Five days had passed, Evander and Anneliese had left due to an urgent message delivered to Anneliese. Ambrose had started to help the villagers manage their shops and the village by themselves and he had also let Zielle wander around where he could watch her. Zielle had gotten used to slowly moving around by herself but she still seek help from Ambrose. As of right now, they both were in the garden while Ambrose sharpened his sword, Zielle wandered around

“Your highness!” Lorenzo came running, he was sweating and out of breath

Ambrose dug the tip of the sword in the ground making it stand by itself and turned towards Lorenzo.

“What’s going on?” Suddenly a falcon appeared in the skies and landed on Zielle’s head

“What’s this?” Zielle slowly moved her hands upwards

Ambrose walked towards Zielle, and upon noticing that the falcon had a letter in its beak he frowned, he made the falcon rest on his shoulder and fixed Zielle’s hair

“It’s okay Elle is just a bird” He turned towards Lorenzo “Why are you here?”

“There are imperial knights here and they are searching the village” The boy looked scared “Your highness…could it be?”

Ambrose heart started beating fast and he quickly opened the letter.

Ambrose, your brother has found out that you are alive and has set up a search party. He arrested Evander for helping you, and it’s going to be sent to trial for conspiring against the king. Ambrose I beg you to save him, he’s not only my husband but your best friend. It’s time you make a decision, either go back or keep running forever.

Anneliese

Ambrose crumpled the letter, and sighed.

“This is not good” He kicked the ground “I hate this” He ruffled his hair

Ambrose walked towards the blanket that was spread on the ground, gave the bird water and crumbs of bread.

“Rose…It’s everything okay?” Zielle fiddled with her fingers

“Lorenzo tell you grandma to get my horse without people knowing, also follow me” Rose walked towards Zielle after seeing the falcon fly off then he held Zielle’s hand and pulled her with him

The three of them entered the mansion and headed towards the office. Ambrose helped Zielle’ sit on the chair and opened a drawer, he took out a pouch

“Do you have a pouch with you?”

Lorenzo nodded and grabbed the pouch that was tied around his waist. Ambrose motioned him to open it which he did and then he dropped a lot of gold coins inside

“Your highness! That’s a lot!” The young boy stared at the inside of the pouch

“Tell your grandma that I appreciate her help and also thanks kid…now go”

The young boy nodded and ran off. Ambrose sighed and started making a stack of the important documents

“Rose…are we…are we leaving?” Zielle played with her fingers

“Yes we are” Once he finished making a stack he tapped the desk with his fingers “Stay here okay, don’t move” He went out of the office and into the drawing room

He grabbed the suitcase that he brought with him and started packing what they needed, he then grabbed another pouch and started packing food. He looked around and once he decided he had everything he needed he closed the suitcase and tied the pouch and walked to the office. There Zielle was playing with the sleeves of her dress, which was something she did when she was feeling anxious

“Don’t be scared everything is fine” Ambrose placed the suitcase and pouch on the floor and approached her

Lorenzo came running again “Your highness I brought the horse, you need to hurry the imperial knights are on their way here”

Ambrose picked up the luggage “Help Zielle please”

They went to the back of the mansion, and there Ambrose’s horse was waiting. He hurriedly tied the luggage on the horse back and mounted it. Lorenzo and Ambrose helped Zielle up the horse. Ambrose leaned Zielle’s head on his chest and smiled at Lorenzo

“Thanks kid...take care” He waved and hit the horse side for it to start galloping.

***

It was nighttime and Ambrose was a day away from the capital of Aegle where the base of Anneliese guild was, they had cut the trip short by using a transportation spell. He decided to camp on the forest that surrounded the capital, and after finding a spot with water nearby he started to set up a tent. Zielle was sitting on the ground, while the horse drank from the small pond.

“Rose…what’s going on?”

“My brother found out I’m alive and he’s searching for me” He finished putting up the tent and started searching for a blanket

“So we are running away?” She tilted her head “What’s the plan?”

“We are going to find Anneliese” He placed the blanket on the ground making a bed “She’s going to help us”

He helped Zielle go inside the tent and covered her with the other blanket he packed.

“I wish I could help you” She rolled to her side and slowly slid her hands to his face “I’m sorry for being useless”

He placed his hand on top of her “It’s okay, just stay with me”

Morning arrived and after a quick breakfast they continued their journey. They arrived at the guild during midnight. Ambrose helped Zielle get down from the horse and knocked the door three times, then once with his nail and then he kicked it. A tall and buff guy opened the door and bowed

“Your highness…she’s been waiting”

They guy led them to Anneliese’s office. Ambrose looked around the placed and chuckled at the fact that the place they were in was a famous tea spot for aristocratic ladies but at night it was the place to go if you were a noble looking to drink and have a fun night. They went down to the basement where after opening a big double door, they saw Anneliese sitting on her desk while cleaning the blood off her sword

“That was fast, but then again we are talking about Prince Ambrose” She placed the sword on the desk and stood up

She approached Zielle and hug her “I’m happy you are okay” She softly pulled away and smile “Let nanny Elara help you get comfy and eat something okay? I need to talk to Rose”

Zielle slowly nodded and a middle aged woman held her hand and led her out of the office. Anneliese went back to sitting on the desk and stared at Ambrose who slid his hands into his pockets

“Ambrose do tell me you are thinking on stepping in” She crossed her legs “Felix is going too far”

Ambrose sighed “I was thinking about creating a plan to get him out…that way is better for everyone”

“Don’t you think I haven’t tried? It’s useless, it’s not imperial knights who are guarding him but Felix too” She brushed her hair back with her hands “Besides I can’t allow my husband to be a fugitive! I want to settle down one day and raise kids”

Ambrose glanced at her stomach and laughed “You a mother? Ha! Sure” He took a deep breath to calm down

“Yes Ambrose, I want a child and I wanted to tell him today…but...” She hid her face in her hands “I went to our mansion feeling so happy about the future I wanted to plan with him but my heart dropped when I saw him bleeding on the floor, being cuffed and dragged away and Felix…that bastard dares smirk at me” She stood up and kicked the desk

Ambrose rubbed his face with his hands and closed his eyes. He sighed and approached Anneliese, he placed a hand in her shoulder

“Don’t stress yourself too much” He hug her “Take care of Zielle and no matter what happens Evander will be free, I’ll make sure of it”

Anneliese giggled “I had to bully you into this…You always make me act like a bad person” She pulled away

“Don’t blame me for your bad personality” He smiled

 She pushed him “Thank you…and I’m sorry”

“It’s my duty…as a prince and king” He turned around “I’ll go rest”

Ambrose walked towards the sleeping quarters in the basement, he saw nanny Elara coming out of a room with a tray full of food

“She didn’t eat?” Ambrose asked once he approached her

“No…she said she wanted to eat with you” She handed the tray to Ambrose “I need to prepared to clean wounds tonight” She murmured as she left

Ambrose frowned but entered the room, Zielle was sitting on the bed playing with her hands

“Rose?” She tilted her head

“Nanny Elara told me you didn’t want to eat…are you feeling sick?”

“I missed you…besides we always eat together” She whispered

He smiled and sat on the bed, he picked up the spoon and began to feed her “Zielle…I need to tell you something”

“Must be serious since you aren’t calling me Elle”

“I need to leave for a couple of days”

“Were are we going? I hope a garden, I haven’t smelled plants in so long” She smiled

“I’m going alone…you are staying with Anneliese”

Her face changed to a sad one “You promised that you wouldn’t leave me…are you really breaking the promise?”

He sighed “No Elle, I’m going first because…I need time to prepare your surprise”

She nodded slowly while her eyes and nose reddened and tears formed in her eyes “You have to come back…please don’t abandon me”

Ambrose closed his eyes, his heart was aching by looking at her sad state and hearing her broken voice, he stood up, placed the tray on the nightstand and walked over to their luggage. He crouched and started searching for something, he quickly found the coat he was wearing when he left the camp and started searching the pockets.

“Rose…please answer me”

He found what he was looking for, which was a golden pin with a red jewel on the middle. Every royal born was gifted a special jewel that came from the depths of an unknown mine and then was infused with magic. He took it and walked towards the bed.

“Rose what are you doing? Why aren’t you answering?”

He grabbed one of her hands and gave her the pin. “Elle that pin is proof that I’m coming back okay” He pushed her gently making her lie down and then he did the same “Let’s go to sleep…Good night” He covered her eyes with one of his hands

“You have to come back…please” She whispered