Leonard was compelled to stay in the city of Ludo for a week because the ship Baron Norris awaited had been delayed.
When the ship finally docked at the port, Leonard and Darius captured Baron Norris and brought him to jail where he underwent interrogation and confessed all his misdeeds, admitting even to the his misdeeds, admitting even to the murder of his after she discovered his illicit involvement with the purchasing of slaves for torture and dismemberment for his own amusement.
After his full confession, Baron Norris hanged himself in his cell, distressed by voices that tormented him, which was he had resorted to opium use, subsequently spiraling into criminality.
Once the matter was resolved, Leonard returned home, eager to see Olivia again, longing to immerse himself in her scent and cherish her until she could bear no more.
However, upon his arrival at the mansion, it was late, and Olivia was deep in sleep. Disrobing, Leonard got into bed, narrowly avoiding crushing Vandal, who was curled up beside Olivia. He picked the pup by the scruff and removed him from the room, at which Vandal began to howl at being separated from his mistress.
Olivia, roused by Vandal's cries and fearing she was smothering him, woke up. The room dimly lit, she saw a man's silhouette by her side and recoiled in fright, tumbling out of bed and hitting her head.
Turning on a light to check on Olivia, Leonard found her startled.
"I frightened you," he said.
He helped her to her feet.
"Are you alright?"
"Not really, I feel dizzy."
Checking her head for injuries, Leonard found none but a bump. He fetched Alfred, requesting something for the bruise. As he opened the door, Vandal seized his chance to slip back into the room and stood on his hind legs, whining until Olivia lifted him onto the bed again.
Leonard considered flinging Vandal out of the window, yet he knew Olivia would never forgiving him, cherishing the furry creature as she did. So he left and returned shortly with an ointment for Olivia's head bump.
Olivia winced at his touch due to the pain, but Leonard was a gentle as he could be. Once done, she smelled of mint and rosemary. Setting her head on the pillow, she asked, "Have you been home long?"
"I just got back," he replied, "You were asleep, and I didn't want to disturb you, but that furball's infernal shrieks woke you."
She stroked Vandal's head. "I've felt lonely, so he began sleeping beside me."
"You shouldn't let him; wolves can be territorial. He'll not want to leave your side now."
"He can stay tonight, but tomorrow, he won't be allowed on the bed."
"You're too lenient with that furball."
"He's still very infantile."
With pleading eyes, Olivia looked at Leonard who then conceded, "Fine, he may stay for tonight, but ensure he's not here tomorrow or he'll be airborne."
"Agreed."
Leonard climbed into bed, laying on the side away from Vandal and hugged her. "Sleep now, it's late."
She wrapped her arms around him, content to be in his embrace, feeling his heartbeat and bosy warmth, comforting her back to sleep.
The next morning, they awoken by Vandal's squeals, and Leonard felt an overwhelming impulse to squash the pup. Olivia, stirring, intended to feed him knowing he wouldn't quieten down otherwise.
Having a puppy was proving to be more challenging than Olivia expected, especially as dizziness overcame her upon getting up. Leonard steadied her, asking, "Are you alright?"
"I should stay in bed today."
Leonard, pulling on trousers, ushered Vandal into the corridor where the nearby maids took him to the garden.
He instructed a maid to call for the doctor due to Olivia's discomfort, changed completely, then lay beside her. Amelia, learning of the duchess's condition, rushed to their room, exclaiming, "My lady, you're unwell; what's amiss?"
"Hit my head yesterday, feeling a bit woozy."
"Oh! My lady, how did that happen?"
When the doctor arrived to examine Olivia's head injury, he said that it was not so serious, just a small contusion, and that she would be fine with a few days of rest.
During those days, Leonard had Vandal removed from the house, partly blaming him for Olivia's injury. She had to stay in bed for almost a week because she would get dizzy if she rose too quickly. Throughout this time, Leonard stayed with her every night, holding her and stroking her back until she fell asleep.
Once Olivia had fully recovered, Leonard instructed the servants to prepare everything for their journey to the city of Montrier.
Olivia was thrilled, as the would be her first time embarking on such a lengthy trip. Eagar to see what the place had in store, and with autumn approaching, Olivia asked Madam Margaret to make her new outfits that were warmer, as well as a few dresses because Leonard mentioned her wanted to introduce her to someone- so her usual clothes wouldn't do for that occasion.
Curious about who this person could be, Olivia didn't have time to insist on getting an answer amidst the travel preparations.
On the day of departure, they used three carriages. Olivia, Leonard, and Vandal shared one because she did not want to be apart from him for so long. The other two carriages carried some servants and the trunks with their clothing, since the trip to Montrier took six days.
They often had to sleep in the carriage, and whenever they passed a spot Olivia found beautiful, she implored Leonard to stop for a moment so they could better appreciate the scenery, stretch their legs, and let Vandal out to roam, since he grew anxious being in the carriage all day. Leonard several times suggested releasing Vandal into the forest as he had strong fangs and kept gnawing at Leonard's pants.
Leonard attempted to toss Vandal out the window on numerous occasions, but Olivia fiercely prevented him from doing so.
So in the end, he resigned himself to traveling with the animal.
When they finally reached Montrier, Leonard gave thanks to God for their safe arrival. The carriages pulled up at a beautiful mansion adorned with roses at the entrance and gardens, a sight that seemed almost magical to Olivia, like something out of a fantasy book.
As they alighted from the carriages, servants approached to greet them. A few minutes later, a lovely middle-aged woman with blonde hair and hazel eyes, like Leonard's, hurried towards him and embraced him, exclaiming, "At last you deign to return home, I've missed you so much."
A sturdily built middle-aged man with black hair, speckled with gray, and green eyes approached Leonard and said, "Thank you for coming."
After parting from Leonard, the lady noticed Olivia and asked, "Who is this young lady accompanying you?"
Leonard slid an arm around Olivia's waist and declared, "This is my wife, Olivia."
Upon hearing this, the woman staggered and looked as though she might faint; her husband stepped closer and said, "Dear, I told you not to run; you know that's not good for you."
"Leonard, your jokes are in poor taste," the man stated, steadying his wife by the shoulders.
"This is no joke; she truly is my wife."
"What? Since when are you married?"
"Uh... I don't remember precisely, but I believe it's been about a year and a half."
Upon learning how long Leonard had been married, the woman fainted in her husband's arms. He carried her inside the house and said, "We will discuss this later."
Before entering the house, Olivia clutched Leonard's arm and asked, "Who are these people?"
Leonard sighed.
"Ah... They are my parents. I've brought you here to meet them."
Realizing the couple were her in-laws, Olivia confronted Leonard, "What? Why didn't you tell me before? For heaven's sake, I must look a mess."
Leonard kissed Olivia on the cheek and reassured her, "You look beautiful; calm down."
Upon entering the house, Olivia's hands began to sweat. She was extremely nervous, especially after her mother-in-law fainted upon learning for her son's marriage.
Leonard's father laid his wife on a couch in the foyer. The servants revived her, and as she came to, sitting on the couch, tears started streaming down her cheeks.
"You're married and didn't invite us to the wedding, or even bother to send a letter all this time. You're an ungrateful son."
Handing his wife a handkerchief, Leonard's father said, "Compose yourself, darling. This won't do you any good."
"How do you expect me to be calm? My only son got married, and I wasn't at his wedding."
"Mother, please calm down," Leonard said.
"Ungrateful son, you're only come to upset me, haven't you?"
"Of course not, I've been busy; that's why I couldn't come sooner. I didn't want to tell you by letter, so we made the trip here."
Leonard, overhearing Amelia scolding Olivia for her peculiar sleeping habits, couldn't suppress a laugh, interjecting, "Indeed, Olivia, you should heed Amelia's words."