sᴇᴠᴇɴᴛᴇᴇɴᴛʜ.

She doesn't know what the King and her twin brother talked about when they went to the garden but later that night, the King insisted that they should stay a night at the castle since there's an ongoing battle between the Knights and the Knights Templars. It was already late at night when a messenger arrived with good news. They defeated the opposing group and recovered the land. She took a deep breath when she heard that the Prince was unharmed. 

After dinner, the servant brought her to the Prince's bedchamber without her knowing about it. The King instructed the servants to keep quiet. Then, she received a tunic from them. She doesn't know to whom it belongs but after taking a warm bath, she wore it and went to the bed. She couldn't sleep, so she opened the windows to stare at the moon. The lanterns are turned off and only the moonlight passes through the windows to keep the bedchamber lightened. She was dozing off but her body went on full alert when the door opened. It is the Prince. Both are surprised but he is more surprised when he sees her wearing one of his tunics. Her eyes widened when she saw the blood stains on the armor suit he was wearing. 

"I thought this bedchamber is a vacant one since the servant brought me here. They even let me wear this tunic." She explained before getting out of the bed. 

"Stay here. I'll just take a bath." He said and she bit her lower lip while nodding. He got his own bathroom connected to his bedchamber, so when he finished, he was only wearing a towel around his waist. She looked away when she saw him half-naked. He was quick when he stopped her from leaving. 

"If you don't mind, Milady." He whispered and he kissed her lips. She started trembling as she didn't know where she was holding onto. 

He guided her hands on his shoulders and chest and when they were already drowning in kisses, he removed the tunic she was wearing. It revealed her naked skin under the moonlight and it was their first time to make love. He wiped her tears and distracted her from the pain of every thrust. He hugged her from behind as their tired and sweating bodies were covered with silk blankets. He left little kisses on her skin and inhaled her mild sweet scent. 

"I'm scared.." She mumbled and he tightened his hug around her. He was tired because of the battle but it eased when he finally arrived home and had her in his bedchamber. 

"I will protect you. You're under my care. No one will dare to harm you." He made sure that she would feel assured and he smiled softly when she started relaxing. 

Morning came. She turned around and covered her head with the blankets when the sunlight started to blind her. The weather is cold, so she cuddled closer to him to keep herself warm and comfortable. What happened last night was not a dream. It was all true. She slowly opened her eyes and saw that he was already awake. It seemed like he was waiting for her to wake up. He cupped her cheek and gently caressed it before kissing her. 

"I will get up now. I need to go back to the Southern Fields." He whispered and she nodded. She also needs to settle things between the Viscount. She decided to terminate the contract. 

When the Prince left and she walked out his bedchamber, wearing the cream-colored silk gown he asked to be prepared, she learned from the King that her twin brother went to the Southern Fields with him. The King asked her if they could talk privately and she granted the request of the elderly. She smiled softly and showed courtesy when the Queen arrived. The servant got her a seat while the Royal couple were sitting on their thrones. 

"Your brother and I had an agreement yesterday. We chose you to be the Prince's spouse but we also want to know if you will agree to this agreement. We know that our son did you wrong a few times but we are hoping that you already forgave him." The King started. She can't believe that her brother easily agreed to this when he is the one who told her not to get married yet. 

"I was with Shogo ever since I gave birth to him and I saw that he took interest in you when you met him years ago. We were surprised that you're the only woman whom he set his eyes upon." The Queen said and she looked down on her lap. Everyone knows that the Prince is not sociable enough to be linked to any woman. 

"I would like to disagree with this agreement. I hope you will be able to understand and accept my decision. If he is really into me and if he is in love with me, he will pursue me without the help of others. Let us have a relationship in which our love is natural and genuine. It will be his decision if he really wants to marry me." She answered and instead of getting angry towards her, the Royal couple laughed softly and nodded. She looked at them with a questioning look. 

"The Prince is childish and immature at times but please, bear with him. That is one of the reasons why he is still getting punished by his own father." The Queen smiled and she chuckled softly, remembering the moment the King told her how he punished him. 

"If you will excuse me, My King and my Queen. I would like to go back to the manor already. I still have a few things to focus on." She stood up from her seat and the King instructed the servant to prepare a carriage for her. 

"I deeply appreciated your thought of me as the Prince's future spouse. It is such an honor." She smiled at them and the Queen walked her out of the castle. 

"Next time, let me do your hair. I always wanted to have a daughter but the King was too busy at that time. Now that I don't have the ability to bear another child, perhaps it is better to have you as a daughter-in-law, right?" The Queen asked and she blushed faintly. The Prince's parents are consistent in pursuing her and it looks like they will not stop until she finally gets married to him. 

"If your son is not an idiot, he may have caught my heart already." She said and she blushed more, feeling embarrassed that she called the Prince an idiot. 

"That's true. He's a little idiot but he will learn." The older one said and she asked the coachman to be careful on bringing the Lady back to the manor.