Blaire held his gaze for a moment before she relented. "Very well, Lord Damien. I will assign you with this task. My commander will accompany you without a doubt. You're a young master and I can't put you at risk while you're in this kingdom. Your safety is still utmost priority. Besides, I have no doubt that you'll return in one piece."

"Thank you, my lady," Damien bowed, relief washing over him. His plan had worked – Blaire was willing to give him another chance.

"You can depart whenever you are ready, my lord." Blaire smiled, turning her attention to Sir Allister. "Please escort Lord Damien to his destination. And take a squadron of soldiers with you as well."historical

"Yes, my lady," Sir Allister nodded, saluting her.

"Come, my lord," Sir Allister gestured to Damien, ushering him out of the room.

"I will see you soon, my lady," Damien said as he exited the study.

Blaire watched him leave with a mixture of emotions. She wasn't sure if she could trust him again, but she had given him a chance. The truth was that she missed him – the passion and intimacy they shared made her yearn for him. But he had betrayed her, left her alone and hurt.

She shook her head, dismissing such thoughts. Such feelings could wait until later. Now, she had to focus on the matter at hand – the mysterious group of men gathering near her duchy's border.

As Damien and Sir Allister marched towards their destination, a sense of excitement filled him. He was going to prove himself to Blaire, to prove that he deserved her trust.

The journey was a short one, but Damien used the time to prepare himself. Luther was also equally excited to have some action after a long time.

"I can't wait to see what awaits us," he remarked as they continued their march.

Damien chuckled. "You're really eager for a fight, aren't you? How about you calm down for a bit?"

"Oh, come on. What's life without a little excitement?" Luther shrugged.

"A peaceful one, for one," Damien retorted.

Luther remained silent, clearly not interested in giving an argument.

Soon, they reached the foot of the mountain, where the suspicious men were spotted. It was a quiet area, surrounded by thick woods and lush vegetation.

Damien surveyed the surroundings, his senses alert. The air was thick with anticipation, and he could feel the tension building within him. The presence of the mysterious group nearby only added to the intrigue.

Sir Allister signaled for the soldiers to stay back, allowing Damien and Luther to approach cautiously. They moved through the dense foliage, their footsteps masked by the rustling leaves and the distant sounds of nature. As they ventured deeper into the forest, the atmosphere grew increasingly eerie.

The faint sound of voices reached their ears, growing louder with each step. Damien gestured for Luther to halt, and they crouched behind a cluster of trees, peering through the branches to observe the scene ahead.

A group of men, dressed in dark attire, huddled around a makeshift campsite. Their expressions were grim, their movements deliberate and calculated. They appeared to be engaged in intense conversation, occasionally glancing around as if wary of any intruders.

Damien's curiosity was piqued, and his mind raced with possibilities. Who were these men? What were they plotting at the border of the Ferel Duchy? He knew he had to find out and gather as much information as possible.

He turned to Sir Allister, who stood at the ready, his hand on his sword. "Sir Allister, we need to approach them discreetly. I want to know their intentions before we make our move."

Sir Allister nodded, his eyes gleaming with determination. "Understood, my lord. We'll proceed with caution and gather as much intelligence as we can."

With a silent understanding, the trio advanced, carefully navigating the undergrowth to avoid detection. Damien's heart pounded in his chest, his adrenaline surging with each step. The thrill of the unknown coursed through his veins, propelling him forward.

With a silent understanding, the trio advanced, carefully navigating the undergrowth to avoid detection. Damien's heart pounded in his chest, his adrenaline surging with each step. The thrill of the unknown coursed through his veins, propelling him forward.

"...we should proceed with caution. There cannot be any mistake on this task or else that woman is going to kill us," one of the men with a long beard and thick eyebrows said. His voice was low and gravelly, but his words carried weight.

Another man, whose bald head was covered in tattoos, shook his head. "This is too easy. We can easily take them down. Besides, there's nothing to lose by trying. We can just go in and out, eliminate her, and get the hell out of here."

The first man grimaced. "I don't like it. It's too risky. If we fail, we're done for."

"Relax, old man," the bald man chuckled. "If we do this, then the entire kingdom will be in a state of chaos. Since the duchesses sister is mad, the duchy will fall."

'Eliminate her? They really are talking about Blaire.' Damien's eyes lit up. He was fuming with anger. 'It really is the author, is it? I need to know about this lady.' Damien had made a mental note to torcher the long-bearded and bald men.

Damien's grip tightened on the hilt of his sword as he listened intently, his anger simmering beneath the surface. The audacity of these men to plot against Blaire, to speak of eliminating her, ignited a fire within him. He was determined to protect her at all costs.

The time to act has come. The time to gather information about the author has come. If the Author can really control this world, then why would they have to send men after the one that was supposed to be dead already? Can't he just kill them with a thought in his mind?

That only means one thing- Whoever it is, isn't almighty at all. He can't directly intervene and kill anyone as he kills in the novel with a pen. This is another reality and other rules are set here.

If he can kill people, then he can save them as well.