Chapter 16 - Accompanying My Wife

"What nonsense are you spouting? We already had an agreement." Vaughn stood up and walked to the window. "That young master who arrived in the Principality of Ismund what's his name?"

"If I'm not mistaken his name is Zen Sensen," Redivo answered with a stern face. The shadow guard was still kneeling and trembling.

"Pfft!Ha-ha-ha-ha!" Everyone in the room was dumbfounded when they heard Vaughn's laughter.

They never thought that their Crown Prince was capable of laughing that way.

"My Lord?" Redivo was not sure how to handle it.

"Ready my horse and prepare me a set of common clothing." Vaughn declared in an imposing, calm manner.

"Where are you going?"

"That is of course to accompany my wife." Vaughn gave him a devious smile and went straight out of the room. Redivo was speechless.

The shadow guard was put in an awkward position. He dared not stand, but everyone seemed to forget that he was still there. He was left all alone, and all he could do was cry without tears.

* * * * *

Vaughn removed his mask and already instructed Redivo about the things that must be done while he was away. A stand-in arrived immediately to replace Vaughn in the palace.

"Why should you go there yourself? It may not be Zenia Anisen." Redivo protested.

"It's her, I'm sure of it. She had always been brilliant and thinks unconventionally."

"Still, you don't need to go there to protect her."

"She's my wife… I'll be the one that should be protecting her."

Vaughn owned the fastest silver steed in Tissuria. He seldom used the silver steed, and only rode it without his mask. He had the stamina that was greater than any breathing man. His steed was as remarkable as him. They traveled non-stop, and they reached the Principality of Ismund the following day. It would take four to five days to reach the Principality of Ismund from the Capital of Tissuria, but Vaughn chose to ride non-stop. He did not dare take a rest.

He knew that Zenia could be looking for a horse that she could use to travel around. He had no idea why she joined the performing troupe en route to Tissuria instead of riding her own horse. His luck paid off when he saw a familiar figure from a distance.

"How much is this horse kind madam?" Zenia asked politely as she combed the midnight black horse's mane.

Vaughn could tell that Zenia liked the horse very much. He wished he could run to her and give her a hug. It had been months since he last saw her. She seemed more beautiful than the last time he saw her, even though she was disguised as a man at that minute.

All in all, they had met for four times already. But, he had been secretly seeing Zenia at least thrice a year. He watched her grew up into a stunning woman. Yes, he felt like a stalker doing such a thing. But, it was not the proper time to reveal himself to her. He just couldn't bear not seeing her.

"For you good sir, I will be magnanimous and give this to you at…" The seller leaned over and whispered the price to Zenia.

"What?! You call that price cheap? You seemed to be planning on robbing me in broad daylight with that kind of price." Zenia was furious. The seller may have thought that she knew nothing about horses.

Vaughn sneered and seemed to be enjoying the show. His wife was not someone who could be cheated on. However, the quality of the horse was indeed good. It could easily fetch a good price. He was uncertain whether Zenia was acting or not.

The seller was sweating as she reasoned out. She knew that she should not offend the man before her.

"Good sir, it's truly a cheap price considering the quality of this horse. You will never find another one as good as this."

"Lower your price and perhaps we can seal a deal." Zenia tried her best to sound angry.

Vaughn's eye twitched. He was certain that the little devil was making things difficult for the seller so she could get a good horse at a very cheap price.

"Kind sir, please appease your anger. My mother and I only rely on the earnings that we get from the horses to buy my medicine." The soft voice came from a young woman who was about the same age as Zenia. The young woman slowly walked to her mother's side.

"Merina, didn't I tell you not to go out?" The seller removed her coat and placed it on her daughter.

"Young miss you better heed your mother's advice and just go in." There was a genuine concern in Zenia's voice.

Merina smiled secretly. She always helped her mother deal with troublesome customers by acting pitiful. Vaughn saw a subtle change in the young woman's behavior. He looked at Zenia who seemed to have bought the act.

'How will you handle this one, my wife?'

Zenia looked at the young woman from head to foot. She seemed weak, but how weak? The money they could earn from selling horses may not be enough to pay a good, real doctor.

"If the young miss doesn't mind, I can give you a thorough check. My skills are almost on par with the ordinary doctor."

The young woman panicked. 'This man is a doctor? Why does he look more like a soldier than a doctor?'

"Kind sir, we have no money to…"

"I won't charge a single cent. I just want to help you."

It was the mother's turn to panic. The young man in front of her looked like someone that she should not mess with.

"Kind sir, it's really not necessary."

"Oh, cut the crap. I know you're just acting to deal with the annoying customer like me. But I think you are really sick or something."

Zenia forwent the courtesy and took the pulse of Merina. The young woman blushed. Vaughn wanted to snatch Zenia away. His wife really had the ability to attract both men and women. It looked like he should put additional security within the cage he would use to imprison her.

"Do you feel tired lately?"

"Yes."

"Nauseous?"

"Yes, from time to time."

"When was your last menstruation?"

The young woman was taken aback by Zenia's straightforwardness.

"It was three months ago."

It was the mother's turn to be shocked by such a revelation from her daughter. Merina bowed her head and avoided her mother's gaze.

"The fetus is about three months old. You need to nourish your body or you might lose your child."

"Can I have a paper and pen?"

The mother handed Zenia that things she asked for. She wrote something and gave it to the mother.

"Make sure to follow everything that I have written there. Your daughter is malnourished. Her baby is no better. Consult a doctor so she can give your daughter the right medications, nourishing tonic, or something else."

Zenia took out some money and handed it to the mother.

"I will pay the horse at the price you asked and some extras too. Go to an inn and stay there, the rest of the money is at your disposal."

"Thank you, kind sir. We will always remember your kindness." The young woman and her mother hugged each other as they cried.

Zenia took away the horse and left the seller and her daughter. She was not interested in the young woman's story. She had a hunch that the young woman was unmarried. Although she was dying to know who the father was, she was not gossipy.

Zenia was walking absent-mindedly while holding the horse's reign. Vaughn threw a pebble to the back of the horse. It neighed and startled Zenia causing her to lose her grip on the reign. The horse ran away, which gave Vaughn a chance to chase after it.

Aside from creating an opportunity to be together with Zenia, Vaughn wanted to check the horse. It was almost impossible for a small-time horse seller to acquire a horse of impressive quality. He wanted to make sure that the horse was not stolen or Zenia would find herself in trouble.

Vaughn finally caught the horse. "Whoa! Aren't you a feisty fellow? Stand still so I can check you thoroughly."

Vaughn had a way with horses. He could easily tame any horse. He checked the ears of the horse and found a mark. It resembled the seal of the Crown Prince – his seal! No wonder he thought that the horse looked familiar. He grinned upon the thought that his wife could own the horse with no worries since it originally belonged to him anyway.

'Who stole it from the stables?' This incident definitely shed some light on the case that Vaughn was trying to solve.

Whoever did it may have thought of implicating the Crown Prince of Tissuria on a certain crime using the horse? How did the mother and daughter duo get the horse? Was it the father of the child that the young woman was carrying?

'My wife is truly great. She just arrived and already began working.'

* * * * *

Zenia was getting anxious. There was still no sign of the horse. She paid a high price for it. She had no idea whether the man who ran after it could be trusted. She just hoped that nothing happened to her horse. She really fell in love with it at first sight.

She was still trying to convince herself that the horse would return when she saw a seemingly familiar figure.

"Noir!" She shouted and ran toward the horse. She had decided to name the horse Noir.

The horse neighed lightly as it allowed Zenia to put her arms around its neck. Vaughn saw how much she loved the horse – his horse. Vaughn smiled warmly at Zenia.

"Your horse is fine sir. No need to worry about it."

Zenia looked at the man who saved Noir.

"Thank you so much. It just ran away suddenly."

"How about treating me for a meal? I'm exhausted and hungry." He gave her another smile.

Zenia was dumbfounded, but the request was reasonable.

"Where are my manners, but of course I will treat you. However, I am new here and I don't know a good place."

"Allow me to take you there."

"Lead the way kind, sir."

Zenia got on her horse and nudge it to follow behind Vaughn's silver steed.

"My name is Vaughn, may I know the name of the young master?"

"I'm Zen Sensen. I just got here in the Principality of Ismund." Zenia's lips were slightly curved. 'Of all the names, why is he named Vaughn too?'

Zenia secretly sized up the man. In her opinion, the man looked handsome and strong. She knew that the Crown Prince of Tissuria was disfigured.

"Is it your first time here?" Vaughn kept asking while on his horse. He could feel Zenia's stare, and he smirked.

"No, but it was a long time ago."

"Here we are." Vaughn jumped off from his horse and handed the reign to the hostler. Zenia did the same.

"Is this an inn? This is perfect! It's getting late, and I don't have anywhere to go."

Vaughn led Zenia to the inn's dining area. There were lots of people.

"Is the food here good?" Zenia's eyes sparkled when she asked.

"Yes!"

They found their seat and began to order. Whatever dish Vaughn had suggested, Zenia gladly agreed. Vaughn excused himself to arrange for Zenia's lodging. He booked all the rooms on the third floor of the inn. He did not want Zenia to be disturbed. Of course, he would stay in the room next to hers.

"Give this room to the young master who was with me. Just let him pay half the price of the room and keep it as your tip." Vaughn pointed to the manager the specific room to give to Zenia.

"Yes, of course, sir. How about the food you ordered?"

"Let him pay for them." Vaughn turned around and went back to his seat.

There was a performance that night, and Zenia enjoyed it while waiting for the food to be served.

"What took you so long? I thought you have left already." Zenia jokingly uttered.

"Do you want me to leave?"

"No, of course not! Let's share a good meal together."

Vaughn liked the sound of that. It was the first meal they would share together. He wished it would never end.

The dishes arrived one by one. Zenia's eyes widened, and she was practically drooling at the sight of the dishes. She never had a good meal while traveling with the performing troupe.

"Try this first." Vaughn scooped some soup for Zenia and put it in her bowl.

"Uhmm, it's so delicious. It's my first time savoring this kind of soup."

Vaughn grinned from ear to ear. 'All your first time, I will be the one to give them to you.'

They watched the performance while having their meal. Zenia loved it very much.

"It's my first time having a meal like this."

'It's also your first time dating a guy.' Vaughn just gave her a meaningful smile.

"Come to think of it, this is also my first time away from home and sleeping alone."

'You won't be sleeping alone. I'm next to your room. It's your first time spending a night with a guy.'

Vaughn gave Zenia an ambiguous smile.