ᴛᴡᴇɴᴛɪᴇᴛʜ.

She was walking around the burnt houses, carrying a torch to look for more casualties. A little girl rushed to her earlier and told her that her mother is not yet coming back. She was with the Knights of the Yoshino and Fujiwara families but they left when they found a few more dead bodies inside the burnt houses. They brought it back to the campsite and put it aside, covering it with linens after the survivors confirmed that they were their family members. She drew her sword and posed into an attack position. She just heard footsteps nearby and if ever there are more Knights Templars around, she will just shout for backup. 

She wanted to throw the torch away to lure them away but it was too dark already. She heard a footstep behind her and she turned around, dashing backwards while pointing her sword towards them. She furrowed her brows when she saw that it was the General. She slowly let her guard down and rolled her eyes. She started walking away from him but he grabbed her wrist and dragged her inside the burnt warehouse. 

"What are you doing?!" She whispered angrily and he pinned her on the concrete wall, pressing their bodies together. 

"Silence." He mumbled and they heard some footsteps approaching. She dropped her torch when he suddenly dragged her. 

She noticed how close they were, so she felt like she was running out of air. Her heart started to beat so fast and she looked away from him. He slowly leaned back when he sensed that they were already far from their spot. He took her sword and put it back to her scabbard. Her hair is down, so they can easily distinguish that she is a woman. 

"I will go back to the camp site now." She murmured but he pulled her back to their spot. Her eyes widened when he started kissing her lips. 

She struggled from him but he pinned her hands on the wall. She moved her head from side to side to avoid his kisses but he is stronger than her. He is holding her wrists with only one hand and his other hand holds her chin to be able to kiss her more. She was thinking of using her knees to escape but he quickly put his knees between her legs, leaving her no room for it. Tears fell from her eyes as she thought that what they were doing was wrong. They were still wearing their armors on but it took them a few minutes to remove it from their bodies. 

She gripped on him tightly when he got her legs around his hips. She almost screamed when he started entering her. It was painful since it was her first time. She just surrendered her virginity to him. She is no longer innocent and pure. She is sure that the older Archduke will hate and curse her for giving it to his younger twin. She suppressed her moans when he moved. 

"Riku.." She cried softly while feeling how deep he was inside her. She leaned the back of her head on the wall while pulling his hair gently. 

She closed her eyes and let herself drown in his touch. The pleasure is invading her whole body and mind. She is doing it with Riku. She let herself do it with him. She is completely naked in front of this man who got her entire heart. She just realized that the one she truly loves is Riku. How come she is attracted to him instead of his older twin? 

"Gia, I love you.." He whispered while keeping himself busy between her legs. She shook her head and more tears fell from her eyes. She can't accept his love as the one she will marry is Reiki and not him. 

"Stop loving me." She cupped his cheek and kissed him deeply. How can she tell that when her body says otherwise? 

She bit her lips when she felt him filling her up with his warm fluids. He slowly stopped from thrusting and he rested his head on her shoulder. She is feeling weak and exhausted. She shuddered when he left soft kisses on her skin. She needs to decide. Right after this night, will their relationship remain like this, as comrades? He carefully put her down when he pulled himself out. Her legs were wobbly, so he held her for a while. 

"I know you will still marry my brother after this. I will not wish anymore for you to love me back. I just wanted to have something that we will never be able to forget until the day we die." She felt her heart breaking into a million pieces when she saw him crying. 

"I'm glad that I had you once even though we did it wrong." He added and she cupped his cheeks to give him one last kiss. 

"This lifetime is not ours. I'm promising you that in our next lifetime, I will search for you. Thank you, Riku. Let's have our love in our next lifetime." She was sobbing when she said those. Their fate must be that cruel. 

They went back to the camp site without exchanging any more words. The General explained to the little girl that she should take rest already and they will continue the search when the sun is already up. The Countess changed her clothes and she got a comfortable tent because her groom sent it just for her. The red string of fate attached to their pinky fingers is now cut. 

She tried to have a decent sleep but her mind didn't permit her. She asked the soldier to take her armor and put it inside the carriage. She stood up in front of the General and bowed her head as she was going back to the barracks already. The sun was about to rise up yet she decided to go back already. She cried a few more minutes inside the carriage and then, she composed herself to avoid suspicions from the older Archduke. 

"What happened? Did you cry, Milady?" Reiki asked when she arrived back at the barracks. She shook her head and smiled faintly. 

"I caught a cold. It was too cold last night at the campsite." She answered. He smiled softly and got her a cup of warm tea and the medicine for colds. 

"It is an herbal tea but to make sure, you should also drink the medicine." He said while checking the descriptions on each medicine bottle. She wanted to cry once more but she didn't dare. She knows she doesn't deserve someone like Reiki.