Valor

"Your majesty, how are you?" Zedon asks.

"Of course, thanks to both of you." Elzilaura smiles at the two brothers.

"I'm glad you're okay." Zyric mentions. "Let's go, brother. It seems the enemy brought reinforcements." With this statement, Zyric speeds in the direction of the enemy. It seems he missed going into battle. Zedon immediately followed him.

"Right," Zedon replies. "Your majesty, you must go on ahead while we hold off the enemy."

"Agreed," Elzilaura replies. Then she turns to the officer standing nearby and gives out her command. "Captain, you heard the Duke of Craiine. Let's go!"

"Yes, Your Majesty." The captain responds to his superior before giving orders to his own men to proceed to Fliska.

Zyric got too brash that he did not see an enemy approaching at the side. Before he was able to open the Thunder dome or evade the attack, Zedon blasted the enemy that would have harmed his brother.

Elzilaura and the rest of the crew saw this before the two jets vanished from their sight. It made her worry even more even though she has faith in the two brothers. The two servants noticed how uneasy the queen was.

"Are you all right, your majesty? Nuviette dared to ask.

"Of course. I have a little migraine but it's gone now." Elzilaura smiles. "Thank you, girls. I am proud of both of you. You are such brave young ladies."

"No worries, your majesty," Chiriu says.

"We aim to serve you the best way we can," Nuviette adds.

Not for long, Craiine was in sight and they made an emergency landing in the Atilene base. Everyone disembarked while repairs were made. Soon, the two brothers in their fighter jets made their landing.

Inside the base, a tall man that looked like Methleon was waiting. He bowed to her majesty and welcomed them but when the Duke of Craiine came, he quickly genuflected. The duke nods at him and the servant swifts rises. Judging from the looks of it, he was the duke's valet. He must be Methleon's elder brother.

"Notify my wife that I will be a bit late because the queen had to make a stopover here in Craiine." The duke claims.

"Yes, my liege." The servant then carries out his task.

The Duke of Craiine carries on and stops in front of the queen. Zyric came into the vicinity and caught up with his brother standing by the latter's side. Both of them knelt before the queen.

"Arise, gentlemen." The queen commanded.

Nuviette noticed that the queen and the prince consort's gazes were fixated on each other. It was as if they were both dying to talk to each other but they were in public. They were trying to keep their staunch royal demeanor as all eyes were on them. Seeing this, Nuviette bravely cleared her throat.

"You're majesty." She whispers in the queen's ear. "I need to have a word in private."

Elzilaura was stunned by this handmaiden's actions. What was so important that they couldn't discuss now and why couldn't the servant wait until they return home? Yet, she decided to give the sweet young girl the benefit of the doubt.

"Sure." Elzilaura then walks away with the handmaidens following. Nuviette then looks at the prince consort. She points using her chin toward their direction. Zyric understood that Nuviette wants him to join them.

Once they went into a nearby room, Nuviette turned to face her masters.

"Okay, your majesties can talk now. Chiriu and I will guard the door." The handmaidens turn to face the door. Nuviette instructed Chiriu to cover her ears.

The couple laughed at their servants before they walked deeper into the small room further away from the doorway. Not for long, they started to kiss and hold each other in a tight embrace. When they gasped for air, Elzilaura started to sob.

"Why are you crying?" Zyric asks as he tried to lift her chin.

"You made me worry. You were almost hit by the enemy. You and Zedon are not careful. Both of you will give me and Soradina a heart attack!" Elzilaura slightly shakes her head to dislodge his hand and glares at him with tears rolling down her cheeks.

"I'm sorry. It won't happen again." Zyric rained kisses on his wife's forehead.

"I heard that before," Elzilaura frowns and tries to stay still.

"I can't prevent these things from happening but I promise I will be more careful next time." Zyric felt pained too. Seeing his wife cry was making him miserable too. He unintentionally hurt her with his clumsiness. He combs her hair with his fingers.

"You made errors that even cadets could avoid. What's wrong with you?" She raises her voice and slams her fist on his chest.

"I got distracted. Anger got the best of me and I just wanted to make them pay for endangering my wife." Zyric explicates as he holds her even tighter in his arms. "I promise I will make it up to you." He kisses her neck and lingers for a moment. Elzilaura closes her eyes and savors his touch but quickly snaps back to her senses.

"I will hold you to that." Elzilaura wipes her tears once he loosened his grip. "For now, let us go. My staff is waiting."

"You go on ahead. I'll just check on Zed before I leave." Zyric says.

They stayed in that position for a moment before moving and heading to their servants. The two girls remained facing the door when Elzilaura put a hand on each of the girl's shoulders. Nuviette and Chiriu looked up at the royal couple.

"Well, I'm glad to see you two here, Nuviette and Chiriu. Welcome to Craiine." Zyric says.

"Thank you, your majesties." Chiriu curtsies.

Nuviette was so eager to talk to him that she immediately shed formality.

"Oh, my prince, you were so brave and brilliant earlier during the battle. Plus, your brother is so handsome!" Nuviette shares.

"Oh so, I am not handsome?" Zyric jests. The girls laugh.

"Apologies, I meant he is just as handsome as you," Nuviette explains

"Haha, nice save." Chiriu cheerfully mocks her companion.

"Glad to hear that." Zyric's grins as he taps the girl's shoulder.

"Thank you, girls. I am so grateful and impressed with both of you today." Elzilaura smiles at her attendants.

"You're very welcome, your majesties," Chiriu responds.

"Think nothing of it, your majesties," Nuviette says.

All four of them head out the door. They rejoin their companions and learn from a crew member that the royal vessel has been refueled and repaired. The prince consort escorts his wife to the royal vessel. He and his brother watched as the vessel took off.

Once they landed on Fliska, Elzilaura gives her two handmaidens one last errand for the day.

"Girls, I need to ask one last favor for me. Please." Elzilaura says.

"What is it, your majesty?" Nuviette asks.

"The test." She shyly utters. "Please don't tell anyone."

"Of course." Chiriu heads to the service room. When the other servants asked, she explained it was confidential and was discrete in taking items from the said room.

Meanwhile, Nuviette stayed with the queen and helped the latter as she sat on the bed. Nuviette's hunch was confirmed. The queen might be pregnant so she avoided using the crystal cross which might harm her baby. Perhaps, this is the reason why the Duke of Craiine and the Prince Consort came rushing in. Aside from the fact she is queen, they must also have an inkling that she could possibly be expecting.

Soon, Chiriu came in with the test developed by Invoris Technology. Their pregnancy tests look like a patch that is placed below the stomach which detects fertilization. After a few minutes, the patch will turn into a different color if the queen is pregnant. Otherwise, the patch will remain the same. So far, the test was negative.

Elzilaura then sent a recorded transmission to Zyric. 

"Zee, I ran the test and it's negative." She sighs. "I hope you get home soon. I just need a hug." Her voice was cracking in disappointment. She then ended the transmission.

As soon as she did, Nuviette instinctively ran to her and hugged her tight. Although she was surprised, Elzilaura appreciated Nuviette's innocence and genuine concern. She hugged Nuviette back.

Sensing Chiriu observing them in the distance, she uttered. "I want a hug from you too, Chiriu." Elzilaura smiled.

Instantaneously, Chiriu joined in the hug. Elzilaura's smile widened. These girls were warming her heart. They are so endearing.

As they released their embraces, Elzilaura asked them again to keep the matter confidential. The two girls agreed and reassured their mistress. With their promise, the queen relaxed which delighted both girls. They loved how Queen Elzilaura trusted them. Not for long, she dismissed them, and the two girls endorsed to the night shift before heading to their quarters for some shut-eye.