Life Becomes Duke's Beloved
Monster Hunt

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Armand crossed his legs casually in front of the host. Calix was already used to Armand's attitude. So he didn't think too much about it. Armand raised his cup and breathed his tea. Letting the soothing aroma of tea fill his respiratory cavity.

"That monster, it's hard to kill in any way I can think of." Calix started their discussion.

"What does it look like?" armand asked in a calm tone.

"Horned, fangs very long, his face resembled a snake of enormous size, his skin scaly and four-legged. The monster hides in a forest where ordinary citizens hunt animals" Calix explained.

"I've never seen such a monster before." Armand thought for a moment. Can't remember if he's ever seen such a monster.

"Duke, I heard you have one witch notebook," Calix said carefully.

"You're right, there's no record of monsters there. The book only talks about one name. Calisto ...." Armand suddenly stopped his words. Learning Calix expression.

"If you want the book, come to my house. I'll be happy to give it to you." Armand looked at Calix's softened face.

"At the same time there's no reason for me to keep that love story." Armand smiled for a while as he closed his eyes. He stared at the ceiling of Calix's study.

"Norone ... The witch's real name, right? A little like his name."

"You mean Miss Abela." Calix didn't really want to comment on that.

"You must have been upset that I took him, there were some incidents that happened in the capital, so I didn't have the confidence to leave him there. I hope you understand."

Calix was speechless hearing Armand's explanation, not that he didn't hear the news. He also did not mind much, as long as Armand prioritized his mission over everything else.

"On monsters, let's talk to other warriors, about what has been and what has not been tried to subvert it." Armand stood up from his seat and prepared to work. Calix only nodded small and followed the person who always easily gave orders to anyone around him.

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Armand stared at all the soldiers he was carrying and the tense looking Calix warrior. He can predict what happens to them. It should be that the sentiments that happened to their Master did not affect themselves as a soldier.

Armand grinned slightly, "It looks like we're left behind something interesting, isn't it mister Duke?" Armand glanced at Calix who looked annoyed before his guilty-looking soldiers.

"Her Majesty the Duke de Rhodes and his soldiers came at the behest of His Majesty the King, I asked them to come. Because we can't defeat the monster alone. Think of our dead soldiers, or lost villagers." Calix sounded vibrate as he said that. Enough to make Armand sympathize. The duke of Estonia told his soldiers to respect him and the soldiers he brought.

The duke looked at his warrior captain fiercely, the adult man nodded slightly before facing him.

"Do you not know how to stop those who play?" ask Armand coldly.

"I'm wrong, your majesty, I'll fix this" the captain replied.

"Duke Estonia, we don't have time for this. I think we should immediately discuss what is more important now, than the childish attitude of our soldiers." Armand looked at Calix and gestured with his eyes for Calix to forget what happened and immediately to the strategy room to discuss.

Calix only let out a tired sigh before agreeing with his teacher.

Armand stared at the parchment with a picture of the monster that was quite creepy. He had actually never met that monster before.

"I've guessed it's the first time I've seen this monster Duke" Armand told Calix.

"You're right, before this monster never appeared. I don't know what caused him to show up now." Calix handed Armand a stack of parchments. "This is what we've been trying to knock him out" Calix said.

Armand was swept away in that many reports. His forehead was concentrating.

"You guys really do a lot of things" Armand murmured. He sighed, what were the remaining ways that they had yet to try. Armand scratched his brows and leaned his back on the upright wooden chair. Trying to find another way they can.

Armand's forehead grew increasingly wrinkled upon hearing the commotion in front of the room he was occupying. He looked at Calix who also looked confused by the circumstances.

"What's going on?" ask Armand to the Captain.

"I'll check, your honor." The captain of his soldiers rushed out of the room. And come back with an awkward smile. Armand looked at his captain with his eyebrows raised next door.

"Madam Abela is looking for you noble" said the Captain slowly.

The wrinkle between Armand's brows grew even more pronounced. Abela? Searching for? He wasn't sure why the woman was looking for him at a time like this. Nope. It felt like he had never even looked for it since he regained consciousness and lost his memory. Not yet finished he thought, Abela had already rushed into the room. Approaching Armand who was still stunned.

"Is there something emergency?" ask Armand curiously.

"Why? No ... It's not like that. I just miss my boyfriend." Abela's reply left Armand with a bad feeling, and everything in the room except for her blushed in shame.

"You know, you look insincere when you say it," Armand replied bluntly.

"This is the monster you're trying to defeat? It looks scary" Abela said. The words that came out of his mouth were very hollow, like he was daydreaming.

"I'm thinking and strategizing, can you wait for me in the room?" Armand ruled not asking.

"You're so mean, I'm here for fear of you leaving me." Abela said flatly not according to her words. No tone of concern at all.

"Abela ...." Armand called out her name softly, hoping that Abela was sensitive enough that her presence greatly disturbed those in this room.

Abela did not reply she approached Armand and fixed the front of his very neat clothes. A futile gesture that made Armand wait. What would Abela say or do right now.

Abela looked at Armand behind her pliable eyelashes, she smiled slightly before pulling Armand's collar towards him. Their faces are very close. Armand could smell the fragrance of the flowers that were pouring out from his nape.

"Hash the two fangs in half and stab them in the jaw with your sword" whispered Abela seriously next to Armand's face.

Armand looked at Abela and asked, "are you talking about monsters?"

Abela replied with a thin smile. "May it work" he whispered before turning around and exiting the room.

Armand was still glued to his place. Staring at the back of Abela who disappeared behind the door.

"Have you ever been after his jaw or fangs?" armand asked, his attenuation had not moved from the door where Abela came out earlier.

"We've never been after that part, it's the area we can avoid as much as possible. We don't know if the fangs are poisonous or not." Calix answered seriously.

"Nonsense," murmured Armand. "Let's try that then."

Armand stared at the image of the monster again. And began discussing strategy with Calix and their captains, as well as some competent soldiers.

The discussion went on for quite a while, until they missed dinner. They agreed to start hunting monsters in the morning. Armand and Calix walked side by side towards the castle to rest.

"You got that idea from Madame Abela?" ask Calix. Not intending to dig up the information, he was just a little curious.

"Yes, Abela whispered to me earlier," replied Armand calmly.

"Interesting, I didn't know that Madame Abela had any interest in monsters." Calix scratched his chin.

"You're right ...." Armand hung up his sentence.

Calix was right, Abela had never shown any interest in monsters before. What advice he gave was only the original advice, whereby he encouraged Armand and the other soldiers to bet on this strategy. Or indeed Abela knew how to subvert the monster.

"Your Majesty ...." Calix breaks Armand's daydream.

"Yes?"

"Good night, may you get enough rest for tomorrow" Calix said before his salute and resignation. Armand spontaneously returned Calix's greeting and began to circulate his gaze. He was already at the door of his room.

As Armand opened the door, he saw Abela sitting on the bed in an excessively thin silk nightgown. His golden hair was broken. Armand tried to get used to seeing the grin that appeared on Abela's face which sometimes looked cunning.

"You waiting for me to help me change clothes?" armand asked calmly, trying not to directly ask about the incident earlier.

"So? Did you accept my idea? Did you get a strategy?" Abela asked rather impatiently.

"I'm even surprised that you gave me such an idea" Armand replied, he undressed one by one in front of Abela as if it was very natural. Abela could not hide the red hue on her face. But he didn't want to give Armand a chance to tease him if he fussed about it.

"I remember reading a book about that monster, once" Abela replied rather originally.

"You know baby, you'd be so stammered and nervous if I kept asking now. I know now you're lying" said Armand, staring directly at the woman.

Abela grinned again, "Are you right. It was just an idea that occurred in my head. I didn't know it could be useful or not."

"The fact that we even made a strategy to launch your advice. I think it's quite acceptable." Armand walked towards the bed and rode on it. Getting closer to Abela. Lay their bodies side by side. Twisted a pinch of Abela's hair with her index finger.

"I'm glad to see you claiming myself to be yours ... But not at a time like that." Armand rubbed the side of Abela's face gently. "Sleep, we're not gonna do anything tonight. I have to get ready in the morning."

"I don't expect to do anything either." Abela rolled her eyes making Armand laugh softly.

"You know Abela ...." Abela looked into Armand's eyes at a very close distance.

"hn ?" abela muttered slowly.

"You're so pretty today."

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