"Let me get straight to the point!" All eyes were nailed to the angered Liezl, the men held their breath not trying to get on the woman's nerves.
"Why the hell you played with Juri and left her just like that?!" Kallistos widened his eyes in surprise.
"Who played what?"
"You jerk prince!"
"Ms. Liezl it's a bit, you might get to jail for insulting the prince." Georg butt in the conversation that Liezl hissed at him.
"I don't care! I am a citizen of Amsonia so I am now under that shitty royal or whatever!"
"Even though you and I are close, I won't let you disrespect me." Kallistos got it bad that he spoke to her with authority, however knowing the tomboy Liezl, she did not cower down.
"Disrespect? Aren't you the one who did it first?"
"Lizzy, just hold a second and cool down. Talk it with Kallistos first." Ellenor who's trying to appease her get in between.
"How can I calm down? What he did is not an excuse!" Liezl blurted out almost teary.
"Just what on earth is it that you are so mad at me Liezl? And don't damn cry like I will get pity on you."
"I'm not crying to get your shitty pity, it is because of Juri!" Upon hearing the name that he misses, his demeanor changes with worry.
"What happened to Juri?" he asked with his eyes full of concern.
"Well, Kallistos, in a few months you're gone… Juri has been talking with Liezl." Ellenor said.
"What happened to her?"
"It was horrible that she was left with no choice but to file an early graduation and left the university." Ellinor shaking his head, it was a definite disappointment for him.
"I don't get it, tell me the whole story from the start."
The day after they had a one night stand, Juri stayed the same, attending lectures and preparing for her remaining projects before graduation. However, since the incident, her name sparked curiosity to those who have seen her being on good terms with Kallistos. The students of the theatre department had no fuss about it since they knew how Kallistos was. The problem is the students outside the department that burn in jealousy with her. She has been playing pranks and subtle gossips made on her, that one time is when she was with Liezl.
A girl bumped her intentionally and Liezl got to talk with the other. It turns out that they have been isolating Juri due to their vain spite.
"Didn't I tell you to keep an eye on Juri before I leave?" Kallistos, has left a word to them before he left the country.
"That's why I always come to find her, it is harder since we are from different departments and Elli and I cannot run back and forth just to see her."
"Also, we are being careful not to attract any of those dogs roaming around, we tried hard to keep Juri's relation to you as low as we can." Ellinor, who has brought upon himself that he was the one closer to Juri than Kallistos, did his best to cover it up and prevent the spies of the senate from getting interested with Juri.
"Then why did Juri leave the university if you did not fail to protect her?"
"It was her last resort." Liezl said with hesitating eyes.
"She needed protection that we cannot give her in this country."
"I don't get it…"
"Did you not know?" Ellinor opened the monitor at the side table and clicked on the news page.
"News of Sangue and the North Iris' alliance has been circulating around." he continued.
"The worst is that it was rumored that a Prince of Sangue and Princess of Iris will have a union in the future?"
Kallistos jaw dropped at what he heard, it was like he was splashed by cold water.
"Georg!?" He turned to his aid who seemed to look even more surprised.
"T-that… How on earth did it happen? It was just a talk over wine with the previous Emperor, but never an official!" He excused himself to the Prince.
"The senate must be behind this!" He clenches his fist.
"It hurts Juri, even though she says nothing, from time to time she will ask about you." Liezl is reminded of the time she spent before Juri left.
"The time the two of you have is only an expansion of one night, then you have already left due to the call of the royal family."
"Does ...does she know who I am already?"
"Just a bit later after the ascension of the Emperor, we told her that in Sangue your every move is monitored, also that is the reason you did not get any of her contact information." Ellinor continued in detail.
"But, Kallistos…" Liezl paused.
"Yes?"
"D-did you intentionally do that?" Her words were unclear that he frowned.
"Do what?"
"With Juri… You know that it was risky and the current situation would not be good."
"Be clear Liezl, my head is already hurting."
"Liezl, just tell him already." Ellinor pushed her, but Liezl still hesitated.
"Ah, then I'll do it. Why did you put a bun in the oven?" The three of them were stunned.
"What the bun are you talking about?"
"Damnit Elli, get straight to the point!" Liezl snapped at him then she spoke to Kallistos, "Why did you fill the pail and bear it fruit?"
"You guys---" Kallistos is getting impatient at the riddles while Ellinor and Liezl start to bicker.
"So you mean Miss Juri is pregnant with Prince Kalllistos child?" Georg spoke out clearly and smoothly, the three all stared at him.
"H-how did you interpret that!" Ellinor and Liezl were amazed with Georg.
"Hehe, I used to live with my grandparents, that's how they riddle it when they don't want people finding out the fact." he scratches his nose in embarrassment seeing how amazed the two are.
"For example, when they say, the melon was cracked or eaten, they mean about a woman's innocence being taken and then…" He continued to blabber several more.
"Juri is pregnant with my child?" Kallistos whispered to himself.
"Liezl! Ellinor! Are you sure about that?" He faced them again.
"Well you know of Sanguis flower? Juri ate it effortlessly." Liezl replied.
"Sanguis? That flower that you ate to confirm pregnancy from the South?" Georg added in detail.
"Yes, we happen to dine at the new restaurant that has Sangueian cuisine, she was so craving it that she even ate the one on my plate." She narrated how they confirmed it.
"S-seriously Liezl?" Juri couldn't believe it.
"Mom did so with my other siblings, and it always confirms it."
"It's not too sour."
"When pregnant the taste elevated, and most pregnant women said it tasted like orange, but to a non-expectant said it tasted like puke."
"Ah...." Juri dropped her spoon and stared blankly at the pretty yellow flower.
"Liezl...I...I…"
"Juri!" He grabbed her by the shoulders.
"Keep it low… Let's finish our meal first then let's head somewhere safe." Noticing that there were the senate's dogs lurking allowed, Liezl heightened her cautiousness and sent a message to Ellinor to pick them up.
At the Florakis mansion, Juri sat in the vast living room, it was her first time to see such luxury in life.
"So you mean, she ate it effortlessly, that means she is pregnant?"
"Yes.. and that of Kallistos." They both look at her, the fact that she sleeps with him and got pregnant made her ashamed of herself.
"We need to be careful, it's a sensitive subject." he taps his fingers on the table.
"Juri."
"Y-yes?!" Startled, she looked straight into his eyes.
"Do you already know who Kallistos is?"
"N-no, that was the first time I ever met him." As per Kallistos, Juri has no knowledge that they met during the admission, and that at the shooting was the first time they've learned of each other's name.
"Juri, I know it's a bit sudden, but you need to know the truth, he is the first prince of the Sangue Empire, Alexio Kallistos La Sangue."
"T-that.. I had a hunch recently, with the news on fire, that I wanted to ask Liezl."
"If that was the case, what do you plan now? Knowing the possibilities that the royals will run after you and the heir in your womb, and the chaotic future heading on? They will surely want to get a grip of that child, you know how Sangue is right?" Ellinor is not trying to scare her but just stating the facts.
Juri has thought it several times earlier, it may be a harsh decision, however, her mind has always been firm from the very start. Her childhood memory, early responsibilities, working in a four cornered room… She finally has her freedom.
"I will raise this child alone."