The sun was already beginning to rise again. The troops were exhausted from their thorough search. At this point, they’d lost count of how many they’d looked through already.

Elaide’s royal guard took station just outside the final brothel. Marix looked it up and down.

Its paint was chipping, the tin roof was rusted, one wooden pillar looked to be eaten through by termites, and the railing of its stairs was full of wood rot.

One of the windows had shattered glass on the floor outside of it and was boarded up with mismatched pieces of wood that varied in shape and size.

A royal guard approached and opened the door. The hinges let out an ear shattering screech and the floor creaked loudly underneath him as he entered inside.

The rest of the Elaide guard followed along with Marix and his troops.

Inside, it smelt rancid. A combination of smoke, sex, alcohol and rot. A few of the soldiers covered their noses.

The men inside were the drunkest they’d seen, most likely men who retreated here as a last resort after being topped off or kicked out of the other brothels.

Marix burst into laughter, his sides aching from the force of it.

Everyone gave him an odd look, but he ignored them. He didn’t care. They didn’t know what he did, hadn’t seen what he had.

’Of course. Of course this would be the one we would find her in. Why didn’t I expect it? Isn’t it obvious? That bastard Lord Evans would never allow her to live anywhere inhabitable.’

He stomped on a cockroach that scampered across the floor in front of him.

’Tsk. As if a brothel itself wasn’t bad enough. No, he’d send her to the most hellish one he would be able to find. How foolish of me."

Once Marix’s laughing fit had calmed down a bit, the Elaide Royal Guard began relaying the decree of King Alesius.

"WE, THE ELAIDE ROYAL GUARD, PASS ON THE DECREE OF KING ALESIUS! THE VIRAAZ ARMY HAS BEEN GIVEN FULL PERMISSION TO SEARCH THIS ESTABLISHMENT FOR AND RETRIEVE MISS EILOWNIA EVANS! THE KING DEMANDS YOUR FULL COOPERATION!"

The one who had spoken, put his trumpet to his mouth and blew out a short tune before the entire guard parted to allow the Viraaz army through completely.

All of the women stood up and moved to the side where the soldiers began to check them one by one.

Meanwhile all of the men began to complain. Those who got belligerent were taken care of by the troops and guard.

Finally, the Madam came forward wearing the highest quality fabrics in a pink and yellow dress with her hair pinned up.

Expensive jewels covered her fingers, neck, and wrists to the point that the chains and bands which held them were hardly visible.

’Well, well, well, if it isn’t Lord Evans in female form,’ Marix thought to himself as he stared at her with disgust, ’I see where all of the budget towards renovations went.’

She stared at them with an annoyed look clearly upset they were interfering with her business.

"And what do I get in return? I paid a fortune for that girl and look at the state of my establishment. Aren’t you going to compensate me?"

She threw her arms up in frustration.

"Madam Siva, we apologize, but we are under direct orders for King Alesius to return Miss Eilownia Evans at once. If you wish to receive compensation you’ll have to schedule an appointment with the King." One of the royal guards informed her, bowing in apology.

"Tch." She rolled her eyes and huffed.

"Fine. She’s in the back building, the room at the very end on the right. Good luck getting her out though. She’s barricaded herself in there since she arrived."

Marix’s eyes widened, "Barricaded herself in?! The entire time?!"

Siva nodded, "Due to her.....predicament," she gave a disgusted look, "I put her in the Quarantine Room where I was going to have her stay until she delivered, but since we brought her here, she’s barricaded herself in. We’ve only been able to get food inside to her through the window at the top of the room."

"Do you know if she’s been eating at all?! Show me now!" Marix commanded.

"Of course she’s been eating. She throws her trash and plates back out through the window. Come, this way." Siva headed towards the building, leading him to room.

Marix approached the door, his heart was racing. What condition would she be in? Was she eating enough? Judging by how the Madam spent her money, he couldn’t confidently believe that Eilownia was getting enough to eat.

Even if she was used to have the bare minimum nutritional requirement, now she was carrying his child! She needed to eat better!

He knocked on the door, "Whin?"

There was no answer, but he could hear some movement inside.

"Whin, open the door, it’s me, Marix." He tried the door but it wouldn’t budge and from what he could hear, there was no effort to move the obstruction from the other side.

He pounded on the door and yelled, "WHIN! STAY BACK FROM THE DOOR! I’M COMING IN!"

Marix threw his body weight into the door over and over again.

"SOMEONE HELP ME WITH THIS!"

His men came over and began to use tools that were lying around the yard to break the door open.

"Great. More damage." Siva grunted.

Marix pulled the splintered wood apart to create an opening for himself, then crawled inside.

She’d shoved the dresser against the door. It was sturdy and made of strong wood. He was impressed that she’d managed to move it herself.

Inside was dark. The sun had not let light into the room yet. He could hear sniveling.

"Whin?"

He approached a dark ball in the corner and knelt in front of it.

Marix gently reached his hand out and lifted her chin. Now that his eyes had adjusted a bit, he could see her eyes were red, puffy and full of tears.

Eilownia stared up at the blurry figure before her, her eyes wide as she trembled.

She scooted backwards, creating distance between them.

"Shhh. Whin. It’s okay. It’s me, Marix. I’m here." His voice was barely above a whisper as he got closer to her and began to wipe her tears with his fingers.

"M-Marix?" Her voice cracked as she stuttered out his name.

"That’s right, Little Flower. It’s me."

She burst into tears and threw her arms around him, burying her face into his chest as she hugged him tight.

"Marix!" She was squeezing him so tight he thought she might slice him in two with her bare arms.

He swallowed hard, pushing down the urge to groan from the pressure, and wrapped his arms tightly around her as he gently rubbed her back.

"Is it really you? Are you really real? You’re not just my imagination? You’re really here to rescue me?" She cried out.

He could feel her tears hot and wet against his cheek as she lifted her head and nuzzled against him.

"Yes. I’m real." He whispered in her ear.

"I’ve been so scared. I don’t feel well either. It’s been so lonely. I’ve missed you so much. I had so many dreams where you came, I ended up getting confused on what was reality and what was a dream."

"I’m sorry. I’m so sorry," He felt tears welling up in his own eyes as he held her tighter, resting his cheek on the top of her head, "I tried so hard to stop them. I fought them as hard as I could. Know that you were not taken by any cooperation on my part."

She nodded her head as he gently rocked her back and forth, "From here on out, it’s going to be different. No one will ever harm you again. You have my word. I swear it to you. They will have to harm you over my dead body."

She pulled back and looked up at him as she continued to cry.

"I’m sorry..." She looked down and put a hand over her lower abdomen, "I’m going to have our baby."

He stared at her with a look of utter confusion, "What do you mean you’re sorry? What do you have to be sorry for?"

The corners of her mouth downturned harder, "I’m having our baby illegitimately.....I’ll be giving you a st-...stain...." She started to cry harder all over again, burying her face in her hands as her shoulders shook. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

His eyes widened and he immediately pulled her back in for another hug.

"No. Our baby is NOT a stain nor will it ever be legitimate."

He pulled back and lifted her chin to look at him. His eyes searched hers, locking their gazes together, "I claim this child fully. This child and you are both mine. I’m going to marry you. I’m not your father and I’m going to make sure he will never harm you again."