ᴛᴡᴇɴᴛʏ-ғɪʀsᴛ.

The Duchess of the Cheikh family and the Grand Duke of the Kawamura family were in a small local library in the city when they heard a commotion outside. The Grand Duke went out to check it and they saw a wounded villager. The others quickly aided him and he furrowed his brows when he saw a small group of men coming. The Duchess followed him out but he ordered the coachman to keep her safe inside the library. 

"Kazuma!" She called for him while struggling for the coachman's grip because she wanted to stay by his side. He drew his long sword out and a few soldiers arrived to help him if ever the group had a hidden agenda. 

She tried to open the doors but they were locked from outside. The library personnel told them that there is an emergency exit at the other side of the building, so they rushed there to get out since it will be more dangerous for them if someone burns the library down. The personnel opened the emergency exit but another group of men were waiting for them. The leader grabbed the Duchess and put her on his shoulder. 

"Kazuma!" She screamed on top of her lungs while trying to get away from them but they tied her wrists and legs and silenced her with a handkerchief. 

The Grand Duke gritted his teeth when he heard the Duchess' scream. He need to get back to her quickly. The village is under attack and the women and children evacuated to the basements for their safety. The number of soldiers is not enough. He underestimated them. The group of men who just attacked were trained. 

"Burn a house! Send a signal to the city capital!" He ordered a soldier to do it. He doesn't know where these groups came from but one thing he is sure of, they are all trained. 

Everyone from the city capital heard the horn and the Prince's jaw clenched when they saw the dark smoke from a burning house going up. Him and the Lord of the Hasegawa family rushed to the Southern Fields to command. Though the General is still there, they lost a few numbers of soldiers after the battle between the Knights Templars. The Countess was still in the barracks when she saw the signal. As the only highest-ranking Knight around, she put on her armor once again. She needs to get her mind straight at the moment. The small villages around the country are being attacked. The third battalion immediately lined up and she ordered the archers to stay alert at the defense towers. 

"Gather the remaining soldiers. We have no time to slack off. Half of them will guard all the entrances and exits. We will follow the first and second battalions to the Eastern Capital." She said and they bowed their heads before dispersing to follow her orders. 

The older Archduke approached her and held her hand tightly. He knows it will be dangerous for them, so he kisses her lips deeply before nodding. She smiled and hugged him, seeking comfort and assurance in his arms. She needs to get back to him safe and sound. She will do everything for him as his future wife and also, to make it up with him. 

Meanwhile in the Hasegawa manor, the younger twin sister of the Lord rushed out to see what's happening. The Prince just told her earlier that they will go to the Southern Fields to check the current progress. She went back inside and their personal servants asked her what she was going to do. She went to her brother's room for their late father's sword but she saw that it was already gone. 

"Did my brother get the sword earlier?" Makoto's personal servant nodded and she rummaged through his things to look for another sword. She knows that he got a few of it because he has the Knights of Yoshino and Fujiwara families as close friends. 

"What will you do, Milady?" Her personal servant asked and they watched her remove her jewelry. She went back inside her room and changed her clothes into her military attire. 

She got one after the death of her parents. It is a special one because the King gave it to her. Her brother also got one and he is only wearing it when needed. She tied her hair up and removed her makeup. The servants were trying to stop her from leaving but they failed when she finally mounted on the horse. 

"Milady, be careful!" The servants shouted and she rushed to the barracks. She is stubborn enough to do this, so no one could ever stop her. 

When she arrived, she saw the third battalion leaving under the Countess' command. The older Archduke saw her, so when she asked if he could lend her an armor suit, he had no choice but to give her one. All he can do is to wish them to be careful. When she finally left, he went back to his duty as the head medic. A few wagons full of injured soldiers arrived and he needed to give them immediate medical attention. 

On the other hand, the Duchess is feeling weak when the leader punches her stomach. She kept on struggling from his grip and he ran out of patience, so he decided to silence her. She is currently inside a wooden box and she heard them hammering it to make sure that she will not be able to escape. She looked around to see if there was a hole and she found one. She needs to know where they will bring her. The other men carried the boxes of goods to the wagon. The dress that the Grand Duke bought for her is now ripped and dirty. She tried to call for him once more but the handkerchief tied around her lips is restraining her from screaming for help. 

The Grand Duke slashed the attacker's neck with his sword and blood spurted, staining the sleeves of his pourpoint. They killed most of the attackers but they saw that there were more men coming. The library is being burned down. He kicked the door open and saw that everything was turning into ashes. 

"Lauren! Where are you, Lauren?!" He shouted, looking for her inside the burning library. He suddenly stepped on something and saw that it was her necklace. He picked it up and looked around again. 

"Lauren.." He mumbled when he found the emergency exit opened. He rushed outside and the wagon was already far from the village. 

"Lauren!" He screamed, gripping on her necklace tightly. He heard footsteps behind and when he turned around, the leader of the group who kidnapped Lauren swung his sword and it left a huge wound on his shoulder.