He readjusted his cloak, and then he hid to the bushes and trees, until he got to one of the tall foliage and trees that had views of several rooms. The Faction had many illegal businesses and quests, which was equivalent to substantial drills; such as climbing buildings, heavy trainings, and mastering the art of concealing oneself. Owen prided himself to be exceptional to these, given the fact that he was a wingman not too long ago.

The tree had extended to a balcony, its branch chockfull of vines of flowers ascending through the gla.s.s doors—Owen silently crept through the balcony and peered through the door, which was covered in an almost-transparent curtain.

He saw a body sleeping against the pailla.s.se. Someone was lying down covered in a white, thick blanket. The figure stirred, and sat. It was a woman with an ash-grey colored hair. Owen parted his lips in fascination as he saw her short nightgown embracing the delicate curves of her body. He met her umber eyes—but soon he knew she wasn't looking at him but she was just looking vacantly on thin air.

Beautiful, Owen wanted to speak aloud, until the door surged open. Owen immediately hid himself, but peered nonetheless.

A familiar figure appeared to the woman's chambers.

The distinctive platinum-blond hair. Emerald eyes. A tall stature with an arctic aura.

The duke.

Owen whispered a silent spell, and retrieved a device inside his cloak. A hearing device. He pressed the other end of the tube to the wall, and the other end to his ear. He closed his eyes to listen.

"How is she?" Says a sweet voice.

"She's sleeping soundly now," answers the duke.

Owen firmly held the device.

"The child?"

"The child is safe," he says. "She overreacted."

"Thank goodness," says the woman. "I thought for a second that you killed the…"

"She wanted to be with me, and with her alone," answers the duke. "But I refused, Adalia. I am married to you. I am yours alone."

"But we both belong to you, right?" Adalia mutters. "I'm going back to Verteidigerin. I… I don't want to be here anymore. I'm taking Lucas and Bethrion with me."

"W-what? No! Addy, no, please." The duke stutters as he begged, "I—I'm sending Rose back."

"They will stone her to death, Alph!" Adalia exclaims, her voice trembling. Soon, Owen could hear her sobs. "People would know that you impregnated a peasant woman. Verteidigerin wouldn't want their duke to be cheating on the third princess, wouldn't they?"

"Addy…"

"I have to tell them that our relations.h.i.+p went sour, and I did not want you anymore,"

"No, Addy, please," Owen blinked. He could hear the duke—the duke was crying now. "I'm sorry. No. Stay with me, please."

Owen could no longer bear the duke's hypocrisy—he exited the balcony and went to find Rose's room. He traveled through both the trees and the ground, before he reached an opened window. He leapt inside, and whispered a drying spell to his soaked cloak. He used the rune of silence to his boot, and then he walked towards the hall—it was still a stormy night, but the wind was in a different direction. Rainwater wasn't inflowing the premises.

He examined the hall—paintings hung through them, and the light was obviously powered with magic. Owen strolled forward, and tried to open each door he could find. They were locked and they were too silent, without a proof for life.

Until he reached one, certain door.

He leaned his ear to the mahogany and listened to a soft cry. Owen's heart skipped a beat—that voice. It was definitely the voice of Rose.

Owen knew the art of lock-picking, and was excellent in doing it. Without hesitation he unlocked the door and then his eyes widened as he stood unblinking, whilst his feet froze on the spot. He couldn't move an inch as his eyes examined the entirety.

He unleased several gasps before he could mutter a word.

A woman was lying across the bed—her thighs bleeding, blood dripping to the floor.

"Rose," Owen exclaims breathlessly and ran towards her.

"I… the baby… Owen," she says weakly. "H-he-he said… he said the baby would bind me to the man I love…"

Owen blinked. "He? R-rose, I hhave to get you out of here… c-can you stand?" Owen held Rose's hand with his trembling one. He had to get her out of here. Quick. But the rain—he had to do something—he had to call the duke—

"I… I…" Rose gasped and bled all over her thighs. Owen trembled and could no longer decipher the situation, only wanting to hold her cold hand.

"I had a… I had… deal… with… h-him…" A tear fell to Rose's cheek. "to… speed the baby's…"

Owen parted his lips, seeing Rose's belly growing, whilst blood spilled nonstop across Rose's thighs down to the floor.

"Ssave me," she says, "t-t-the… b-baby is killing m-me…"

Owen trembled as Rose's stomach grew swollen and bigger, until it ruptured with a loud spurt.

On that certain night, as far as Owen could remember, two things have occurred:

A baby's cry enveloped the silence,

…and the dead body of a damsel, innards scattered all across the polished floor, had broken a young man.

It should have ended like that, yet Owen saw the dead body twitching.

"You didn't do anything…" Rose's corpse says. "You watched me die."

"No…"

"Kill that baby, Owen!" Rose says, twitching vehemently. "Kill that baby, kill, kill, kill… kill…"

"…dy…"

"No… no… Rose!"

"Daddy!"

Owen opened his eyes, beads of sweat dripping across his forehead. He was panting. He met emerald-green ones, worrying over him.

"Daddy, did you have a bad dream?"

Owen smiles warmly, and lies back. The child lied beside him, and then scooted closer.

"I kind of did." He says, and hugged the child to his chest, kissing the top of her head. "But now you're here, Rosalie. I'm alright now."

Rosalie's emerald eyes closed, and embraced her father gently.

"You should sleep with Mr. Perry some time, Daddy." Rosalie says. "You were calling 'Rose' in your dream… who's that?"

Owen remained unresponsive.

"Sleep with Mr. Perry, my bunny, next time, okay?"

"I sure will." Owen mutters, remembering the dream ever so clearly. "I will."

**

"Miss, I told you, you shouldn't have done that…!"

"Shouldn't have done what, Maddie?"

"Even if Disfiegros are lower of your ranks, they are rising to power. You shouldn't make rash decisions, M'lady… that girl might spread rumors… she'll switch the story and make you a bad person…!" Maddie says in frustration as they arrive finally at an inn Orwell found shortly.

When Faustina and Orwell finished talking, they decided to find an inn, and also search for Maddie in case she was still searching. Orwell suggested that they shouldn't be too picky (which is no problem for anyone, truthfully). When they reached one of the top inns for n.o.bles, they stumbled upon an unexpected event they never thought to witness.

"This inn is rented by my father, and I don't think there's a room for you or your master here." Says Liliane. "The n.o.bles I've let to stay are all at my mercy."

"I apologize, but that may be untrue." Says Maddie politely. "I already inquired. There is still a suite unoccupied."

"My father rented this WHOLE place, which part in that are you unable to grasp?" Lilliane snickers, "like master, like servant, indeed."

"I deeply apologize, but I have things to attend to," Maddie exclaims. "Please excuse me, Lady Lilliane." And with that, Maddie turns away to book—but then…

"What do you think you're doing? I'm not done talking with you yet!" Lilliane indignantly utters as she seizes Maddie by the arm, and forcibly turning her, which resulted in Maddie losing her balance as she tripped down to the floor.

Faustina flinched, and then was about to run to Maddie's aid, only to be stopped by Orwell. When Faustina turned to ask why, he simply shook his head, as if telling her to 'don't do something rash.'

"Oh!" Lilliane snorted. "A rude master, and an inept servant. What a pair you are."

The n.o.bles who were watching laughed and giggled as they spoke to themselves. Maddie noticed the staff worrying over her, but they were unable to do anything. This was the daughter of the marquis—it wasn't just a random n.o.ble. The n.o.bles rising in power—the Disfiegros—were n.o.bles with the track record of violence and grace. No one would want to come across them. Maddie bit her lip and tried to stand up, only to find a red heel stomping the back of her hand.

"Bow." Says Lilliane. "Bow properly. I trust you know who I am."

Maddie bit her lip to hold back her sob. She wasn't used to such humiliation.

"What are you waiting for?" Lilliane asks with the sweetest, cold voice. "Bow before me!"

Faustina left a slap after that.

"You did something rash, even if I tried to stop you," says Orwell, who was smiling as they walk away. "You really are a wonder."