–Arthur... You are going to be a father. I know I should have told you before, but I just couldn't find the right time…

Emily's confession took him by surprise, and he almost pulled away in awe. He was unsure, afraid perhaps. But he was with her at last, and that was somehow enough to make him smile from ear to ear. He caressed her belly and slowly fell to his knees, cupping her hands and kissing them frenetically. All Emily could do was drown herself in his touch, as enrapturing and unpredictable as the ocean.

–There is no such thing as the right time, my love, only the right people. I used to dream of a perfect escape…Turns out all I ever wanted was someone to escape with. And now, thanks to you and our baby, I have finally found a perfect reason to stay. I love you, dear Emily. I long to stay with you forever. You were the light that was leading me home all along.

Emily reached for his hand and pressed it tightly against her chest. Her eyes got teary. She felt warm and secure in her lover's arms; yet she could not disregard the dangers that laid ahead. They were forced to welcome a baby in a foreign, possibly hostile land, far from everything they had ever known or cherished. In addition, the crew had to watch their next moves very carefully. War was just around the corner, and in tempestuous times, no one truly knew what a new day might bring.

–I love you too, Arthur. You are a true warrior and a leader. Most importantly, you are a benevolent man who looked past his privilege to be himself and protect others. I couldn't feel more honored for carrying your child. However, this incident changes everything. It is no longer you and me against the world. Now we have to take care of a child as well. Aren't you afraid of what's next?

He rose to his feet once more and caressed Emily's restless skin, igniting her spirit with his gentle fingertips.

–Of course I am worried; we all are. These are hard times. We sacrificed stability for our freedom, and we must endure the consequences. The only thing I have clear at the moment is that I must keep fighting; I must be brave and strong for the ones I care about. I can't forecast the weather. But I will be the best father I can be. That is my oath to you, my love.

Emily took a deep breath and nodded in silence. She slowly came to realize that no matter how dark the horizon appeared to be, it was always more inspiring than the wretched place they came from. Their love was just like a legend: the more troubled it seemed, the more powerful it was.

*

Lord Leandre was working in his private study on a typical morning. He was writing a book about the gods' designs in matters of warfare, which featured his latest spiritual approaches to the holy conquest. He had just sent away one of his favorite lovers, a handsome, robust man who sang at the temple regularly. As usual, he had paid him a generous amount of money for his visit. He was about to finish the second chapter of his manuscript when the thick wooden door swung open. Leandre instantly knew something was awry. It was unusual for his guards or his guests to walk in unannounced.

A couple of members of the realm's official armada were now standing in his presence, along with Lily and Lord Arthur's escort. It was clear they had been beaten up badly. Leandre immediately stood up to address the soldiers.

–What the hell is going on?

Those present were so nervous that it was impossible for them to even look him in the eye or articulate properly.

–My Lord, we are sorry to inform you that… A fisherman found your maiden and some of your personal guards tied up on a beach, in the fishing town of Onive. They were injured and severely dehydrated. At first, we assumed they had been robbed. Turns out they actually witnessed an act of dissidence. They caught a group of rebels trying to escape on a ship. Our preliminary investigation reveals that some… maladjusted citizens had been planning to leave Rosetta and head to the pagan islands. Their ultimate intentions are still unknown to us, but we have a few names already.

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Lord Leandre tilted his head and frowned, visibly confused.

–Maladjusted citizens, you say? Those pariahs won't last a day in the open sea. They set sail straight to their demise; praise the gods. But what were my men doing there in the first place? Where is my husband?

One of Arthur's guards finally mustered up the courage to speak.

–Your husband and his father were leading the operation, Sir. He left his room at the hostel in the middle of the night and sneaked away to the beach to join the dissidents. He took Emily Ratzer with him.

–What?

It took Lord Leandre a few seconds to process his shock. He found it hard to believe that Arthur was a traitor. Could he be sharp enough to fool him and plan an outrageous escape behind his back? And why would he neglect his holy obligations or give up a comfortable life to pursue a hopeless mission? It simply did not make sense to him.

–Those are some serious accusations, aren't they? Can you swear on your life?

–Yes, my Lord. We saw everything. We have already written a complete declaration for the court. We tried to stop them, but the rebels outnumbered us…

Lord Leandre let out a sarcastic chuckle. An unprecedented rage was starting to stir inside him.

–Idiotic pieces of shit! You were supposed to watch Arthur's back! How could you be so stupid to let him sneak away? I will make you pay for this!

–We are utterly sorry, Sir. We had no idea that he was up to something. We were in our usual positions, but he jumped out the window close to midnight. Actually, if Miss Lily hadn't seen Emily leaving the property…

–Oh, that too. You just said that Arthur took Emily Ratzer with him. Why would he do that?

A stony silence followed Lord Leandre's livid reproach. Lily decided to step in then, bowing down to him with trembling knees.

–Because they were in love, master Leandre. I followed Emily to the grove at the back of the hostel, and I saw them kissing in the dark. They ran away and reached that ship together.

Her words cut Leandre's pride like a blade. He had never felt so hurt and humiliated in his entire life. His husband did not love him anymore; perhaps he had never truly loved him purely. He had embraced a carnal affair with a woman and chose her above everything else: his fortune, his heritage, even his own salvation. How could someone be so irrational? How could he dare to betray him so shamelessly? Lord Leandre clenched his jaw and looked down. Evidently, he had been so immersed in his egotism that he did not acknowledge the signs. Now he had to deal with his stained reputation.

–Arthur Lasey, in love with a maiden… Holding hands and braiding each other's hair in a ship full of rebels. That has to be one of the most pathetic scenarios I've ever pictured…

He paced the room morosely and eventually returned to his spot behind the desk, where he poured himself a glass of liquor.

–No one will know about this, understood? We will tell everyone that my husband was captured and kidnapped by a group of savage dissidents. I also need you to investigate everything regarding this collective escape. I want the names of everyone involved: who got on that vessel, who was aware of their intentions and who helped them fulfill their plans. Every single collaborator must be prosecuted for complicity. I will summon the entire religious council today to address this problem and implement proper measures. We cannot let these bastards win. We need to set an example for Rosetta's devoted citizens. Matter of fact… I want these incompetent guards to be executed tomorrow at sunrise. And make sure their families are in the front-row on the scaffold.

The aforementioned men took a step forward and begged him to spare their lives, but Leandre barely glanced at them. One of the official soldiers had to intervene then.

–Please, have mercy, Sir. These men did the best they could; so did your pious maiden Lily. We can fix this. We can send the navy to track them down. Our ships are superior, and our sailors are way more experienced than them. Moreover, if they manage to survive their journey, they will probably try to disembark and settle on one of the closest islands. A crew of foreign refugees won't be so hard to find…

Lord Leandre gave a hint of a smirk, even though his heart was aching for the first time in decades. He wanted to cry, but he did not allow himself to. All he could convey from there on was an inscrutable thirst for vengeance.

–At least you are right on that: once the entire archipelago belongs to us, there won't be a single crevasse left for them to hide.