Episode 6: "I'm Your Wife"

 

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THE ROYAL GUARD COMPLEX - MORNING

Alessia stood before the massive gates of the Royal Guard complex, her heart pounding so hard she could hear it in her ears.

The building was imposing—all stone and iron, flags bearing the royal crest snapping in the morning breeze. Guards in pristine uniforms stood at attention at every entrance. Officers moved with purpose through the courtyards visible beyond the gates.

This was where Sebastian worked. Where he'd been for five years while she struggled alone.

"Mama, I'm scared," Lucia whispered, pressing against her side.

"It's alright, little bird. We're just going to talk to Papa."

"Will he be happy to see us?" Dante asked, his young face serious and worried.

Alessia's heart broke. "I hope so, love. I really hope so."

She straightened her worn dress, smoothed her hair, and approached the gate with her children.

A guard stepped forward, his expression professional but skeptical as he took in her appearance—the shabby dress, the thin children, her obvious country origins.

"Can I help you, ma'am?"

"I... I need to speak with someone. An officer."

"Which officer?" His tone was polite but dismissive, clearly thinking she was some petitioner with a complaint.

Alessia took a breath. "Sebastian Russo."

The guard's entire demeanor changed. He straightened, his eyes widening slightly.

Commander Russo? he thought, shocked. This woman is asking for the Commander?

But he kept his expression neutral. "Sebastian Russo," he repeated carefully. "And what is Officer Russo's rank, ma'am? Do you know?"

Alessia hesitated. "I... I'm not sure. An officer in the Royal Guard. That's all I know. His family never told me much about his position."

The guard's mind raced. She doesn't know. She doesn't know he's the Commander. "I see. And what is your relationship to Officer Russo?"

Alessia lifted her chin, gathering her courage. "I'm his wife. And these are his children."

The guard's thoughts stuttered. Wife? Children? That's impossible. Commander Russo has no wife. No children. He lives in bachelor quarters. This woman is either lying or...

He looked at her more carefully. The worn dress. The thin, frightened children. The earnest desperation in her eyes. She didn't look like a con artist. She looked like someone who'd been through hell.

But the only Sebastian Russo in the Royal Guard is the Commander. There's no other officer by that name.

"I see," the guard said slowly. "Ma'am, I'll need to verify this. Please wait here a moment."

He turned to another guard. "Corporal, stay with this lady. I need to report this to the Lieutenant."

"Report what?" Alessia asked, confused. "I just want to see my husband."

"Standard protocol, ma'am. For any visitors claiming family relations to officers, we need to verify through proper channels." He was already moving away. "Please wait here. It won't be long."

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THE WAITING ROOM

Alessia sat on a hard wooden bench, the children pressed against her sides. The room was small, plain—just benches along the walls and a window looking out onto a training yard where soldiers drilled in formation.

A young soldier had brought them water and some bread, which the children ate hungrily.

"Mama, when will we see Papa?" Marco asked quietly.

"Soon, love. They're finding him now."

"What if he doesn't want to see us?" Dante's voice was small, frightened.

"Then at least we tried." Alessia pulled him close. "At least he'll know you exist."

The door opened. A different officer—older, with sharp eyes and lieutenant's insignia—entered.

"Ma'am, I'm Lieutenant Ferrara. I understand you're here to see Officer Sebastian Russo?"

"Yes. I'm his wife. Alessia Russo." She stood, trying to look more confident than she felt. "These are our children. Dante, Marco, and Lucia."

Ferrara studied her carefully. The worn dress. The thin children. Something about her seemed genuine, not like the usual opportunists who tried to claim connections to high-ranking officers.

"I see. And what is the nature of your visit?"

"I need to speak with my husband. It's urgent. About... family matters."

Ferrara nodded slowly, his expression neutral. "Ma'am, I'll need to verify this information. Please wait here. It shouldn't be long."

"Please," Alessia said, her voice breaking. "Please don't send us away. I just need to see him. Just once."

"I'm not sending you away," Ferrara said, though his tone was carefully professional. "But I need to confirm some details first. Please be patient."

He left before Alessia could ask more questions.

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ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES

Lieutenant Ferrara found Lieutenant Marcos reviewing duty schedules.

"Marcos, we have a situation at the front gate."

Marcos looked up. "What kind of situation?"

"A woman with three children. Claims to be married to Sebastian Russo. Asking to see him."

Marcos went very still. "What did you say?"

"Woman says she's Officer Russo's wife. Has three young children with her. I put them in the east waiting room, but..." Ferrara hesitated. "There's only one Sebastian Russo in the Guard."

"The Commander," Marcos said quietly.

"Right. And the Commander has no wife. No children. Everyone knows that." Ferrara frowned. "I thought it might be some mistake, someone looking for a different Russo. But she was very specific. Sebastian Russo. Said he's her husband."

Marcos's mind raced. Last night. The woman and children from the train. The ones he'd escorted to the Rose and Thorn at the Commander's request. The Commander had been unusually concerned about them.

Could it be...?

"What does she look like?" Marcos asked carefully.

"Thin. Worn dress. Dark hair. Three small children—triplets, maybe. About four years old." Ferrara shook his head. "She doesn't look like she's trying to cause trouble. She looks... desperate."

That was her. The woman from last night.

And if she was claiming to be the Commander's wife...

"I need to inform the Commander," Marcos said, standing.

"He's in a meeting with the General Staff."

"I know. But this can't wait."

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THE GENERAL STAFF MEETING

Lieutenant Marcos knocked on the door of the conference room where Commander Russo was meeting with senior officers.

An aide opened it, frowning. "The Commander is in a meeting."

"I know. But this is urgent. I need to speak with him immediately."

The aide looked skeptical but turned to the room. "Commander, Lieutenant Marcos says it's urgent."

Sebastian looked up from the maps spread across the table, his expression impatient. "This had better be important, Lieutenant."

"It is, sir. May I speak with you privately?"

Sebastian excused himself and stepped into the hallway, closing the door. "What is it?"

Marcos chose his words carefully. "Sir, there's a woman at the gate. With three young children. She's asking to see Sebastian Russo."

"And?" Sebastian's expression didn't change. "Tell her to submit a request through proper channels."

"She claims to be your wife, sir."

Sebastian went very still. "What?"

"Your wife, sir. She came to the gate with three children. Says she's married to Sebastian Russo and needs to see him about urgent family matters." Marcos hesitated, his confusion evident. "Sir, I... I escorted a woman and three children to the Rose and Thorn last night. At your request. After the train incident. The description matches. I believe it's the same woman."

Sebastian's breath caught. "The woman from the train?"

"Yes, sir. But I don't understand. She never mentioned being your wife last night. You said she was someone who needed help after the attack. Why would she now be claiming..." Marcos trailed off, clearly trying to make sense of it.

The color drained from Sebastian's face. "Because she didn't know," he said quietly. "On the train. She didn't know who I was. And I didn't tell her."

"Sir?" Marcos looked completely lost.

"Where is she?" Sebastian's voice was urgent.

"East waiting room, sir. But—"

"I need to see her. Now."

"Sir, she doesn't know your rank. Lieutenant Ferrara said she called you 'Officer Russo.' Thought you might be a lieutenant or captain." Marcos paused, still clearly confused about the entire situation. "She has no idea you're the Commander."

Sebastian closed his eyes. Of course she didn't know. His mother had kept her ignorant of everything.

And he hadn't told her on the train. Hadn't revealed who he was. Had let her talk about her absent husband without knowing she was talking to him.

"Sir, what do you want me to do?"

Sebastian took a breath, trying to steady himself. Five years. Five years of his mother's lies. And now Alessia was here, in his building, with their children.

Children he'd only learned about yesterday on that train.

"Bring them to my office," Sebastian said. "I'll... I need to end this meeting. Give me ten minutes to clear the room, then bring them up."

"Yes, sir." Marcos hesitated. "Sir, she seems... fragile. Whatever happened to her over the past five years, it wasn't good."

"I know." Sebastian's voice was rough. "I saw her on the train. I know exactly how bad it was."

"The train?" Marcos looked confused.

"Never mind. Just... be gentle with her. And don't tell her I'm the Commander. Let me... let me tell her myself."

"Yes, sir."

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THE WAITING ROOM - TEN MINUTES LATER

Lieutenant Ferrara returned, his expression carefully neutral. "Ma'am, we've located Officer Russo. He'll see you now."

Alessia's heart leapt. "He will? He actually will?"

"Yes, ma'am. If you'll follow me, please."

Alessia gathered the children, her hands shaking. This was it. She was finally going to see Sebastian. Her husband. The father of her children.

Ferrara led them through the complex—down hallways lined with military precision, past offices where officers worked at desks, up a flight of stairs.

The building was impressive. Clean. Organized. So different from the chaotic village she'd left behind.

"Is my husband very important?" Alessia asked nervously. "This building seems... very official."

Ferrara glanced at her. "All officers of the Royal Guard hold important positions, ma'am."

They reached a door at the end of a long hallway. Ferrara knocked.

"Come in," said a familiar voice.

Alessia's breath caught. She knew that voice. The officer from the train. The kind Commander who'd saved them.

But that didn't make sense. Why would she be brought to the Commander's office just to see her husband?

Unless...

Ferrara opened the door.

The office was large, imposing. Maps on the walls. A massive desk covered in papers. Windows overlooking the training yards.

And standing behind the desk, in full uniform with insignia she didn't understand, was the man from the train.

The officer who'd saved her life.

The man who'd listened to her story and shared his own.

The man who'd been so kind to her and her children.

And on the wall behind him, a plaque clearly visible: Commander Sebastian Russo, Commander of the Royal Guard.

Alessia's world stopped.

Commander.

Sebastian.

Russo.

The kind officer from the train was Sebastian.

Her husband was Sebastian.

And Sebastian was the Commander of the entire Royal Guard.

The room spun. She couldn't breathe. Couldn't think.

"Mama?" Dante's voice seemed to come from very far away.

Sebastian stepped out from behind the desk, his expression unreadable. "Alessia."

Just her name. Spoken in that voice she'd heard on the train. The voice that had comforted her. The voice that had shared its own pain about an absent wife.

A wife who was her.

"You," she whispered. "You're... you're the Commander."

"Yes."

"You're Sebastian Russo."

"Yes."

"You're my husband."

"Yes."

The word hung in the air between them. Five years of separation. Five years of lies. And they'd spent hours on a train together, pouring out their hearts to each other, neither knowing the truth.

All hell broke loose.

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