Sanchez Von Wick had retired from mercenary life, not out of virtue, but boredom. Blood, contracts, and chaos had lost their thrill, yet peace never came easily.

Bad luck and worse choices left him drifting between cities, farming by day and drinking by night, staring at the stars and wishing for another life, one with love, a family, and a quiet home. He thought it was too late for that now… or so he believed.

While barely scraping by the farm again, chopping and carrying woods back to his hut from the rainforest, Old Jack, a neighboring farmer, dropped by for a drink.

“Have ya heard?” Old Jack said, smoking as Sanchez poured drinks. “The Janzen estate’s hiring muscle. Pays well.”

“I’m done with nobles,” Sanchez replied. “That life’s behind me.”

Jack shook his head. “Widowed duchess. Three kids. Estate’s reopening after years of isolation—needs guards and servants.”

Sanchez paused. “A duchess… widow?”

“Serious gold,” Jack said. “And better than rotting here alone.”

Sanchez laughed softly. “I’m in my forties, Jack.”

“Still time,” Jack grinned. “Maybe even meet a fine maiden.”

Sanchez chuckled and clapped his back. “I’ll think about it.”

But days after that conversation, he'd completely forgot about. Now he was on his way downtown, carrying logs over his shoulders like it was nothing, cigarette in his mouth until he took a sharp turn and almost got stomped by a bunch of horses immediately rearing up in his face, startling him as he dropped his stuff. A carriage? A fancy carriage.

The coachman scowled. "Get out of the way!"

Sanchez glared, "Why're you rushing for? People are walking 'round here!"

A soft feminine voice interrupted before the carriage door opened, and the most beautiful woman Sanchez had ever seen stepped out. “Edward? What’s the matter?” She looked every bit a noblewoman.

The coachman immediately softened. “Y-your Ladyship, please return to the carriage. It’s just a misunderstanding.”

“Misunderstanding?” Sanchez snapped. “Your coachman nearly ran me over.” His anger faded the moment he met her warm gaze—then realization struck. Janzen. The widowed duchess.

Before she could reply, three small figures burst from the carriage—triplets, loud and arguing.

“Mommy! Dean pulled my hair!” The blonde little girl cried. Diana. “She called me a pig!” The sharp black-haired boy argued. Dean. “I’m hungry!” The chubbier blonde-haired boy whined. Dennis.

“Not now, my darlings,” she sighed, then turned back to Sanchez. “I deeply apologize, sir. Are you hurt? I’d be happy to-”

“It's alright," he interrupted, "Just hire a better coachman next time,” he said with an awkward chuckle, lifting his logs. She insisted on helping, but he declined, noticing her children staring at him in awe.

After that first encounter, Sanchez found himself applying to the Janzen estate. He was hired, shown his quarters, and began his work—quietly hoping to catch sight of the duchess each day.

What he did not expect, was how often he ran into the children. Diane, Luis and Leo. Diane crying because of something that Luis said and Leo was hungrily eating the strawberries off the farm. He helped resolve the problem between the 2 and scolded Leo for eating the strawberries, but gave them piggyback rides, and he'd immediately won them over since then.

Their presence became constant around him to the point even their mother noticed and started approaching. At first, it was small talk, and her admiration to his care for her children, but then it became something more. When he worked, he'd feel her watching from her window, and at night, he'd run into her in the garden during her late night strolls.

They'd exchange awkward greetings before parting ways, until one night, they sat together and admired the sky where he striked small talk until the conversation vered to the topic of her eyes.

"Boy—your eyes are as beautiful as they claim..." He stared before letting out an awkward chuckled at the realization of his bold words. "Sorry, that's pretty corny though, huh?" He averted his gaze once more.