19 No control.

"So that was the reason why you wanted to ask for my specialty to scare Alexandria Valtris," Gwayne as she drank a glass of rum and sat next to Ares. "But why would you want to go that far? You know if you got exposed you will be beheaded immediately, right?" she asked as she crossed her arms and raised her eyebrow.

"I know that already and I have made sure that everything will be fine as long as I'm being careful," Ares answered as he held the glass of rum and looked at his reflection in the rum.

"There's no such a thing as being too careful because, in the end, something that is beyond your control will happen and will take you by a surprise," Gwayne warned him as she poured another glass of rum.

Ares smirked and looked at Gwayne. "Like the scar on your face?" he asked.

Gwayne raised her eyebrows and sighed. "Yes, like the scar on my face," she answered with a blank expression. "But now it's gone and it was all thanks to you," she said as she looked at Ares.

"It's worth it because I want to build a friendship with you as I said earlier," Ares said as he turned around and looked at the empty tavern.

Gwayne stared at him from the corner of her eyes. "So what is your real plan on this? I still can't figure it out after listening to your story," she asked.

"I might tell you about it someday when you and I trust each other and won't betray each other," Ares answered. "But knowing who you are, betraying is like a second nature to you, it's impossible for us to be that close," he continued and then drank the rum.

Gwayne just stared at him as he kept drinking the rum, she felt a bit bad but at the same time, there was a reason why she was like that. She couldn't make up her mind after Ares miraculously healed the scar that she despised all her life.

"I don't know how you know about that, but there's a reason why I'm like that," Gwayne said.

Ares looked at her from the corner of his eyes with a gentle smile on his face. "Blood can be washed but not scar, isn't that right?" he said.

Gwayne was speechless because he said exactly what her motto of life was. She looked at him and couldn't look away as her mind started to question everything about Ares.

Ares stood up and put down the glass, he walked toward the door but then Gwayne stopped him before he left the tavern. "Ares!" she raised her voice to stop Ares from leaving.

Ares turned around and looked at her. "Yes?"

"If I trust you in the future, would you trust me and won't betray me even though you knew that I might betray you someday?" Gwayne asked as she stared at Ares seriously.

Ares gently smiled at her. "Of course, I won't betray the people that important in my life," he replied without hesitation.

Gwayne looked at Ares with confusion. "But we just met, how could you say that I'm important in your life?" she asked.

"Maybe we have met each other in our previous life, who knows," Ares answered. "Well then, I should get going before my lady realize that I'm not in the Archdukedom. See you later, Gwayne," he continued to the left and closed the door behind him.

"Ares Trasven," Gwayne said as she poured a full glass of rum. "Why do you remind me so much of him," she continued then drank the whole glass in a single gulp.

Ares Trasven hurriedly went back to the mansion before midday because Alexandria might have awakened from her sleep.

Ares came back before noon and he felt relief but the moment he could catch his breath, a maid came to the barrack. "Sir Ares, Lady Alexandria has been looking for you since the morning," she said.

Ares produced cold sweat and immediately ran to the mansion to see Alexandria.

"You're looking for me, my lady?" Ares asked as soon as he entered Alexandria's room.

Alexandria's gaze was so scary that it made Ares feel uncomfortable. "Where were you? I have been looking for you since the morning," she asked as she kept glaring at him.

"I took a day off, my lady," Ares answered.

Alexandria squinted her eyes and walked toward Ares as she kept staring at him with suspicion. "You took a day off without telling me first? And why do you need a day off anyway?" she bombarded him with questions.

"I..." Ares didn't know what to say because he never thought Alexandria would be so suspicious about it and would take it seriously.

Alexandria suddenly leaned her head forward and she immediately leaned her head back while she was covering her nose. "You smell like alcohol!" she said as she took a step back. "You're not allowed to drink alcohol, Ares!" she continued as she yelled at him.

"My apology, my lady," Ares said as he bowed his head and put his hand on his chest.

Alexandria noticed the scar on his palm that wasn't fully healed from the spar between him and Gwayne. "What happened to your hand? That wasn't there before," she asked as she pointed at his hand with her folded fan.

Alexandria sighed as she walked back to the sofa and then sat down. "Get over here!" she said as she pointed at the floor. "Tell me the truth, where have you been and what happened?" she asked as she watched Ares walk toward her.

"I went to the capital city, my lady, and I went for a drink that's why my lady smelled alcohol from my breath," Ares answered. "For this scar, it was just a scratch and nothing serious, my lady," he continued.

"You went for a drink? Why?" Alexandria asked immediately.

Ares closed his eyes as he tried to not feel guilty since he was about to speak lie to her.

"The reason I went for a drink was that I'm disappointed in myself for everything that happened to my lady back there," Ares answered. "If only I just am more careful, or if only I pay more attention, then that wouldn't happen. Seeing my lady on the bed like that made me hate myself," he continued as he started to speak the truth and not lie.

"What are you talking about?" Alexandria asked quietly. "If it wasn't because of you, I wouldn't be here right now and enjoying my tea in my room," she continued.

Ares just bowed his head with understanding.

Alexandria sighed as she crossed her arms, she looked out the window and saw the bright sun lighten the balcony. "I hate when people is regretting everything because of their actions," she said as she stood up. "I hate when people think they could do better because of their own mistake," she continued and walked to the balcony's door.

"My lady?" Ares asked as he looked at her with confusion.

"You have no right to regret your mistake, you're only allowed to suffer for your own mistake because it will help you understand," Alexandria said. "But what about the mistake that wasn't your fault and you're the one to blame? It made you regret something that wasn't your fault in the first place?" she continued as she stared at the garden from the glass door.

"My lady? What are you talking about?" Ares asked as he started to feel worried about her because she started to talk nonsense.

Alexandria turned around and glared at Ares. "I'm talking about the death of my mother and the moment I was born into this world," she explained. "I'm talking about the regret why I'm being born to this world, Ares," she said.

Ares suddenly chuckled and made Alexandria look at him weirdly. "In the end, something that is beyond our control will happen and will take us by a surprise, my lady. Those are the words that I just heard from someone while I was drinking," he said as he smiled.

Ares immediately went on his knee and looked up to Alexandria. "My lady, if the world turns its back to you, I will still stand by your side and follow the path you carved," he said.

Alexandria looked at Ares and she could tell that he wasn't trying to comfort her with empty words but he was trying to convince her that everything will be fine and he wanted her to trust him.

"This is giving me a headache!" Alexandria said as she walked past Ares. "Wait for me outside the mansion," she said as she opened her wardrobe.

"My lady?" Ares asked as he turned around.

"I decided to go outside and see the city since it has been a while. I need some fresh air," Alexandria said. "And maybe I can see the world differently with you around," she mumbled quietly.