Rebirth: The unfavored Princess is the Tyrant King's favorite-Chapter 97: Flashback: the Gloryland army has found us

Nicholas and Luciana sat on the same horse with James and Dora on another as they made their way through the uneven forest path. The road was bumpy, and anytime the horse bounced, they bounced along with it.

"Are you alright?" Nicholas worriedly asked Luciana from behind.

"I’m fine; we can go a little faster than this. We don’t need to move so slowly because of me," Luciana said. She could tell from James’s worried face and his occasional glances behind them that there was something amiss.

"Don’t worry, your comfort is my topmost..."

Nicholas had yet to complete his words when an arrow whipped through the air in his and Luciana’s direction. He pressed Luciana down on the horse and caught the arrow with his bare hand.

The soldier who had released the arrow gulped at the sight and pulled another arrow, trying to shoot at them again, but his fingers were trembling, causing the arrow to fall.

Nicholas jumped off the horse, and James also jumped down at the same time.

About 10 men appeared behind the first man and rushed to attack.

"Stay with my wife; I’ll take care of them," Nicholas told James and rushed towards the men to attack.

The speed at which Nicholas ran towards them with leaves and dust flying in the air surprised everyone present, including himself.

He realized he had broken another seal—the gift of super speed.

Nicholas didn’t dwell on his discovery for long, and within 10 to 15 minutes, he had killed all the men. He walked back to Luciana and climbed up behind her.

He could see the question in her eyes, so he told her even before she asked.

"A spiritual master told me I was born with a seal placed on me because I was born with all the gifts. We are going to the spiritual master who would help me break the seal, but currently, I think I’ve broken two seals on my own. The gift of flying and super speed," Nicholas said.

Luciana’s eyes widened at his words, and she also decided to come clean.

"I need to tell you something about my blood. It has healing abilities, but I had no idea it could neutralize poison; I think feeding you my blood was what triggered another seal to break," Luciana said, and Nicholas stared at her with a deep look in his eyes.

"We must make sure no one finds out about your ability; it would put you in danger," Nicholas said with a worried look on his face, causing Luciana to look at him in surprise.

She knew if it was David who found out something about this, he would use it for his benefit. She remembered how David had made her use her healing abilities several times to gain favor from people.

She especially remembered when he had taken her out of the palace for an outing.

She was so happy that day, thinking she was going to have fun, only for David to take her to the prime minister’s house to heal his son so that he could use that as a means to acquire a 1000-year-old ginseng elixir, the man owned.

"Thank you," Luciana said to Nicholas, and he stared at her as if he didn’t understand what she was talking about.

"For what?" Nicholas asked.

"For everything," Luciana simply said.

"My wife doesn’t need to thank me," Nicholas said, and Luciana’s eyes widened.

"Wi—Wife?" She stuttered.

"Of course, are you my sister then?" Nicholas asked and chuckled seeing her flushed face.

"Let’s get married when we arrive in the village," Nicholas said, and Luciana’s blush became even deeper. When Luciana heard Nicholas whisper the words,

"I can’t wait for our wedding night."

The color on Luciana’s cheeks put all shades of red to shame.

~~~

Three weeks later,

Amidst dangers in the forest and constant obstruction from David’s men, plus the need to rest at regular intervals due to the pregnant Luciana, Nicholas and his new family reached the village in three weeks.

Master Kendrick received them warmly and gave Nicholas and his family a small bamboo house to reside in.

Even though this house looked small, it was because they were used to the large manors and mansions in the palace.

The bamboo house had four rooms; one room looked bigger than the rest and even had a large wooden bathtub that was big enough to accommodate four people. It also had an outside bathhouse and a normal-sized courtyard. Luciana liked it very much.

Nicholas and Luciana naturally chose the larger room, and James and Dora picked one room each, leaving a spare room.

Luciana stayed in the spare room for a week, refusing to stay in the same room with Nicholas since they were still unmarried.

Nicholas whined and told Luciana he wouldn’t touch her, but Luciana sternly refused.

So in a week, the impatient Nicholas consulted with the priest, and a simple wedding ceremony took place between the lovebirds.

Luciana looked breathtaking with flowers adorning her head in a red dress, looking like a fairy.

Nicholas looked awestruck seeing his beautiful wife, and amidst prayers and vows, they got married under the blessings of the priests.

~~~

Wedding night,

"Am I allowed to kiss my wife now?" Nicholas asked huskily, his hazel eyes looking deep like whirlpools. Luciana’s breath hitched under his alluring gaze, and a subtle "yes" escaped from her lips.

Nicholas didn’t wait to be told twice and kissed her like his life depended on it.

He kissed her with passion and hunger as if her lips were the sweetest thing he had ever tasted.

He kissed her as if he were a man who was quenching his thirst after staying in the desert for a year, and Luciana surrendered herself to him, giving him access and allowing him to plunder her mouth in submission.

That evening, it was a long night, and when Luciana finally got to sleep, she felt as if all the strength had left her body.

~~~

6 months later,

Luciana lay in the bathtub with her bulging belly as Dora rubbed her body with soap. She looked so tired and sluggish as if she couldn’t even lift a limb.

Dora saw the bite marks on Luciana’s body and blushed in embarrassment.

"My lady, I think you should talk to the prince so that he goes easy on you. You are almost due; don’t you think you should cut down on your sexual activities with the prince? You look like someone who lacks enough sleep," Dora said.

She and Luciana had gotten quite close after they arrived in the village since they always depended on each other, so she felt it would be best to advise the princess.

Luciana heard Dora’s words and smiled.

"You wouldn’t believe it when I tell you, but I’ve been the one always initiating it," Luciana admitted shyly. She didn’t know if it was because of her pregnancy, but she always wanted to be intimate with Nicholas.

Truthfully, Nicholas was gentle with her, especially since she was pregnant. It was her skin that was so fragile and sensitive that bruises formed easily.

"I can’t get enough of him, and it’s my fault because he can’t refuse me when I ask for it... I can see how you and James stare at each other but bicker all the time," Luciana said, and Dora averted her gaze.

"There’s nothing between James and me," Dora said, and Luciana smiled.

"Don’t mind me, I’m just rumbling. I hope that you will also find something as wonderful and special as I’ve found with Nicholas," Luciana said. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

~~~

That night, Nicholas returned from training to break the seal and saw the worried expression on James’ face. Dora exited the door carrying a basin that looked like water mixed with blood; she also looked like she was on the verge of crying.

His heart skipped a beat as he approached them.

"Where’s Luciana?" He asked worriedly, looking around, when he saw the village midwife also coming out of the room with a solemn expression on her face.

"The madam is showing signs of premature labor, but she’s losing too much blood; her situation looks delicate. You must prepare yourself." The midwife said, and Nicholas barged into the room and found Luciana lying on the bed with tears in her eyes.

"Nicholas," she choked, weakly raising her hands towards him.

He took her hand into his and stared at her. Her forehead was soaked with sweat, her hair was stuck to her forehead, and her eyes looked red.

"I’m here, wife, I’m here; everything will be alright," Nicholas said, his heart aching after seeing her in such a condition. He patted her head gently and brushed away the stray hairs off her forehead.

"It hurts," she confessed.

"It hurts so much," she added.

"I’m sorry, I’m sorry for putting you through such pain," Nicholas said. He was scared of losing her.

"Call the midwife; I feel it’s coming," Luciana said, and the midwife came back inside. Seeing Nicholas was present, she voiced her concerns.

"My Lord, you cannot stay here with us. Please wait outside," the woman said.

"I will stay with her. She needs me," Nicholas said, only to hear James’s frantic voice outside the door.

"My Lord, I need to report something; it’s important," James said.

Nicholas stared at Luciana and kissed the back of her hand before he reluctantly let go of her.

"I’ll be right back, wife, please hold on," Nicholas said and went out. He knew James wouldn’t call him out if it wasn’t something important.

Nicholas walked out and saw James looked as if someone had died.

"My Prince, it’s bad; the Gloryland army has found us; they have raided the village and are currently heading towards us," James said, and Nicholas’s eyes flashed with panic.

’Luciana! Luciana and his child were in there; nothing must happen to her.’