Silvanna and Granger look cute together and all but GRANEVERE IS THE REAL DEAL HERE I-
(ノ｀Д')ノ彡┻━┻
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The escape turned out to be a dream.
Looking around the ghost-silent room, Guinevere panicked. Her baby was nowhere to be seen. The redhead crawls out of her bed and stumbled. Her body was still weak from the delivery but she forced herself to stand up and search for her Gwyneth. She blacked out before she could even hold her, and if her cunning mother ever had taken her away, lest be the end of the Baroque lineage. Anger was boiling up inside Guinevere as she limped down the halls still in her bloody nightgown.
The palace was ominously quiet. God forbid, Guinevere's suspicions be untrue. Not one servant had appeared, making Guinevere speed up her pace. "Mother, you better not..." Guinevere thought aloud with an enraged undertone.
Guinevere decided to check the dining hall first. And there, outside the balcony displaying a beautiful sunrise scene, was Jane on the foreground with Gwyneth in hand.
"Morning, dearie," Jane greeted, shockingly with a cheerful demeanor. She frowned at her daughter's unchanged clothes. "Guinevere, at least change before coming down. You look like you've came from a massacre."
"Where's everybody, Mum? My handmaidens didn't come into my room and I've not seen another person since I woke up but you." Guinevere commented throwing her question off.
"It's still the crack of dawn. Thus, you should still be sleep and rest. Boring your firstborn isn't easy after all." Said Jane with a wink.
This attitude of hers, it was rather creeping Guinevere out. Either she was playing or hiding something.
"Mother, she is gonna catch a cold out here!" Guinevere exclaimed as she softly snatched the newborn from the woman's hold and takes her inside. Her head rattles at the sudden action. Jane closed the doors behind.
"The sun is rising. I figured she needed the Vitamin D." Jane explained.
Carefully holding the baby against her chest, Guinevere's frown almost turned into a school upon Jane's explanation. "Still, you know how cold it is in here in this early time of day, Mum."
"Well, apologies if I care about her all too much-!"
"Good morning, Your Majesties!" A young female servant came in to Guinevere's luck and disrupted. In realization, the servant stuttered an apology and disappeared back to where she came from.
Jane sighed and placed the back of her hand on her forehead. "I'm going back to sleep. Ladies, hasten breakfast! Oh, and the babe's milk. It needs to be fed every hour."
"Yes, milady!" The same servant who intruded earlier responded from the other room.
Guinevere frowned. She looked over the big framed mirror in hopes seeing herself would bring relaxation. She has never seen her reflection in a month for she feared it would gain her vain. Therewithal having seen her reflection now feels peculiar. It was as though her reflection wasn't herself. It was rather a tired woman who have looked older than her age because of her ghastly pale appearance. And as much as she hates to admit, she had to agree with her mother here. She did looked like she came from a massacre. A travailing massacre, that is.
Her pale bare face reveals all her flaws: her deep green eyes have been burdened by bags; the freckles across her nose.
Gwyneth cried, catching Guinevere's attention. She softly cooed at her. Guinivere looked back at her reflection and smiled tiredly. At least, I delivered her beautiful and healthy. Guinevere thought with a relieved sigh. Suddenly, she felt euphoric. Her smile widened as she giggled. "Your father should be on his way now, Gwyneth. He's going to be so happy. We're finally going to be together again."
Little Gwyneth hummed somewhat in a positive response and Guinevere couldn't handle her excitement. She brought the babe near her lips and rested her lips on Gwyneth's forehead for a moment. A baby's smell is so calming, much like the smell of lavenders in bloom.
"Guinevere, what are you doing up so early?" Gloria asked as she entered the room with her own cup of steaming coffee. "You should rest, girl! I'll go get the cradle for your little one to be in-"
"No need, Gloria. I can hold her forever if I could!" Beamed Guinevere.
The old woman adjusted her glasses as she gawked at her master. "Are you feeling all right, dear?"
"What do you mean?"
"You seem so happy. And I don't even take you as a morning person."
"Perhaps I'm just so glad that Gwyneth has finally come into the world. And Granger's going to be coming back."
"Right, I forgot. Although as from what I've heard, Princess Silvanna has been acting on her promise to completely eradicate the demons of the Land of Dawn, creating a squad consisting of the Empire's greatest soldiers called Lightborn. The news has been full of demon murders since last week as well. Whether I should be happy about it or not. Could it be they are declaring war?"
Guinevere furrowed her brows and pressed whimpering Gwyneth closer, her protective motherly instincts kicking in suddenly. "Let's hope to the Gods they aren't."
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A few hours after having breakfast, Guinevere took her bath with the assistance of her handmaidens. As her wet curly hair has been combed straight and cut a few inches shorter to keep each strand length accurately straight. Her body has been scrubbed to rid weeks of dead skin and unshaven body hair, returning her to the goddess she once was.
"Do you want me to trim your bangs as well, milady?" Asked the handmaiden who was dressing her hair. "It seems they've grown longer."
"Yes, please." Guinevere answered kindly.
"Lady Guinevere! Your highness!" All heads turned towards the door as a lady servant barged through. She said she brought good news. "The father of your child is here, milady."
All of the handmaidens shrieked in astonishment. Guinevere immediately stood up from the tub and hastened the maidens to dress her.
Once attired, Guinevere was in such a rush that she almost ran down the grand stairs. She looked around the foyer and jogged towards a familiar figure entering the main doors. "Alucard!" She stepped in for a quick hug. "Where is he? Where's my Granger?"
"Outside." The blonde chuckled.
Guinevere thanked him and raced out the entrance. She was so quick some of the handmaidens at her tail found it hard to catch up with her. Espying the only carriage in sight, Guinevere opens the door before the carriageman could and poked her head in like a sparky child during Christmas Eve.
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Granger and Alucard bowed in respect. Princess Silvanna acknowledged it and smiled in appreciation. "Rise, fellow warriors. You are but an equal to me for we are the same. We serve the Light and keep the Darkness at bay." Said the princess.
"It is but an honor to meet you, Your Majesty." Alucard spoke formally. "We're proud to be given your invitation. Though if I am allowed to ask, why have you requested my friend Granger and I?"
Silvanna gave the men each a contemplating look. "Both of you are the Empire's legendary heroes. Granger, you have been a vigilante of mystery all these years, going on a killing spree on demons. I must say, wow! You're a very unique demon hunter and I'm intrigued by you. I'm glad. You're not a mystery anymore and I finally have the pinpoint marksman for my squad..."
Granger nods in response as Alucard requested to know more about her said squad.
"The squad is called Lightborn and it'll rule the Moniyan Empire. With the Lightborn, chaos and order will be balanced forever."
"No offense but it sounds ambitious." Granger commented nonchalantly. The knightess laughed as Alucard nudged him as a warning.
"I assure you, Granger. It might sound ambitious, a stupid thing to do- form a squad and say it'll be the most powerful. But optimism is key here. With the darkness of the Abyss growing and cultivating more demons, I fear a war will come if we don't set an act. And to prevent war, I shall need a squad by my side as I venture off to the outskirts of the Empire to keep any possible treat annihilated as soon as possible. Will you join me then, Granger, regarding you seem to be hesitating?"
"I am hesitating." Granger fessed up.
"May I know why?"
"I have to go home in a month, Your Majesty. It's private matters but it's very urgent."
"Oh? Don't worry, Granger. The sooner you accomplish your duties, I'll let you off in as early as a month if that's what you want."
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"Granger!" Guinevere cried as she climbs in the carriage, wrapping her arms around his neck as she sits close to him. He grunted in pain, forcing her to push herself away short. "W-What happened to your arm?" She asked, gesturing to his right arm. It was wrapped in a cast and slung to his shoulder.
Granger acknowledged the minor injury on his arm. "It's nothing you should worry about, Gwen, really. He guaranteed. Guinevere continued to search his lower body for more injuries, making him place a hand on her shoulder for reassurance.
"I just want to make sure you still all got your limbs attached." She deadpanned and he goggled at her with amazement. Once again, she felt complete now that he was with. "I can't wait for you to see her!" Guinevere grinned as they exit the carriage hand in hand. Guinevere walked around him to hug the whole of his left uninjured hand. She blushed at the change of his clothing, forgetting how handsome he was.
"You look so regal," she mumbled.
Granger held her close, flattered. "The uniform was mandatory."
"Uniform? You mean you're..."
He nodded. "The Holy Knightess hired me as the marksman of her squad."
Guinevere was aware of Silvanna's squad. She knew there were five members and they were the most elite soldiers of the Land, yet she never expected he would be one of them. But she was also aware about the battles going on outside the Empire. Hence, this broken arm of his must imply his important involvement of the conflict.
Which in turn makes her ask. "Will your stay be short then?"
"Yes." He answered, looking sullen.
Guinevere's eyes weakened. God knows when he will come back. What if he never will? "Granger..." The redhead stopped in her tracks, and he does so a few steps ahead without breaking their interlaced hands.
"Yes, Gwen?"
"What if, when you leave me again, you won't come back? W-What will I tell Gwyneth when she grows up?"
Granger closed their distance and holds both of her hands, giving her a reassuring smile which glistens in the morning hue. "Like I said, you don't have to worry about me. With you in my heart, it's gonna take more than a horde of demons to finish me off. I have our family now to stay alive for. I want to live and try to stay as long as I can by your side until I die, Gwen. So please, trust me."
Shortly after Guinevere's doubts had been settled, they went off to see their baby. When they get to the gardens, Lady Jane was holding Gwyneth. She sat as Alucard stood under the cool shade of a blooming cherry blossom tree, one of the beautiful trees in the garden.
Alucard turned around and greeted the approaching two with a smile. "What took you so long?" He asked his fellow demon hunter. Granger shrugged, making the blonde scoff, having a playful idea in mind.
"I never thought you would come back," Jane said to Granger tauntingly as Guinevere retrieves her baby. Guinevere gave her mother a warning look. "Alucard, please join me a cup of tea and tell me more about your plentiful adventures with the Princess Silvanna!"
Alucard bid his excuses, leaving with the woman as they disappear inside the palace with guards behind them, giving the couple complete solitary with their newborn.
Granger awkwardly walked over as Guinevere beckoned him to hold Gwyneth. "Are you nervous?" Guinevere asked and Granger bobbed his head up and down. Miss Violet chuckles at him.
"I only have one hand available as you can see. What if I lose control?"
"You won't."
"How do you know that?"
She releases her one arm and Granger choked a gasp. Of course, the baby didn't fall. "Relax, love. She's not going to fall for she's sleeping." Guinevere cooed, making him all jittery.
Granger was cussing nonstop as she placed their daughter on her father's positioned arm.
Guinevere clapped lightly as she stepped away to review her work. Granger became stiff. Did he really think he couldn't do it?
They sat down at the bench. "What's her name?" Asked Granger.
"Guess." Guinevere smirked.
"Guess?"
"Yeah."
"You named her Guess."
"No! I meant guess what her name is, dummy."
"Oh." Granger frowned, dumbfounded. "Does it start with a G?"
"Hmm."
"Ginny?"
Guinevere shook her head.
"Gwen?"
"No."
"Gwinnie?"
"Wrong. But thanks for giving me an idea on her nickname, though."
"Gwyneth."
Guinevere hummed in response. "Correct."
"Why Gwyneth?"
"It's a beautiful name. And it starts with a G. But I'm still choosing whose surname will she be going to take. Mine or yours?"
"I don't have a surname so she can take yours. Your mother would disagree otherwise if I did and we name her after me."
She nodded in agreement. "About her, she's been trying to marry me to Gusion again despite his mental state..."
Granger scowled flatly, remembering the agreement he had with Jane months ago. This reunion was going to be their last. Without Alucard keeping Jane heavily occupied, he wouldn't even be able to be here to see his newborn child.
Granger can withstand a lifetime without seeing his family, but coming to terms with Jane still forcing Guinevere into wedlock is completely unacceptable. Surely now with his reputation promoted as a Lightborn, it will be enough to convince Guinevere's parents.