Then It Is Love

CHAPTER SEVEN

He decided to dine. Alone. The stinky boys with him were already out to relieve their pent up desires in the only existing Thousand Flowers Fragrant House. A well known brothel in this town. It stood tall at a Red District alley and corner, prohibited to all women still in need of their reputation. 

He wasn't interested. Though he never loved the idea of visiting such places, he never restrained his men. After all, they were soldiers laying down their lives for the country, having no idea when they would forever shut their eyes.

He allowed them to live as normal men they were, and as he wasn't interested in returning yet to the barracks, he decided to fill his stomach. He had drunk a little too much, though not enough to get him drunk, so he thought padding his stomach with food was the best idea.

It had been a long time since he visited Diners Stop restaurant, and the first time he ate in it alone, and thought it fit to grace them with his long time absent presence. He wasn't that popular there, though he was a famous figure almost all in the empire, even those in Diners Stop had all heard of, not many know his true face and appearance. Just his fame and glory. 

And he wasn't ready to expose that. His simple and incognito life in this poor and small town still and will always matter to him a lot. 

If he wanted an exciting life, which he doesn't, he could always return to the capital. But he wasn't. He was simply a stoic and strict military leader that preferred to live his solitude life away from all  tedious, bogus and mundane life in the capital.

He was simply tired by all the fake smiles, fake affections, fake friendships and selfish attractions buried openly in the capital. 

General Alex was, completely, stoic, regal and sharp as a sheathed bloody sword, as he rode on his warhorse. If there's anyone he treated completely more as a family, even more than the only few people he regarded as such, it was his horse, King. You guessed right, this fearless man of war had actually named his horse king, and no one could do anything to him when they knew of it. 

After all, Kings were supposed to be Princes that were brothers to the ruling Emperor. 

Nonetheless, when the Emperor did nothing to him, no one was bold enough to stand up and challenge this heartless, ruthless, and deemed mad man.  They still cherished their peaceful smooth sailing life to become the scapegoat for others. 

Alex Joss wasn't in the mood for any thought as he focused on his path, ignoring interested or curious gases from folks in the bustling market street. 

In no time, he was there. At the door of a tall and large single storeyed building with a silver colour name plate that had a little crooked words on it, which read 'Diners Stop Restaurant'. 

A servant boy came over and he handed his horse to be specially looked after and fed in the nearby stable house. Meanwhile, after patting his horse and convincing it to allow the young boy take him along, to which he received the lovely nighing of the horse that gave him a gentle nudge while rubbing fondly against his broad hand, he took a confident, tall and majestic step toward to door in graceful and imposing swagger, his charm leaking as he goes. 

What met him, as he was seeking a quiet place to eat, was a little crowded dining hall, chattering noises and also filled tables, except for a few empty and lonely corners.

Of course, his mighty, regal and commanding presence with a divine bloody and noble aura, attracted attention of folks eating, who minded him for a while, and then back to themselves, as they cackled and chattered about many things and lots.

He occupied the lonely corner, his presence there turning it somewhat ghostly like a fierce battlefield, despite his unhidden elegance, divinity and ethereal handsomeness.

General Alex was seated relaxed, his leg crossed over the other. He was donned in a regal and silky dark long robe with simple but intricate and quality engraved designs, as ebony and silky as was his long hair, held up with a hair ribbon, and a strand falling to the side of his heaven defying good looking and sculptured face, that spoke of a cold, stern, detached, and imposing great man. His eyes, sharp and piercing, conveying his shrewdness, keenness, and strategic acumen. Even at that, he had a great charisma and deep sense of justice that emanates the strong moral and traditional character in him.

His sword with a faint aura of bloodthirstiness was sashed at the side of his rigorous and flexible waist, and his military boots made of dark leather and other sturdy materials adorned the feet of his long and lean muscled legs.

As he looked over to the counter facing the dining area, he didn't need to do more than that, when a waitress there noticed him, her face lifted from the book in her hands.

The waitress was not surprised to see a man that looks like a soldier, as their restaurant, once or twice a day, had soldiers often stopping by for a meal, but what captivated her simple and pure mind was his look. His eyes. His grandeur. And almost everything. She just couldn't specify, but she could swear her heart skipped a beat. Her soft and delicate hand, though not so white, but was soft, yet  undeserving of a peasant's daughter, held her chest, confusion and a spark ignited in her pure eyes that almost had her heart worn in it, as a mixture of admiration and intrigue swirled in her sweetened heart.

General Alex was approached by this petite and pretty maiden, whose expression and thoughts were all clear on her face. And he was shocked. Not by a sky falling beauty, though she was one, but his own weirdness. The look in her eyes, in no way, came off disgusting and offensive to him, as the looks of other ladies always had. Rather, he felt drawn to the purity in her eyes.

As she came to his quiet table, Lily was bashful to the unblinking and scrutinising stares he threw at her, and almost shrinked back into herself, timidly, when she quickly emboldened herself, changing so unanticipatedly and surprisingly to a confident and bold daring girl. 

All these changes truly piqued general Alex's interest, his curiosity growing deeper, as he was drawn to her natural and beautiful blend of shyness and boldness, sensing a depth within her no one had perceived. He could tell that buried deeply within her boldness and social initiative and outgoing attitude, was a very shy and vulnerable girl, hiding her fears with her charming smiles. 

He watched her come to his table, as she stood valiant and brave, with a social vibe masking her anxieties and worries, while a shy smile endowed her small but full lips.

He said nothing, but waited. He wanted to know. He wanted to discover how long she would stay strong in his presence.

But he overestimated himself, because as their eyes met, he got lost in their glory and charm. A connection he could never decipher linking them, as something unique began to bud in his heart. A heart he never felt beat before even in the sight of dangers and wars.

Lily felt it too. Especially that stronger skip of her heart, and uncontainable joy in her almost bursting and loud beating heart. A bashful blush colouring her palm sized beautiful and soft face. 

She felt so flustered, that she lost her once confident voice. Unable to say a word to him. And when he gave his order, she absently nodded and noted them. His wishes were her unforgettable command, and she almost escaped into the kitchen, as she went.