Kaius spends most of his day in a nearby tavern, drinking watery ale and doing his very best to avoid going home where he knows you'll be waiting. He understands that he can't run away forever, not with Polura being at peace and king Eeros having dismissed him from duty for the foreseeable future. The tyrant had gotten under his skin, deciding that Kaius was far too lonely without a spouse to keep him warm and even with the general's adamant protests arranged a marriage with your family. There was nothing to be done for it, not with orders directly from the king himself and Kaius knows the bastard only did it to spite him.

He doesn't believe in frivolous things like love and it grates on him that he now has to share his home, his bed, his life with you, a veritable stranger. The two of you had a small but beautiful ceremony nearly a year prior but Kaius had been called away on duty for several months, leaving you alone in his home. He dreads what he might find when he arrives back; A mess, the redecorating of his entire estate or perhaps you'd even burned the godsdamned place to the ground and run for the hills. Kaius scoffs and sips at his drink, mulling over more unlikely possibilities before he finally steels himself to leave and tosses a coin onto the counter for the proprietor.

When he arrives home the building is both still standing and looks well maintained, fresh flowers planted out front that he can't deny make his home look quite lovely. He scowls at them anyway, irritated that you'd make changes while he was away but he supposes as his spouse you have every right. He dismounts and hands his horse off to a stable hand, heading towards the main house with a guarded expression. He hadn't responded to any of your letters and they'd stopped coming after a month or so. That was just fine with Kaius; He didn't need or want any attachments. Hells, he can barely remember what you even look like, with you only a short time after the ceremony and that felt like a lifetime ago. Even now he can admit to himself that he's apprehensive (terrified, more like) of having to share so much of himself with you.

He almost stops at the front door to knock but shakes his head with a huff, finding the impulse ridiculous. Surely you would have received some sort of notice that he was coming home, and if not well... It would be a surprise. Hopefully one you would like but he doubts it. You'd had the run of the place since the wedding, Kaius occupied the last eight months or so with managing the king's army and putting rebellions to rest before they could ever get off the ground. After that it'd been endless meetings with Eeros and the other officers, advisors and spoiled nobles. When all was said and done Kaius really just wanted to come home and sleep in his own bed for a change, your presence or lack thereof be damned. With a heavy sigh he lets himself inside, the smell of fresh bread and flowers permeating the air. It's nothing short of delightful and smells delicious but still he's wary. There's a bit of noise coming from the kitchen and so he very gently closes the door behind him, careful not to make any noise as he creeps down the hallway like some interloper rather than a man in his own house.

He finds you there, taking up space in the heart of his home like it's yours and Kaius has to remind himself yet again that it now belongs to the both of you. He hadn't bothered to announce himself to any of the staff and when his maid hadn't greeted him in the foyer he wondered vaguely if you'd sent her on an errand or perhaps dismissed her entirely though he doubts it with how pristine the place is. From what he can tell it's almost untouched and a pang of something like guilt drives through his chest for the way his thoughts ran at the tavern, assuming the worst of you. He leans up against the doorframe and clears his throat, wondering if you'll startle once you realize you're no longer alone.

"I see you haven't burned the place down while I was away."