"This... is a safe house?" Anna looked around, taking in her surroundings.
The building, made of sturdy stone, appeared intact, though undeniably old. Ruins dotted the area, indicating that so structures had been demolished over the years. Despite this, the remaining building was equipped with basic necessities and furniture.
"It was. In fact, multiple other structures within what was a surrounding complex have been demolished over the years. This building was also ant to be torn down, but His Majesty decided to preserve it. It serves as a hiding place in case of ergencies."
"No wonder you wanted to bring Lady Raychard here. I was curious about your insistence on this place," Damon said.
"This place isn’t charted. His Majesty removed its location from all maps to ensure its secrecy. No one knows about it except for Their Majesties, and now us. I thought this place had been cleared until I was inford otherwise," Helen added.
"But why did Her Majesty assign you, of all the other servants?" asked the knight.
"Because no one would suspect . I’m the royal governess and have no direct connection to this case. His Majesty intentionally placed Lady Jas in charge of your confinent to avoid drawing attention. It would appear that Lady Jas was negligent in her duties rather than suggesting the King himself orchestrated the escape," Helen explained.
"I see. I’m curious... how did you co to work under His Majesty and gain the Queen’s trust?" Damon asked.
"I t Her Majesty during one of her visits to another safe house where the princesses were brought. Due to the closure of this safe house, I was transferred there. At the ti, Princess Lilith was much younger and cried a lot. Her governess struggled to calm her, so I stepped in and helped. She stopped crying instantly in my arms."
"You must really like children," Anna remarked.
"I do. Princess Laura and Princess Lilith reminded of my child. Had my child been born, they would have been around the sa age," the governess said lancholically.
"Didn’t you tell your husband’s family about your pregnancy? They could have taken care of you," Damon said.
Helen chuckled softly.
"What was the point? They were never sincere with and constantly nitpicked my flaws. Besides, I didn’t realise I was pregnant by the ti I moved to the safe house."
Damon stole a glance at Helen. Though she appeared calm, he could sense the sadness in her eyes.
"So, if I’m right, Her Majesty Queen Elda appointed you as the governess right away?" Anna guessed.
"Yes, she did. I was surprised and hesitant, but she insisted. It’s hard to find soone her children would easily open up to, especially Princess Lilith. That’s how my service began. I’ve been one of the few people she could talk freely with throughout my ti with Her Majesty. The watchful eyes of the nobles monitor every move and glance, so she can’t afford to show any mistakes."
"You’re so kind and caring toward them, yet those princesses still manage to cause trouble and get you dismissed!" Damon reminded her of the incident in the garden involving Rhen, the puppy belonging to Arl.
"They can be naughty sotis, but they an no harm. The princesses have behaved well since the incident. Without their help, I wouldn’t have been able to facilitate Lady Raychard’s escape from her chamber."
"Speaking of the escape... You haven’t told us why His Majesty wanted to flee," Anna said, her tone serious now that the matter was related to her.
Damon, too, was intrigued to know the reason.
Helen’s expression turned grave.
"His Majesty was worried that the nobles might harm you after the news of the accusation spread. But I believe that’s not the main reason..."
"What else could it be?" the knight pressed.
"I think he was more concerned for your life. I have a strong belief that he feared His Highness the Grand Duke might kill you!"
"What??" Anna and Damon exclaid simultaneously.
"It can’t be! Kyren wouldn’t kill !" the princess protested.
"From what I’ve heard, His Highness didn’t take the news of the accusation very well. He even attempted to kill His Highness Prince Kiev in your chamber. His Majesty didn’t say it outright, but knowing him, I’m sure that was his greatest concern," the governess explained.
Anna felt devastated by this revelation. Though she wanted to deny it again, she had witnessed Kyren’s madness firsthand.
Damon, too, couldn’t dismiss the reality, aware of his lord’s wrath. Had the knights and the king not intervened, Kyren would have likely hard Kiev. What would he do next to the princess?
"I was inford that you are important, my lady, and that you possess a precious cure in your blood, significant for the kingdom’s survival should the Laradie plague occur again," Helen added.
"Hah! The pure serum! So that’s what this is all about!" Damon exclaid, finally understanding. "If His Majesty knew how valuable Lady Raychard is, why would he accuse her of infidelity in the first place?"
"He didn’t an it! It was simply a slip of the tongue in a mont of anger! He never realised that His Highness the Grand Duke and Lady Sarah Jas were present and overheard everything! By the ti he noticed, the situation had almost spiralled out of control," Helen said. "He was aware that he had made a big mistake by raising the allegation, but he never accused Lady Raychard of having a scandal with His Highness Prince Kiev. It was Lady Jas, and due to the circumstantial evidence, he couldn’t deny her claim. Thus, as king, he had to take action!"
Anna was left stunned in silence by this revelation. Helen looked at her, her expression pleading for understanding.
"I know this is hard to accept, but His Majesty never ant to put you in harm’s way. However, when he discovered you were pregnant, he was taken aback. He ntioned that His Highness the Grand Duke suffered from a rare condition that prevented him from having children. At that mont, His Majesty believed you had betrayed him. Yet, upon reflection, he could not fathom that you would do such a thing to his brother. Therefore, before His Highness the Grand Duke could take action against you, he instructed Her Majesty the Queen to take you away, and that is how this escape plan was initiated."
"But I never betrayed Kyren! I never did!" Anna’s eyes filled with tears. "This child could only be his! He’s the only man I’ve given my heart, body, and soul to!"
"That’s what puzzles us," Damon said. "I know you wouldn’t have an affair, especially with His Highness Prince Kiev. But the issue is, all the indirect evidence suggests sothing might have happened between you and him."
The knight paused, choosing his words carefully to avoid offending Anna.
"You an... he took advantage of my lady?" Helen asked, curious.
"We, the knights, have considered that possibility. Sir Navin and Mr Amares were supposed to interrogate him in the dungeon last night," Damon explained.
"No! That can’t be! Prince Kiev would never do that to !" Anna shook her head vigorously. "He never felt attracted to ! The way he looked at was never the sa as how he looked at Elis!
"But he insisted on claiming you and wanted to take you away from the mont he arrived in Gantz. Plus, he hasn’t withdrawn from the pending duel against His Highness the Grand Duke for you," the knight countered.
"He has no reason to assault ! He has all the evidence to take with him! The official docunt of our betrothal... the engagent ring... even Clara had testified that he is my betrothed! Why would he put himself in such a precarious situation when he has everything to whisk away?" Anna argued.
"He does? Then why didn’t he take you with him from the start, but agree to the duel instead?" Helen asked.
Anna sighed, recalling the agreent from the dispute eting when Kiev had attempted to claim her.
"He didn’t agree at first. Even Rafe, our diator, declared that Prince Kiev was rightful to . I was devastated. But then... he looked at . Those crimson eyes of his... Even if he never said it, I knew. He claid he acted out of respect for , but I knew..."
"Knew what?" Damon asked.
"That he pitied ," Anna said in a quiet voice. "We may not have seen eye to eye regarding the betrothal, but Prince Kiev is a just man. You even said he took revenge for Elis and Sir Brooks. Therefore, he’s not a villain."
Helen and Damon exchanged glances.
"Then... how did you beco pregnant if not from a man? When did the morning sickness symptoms begin?" the governess asked.
" I-I’m not sure. I’ve had these signs since I travelled from Dartrey Forest to Gantz. At first, it was because of my trauma from the water transportation. But, it only worsened after Kyren left for his expedition," Anna replied.
"Then... if that’s the case, could His Highness the Grand Duke be the father? I’m not entirely certain about his infertility issue, as Her Majesty the Queen didn’t provide further details. But is it possible that he has recovered?" suggested Helen.
Anna raised her head, her face hopeful. Damon, however, wore a grave expression.
"Mr Amares said it’s not possible. His condition is not reversible," he replied.
Silence fell over the room.
"Pardon for asking, my lady, but do you and His Highness have any ’bedroom’ issues?" Helen inquired.
"No! Definitely not! Kyren is quite virile! When we were together... he... he wouldn’t stop at just once..." Anna said, her voice trailing off in embarrassnt.
Although it was personal, she needed to address it to clarify her point.
Damon felt a flush rise to his cheeks. Even without Anna’s admission, based on the experience at the camp, the knights were well aware of the couple’s activities at night, which often lasted until dawn. That was one reason no knights or soldiers would approach their commander’s tent at night.
"The infertility... What is this condition of his about? Is it due to sickness or injury?" the princess asked for further details. "I’ve been with him, so I know his body. I didn’t see any scars or other issues."
"It’s not because of injury or illness!" Damon interjected.
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