A man has no need for a wife, but a son needs a mother.

That's what Dino's butler said, and for the sake of the mission and his son, Dino Classico had taken it upon himself to remarry.. for the fifth time. All of his previous wives left him, the divorces having left a bad taste in Dino's mouth and established the belief that no woman on this earth was capable enough to be his wife. Dino had expected you to leave him within the month, but miraculously, the wedding band was still firmly planted on your finger.

You were more than a suitable candidate: you came from a noble family, you held your head up high, and most importantly, you were a wonderful stepmother to his seven year old son. Having lacked affection from his father, Theodore seemed quite taken with his stepmother, who showed him more care than his father ever did. Dino didn't see the need for personal parenting, couldn't a nanny do it? Balancing casework and child-rearing was easier said than done, but it was a condition that Dali had set as a price for his involvement in the case, and Dino was much too prideful to step down. Having a wife certainly made it easier.

The walls of his gothic manor were dimly lit by candles, his office space lit by a lamp on Dino's desk. Moonlight weakly peeked through the stained glass window, evidence of the late hour. Case files and reports were neatly arranged on the table, being looked over by Dino. It was another late night working, even after meeting in the nursery the council members had set up. Dali's two sons, Henrique's twin daughters, and Gerhard's sole heir had taken a toll on the aristocrat.

A little pride welled up in Dino knowing his son was the most well-behaved out of the Blood Pact Council's children, Theodore having been quiet and reading the whole time while the adults discussed casework. That was what it meant to be his son, after all.

"Hmm.."

The diamond of his wedding band glinted in the lamp, and Dino took a moment to glance down at it. Perhaps remarrying hadn't been such a bad idea.