"People are dispersing. Time to move" Alfred said while freeing Louis of his caging hands.

It was very late at night. People yawned as they went back to their homes. Sharing whispers and gossip about the outlaw that once lived among them. Not every night their peaceful town gets a visit by the king's soldiers.

The streets were emptied from people. They have seen enough action for tonight.

Diana put her hands on his shoulder, her lips drew in a faint smile. "Louis...". Her voice trailed without an end.

"You're feeling sorry for me already, ha?". Louis said in a hidden resentment tone, avoiding her gaze as he shoved away the dirt that stuck to his royal clothes. While twisting his arm left and right to shake off the pain that Alfred intentionally caused to his limbs.

"Actually, I am more pissed at your father right now. Just thought if you--"

"Cared about him?" He grinned with a sound mocking laugh "Not even in a blue moon! My father is a military man who values his code over his sole son. Hell, Diana. He didn't even visit me back at the hospital. Said he was on an urgent mission and that he could not leave his post. What more proof do you need?"

He turned to look at Diana in the eyes and then pointed at his house.

"See that house? Since my mother's death, he turned it into a boot camp. I maybe am a prince in people's eyes but in reality, my life is sure as hell a soldier! He is torturing me daily with that perfect disciplinary life of his that I began envying my sister for being a girl"

Diana blinked. "Is that why you come to visit your aunt frequently? To ease up?"

"More like to escape before I lose my mind...and my father"

Alfred sighed and stepped forward to talk. "Listen, kid, People don't choose their parents, however, you do have the choice to decide how your life would move on with your pa. Go talk to him. Most of the town had already gone asleep in their homes. It's late anyway, no one will notice"

Louis stared with a frustrated face. He didn't like the last part of the advice, especially when it comes from a person like Alfred. A man with a strong and harsh personality just the same as his father.

"How about I go with you. Two is better than one, right?". Diana approached him.

"R-Right...". He Stuttered a bit as he examined her sea-color eyes and her mini-sized lips that spread into a faint beautiful smile that shows honesty in her proposal. He resisted his urging desire to hug her and talk to her freely like they did back in the woods. Not with her crow-shaped uncle standing next to her.

"What did you just say?!". Alfred objected to Diana's talk. "Didn't you just say that this man had captured you a year ago!"

"I did". But Louis got this bounty because of our love. Moreover, he saved my life. So, it's only right for me to hand it back..."

"Wh-What...Humph...Why do I even bother arguing...Fine, do what you like. I will try to find a free room in this big town. When you two finish, come join me to prepare our next move" Alfred said as he descended back to the ground floor safely and the couple soon followed after a while.

Louis got down first then he extended his arm to receive her body before landing on the ground.

"Want to me do the knocking?". She suggested while their arms still combined

"I am pretty sure that is not a good idea. Let me bear this curse instead...".

And Louis was right. Because now and on second thought of it. Liam was about to murder another man who shared almost the same rank as he did. If that's how he treated his fellow brother-in-arms. What would be his reaction when he sees her out of the palace?

She nodded with an anxious head.

They marched together towards the house. She tilted her head in both directions to make double sure that the streets were empty of people, like two flies floating in a nest of sleeping spiders.

Knock knock

Louis banged his fists two times on his door's house.

They could hear the footsteps coming from inside the building towards the door. It caused Diana's heart to pick up the pace. She realized that her trial to help could backfire at any moment.

She looked at Louis to see if he shared the same irrational feelings that she has. But all she saw was a silent angry face.

It was plain for the blind what was beneath those stubborn features. She saw pain and sadness. She could hear his loud distress call for help and support. His past is like a parasite. It feeds on him. Torturing him. Anointing him. And the recent incident that happened in front of their living eyes moments ago was the cherry on top of the cake.

"My dear, I know you are angry. But be careful of your temper. This is your father after all"

"I know. I know. That's what my mother used to say". He ended with a smirk and half-raised lips.

Just before she talked more, the door was opened, and the same man came out. The only difference is that this time there was a sword in his right hand.

"L-LOUIS, Son. Is that you!!?". Liam's eyes widened in surprise and his mouth opened slightly.

"Well. To answer your question. I am Louis. However, your son is still camping in the northern forest, and his father just snitched him away. Tell me if I am wrong, Captain?". Louis crossed his arms.

Louis stared at his father, waiting for an answer to his teasing and rude opening answer. He expected embarrassment but all he found was that Liam's concentration was displaced toward Diana instead.

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"Your face...you look familiar." his eyes narrowed in suspicion.

Diana's eyes blinked when she figured out that she was the one being talked to instead of Louis. The boy noticed how his father's focus shifted towards the sceptical Diana instead of responding to Louis's indictment.

Louis's mood changed. "Does the word "Endora" ring any bell?". He said with objecting and challenging crossed arms.

The captain's lifeless character returned. Not revealing any reaction to the question. The effect of seeing his son just vanished in thin air. it was replaced by a very cold face, unblinking void eyes and a staggering presence with stiff behaviour.

He stepped to one side of the door, opening a path inside the house. "Get inside, before you are spotted". He said without making eye contact.

Louis stared at him for a couple of seconds with a narrowing eyebrow. Liam still had that sword in his hand. And from his recent knowledge, Louis feared that he would use it on Diana.

"He is right, Louis. Let's talk inside"

They stepped inside. Louis didn't leave his intimidated eyes from the stable sword. He didn't fully trust his father.

The familiar house of Louis welcomed them with a warm temperature that made their tired body relax and their nerves cool up. The house wasn't that special in general, but it was prettier than her house in Endora, that's for sure.

"Brother!". A well-known childish voice ran towards Louis from one of the rooms. Emilia's pure spirit aroused again inside her small pre-mature body. Her tears stopped at the sight of Louis as She trotted straight to her big brother's incubative arms.

"Brother, those bad people were looking for you. But I didn't talk!". Her silly voice was mixed with clumsiness and delightful sighs.

"Yes, my dear. You are very loyal and caring as always unlike some people who only seek Honor and obedience above all".

Taking the chance that his sister is not looking at his face. He shot his father a blaming stare, which contained harsh admonition.

Liam was triggered for the last time.

"Obedience, ha? You speak if you know what that word means!"

"Well, I at least know how to not sell my family just to satisfy my unbelievable idealistic character!"

Diana's eyes widened."Louis! not in front of the girl!"

"My chara- Are you listening to yourself? You have a bounty on your head!". He waves his hand in anger.

Louis smirked. "You can thank your bloody king for that. I never laid a hand on the crown and I would never hurt Wain even if I could. Your 'Lawful king' was just jealous that I loved a simple girl who worked in my aunt's palace and when I objected, he ordered her to hang...

And now that you mentioned it. I want to introduce you to my future wife". He opened his hand for Diana, Introducing her at the most unpleasant time, putting Diana in a tight spot while teasing his father regardless of its effect and consequences.

"What...Are you shiting me now?! How did you even escape the palace anyway!". His angry face turned towards Diana.

She looked him in the eyes and his shocking military presence began to overwhelm her. From his way of talking, he already recognized her.

"Tell him". Louis supported her.

She took a deep breath before she began. It was her turn to protect that unseen bond between her and her lover. "OK, captain. There is no easy way to say this, so please postpone your judgment after you hear me to the end"

She took a deep breath before gathering all the strength she had to explain herself without being crushed by the man's intriguing personality.

"I first saw Louis at one of the parties where I prevented a tragedy from happening. And soon we developed feelings towards each other. That's when King Wain caught us while Louis was officially admitting his love to me so he foully accused me of a crime that I do not know then he threw me in jail. Then..."

Liam completed her wording. "Anna busted you out and smuggled you out in two carts of hay"

The couple's eyebrows flicked up, especially Louis's.

"Hold on, How did you know that, exactly?". Diana said.

Liam blinked and stood up. He then went to one of the bedrooms. After a minute he came out with a rolled paper.

A paper with the same familiar broken royal seal. "Here," he handed Diana the paper. "that's your answer"

Diana took it and slowly opened it widely for Louis to read.

While the content was being read, the dilemma slowly began to uncloud for the two fugitives.

"You knew we were coming!". Diana concluded.

"Not exactly, I didn't believe Ana when I first read this letter. It is not like a thing my son would do. But briefly, after I received this rolled paper, I found this fucker that I punched earlier asking for my son. I realized I had to improvise, just like how your father- The protector- did back at Endora"

Suddenly a big smile was drawn upon Diana's face. "That means..."

"I am angry at you two. No, I am furious. I still don't quite believe that unrealistic coincidence that got you two hooked up in the first place. However, unlike you two dorks. I used my brain instead of depending on some weak emotional principles

That said I am not cruel to snitch my son to some lunatics swinging with swords. Just because a mad governor said so"

Diana turned to Louis to see his reaction. She saw his head bowing in silence. All the livid and irritated emotions that pressed him, had soon vaporized. As he embraces the truth...

...that His father still adores him.

"Sorry, for...um...that wrong assault...from my side". Louis gathered what was left of his dignity to meet Liam's eyes again with puppy eyes craving for undeserved forgiveness.

In this instance, the vibe of the environment dramatically changed.

Liam's cold and horrific behaviour was replaced by calmness and gentleness. His eyes expressed love again. and If you examined him more closely, you would see a very small hidden smile.

"Son, just... Find a way out of this, okay? If those soldiers came back. The whole town may pay a grave price for concealing you within its walls. And you know I respect my duty to the very end and if Wain ordered me to look for you personally, I won't be able to help then. For the sake of your sister, end this madness before it reaches us as well"

Louis nodded with understanding. He knew what his father meant when he mentioned Emilia.

"I know, that's why we just wanted to stay at Zenda for tonight. We will leave at dawn". Diana said.

"And then go where?". Liam asked.

"Well, our best bet would be Endora. My hometown". Diana suggested. "I need to explain to my father about all this mess I went through and to tell him that I will...ahem...get married". Her cheeks flowered upon bringing it up.

"At this young age? Ana told me that you saved that boy's sorry butt twice. But a marriage is a serious business, You sure you want this inconsiderate brat to be your future husband?"

Before she spits any answer, Louis sparked again.

"I am still here, you know and you didn't visit that brat of yours at the hospital anyway". Louis crossed his arms.

"That's because my superior was firm about leaving my position. Can't say I was sad about his excessive discipline but I needed his written permission to leave and that nut-head refused to give it to me. So, I violated my code and ordered one of my men to go secretly to check on you but he returned to me with the good news that you left the hospital in Sustainable shape, or so the doctors told him"

"Well, I won't say It was Sustainable myself". He looked for some moments at his heavily bandaged and recuperating arm that was supported up to his chest level.

Louis couldn't balance his eyes with Liam's gaze again, not with all his claims being proven defenceless and his pride was low to nothing.

Liam noticed and he didn't press over him. He may be rough at some points but he knew what his son was going through.

"So?". He looked at Diana. Referring to his former question.

"Yes, sir. I do. I would be honoured to be your son's future pride". She answered straight forward.

"Well, I don't approve of this marriage at all. But your boyfriend won't care anyway about what I say, So...Good for you...I guess"

The couple smiled at each other. They didn't expect the scenario of their journey would end up with this Heart to Heart talk along the way.

For Diana, it was a good shot to further know her father-in-law and present the marriage topic overall. For Louis, a massive misunderstanding was corrected and Who knows? Maybe such incidents were meant to fix the relationship between the captain and the prince.

"Alright, with that one thing out of the way, I will go make you two something to eat. You probably are starving by now". And that was the line before he went to the kitchen.

From that point, The night went swiftly. The couple received a hearty meal and a good night's sleep...Louis with his family, and Diana with her uncle at a nearby inn.