<h4>Chapter 142: Never leave me.</h4>


    It was the very first time that someone was seeing the reality in the picture, seeing it for what it truly was. A cry for help, a young boy that was drowning in loneliness and on the brink of actually leaping off that cliff.


    "It was a tragic day, worse than any war I have ever fought." Rnd eyed the portrait with anger. His hands went around Sigrid’s waist, hugging her in public.


    He did not care that there were other people in the hall, visitors at Stormwind. What he needed to feel steady like his legs were on the ground andtely, Sigrid made him feel that way.


    The knights surrounded them, keeping the visitors at bay, especially the ones that those crystal cameras in hand and were taking pictures of everything they saw.


    Sigrid did not make any move to be separated from him and she just raised her right hand and caressed the front of his head which was buried in her neck. She did not need a high IQ to guess that something had gone wrong on that day, something that left Rnd feeling raw. She also had no doubt that it had to do with the way he was raised.


    "You are my family, right?" he asked her.


    The question startled her, and it reminded her of a scene in the novel when Emmah was at Stormwind castle and she told him that she would be his family. Now that she thought about it, Rnd had just taken her on a tour of this hall. They had not hugged as he was doing now, they had just held hands.


    It looked like she had sessfully stolen the plot and whatever blessings Stormwind castle had to offer had been diverted from Emmah to her.


    "Yes." she answered automatically.


    "You will never leave me, right?" he whispered.


    She nodded. "Why would I ever leave you? We are husband and wife, we are family, we are one. From the day we got married, I became your family and you mine. You gained the rest of the Thorin’s as family as well."


    He thought about the group of funny liars and ruthless individuals that were as thick as thieves and nice despite their shorings. Rnd thought about the wine and cheese they had sent him.


    The regr letters he got from his mother-inw Iryne inquiring on his well-being andining about the rise ofdy nche. His own responses were often perfunctory but that did not stop her from replying in her usual informal style.


    He remembered the golden pocket watch that his father-inw had sent him.


    He thought about the cloaks and boots which the duchess M had sent him, the knives which duke Thorin had given him and a new carriage. The old man even checked on him regrly at the training grounds.


    It was not just them but her brothers and some cousins who went out of their way to do nice things for him, invite him out for drinks. There was no denying that the Thorin’s had gone out of their way to treat him as one of their own.


    "I should consider myself lucky in that case."


    "Lucky that you married me." she said.


    Heughed, and a weight that had been siting on his chest when he stood in front of the portrait dissipated. They remained in that position for at least ten minutes. It crossed Rnd’s mind that perhaps it was time to get rid of the portrait.


    Maybe he could set it on fire, or have a horse trample over it. It was not worth holding onto anymore.


    He let her go but held on to her hand and they existed the hall together without looking at other portraits. They made their way to the house because Sigrid was ready to rx.


    She was d that the part of the castle were they lived was far from all the noise and activities. Just as she entered the house, she heard a loud shriek.


    The shriek was followed by loud yips of a dog, what sounded like utensils crushing to the floor and then a shadow. Sigrid found herself with an arm full of dog__Sunny being the dog.


    She turned around and thrust it into Rnd’s hands. "You could not leave the damn dog behind. We came for a couple’s honeymoon and yet I have to share your time with the dog." She groaned and rolled her eyes.


    Rnd patted Sunny’s head and the dog made soft whining sounds. Its round eyes were not focused on Rnd but Sigrid instead. In there, was an usation as if it was ming her for not wanting to carry it.


    "He cried when we were leaving, what was I supposed to do? Sunny loves you, why don’t you love him back?"


    She let go a humph through her nose as in denial of the dog’s love for her.


    "You brought your horse Venom, I am notmenting on that." Rnd mumbled.


    "We are at a horse farm!!" she eximed. It made sense that Venom hade, Sunny on the other hand not so much.


    The servants that had lined up to be introduced watched the royal couple with curiosity, smiles and a variety of opinions which they would only share among themselvester.


    "Ahem." Someone cleared his throat.


    Rnd and Sigrid noticed the Stormwind servants and put on their best smiles. He pulled her by the waist and nted her firmly by his side before the introductions could begin. There were many servants at Stormwind, only the important ones hade. This included the head chef, head of the Lady’s maids, the scullery maids, footmen, grounds keeper and others.


    Rnd interlocked their fingers with his left hand and carried Sunny with his right one as he proudly identified the servants that had been with him for the longest time. Most, since he took ownership of Stormwind castle.


    "Lastly, this is Jesting," his voice boomed with joy as he introduced her to the elderly butler of the castle. "I know that you might to get augh because of his name and you might doubt his capabilities because joking but I can assure you that he is the most capable man I have ever met in this kingdom."


    "You praise me a little too much your highness, I am honored that you think so highly of me. Do not believe him your grace, he only says so because I do do not burn his toast anymore." Jesting responded in a serious manner.


    His serious attitude waspletely the opposite of his name or his words.


    "Whatever you need while we are here, he will find even if it is nonexistent. Do not ever underestimate his capabilities." Again, Rnd praised the butler.


    The elderly butler removed the cap from his head and held it between his right hand fingers. "Well, I did manage to pour tea without spilling this morning, so the title isn’t entirely undeserved."


    Jesting maintained his attitude but Sigrid could not keep a straight face anymore and she burst intoughter. She could not tell if the prince and his butler were joking or being