When Zero was about to tell the lord, that was also the time Nini's eyes opened.

"Got, yah!" she smiled broadly and giggled in amusement. ​​

Zero released a huge sigh of relief and glared at Nini. "You're such a naughty brat! You got me worried!" he scolded her.

"Don't be mad! I'm just trying to play a frank on you..." Nini grinned at Zero.

Tony shook his head and left the couple in the room quietly.

Back in Nini's room.

Zero sat on the chair and looked sadly at his wife-to-be.

Nini noticed the troubled expression on his face. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing..." Zero replied. He never expected that after finding the baby that was missing for twenty years, she would bring problems and stress to her family without knowing it.

"You're lying! Are you stress out about tomorrow's event?" she asked him innocently.

Zero shook his head. "No, not a bit," he replied.

"By the way, what is father doing here in my room?" she asked.

"I brought him here because I can't wake you up!" he responded. "You sleep like a log! Did you dream something in your sleep?" he asked.

"I dream of a guy wearing a silver mask on his face. He's talking to me..." she answered.

Zero's brows furrowed, suddenly he sprang to attention. "And what did that guy told you?"

"He asks me if I'm happy in my new home? And I answered him yes," Nini replied.

"What else did he told you? Did you see his face behind the mask?" Zero interrogated her.

"No! I didn't see his face, and he vanished from my dream after that," Nini replied.

"Think further! What else did you remember in your dream?" Zero's mind was already in alert mode.

Nini rose to her feet. "Let's go to the stable! I want to ride my horse! Then afterward, we will watch the fish in the pond and relax on the swing in the garden!" she suggested.

Zero remained glued to his seat.

Nini grabbed his hand and pulled him to his feet. "Stop brooding! You can share your problems with me later after we finished horseback riding!" she said.

Zero smiled. Nini is a carefree soul, a bubbly girl. Always bouncing up like a ball of energy. He wonders if she will have a change of personality later on when the prophecy starts to unfold.

They left the bedroom and went downstairs, heading to the stable area to get their horses.

One hour later.

Tony stood in the window, watching his daughter and future son-in-law riding the horses around the manor.

Evelyn joined her husband in the window and spoke, "The baby that we lost twenty years ago is about to be taken away from us again, this time by death?" she asked while looking at the couple enjoying horseback riding in the distance.

Tony released a deep sigh. "For twenty years, we thought that she was already dead and we will never have a chance to see her again. But with the stroke of luck, Zero found here again and brought to us, fully grown up! Our happiness shoots to the roof after seeing her for the first time. She's always the daughter that we always envisioned her to be..." he said, lost in the memories.

"Yeah, our youngest child is now a grown-up girl and about to get married. Another milestone for her," Evelyn murmured.

Tony looked at his wife. "Who do you think kidnapped her and imprisoned her for twenty years? What is that person's motive for doing such a cruel act of kidnapping a baby and her nanny?"

Evelyn shook her head. "I have no idea... How I wish I know!" she said, gritting her teeth in anger towards that person.

Tony looked at his wife. "Let's go to the garden and admire the beautiful flowers. Let's forget our stress and worries for a little while," he suggested.

Evelyn smiled sweetly. "Okay, let's stay in the garden for a while," she agreed.

The couple left their bedroom and went to the garden to relax and unwind.

~~~0~~~

The next day, at Menedelia's fortress.

The women were outside the house, performing their daily routines.

Yesterday, Rebecca noticed the gloomy look on Granny's face after she returned from her trip outside. But she chose not to ask her why. She was waiting for Granny to confide to her the reason for her dismal mood, but even during dinner, she heard nothing from her. It looks like Granny wants to keep everything to herself.

She was curious what went wrong out there and who is her big-time client this time? And what went wrong yesterday?

Granny was currently sweeping the dried leaves on the ground.

While she was hanging clothes on the clothesline after finishing her laundry.

"Granny, you are not going out today?" she asked casually.

Menedelia shook her head. "No, I'm not going anywhere today. I'll stay here with you. I realized that I've been going out a lot these days. Time for me to stay, rest, and relaxed for a while," she replied.

Rebecca smiled. "That's a good thing to do, Granny! You deserved a good rest!" she agreed.

Menedelia smiled. She's going to have a long rest from now on. She will only leave the fortress if she will go to the market to buy their food ration. She looked at her pregnant charge. "Let's roast a chicken for dinner later!" she suggested.

"That would be nice! I miss eating spicy roasted chicken! It's been a while since I have last eaten such a delicious delicacy!" Rebecca exclaimed excitedly.

The women performed their daily routines around the house the whole morning.

~~~0~~~

At Graven's manor. Lunchtime.

Graven and Laura's family gathered around the table in the dining room eating their sumptuous meals.

Laura glanced at her husband lovingly and then at her whole family. Moments like this when her husband is with her whole day and her family gathered around the dining table, she was at her happiest moments.

She looked at her sister, Sofia, she never mentioned finding her parents again. She was glad that her sister finally accepted the truth that it's dangerous to roam outside at this point and the safest place for them to stay and hide is inside her husband's property.

So far, she doesn't have any problem with her family. They live in harmony with Graven, and they get along well with the servants and the guards.

Half an hour later, they finished eating lunch and retired to their rooms upstairs.

Inside the couple's room.

Laura looked at her husband. "I like to go to the garden!" she said.

"Alright, let's go there!" Graven suggested and offered his hand to his wife.

Laura smiled and accepted her husband's hand.

The couple left their room, holding each other's hands.

They exited the house and walked towards the backyard where the garden was located.

They settled on the garden swing chair.

The gentle breeze of the wind caresses Laura's face and blows her hair away from her face.

She looked at her husband. He's been with her three days in a row, staying by her side from morning till evening, never leaving her side, and she loves it so much!

Today is the fourth day.

She knows that this setup won't last forever. "Are you going to visit the headquarter and Grandpa Terros today?" she asked.

Graven looked at her and smiled. "How did you know that I'm thinking of those things?" he asked.

"Because I know that you can't stay by my side forever. You are carrying a heavy responsibility on your shoulder, taking good care of the entire South Pond Town and managing your family's businesses," she said.

Graven sighed. "You are right, wife. My three days vacation is finally over. As a matter of fact, I'm about to tell you that I'm going to visit South Pond town today and also drop by at Grandpa Terros's place this afternoon," he replied.

"It's okay, you can leave anytime," Laura said with a smile. No signs of disappointment in her eyes.

"Thank you for understanding my busy life, wife," he said and planted a loving kiss on her cheeks.

One hour later.

Laura began yawning. "I'm feeling sleepy. Let's return to our room now and after I fell asleep, you may take your leave," she said. "Are you going to eat dinner with us tonight," she asked.

"I'm not sure. But you must eat dinner with your family on time. No need to wait for me," Graven said.

"Okay," Laura responded and yawned again. She stood up. "Let's head back to our room now."

The couple left the garden and went back to the manor.

Inside the bedroom.

The couple settled on the bed comfortably.

Laura rested her head on Graven's arm and closed her eyes to sleep.

Fifteen minutes later, Laura drifted into slumber on her husband's arm.

Graven gently put his wife's head on the bed, careful not to awaken her. He planted a kiss on her forehead and left the bed.

He stood beside the bed, staring at his wife's pretty face for a long time.

He decided to stay for three days straight in his wife's side because the moment he and Grandpa Terros attack the castle, there is no guarantee that he can get out alive. In every plan, there is always a big chance of failure happening at the last minute.

He might encounter death while rescuing his men and his twin brother's spirit underneath the castle. No matter what happened, at least, he left three days' worth of happiness in his wife's memory.

He will go to South Pond Town and visit his headquarters to give important instruction to Horace and Calder, just in case he won't make it alive after entering the castle for the last time. He will make sure it will be the last time he will visit that castle again, dead or alive!

He bends down and lowered his head towards his wife's abdomen. He planted a kiss on Laura's baby bump.

A father's loving kiss for his baby inside the tummy.

Graven released a deep sigh and vanished from the room in the blink of an eye.