First of all, I want to thank everyone for reaching 1K votes, as well as for the support you are giving to this story and for all the emotions you leave through your comments, this makes me really proud of my work! ❤️ As always, enjoy the reading ✨️

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More time passed and your situation wasn't improving at all. You wanted to get out of that damned place, but you couldn't and also after the chain was removed from your foot, you looked like a walking dead...it had been a long time since you felt such an emptiness inside you, as if your energy had been taken away from your body and even if you hated that condition, you had nothing to change things.

You had nothing but the child inside you.

«Is this what you felt that time, mother? I feel so pathetic.» You chuckled on your own, you were completely alone there now, no contact with Sonia and you never met Grunbeld again; sometimes you saw him pass by from afar, but you were the first to change direction, so as not to remember the discomfort of the last time.

Everything was ready for the next journey and even if it had already been announced by Sonia, you didn't know where the hell you would go with them...that day was full of surprises and from outside the fortress, you saw a cavalry advancing towards it, carrying with them the arms of the royal family of the Midland.

You had never seen the nobility so close up. Sure, most mercenary battles were commissioned by lords to protect or invade the opponent's territory, but never before you had seen a young noblewoman like the one who was stepping out of the carriage; you stared at her graceful composure as she walked up the steps to the front entrance, her brown hair wrapped around the head like a crown and her ceramic skin visible beneath her long, golden dress.

«An unexpected visit, your highness. You should have warned me...» Griffith appeared before the girl and her big, hazel eyes shone at the sight of that wonderful man who appeared almost like a God before her.

«You know you can call me Charlotte, Sir Griffith.» He bowed and with a slow gesture, he took her little hand to kiss the back, causing her cheeks to blush «I wanted to make sure our supreme commander was well, it's been a long time since we last met.»

He returned that tenderness with a smile, before leading his lady inside by the arm. Something told you there was a relationship between them, but you doubted it was true love, Griffith was clearly too ambitious to think about that and using an innocent girl like the princess was practically a win-win for him, as well as petty.

«I guess even royal life isn't so great after all, too many duties and sacrifices on their part...that girl doesn't seem very happy.» You thought to yourself as you walked away from the window. Unfortunately, you weren't alone anymore and when you looked up in recognition of Grunbeld, you turned your back on him again.

«I didn't think you could walk free already.» He said in his usual harsh voice, but received no response and so, the knight circled around to meet your gaze. He narrowed his eyes at your dull expression, even the lips he had tasted long ago had lost their rosy color; he had been too hard on you, but also now that he was trying to communicate, you avoided him like he was the plague itself.

«Leave me alone—ugh!»

Suddenly, you collapsed to the ground after a severe stomach ache, it was happening to you a lot lately and though it wasn't the right time to give birth, there was definitely something wrong with your body.

«You've lost weight. If you continue like this, you'll end up losing it...»

«Won't I lose it anyway?» You raised your voice to ignore the pain, you had suffered worse in the past and Grunbeld looked critically «Your little friend mentioned it to me...Griffith wants this baby, right? Tell me fucking why!»

The red knight took a deep breath, of course you weren't stupid and now that the journey was getting closer, you were becoming more and more suspicious. But then, he started to feel those emotions weighing on him again, just the thought you might be hurt put him in a critical position...even against his own leader.

«No one will touch your baby. Not as long as I'm here.»

Seriously, when you looked at that man you felt intense emotions, but you couldn't forget what he had done to you and took a step back, certainly that didn't sound like a lie but you couldn't afford to trust him again.

«Can I ask you a question?» You said in a calm tone and Grunbeld stared at you with light eyes, partly relieved that you wanted to talk to him now «Why you serve that man? You're much more than he is, yet, you insist on following his orders...is this what it means to be an Apostle?»

The answer wasn't immediate and the other bowed in understanding, he was the best example of an Apostle and always him had subjected so many people under his hammer with such mercilessness.

«You can't even imagine, Y/n...but if there's someone who can purify the world from corruption, that's Lord Griffith alone.»

Grunbeld hoped that you understood his ideal and shared it in some way, but you stayed silent, reflecting on it, as hateful as the silver-haired man was, maybe there was some truth in what he said, not by chance he had the rulers of Midland on his side and an entire army at his command, but you were still the only one who thought otherwise...how many corpses would he have left in his wake to achieve this goal?

You didn't ask for that, because suddenly the girl from earlier appeared right behind him and in the company of Griffith.

«You already know the captain of the giants, Grunbeld.» The White Falcon announced to his companion and the young princess gave a modest bow to greet the giant, yet her eyes timidly raised to meet yours instead.

«Who is that woman? I've never seen her before.» She tilted her head, curious about your presence next to the knight; you hadn't knelt down to pay homage to her of course, but Charlotte wasn't so arrogant to let you do that with the baby bump she had noticed.

«Oh my, are you pregnant?! Is it a boy or a girl?»

«I don't really know, maybe it's going to be a boy.» You just answered and Charlotte smiled, unlike Griffith who kept looking at you with a dark expression, most likely he was afraid you would say something wrong «And you, Your Highness? Don't you want an heir or you're still waiting for him to make up his mind?»

You looked defiantly at Griffith, obviously the provocation was directed at him but the girl was too distracted laughing to understand the true meaning of it.

«Princess Charlotte is a woman of values, she could never choose just any man and unfortunately, that man has duties to the kingdom, as well as to her...unlike some barbarians.»

When she heard she was important for the man she loved, the girl was flattered and gently lowered her gaze, so as not to show her embarrassment. Grunbeld looked down at your figure, when he thought you had finished, you had something else in mind to say to his dear master.

«How many people you have to lie before you achieve your damn goal–»

«I think you made your point very clear Y/n, but this is not the right time to talk about it...if you don't mind, I continue with the visit now.»

Charlotte looked at you with a confused expression, she didn't understand why you were talking to Griffith that way; Grunbeld let them pass and so you did reluctantly, as the young princess couldn't help but wonder who you really were.

«Is she a new member of your team? And who is the father of the child?» At those questions, Griffith patted her little head before continuing the walking tour of his fortress. Of course, he couldn't tell the truth, but he had to make sure that his precious Charlotte never doubted him and there, he stopped to take both of her hands, bringing them to his chest.

«She will be very soon. And as for her baby, she will do whatever is necessary to keep it with her, don't worry so much my dear.»

Charlotte was heartened by those words, there had never been a time when Griffith had disappointed her and he hadn't done so now either. Before leaving again, she let her beloved knight kiss her hand, even if she wanted that on her lips, she had to maintain a decorous bearing.

«Please be careful on your journey and give my regards to that girl. I hope to see her with you when you return to Falconia...»

«Naturally. I'm really happy to have seen you again shortly before my leaving, Miss Charlotte, take care of yourself while I'm away.» Griffith said kindly as he escorted her to the carriage, he admitted his affection for her but as you had guessed, his duties came first and when the royal army disappeared into the forest, the White Falcon immediately reached Sonia for a forecast. Something was unexpectedly disturbing him and he had to make sure there were no future obstacles...

Obstacles that didn't bear his name.

«Flowering is almost here and this is a good time to leave...we await your order, Lord Griffith.» The blonde girl announced with a smile and an armor on her chest, as she retrieved a helmet with a golden goose feather. She wouldn't participate in any battle, but she would stand by her leader's side to ensure his path was clear.

«Make sure Y/n's condition is normal first. And don't let her touch the stone under any circumstances, okay?» The silver man replied before retreating to his chambers. Grunbeld would have thought of keeping an eye on you, but now that she wasn't talking to you anymore, Sonia was feeling lonely again...she had never had a friend before and after the bad words she had said to you, she felt like she had lost her friendship again.

«As you wish, sir.»

If things had gone as planned, maybe she would have had a chance to make amends.

• • •

Charlotte gazed blankly at nature beyond the little window. A day had already passed and if Griffith hadn't been busy on his own, she would have wanted to stay a little longer, maybe even spend the night with him...it had been a long time since he had held her in his arms, but now that he had become supreme commander of the Midland army, he didn't even have time to return to the castle to see her.

And then there was you, your origins totally unknown to her. Although he had told her, she was worried about this new arrival and that eventually, you would steal her place next to him.

«I-I don't even want to think about it! I trust my Griffith, there is no way that between him and her...»

But Charlotte's thoughts were interrupted by the carriage braking sharply, followed by the horses' frightened neighing. Her heart pounded with fear and she looked for help from the soldiers outside, but they seemed to have vanished.

«W-what is happening?!»

Everything fell silent, as if she were alone, but when she tried to open the carriage door, a large dark shadow appeared in front of her, forcing her out. The princess started to scream and pray for help, but when she opened her tearful eyes towards her attacker, she couldn't believe what she was seeing...she had known that man and even though some years had passed, his gloomy and terrifying expression was still the same.

«Y-you are–!»

«Tell me where he is, or I'll send you back to in little pieces.» The swordsman threatened without releasing his grip on her, meanwhile all of her guards were being knocked out by the rest of his group. She immediately understood he was no longer part of the Band of the Falcon and thought he was looking for Griffith.

«She's still the heir to the throne of Falconia, you can't treat her like this Guts.» Farnese intervened to prevent the man from frightening the young lady further. He let her go, but he waited for her to give him the desired answers.

«I-if you're looking for Lord Griffith, he's no longer here! I believe he left the fortress this morning, but I don't know where he went!»

Charlotte was gasping for air with every breath, Guts was looking at her with a narrow, menacing eye and felt she was lying to protect him.

«Did you meet anyone else when you were there? A woman?»

Charlotte didn't answer and Guts clenched his fists, he wasn't the type to hit a girl but if necessary, he would do something to make her talk right away. With a gentle pat, Schierke approached the princess and fortunately, she stopped shaking a little.

«Please your highness, we need your help, we are looking for a woman who could be in danger right now...she is also pregnant and wherever she is–»

«Y-yes I saw her! She was pregnant, but absolutely not in danger, not with Lord Griffith! I think she is a new member of his team but I don't know anything else!»

Charlotte answered in a faint, but clear voice and all eyes were on Guts, who listened in silence. That answer was still not enough to convince him and he just knelt before the princess, who immediately jumped from the ground.

«Do you remember anything about her? Her appearance or her voice...it's really important for me to know this, because she could be the mother of my son.»

This time, the princess's expression became confused and almost shocked when realized he was the father of that creature. There, Charlotte quickly stood up ignoring the dirt on her long skirt to tell everything she still remembered of that short encounter with the mysterious woman.

«I was with Lord Griffith when I met that woman, in the company of another knight...I noticed immediately she was pregnant, because she wasn't wearing any armor like them and to be honest, she seemed very nervous...she used very bad words towards Griffith, but things ended well, he would never do anything to hurt a woman's feelings!»

Then, she continued with the description of your appearance, especially your intense and fearless gaze and Guts had no doubts about that, it was good to know that you were okay, but the bad news was that you were leaving for who knows where with that madman.

«Did he tell you where they were headed?» Schierke added, standing next to her but the other girl shook her head, she was telling the truth and there, the young witch saw the Black Swordsman move away for a moment...now that Guts knew you were alive, he was thinking of nothing else but how to reach you and apparently, Charlotte's words didn't convince him otherwise.

«I wonder if...» He picked up his stone to feel something, but no sound seemed to come from it, most likely Griffith was hiding your Beherit to prevent you from hearing any voice.

«I'll find another way to figure out where she's...»

But then, a burning sensation came over the side of his neck, the Brand of Sacrifice was taking effect, recalling the one who summoned it; he looked at Casca and saw her expression of pain, as she felt her chest burning from this, she was feeling the same thing too and that could only mean one thing...Griffith was closer than he thought and whatever his intentions were with you, he wasn't going to get away with it.

Things weren't going to be like last time.

«We'd better get moving Guts, or evil spirits will haunt us all night long!» Puck shouted in the Swordsman's ear, warning the others as well but he stood there, staring in an unknown direction with intense determination. Spirits or Apostles, no opponent would be able to stop him now.

«KiLl ThEm AlL.»

He heard the beastly voice speak, as let that energy spread within him and without his friends knowing.

«TaKe BaCk WhAt'S yOuRs.»

For once, Guts agreed with it and after leaving the rest behind, he set out for you and for the son he had never thought to have again.