreak still raw in my chest.

"Um..." I had a hard time finding my words. "Wow... I-I do not know what to say..." I stammered. Then, there was a hope lingering on my face. "By any chance, is it... Commander Rachelle Simon? I heard that she's one of the general candidates. Is it true?"

I could have sworn my eyes shaped like stars just by mentioning her name. I had been eager to see her and thanked her for being our heroine. I barely saw her in the headquarters these days, as I heard that she had been dispatched to the Auritaurie. 

Now, with the rumors escalating about her being one of the general candidates, it was already impressive that even though we were of the same age, she had risen from the military ranks at ease because of her incredible leadership skills. What she only hated was doing paperwork.

Marlin chuckled in response to my question. "Well, if Jack can trade his position to you, perhaps you can try," he replied with an impish grin. "But I highly doubt he will give up his position as Commander Rachelle's assistant." I frowned, suddenly wanting to trade my position. He reached for a folded letter atop his desk. "Unfortunately, this commander is not her, but is deemed one of the best and will be soon included in the general candidates, too."

My eyes widened. There was another commander who would be promoted to general this year? Who could that be?

"Another general candidate?" I parroted.

He nodded. "It's the reason why he's on a hunt of looking for a new assistant, preferably from someone who can help him offer opinions and strategies on the battlefield." He slid the letter toward me. "Nevertheless, the commander himself provided this." 

Still trying to understand the intention of that commander, my hands wavered as I picked it up and saw that it was a recommendation letter. Breaking the wax seal, my eyes fell on what was written down, and I felt like my world had ceased moving.

It wasn't because of what was included in the letter, which was why I was acting like this, but it was because of the penmanship.

The penmanship!

That familiar strokes... The deliberate curves...

I knew it... I had seen it before... I couldn't be wrong now. The penmanship was the same as that on the cryptic notes!

My stomach twisted, blood roaring in my ears as my eyes read the passage diligently, but I had a hard time processing what was written. All I wanted to know was who owned this penmanship while my heart was pounding so fast. My attention dropped down to the signature at the bottom.

'Signed with authority,

Lucretius Xior Franciosa

35th Commander of the Waevalon Kingdom's Royal Military'

Suddenly, I felt like there was a lump in my throat that was hard to swallow from the commander who had just recommended me. No way... There was no way that I would be seeing his name.

There was no way that Lucretius was the person who kept sending me chrysanthemum flowers and cryptic notes!