Prologue

 In the coming days, the search for the Younger Illya became much more intense than before. With Stalavat demanding answers for the failure of the Younger Illya to appear before the Jarl, it left the Younger Stanillo pressured to find an answer. Diana of Stalavat was growing impatient and demanded that her marriage should take place before winter, but the Younger Stanillo found himself not only occupied with the search for the Younger Illya, but also with the management of the village and the campaign against the Rostov. The campaign against the Rostov was not as easy as it was thought to be, especially with the absence of the Younger Illya to lead the army.

As the Younger Stanillo saw the situation at hand, it was only a matter of time before word got out to the Elder Illya. This could not happen by any means, so he personally set out to search for the Younger Illya in the woods, where he had heard rumors of a humanoid creature roaming the area. Hunters noted that the creature was swift, but also a nuisance with how he killed the animals and did not bother to dispose of them properly. The truth is, the Younger Stanillo was not eager to find his comrade. In fact, he wished the lad to be out of the picture.

Each passing day, he felt closer to winning the heart of Coria, but each time there was mention of the Younger Illya, she continued to be moved by the mere mention of his name. Deep down, the Younger Stanillo knew that she loved him, despite her outright denial of the matter when confronted with the facts. It was hard for him to admit, but when he found her that day in tears, he was moved by her heartbreak.

Out of pity, he promised to help her, inviting her to live at his estate for the time being. Having nobody at the time, Coria took his offer. At first, Coria refused to eat and to get out of her bedroom, but the Younger Stanillo took the time out of his day to feed her and talk with her. With the passing days, he began to see the beauty of Coria and quickly became enamored by her beauty. However, he was conflicted by his feelings, considering she was carrying the child of his friend who had left her behind because of his father's dislike of her people.

The Younger Illya never got the chance to tell him, but he had figured that was the case. Coria was suffering before his eyes, and it made him angry at the Younger Illya, but he also understood that the Younger Illya was in greater pain for saying what he had said without meaning it. In the coming days, he held his ground for the most important until one particular day. On that day, Coria was reminiscing in bed and calling out to Illya, but as on most days, the Younger Stanillo knocked and came to feed her.

As he sat alongside her bedside, and right as he sat there, Coria kissed the man, believing him to have been the man that she had long desired in her dreams. When she realized her mistake, it was too late, she was embarrassed and apologized profusely to the Younger Stanillo, believing him to be a married man. The Younger Stanillo told her he was not, but it was at that moment he began to feel something for her…