ᴛᴡᴇɴᴛʏ-ɴɪɴᴛʜ.

He was thankful when they finally arrived at the castle. He carried her to the bed and asked her personal servant to take care of her. He still has some things to do. For now, they are safe. He took his sword and went out of the castle to make sure that no one followed them. The only person who knows where they are is the Knight of the Yoshino family. He trusted his friend about their location but he can already feel that everyone is looking for them. 

The premises were still untidy and dusty. There wasn't any food or water. Her personal servant went out for a while to look for something to eat and drink. She grunted softly, feeling uncomfortable while having her rest. She slowly opened her eyes and realized that they had already arrived. She saw no one but only the furniture covered with white blankets. She tried to get up from the bed to look for the bathroom but she just fell down on the floor and lost consciousness. 

"Milady!" Lord Makoto's personal servant exclaimed when he found Lady Fuyu on the floor. He immediately carried her back to the bed and looked for his Master. 

The General and the Archduchess went down from their horses and looked around. They found some wheel trails on the ground and then, they heard something behind them. It was the Prince and the remaining Knights from the first battalion. It was supposedly their honeymoon period but she knows that searching for their friends is the most important and besides, they already had it even before the wedding started. 

"We should follow the trails. Also, it will be better if we will not be hasty in talking to them once we find out where they are." The General said these to remind the Prince on what he is planning to do. 

They followed the trails and it brought them to a castle a few miles away from a small city. The Prince went down and walked towards the huge wooden gates. They heard something drop on the side and it was Lady Fuyu's personal servant. She went to the city to buy some fruits and vegetables and she even got a jug of clean and drinkable water. She didn't bother to pick up the food and just ran inside the castle with the water since she knew it would help her Master more but the Prince grabbed her arm and stopped her. 

"Is she inside the castle?" He asked and her personal servant shook her head vigorously. He ordered the Knights to open the gates and she tried to stop them. 

"Milady is not here! We parted ways some hours ago and I don't know where they are now." She cried to the Prince. 

"I believe that Fuyu is here." He firmly said and they proceeded on going inside. She cried more while following them. They opened the doors and they saw Lord Makoto's personal servant rushing down the stairs. 

"I found Milady unconscious on the floor!" He said and they immediately went to the room to check her up. The General took his leather gloves off and checked her pulse. 

"I'm not sure with my observations but I think she is pregnant. Her pulse is faster than the normal rate. Since when was the last time you did it with her?" He asked the Prince and the Prince took a deep breath before answering. 

"The night before your wedding. Is she really pregnant?" He asked and the older one checked her pulse once again to make sure that what he was telling them was true. 

"The symptoms are not lying. I believe that she fainted because she was dizzy and nauseated. I know you are close with her, do you know when was the last time she had her menstruation?" He said to the Prince before asking the servant. 

"It was.. a month ago. I was expecting her to ask me to clean the laundry, knowing that she might be having cramps or something but it didn't happen. She told me that she missed her period and that was two weeks ago." Her servant explained. 

Missed menstrual period, nausea and dizziness are the very early symptoms of pregnancy. The Prince knelt beside the bed and placed his hands on her belly. Are they really having their child soon? His heart is beating so fast, unsure if he is excited or scared. He held her hand gently and placed a kiss on it. The young Lord arrived and he asked them to leave instead. 

"You had an agreement with the King, Makoto." The Prince said and he looked at them with a glare. 

"We will not go back. I will compensate for breaking the agreement with the King, even if it means losing our family wealth." He said and then, the Prince asked them to leave them alone for a while. 

"Fuyu is my remaining family and seeing her miserable under your care hurts me. Don't you know how other families ridicule her for being your future spouse and at the same time, being a former courtesan? She did nothing but only earn money for us. She is a clean woman but people are looking at her as if she is a prostitute. Can't you see that you can't even protect her from those kinds of people?" The younger one continued and he felt like he was stepping on his pride and dignity. 

"The Royal family loves her. So are you. We are protecting and taking care of you." He said and Lord Makoto let out a mocking laugh. 

"Don't hurt her anymore. She is not pregnant. She is just a little sick because we traveled early. We will have a peaceful life in which we don't need your protection and care. Don't go back here anymore." The younger one pushed him out of the bedchamber and he clenched his fists tight before leaving the castle. 

"Thank you, Brother.." She finally opened her eyes and looked at her twin brother. She placed her hand on her belly and gently caressed it. If the General's observations about her condition are true, she will accept it and live as a single mother for her precious baby.