Sebastian paced back and forth. He nibbled at his nails, anxiously watching the entrance to the Seventh Prince's estate. He was under the comfort of the ceilings in the hallway, sheltered from the storm but it didn't wipe his worries away. The hallway had an open concept, with thin wooden pillars supporting the rooftops. He continuously looked forward.

  "Brother, your pacing is going to burn a hole in the floor…" His younger sister complained.

  "Shut it, Isabelle," Sebastian groaned.

  Sebastian could barely see in front of him. The rain had intensified significantly. There was no way anyone could make it out alive. No one, but the Seventh Prince. He was resilient, his body stronger than any man Sebastian knew.

  "That's it!" Sebastian suddenly cried out. "I'm going to send out search parties."

  "No!" Isabelle argued, shooting up from her feet. "If you deploy people, the entire palace will know the Princess of Teran is gone! It's only going to make matters worse for her."

  "Well, what am I supposed to do then?!" Sebastian demanded. "My Boss, YOUR Prince, is out there somewhere, in the forest where even the most experienced hunters can get lost!"

  "What you need to do is have faith!" Isabelle shouted back at her older brother. Sometimes, he could be such an idiot!

  In weather as horrific as tonight, the search parties would make no progress.

  "Look at how horrible the rain is. We can barely see the pathways. Everyone you send out will die," Isabelle tried to reason. "For now, I should begin to prepare warm water, clothes, and—"

  "Oh, so now you want to act like a proper servant," Sebastian growled.

  "Tch, if I ever die and am reborn, I'd hate to be your younger sister again!" Isabelle hissed, angrily crossing her arms.

  Isabelle was just trying to help, but he was such a stubborn mule. At such a turbulent time, he was still bullying her. She cursed the heavens for giving her such a rude brother.

  "Good, because I'd certainly despise being your older brother again," Sebastian growled.

  Suddenly, Isabelle gasped.

  "Brother look!"

  Sebastian's head flew in the direction she pointed in. Sure enough, he saw it. A large and stealthy figure was quickly approaching the palace walls. He nearly cried tears of relief.

  "Your Highness—"

  Kade turned on his heel and advanced in the other direction. He ignored his advisor, who desperately ran out with an umbrella. Sebastian resembled a worried mother hen, pecking at her chicks.

  "Your Highness, wait for me!" Sebastian cried out in dismay, hurriedly running after the Prince.

  "It's raining, Your Highness. We must get you out of the rain, or else you'll be sick!" Sebastian insisted.

  Sebastian was growing aggravated. The Seventh Prince's silk clothes were completely drenched. He was too focused on his Boss to even care about the limp woman being carried. Only when he opened the umbrella did he see her.

  The Princess of Teran was as motionless as a wooden log. Her skin was a ghostly white color. Her black hair clung to her forehead. She resembled a ghost crawling out of a murky swamp.

  It terrified Sebastian.

  "Only idiots get sick during Summer," Kade snapped back in response.

  "But… but the Princess will get sick, Your Highness!" Sebastian blurted out.

  Sebastian hoped his words would cause the Prince to halt. He wished to provide rationality to the crazy man. Unfortunately, they only made the situation worse.

  "Are you implying the Princess, my wife, is an idiot?" Kade snarled.

  Sebastian yelped like an injured pup. He paused and quickly ran up to the couple. Finally, he was able to get the Commander under the umbrella.

  "W-what? No, Your Highness, I—"

  "Make yourself useful," Kade hissed. "Go and fetch the Imperial Doctor."

  Kade couldn't care less about his own condition. His body was strong. His hard muscles generated more heat than his wife possibly could. He was concerned for her. She was as small as a newborn animal.

  The first time he met her, she was proud and prideful. Exactly what happened? He was reminded of her long black hair that fluttered in the wind, her sharp eyes centered on her opponent whilst a small and hesitant smile flashed onto her face.

  Kade should've known he'd fall madly in love with her the minute he saw her at the tournament.

  His dignified little wife. She was now white and cold. What happened to her?

  Once Kade found out who dared to lure her into the forest, he was going to kill them. How dare they abuse his dear wife like this? How dare they hurt her fragile body?! He was going to tear them, limb by limb, chop them into pieces, and shove it all down their relatives' throats!

  "And you!" Kade barked, turning to the closest servant he saw.

  Isabelle yelped into action. She was dressed in plain clothes, thus he didn't recognize her instantly. Regardless, his tone was terrifying. It shocked her into obedience.

  "Fetch some warm clothes," Kade said, his voice softening a bit.

  It was Isabelle.

  Before Isabelle could respond, the Seventh Prince was gone. He had kicked the doors to his large estate open. With one leg, he slammed it shut behind him.

  "Don't just stand there like an idiot!" Sebastian hissed at his sister. "Go!"

  Isabelle nodded her head. She quickly dashed off, just as her brother went in the other direction. They had different missions in mind——

  Kade placed his wife on his bed. Before he could even pull away, she finally said something.

  "Hng…"

  Kade's attention flew to her. Had she recovered already?

  "Don't……go."

  Kade quickly grabbed her palm with two of his hands. He knelt onto the ground, so that their faces could be close. He needed to hear her voice properly.

  "Stay…"

  His wife clung to him, but he scowled. Did she really think he was going to leave her at a time like this? She was a hair away from catching hyperthermia! This crazy woman!

  "I'll always stay. By your side, under you, on top of you… the choice is yours to make," Kade promised her.

  His eyes darkened to her trembling mouth.

  "Stay… Atlan."

  Kade's expression turned murderous. Did she think he was the mentor that assaulted her?! He shot to his feet. Why would she be asking for Atlan? This pained Kade. At her weakest, she was thinking of another man? The audacity.

  Kade should've killed her right then and there. She was considered the prize of this war, but the enemy of the kingdom. Instead of letting her die on his bed, he was ordering his people to nurse her back to health.

  Kade let out a sharp breath. His hand moved on its own. He brushed her weathered hair away from her face.

  "No…"

  Lina struggled to get away from him. She was vaguely aware of her surroundings. She knew it wasn't Atlan. She knew it was her husband next to her. But she wanted to hurt him as much as he had harmed her.

  "Don't touch me…" Lina heaved out.

  Lina was cold. She felt weak all over. Her fingers wouldn't respond to her. She couldn't stop trembling. Through her hazy vision, she saw Kade's face.

  "How long will you continue to fight me?" Kade whispered.

  Kade knew he should've viewed her as an enemy. Lina was the reason his younger sister was dead. She was the root of all these problems. But he couldn't. He loved her. He loved this woman with all that he had.

  "Forever," Lina managed to say.

  Lina would never allow him to touch her tenderly ever again. She'd always fight off his hands. But she didn't realize what he actually meant.

  "I've won hundreds of battles, dove. War is child's play to me. It won't be long before I conquer your kingdom. When I do, no one in this world can take you from me."

  A lone tear slipped down the side of her face.

  So this was his plan.

  "Monster…" Lina whimpered.

  Not only was Kade going to go to war with Teran, but he was going to steal it. He was going to imprison her father, mother, and sister.

  "Why won't you submit to me?" Kade pleaded.

  Lina said nothing. She slipped her eyes shut, too exhausted to continue fighting him.

  Kade's gaze flickered to her chest that moved up and down steadily. Had she fallen asleep?

  "Silly dove of mine," Kade murmured, shaking his head.

  Kade believed she wouldn't have run off on her own. Something must've triggered her. One of those soldiers must've tricked her somehow.

  Maybe they lied about her older sister, who was injured on the edge of Ritan or something. Maybe they said they had her mother captive. There had to be a reason.

  His wife wouldn't run from him on her own accord. Right?

  "Your kingdom will belong to me and you," Kade whispered. "I will win this battle and claim you as my prize."

  Lina opened her eyes. She was shaking and barely able to remain conscious.

  "I am the reason you'll never win this battle," Lina breathed out.

  "This battle has already been won. Your kingdom is mine before the fight has even started," Kade growled. "I have the Emperor's weakness in my bed. You think you'll win?"

  Lina didn't respond. She closed her eyes, unable to hold back the second teardrop that slid onto his pillow. What a man she had married.

  His arrogance was as astronomical as his audacity. Did he truly think he'd win the war against Teran?

  Somewhere in her heart, she knew long before he did, that Teran would always be victorious.

  Kade might've won the war, but he'd lose the battle to himself. Especially after what she'd decided to do.

  Lina had already made up her mind.