Marix took a deep breath as he stared at the letter that had been left on his dresser. It was from Tryde.

He knew that whatever awaited him inside that letter was more than likely to be bad news, unless she had somehow managed to escape. Although he was sure if that had been the case, Lord Evans would be throwing a fit demanding her return.

His stomach churned as he started to tear open the seal and unfold the envelope. A bead of sweat started to drip down the side of his face as he felt as though he could be completely overcome with illness.

"Dearest Mother Marlene,

I write to you with some solacious gossip I’ve heard here. It seems one of Lord Evans’ close maids was sent to Elaide after it was discovered she was pregnant. Can you believe it? If she were my woman I would go there and get her.

Your Son, Tryde."

Marix’s eyes widened as he crushed the letter in his fists.

"Elaide? ELAIDE?!" He threw the letter down on the floor as he paced his room back and forth.

It was a lion’s den that was to the west of Sola. Known for its high crimes and brothels, Elaide was kingdom only the truest scum of the scum entered.

Once it had been a prosperous kingdom full of fine silks and flowers, that is until the current king took over the crown.

He was a lecherous man who only cared about high quality drugs, fine wine and good-looking women. Of course, his power as the king had given him the ability to allow such things easily and thus he attracted like-minded thinkers who discovered that Elaide was the perfect place to set up shop.

Most people in their right minds had left long ago, allowing the dynamic and structure of the kingdom to completely change.

And she was there?! Sold like nothing more than livestock?

His legs gave out underneath him, causing him to sit back on the bed. The mattress bounced a bit beneath his weight as his breath left his lungs.

The moment when he had almost branded her with a cattle brand flooded into his memory. He lifted his hand and covered his eyes before rubbing his face.

’How ironic....’

Then the realization that she was pregnant dawned on him.

’She’s there alone, cast away in that horrid place and with child no less?! MY child?! The two of them belong to me. How can they be somewhere like that?!’

He dug his fingers into the bedding as he furrowed his eyebrows and lowered his head.

’And there’s nothing I can do. These stupid limitations. What good are these laws if the person I love the most and my child are harmed?!’

Then it hit him. HIS child.

A slow smile spread across his face as he slowly lifted his head.

Eilownia was pregnant with a Viraaz heir. That meant she was now protected as not only a Viraaz citizen but as Viraaz royalty.

He jumped to his feet, his heart racing and thumping loudly in his ears.

Now he could pursue her without any limitations. There was nothing Lord Evans or King Solus could do to stop him, and if they tried, Viraaz had a perfectly legitimate reason to use it to turn public opinion against the Kingdom of Sola.

He rushed to his office and threw open his drawers to grab stationery and his pen.

"JINYA! JINYA! Come immediately!" His voice was full of adrenaline and desperation. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

She rushed into the office with her jaw open and her eyes wide.

"Yes?! What is it?!"

He scribbled down on the paper and then handed it to her.

"I need you to seal this and have it sent to Tryde, A.S.A.P."

Jinya nodded and grabbed the wax and candle.

He went to leave the room, then stopped at the doorway and turned back to her.

"Jinya?"

She looked up as she set up the wax melting spoon, "Yes?"

"When you’re done, call Dr. Lein, have him on standby in my bedroom and alert my father that..."

Jinya’s eyes widened as Marix explained.

Jinya rushed up the steps to the palace. Right before its large double doors, two royal guards held their spears in an X-shape, barring her from entry.

"Let me through! I have an urgent message from General Marix for the King! This is urgent and classified!"

The two guards glanced at each other then nodded. After giving her a pat down and determining she had no concealed weapons, they allowed her to enter.

After being let in and being asked to wait, she was led to the throne room where the king and Arlon sat.

"Your Majesty, Your Highness." She greeted with a deep curtsy and an even deeper bow of her head.

She then straightened, keeping her head lowered.

"Lift your head. You may speak. What is this urgent, classified news you have for us from General Marix?" The king inquired.

"Does it have anything to do with the war?" Arlon followed up, a look of concern on his face.

Jinya lifted her head and shook it. She turned to Arlon, "Yes and no, Your Highness. It indirectly ties into the war."

She turned to the king, "General Marix is gathering troops to go after Miss Eilownia. He has located her whereabouts."

Arlon rolled his eyes and scoffed, "Great. This again? He never learns, does he. This is going to cause so much strain! King Solus is going to be angry that our General Prince cannot stop chasing after his right-hand man’s precious daughter."

The king huffed and shook his head slowly as he stared down at his lap.

"Your Highness that’s not qui-"

Jinya started, but was interrupted by Arlon, "And he’s using OUR army to do it! We don’t have the resources to spend on what his loins are burning for. This is a complete disgrace! This is endangering our entire kingdom! Is this not treason?! This goes against your orders father!"

The king looked like he was going to be brought to tears.

"I can’t believe he would do this. After all the chances I’ve given him. I’ve raised him better. How could this be....."

"Father we have to do something. How many troops are remaining? Send out an alert! Have General Marix arrested imme-"

"That’s not true Your Highness!" Jinya yelled over him.

She immediately sucked in her lips as the two of them stopped and stared at her.

Her eyes darted between them as their surprise shifted to anger and then to that of confusion.

"Speak. What is it that you mean? What’s not true about what the Crown Prince has said?"

Jinya curtsied again in apology, "I’m sorry to have spoken over Your Highness, but this is extremely important information. There’s been a misunderstanding. General Marix is not just going after Miss Eilownia haphazardly. She is carrying a royal heir."

Both of them raised their eyebrows.

"I’m sorry, did you say a royal heir?" Arlon asked, tilting his head towards Jinya to hear her better.

"A royal heir....." The king repeated quietly as he leaned back in his seat.

Jinya nodded, "Yes. Miss Eilownia is carrying a royal heir of General Marix’s bloodline. Of course, he is doing what any good General would do and is taking the army to rescue, so far, the heir to the throne. Isn’t that a requirement of someone in his position?"

Arlon scoffed, "Heir to the throne? That will be my own child. Not one of Marix’s."

Jinya smiled, "I’m sorry Your Highness. I meant no disrespect. I simply mean that so far, after you take the throne, there is only Marix’s child to follow in your footsteps. Once you have children, of course that will change...but as of right now~"

The king smiled and clapped his hands, "Yes! Our line should remain secure! As of this moment, that child IS the eventual heir to the throne!"

At the Evans Estate, Tryde sat on his bed and read through the letter he’d just received.

"Dear Tryde,

What a horrid place. Return home at once. I don’t want you to stay in an environment like that.

Your mother, Marlene."

Tryde smiled and immediately began to pack his belongings, shoving the letter in his duffel bag. Finally he’d get to return home. As nice as the Evans Estate meals were, their living quarters were nowhere near the level of luxury.

Then, he stopped.

He glanced towards the door as he thought about Aleiza. It had been fast but he’d found himself quite attached to her.

Before he left, he ran up to her and grabbed her arm.

"Tryde? What are you doing?" She asked, her eyes searching his.

"I’m leaving. I have to return home, but I’ll be back for you."

She stared at him confused, "What do you mean? Return home? Did something happen? Be back for me? What are y-!"

Tryde pressed his lips against hers, silencing her.

’Please....I have no time to explain.....’ He pleaded to her in his thoughts.