"You really like wandering around," The Prince sarcastically said inside the carriage, learning that everytime he tried to find her, she's around the kingdom and trying to save people. That she didn't bother even it was herself that's hurting sometimes.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0D7Hm21Wzj
Sloan ignored what he said and tightly hugged the child that fainted in her arms. Now she's soaked in blood too.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0h7hAnUuj
"Can we stop at the physician's place, your highness?"
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8hs5acI0e
Prince Sage sighed as he told the coachman to move the carriage faster and stopped at the nearest physician's place.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLQXO6bY7n
When they arrived to the physician's place, Sloan tried to calm down seeing the miserable child. She told the physician that she'll be back tomorrow.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4hmsmd00d
Back to the carriage, the prince asked, so used to her at this situation. "What will you do to the child?"
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4pC4cUr2J
Sloan looked down, thinking. "Since his mother sold him to the Countess, it means she doesn't want him no more. Then...it's impossible that if I take him back, he'll be welcomed."
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8hPbOVaJ85
Sage already noticed that she don't know what to answer, so he suggested, "Take the child to Baron's Holland's orphanage."
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvz6DjddAV
Sloan lighted up. "Oh, right,"
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7o87gI9rF
In the Lord Holland, the Baron's orphanage, children was well taken care of there. One time she went there, all the child were lively and playing along with each other. It's like their eyes always shine, abandoning their miserable status that fate has given.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0TILkfnD7I
Suddenly, Prince Sage made the carriage stopped again. He got off the carriage and open the door.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7NmZ0bltH
"Come out," He told her.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehQbI6WwsN
She doesn't know what's going on in his mind, but she chooses to obey. Prince Sage offered his hand to support her step down, she hesitated, but then she remembered that it's now alright. That the news of their marriage would come and she's free to take that hand.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwIfsLvd7bk
She didn't say anything until she saw the place where the carriage stopped.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5oY9A5I41
Dress Shop.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18LFVX4aZ8
"You need to change your dress, I'll take you to the palace."
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQC6FHEcM02
That's when she realized that her dress was soaked in blood of the child.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnwNletS734
When they entered the shop, all the personnels inside was astonished. Ofcourse, who wouldn't be?! There was a lady that's seemed to bathe herself in blood and she's with the Prince!
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVolkK2uVEx
"Choose around," The Prince only muttered and didn't care that the personnels greeted him.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kKF3K5IlB
Although the personnel's was in the verge on astonishment, they helped the lady choose the best dress and helped her change. That's when they asked.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc537g2Thio
"U-Uhm, if-if I'm not mistaken, you're Lady Sloan, right? The daughter of the Captain of the Blue Knights...Lady, why are you...soaked in blood?"
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJt2L42Oqo
"That's...uhm, I am. I saved a child a while ago," She answered.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78fUywSZk6
The personnel's calmed down knowing that, they thought she killed a criminal.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqAIiShu1z
The other personnel asked other question, "Then, my lady, why are you with his highness? Did he saw you saved the child?"
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNy4fY9GAgA
She nodded. "He did saw me, but it's not the reason he's with me..." Sloan shutted her mouth. She hesitated whether telling it or not, but in the end, she didn't answered the personnel's question. It would be better if they just get the information from the announcement.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9JSBX6vGG
After leaving the dress shop and paying a gold coin, they headed their way out on the way to the palace.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLwVvhPrkp
It's the first time they're entering the palace together now that the announcement was released. Probably, the king also told the knights their engagement. All their looks was the face of astonishment when she greeted them.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHTZPMVwLj
Sloan grew up with the knights her father trained, they're more like her older brothers that's why maybe they also looked so emotional.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ465cX3x3Vb
At the throne hall, the king was surprised seeing them together. But before the king says something, the prince muttered, "I just saw her around, And I thought you were going to find her,"
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02l5t51DxD
"I do going to call her today," The king rejoiced.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFWPBgEPRV
The queen beside smiled. "Well, shan't we start talking about the announcement?"
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJCEZOFPG2
Sloan raised her right hand, getting permission to say something.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenwWbV66L3
"Your majesty, can we wait for father?"
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9mRhiT4zVi
"Ah, right! Of course, honey, we'll call for Captain Shae,"
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9s34uarnbV
Sloan and Sage looked at each other as the other knight lead the way to accompany them to the palace's drawing room.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHjhD9kgRE
"Your highness," Sloan whispered, making Sage bent down for a moment.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26L6617VRZ
"What is it?"
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJH3M2TQbpa
"Could you pull up my dress on the back? It looks like it's going to fall." Sloan calmly complained, she's now realizing that the dress was loose. She's rushed choosing a dress in the dress shop. She knew she picked the best, but the size was just the problem.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5yvUCRqIE
Prince Sage do what she asked.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzOz1QhYf1
It's not awkward for them anymore.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLS2ghuwOo
They already see each other's naked body when something happened on the past. Prince Sage only looked away when that happened, and said that it was just a body. Sloan took that mindset on her after being shy enough and threw him her dress.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojr6Ic0pD4
"I-I'm sorry, your highness, I'm just..." She tried to explained herself timidly. "It's just that, no one ever seen mine before and---"
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1MjdwWbzt
Sage, who turned around, said, "It's just a body, I...really don't think of it." He knew himself he was lying. He turned around because he was so red. "I know you're uncomfortable. But just think that you're already my wife whom I spend the night with, even though the engagement hasn't yet announced. We're going to be a real one anyways,"
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTD78crDGz
Sloan knew he said that to make her not to worry, and she somehow calm down.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpirklVXAeh
That's right, there's nothing wrong with him seeing her body. They're engaged with each other anyways, and one of the days in the future, they're going to do it.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotSSEP4RPO
"Why did you choose a dress that's too lose?" Prince Sage got annoyed and holding the back of her dress for it not to fall.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmy9poEtamq
"I was in a rushed," She replied.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFVKIRJ1Vo
The knights behind them flushed reddened seeing them like a real couple. His highness is holding her and gripping his arms around her back!
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJQce8cLQp
"It's really going to fall, you should just change again."
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwerdUGuQ5
"I'm alright."
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1lNmGISd3W
"Then I should just hold your back for the mean time, you mean?"
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyvU2LZgPa
"I didn't say that."
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bu9k8wRd4
Prince Sage sighed. "Then there's nothing but to do."
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltV2n3Gdv0
And that's what he do, hold her until the meeting between the both sides about the engagement. Sloan's father, Captain Shae, was gazing at them from time to time like he's been wronged.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQLgg0xTo8
Like his looks holds a sentence that 'Why are they so close? Is there something I don't know about???'
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzA9HE6zr6U
The king and the queen was too rejoiced, never minding the both of them. They just thought the prince was taken a liking to her, but that wasn't the case.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF76JZP471S
"Sir Shae, would I offend you if the lady will to live at the palace starting next week? I prepared everything, and the engagement banquet will be held in the next two months. I'll need the both of them to prepare with me."
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH521eml9TI
Sir Shae had thought of it, and he was determined to take up Sloan's decisions by herself. But there was one problem.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgDXyX1eCP
"Your majesty, I think I'm not the one you should be asking for deciding, but my daughter. Also, her mother needs to be informed."
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16S2HP3L2X
Sloan's mouth fell slightly open.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2AOguPFjvD
She almost forgot.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQjKMnLTf3V
Her mother, Gale Fairbourne, the youngest daughter of a wealthy merchant who had her when she's only sixteen and her father's eighteen. There were too young back then. Her mother decided to separate with her father a year after she was born. She said they're too young that time, and she's not ready to commit with him. But she loved Sloan with all her heart, and they're sharing the custody of her. And even years after, Sloan's still wondering why her mother has never came back to her father's place. Is she still not ready to commit with him?
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJC83Xp0m1
But all Sloan know, her father loves her mother so much. He heard from her grandmother, from Captain Shae's side, that even though it hurts her father to send her away because it was her decision, he respected her and let her go. He was miserable after that, and Sloan is the only light he saw.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMcJ3N6DJT
Her parents loved her more than anything.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4oW8DbOOE
But she sometimes thought that fate was cruel.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhCqB5wohp
"I'll tell mother," Sloan said, holding the front of her dress. Her chest was almost to be exposed because of how loose the dress was.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqPbHGZbsl
"Now, if you'll excuse me and my fiance," Sloan got taken a back because of Sage. But Sage mouthed, 'the dress'.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8FvhRiQ65
"That's right, we need to go,"
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhdcwxnTVO
"Wha..." Once again, her father's confused.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3sWI7TfgQ
The next moment they knew, the prince and captain shae's daughter already left the room. They were dumbfounded.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm6ey0BPFMa
They don't seemed to get along like that in the past!
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1C9cvz7085
"Where are we going?" Sloan asked, in hurry.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmeeFiBfQd
"In the room mother made for you, there's dresses in there."
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04uUZwRvo4
"Ah,...why do you know? Did you went there?"
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVx02IeC3cS
"Mother made me went there a week ago to take care of, she wouldn't let me go until it's all okay." Sage said in defense.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHp7BoeWQC0
Sloan thought it's too cruel. But all she can feel is that she's sorry for him that in his parent's name, they need to get married. She's now only hoping that one day, the prince find someone he'll love more than anything. Maybe that's when she'll step out since both of them can't contradict with their parents now.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxesYO9zLy
They were rushing to go to the room, and when they arrived, Sloan was amazed.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljPGGQgRci
It was filled with luxurious things and it's kinda bright for them to handle. The balcony seemed to be a whole new house, too wide.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbTbRRT6bU
"Are we on the wrong room?"
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc7aNBHU9pv
"I'm certain that it's here," Sage took out a hold of her as the dress was so close to fall.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFW482FPm9F
"Hey! Your highness, don't just let go like that!"
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8JHuveYF7i
"Go change in the toilet already."
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDqJegq9zS
He turned around. Sloan snorted and went to find a suitable dress for her to wear. Though she didn't expect that all the dresses were luxurious too. It looks like it was made by an exceptional designer that only the wealthy could afford.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIixmQ09FB9
"Your highness, don't you think her majesty is going too much for me?" Sloan said, picking a dress that has a normal design, struggling.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xL2DfQQBw
"You'll be a queen someday, that's why...I think."
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnAe7mp0gb2
Sloan just thought of it and look down. "...Right, I forgot."
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMJHB2DUCb
As Sloan picked the blue dress that has sparkly design on the hem, she went to the toilet to change. The toilet was too luxurious too.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOgOPUrcHQ
"Your highness, I want you to come with me today."
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLqPbJpr9SV
"Huh, where?"
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9zi1IFb2p
"My mother. I'll let her know. She would be disappointed if she'd come to know the news about me staying here from my father. I---We, I mean, must be the one to informed her."
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOYoCORXO9
"...I guess I have no choice, then."
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVHG77A6Wl
When Sloan exited the toilet, Sage turned around to see her. Though he's a bit dumbfounded seeing her wearing the blue sparkly dress.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡssqfyUNh5c
"...It's suits you." He complimented.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrtfvFEJwr
Sloan just nodded and was about to invite him to leave when Sage noticed something.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlX4milAmxD
"Hey, your hair is a mess."
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP41d2Mne6F
"Huh? Ah, right," Just when she only noticed.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFt5fSrzeSQ
"Come here, I'll fix it."
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOsujEok4j
"But...you can call a maid?"
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqONwZ71pQ
"There's no need,"
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIYpRND3a0
Sloan just sighed. She turned around for him to fix her hair. She can't help but to stare at the bed. Then she asked, "So this is my chamber from now on? It's too spacious, maybe I can get three cats..."
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSaNjoU4AbC
"We have a room for the both of us, but it will only be used once a week."
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrt0WdhNzdA
"...You mean, for that thing?"
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Zd4M0ENDB
"Yeah, to produce a heir."
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxMi4Ski97
Sloan looked down. She's not sensitive to this kind of question, but instead, bothered.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8dTvYmJwin
"Your highness, you know, once you've succeed the throne, I'm sure you'll find someone you'll love and make her a queen, or maybe even before that, or maybe before our marriage, we don't know. You're free to kick me out anytime, it's not your decision to arranged this marriage anyways. We'll grow up and we'll change what we want without anyone contradicting us anymore. You must be happy and don't just settle for doing what you don't really want. Someday when you found someone you'll love more than anything, you'll have a family without your child thinking he's born to bare a responsibility for the future."
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBzsGIaqtT
Sage was left stunned while tying her hair, he's speechless.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoeMDmlpw35
What she said wasn't to let her go, but for him to settle on what he want. She know he wasn't happy in this kind of situation. And she's trying to keep it up with him.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnLgeVieDD
"Just for the mean time, you need to settle to this kind of 'us'." Sloan felt sad, stating that.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBn8CqfEU2C
"...I understand." He said as he finished tying her hair. "But when the time comes that I wasn't able to love anyone, what will you do? Besides, I've never been felt fondness in anyone before. I even never think of marrying a special one and succeeding the throne. I have no dream. To me. To anyone."
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGxiMbs59j
Sloan felt a gloomy feeling for him. "Then I'll have to bare our child and become the people's servant of this country with you."
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRNaOOfCOG
"That'll be your decision? What if you've like someone and you feel like you wanted to marry him?"
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYZSSBJGrQ
Sloan snorted. "Your highness, since I was a child, I was thinking of growing old alone. It's my decision that I never wanted to marry anyone. It's not a must for a woman. It's just what they want when they found someone they loved and they feel the deepest connection with the one they're fond with. And it's also a fact that not everyone who receives a marriage ends up staying together until death."
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ta9SCY6HT
The wind sweep all the way to the chamber from the open window. Sloan turned around.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxmr8KWbh5
"I'm alright with this settlement though...but your highness, more than anything else in this world, I wish you to be happy with someone you'll risk your life for before you regret everything you've decided with me. If the time comes that I'll have your child and the timing connect that you've found that someone, I want the child with me."
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGoMAonJZR
The beam of sunlight shone behind her, Sage felt that he was deep underground.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt94AhL3Ztf
"You..." Sage narrowed his eyes. "You've thought of this deeply,"
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiWnjol48lK
Sloan gave a small nod. "I apologize for being too blunt."
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5j9gC9a3T
Outside, Captain Shae was stunned after overhearing their conversation. He was about to knock a while ago, but he overheard about them producing a heir so he stopped. He did not expected her daughter's next words to be like that.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsE2dgiBElY
Captain Shae clenched his fist and turned around, walking away.
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4a66GOVCuQ
All these times he think that his daughter weren't affected by Gale and his decision to separate. Little did they know, they just destroyed the image for her loving someone someday.
ns3.15.234.89da2
