Cheryl followed her to Eugene's house without question. For some reason, seeing the man covered in fresh blood caused her heart to pound.
She witnessed the royal doctor's assistant ripping Eugene's clothes off. The gaping wound on the man's back was immediately exposed after the expensive suit was removed. There was a splinter of a lamp stump that stuck a little deep in the back of the left.
Cheryl staggered backwards, but she was grabbed.
"Beth?"
"It's me," she confirmed.
"Why are you by yourself? What happened to Judy and Mary?"
"I told them to contact Harold just in case."
Beth's explanation made Cheryl realise that the current situation was unclear, and that the worst-case scenario was possible. But her brain wasn't working properly right now because she had been slightly shaken by seeing her favourite character, Eugene Laverty, fall to save herself.
Cheryl was supported from behind by Beth. They both stood in front of the wide open door, staring helplessly at the prince, who was covered in blood.
The doctor and his assistants worked tirelessly inside to clean and treat the Prince's wounds. They move quickly and are extremely agile.
Eugene ends up looking like a half-mummy, with bandages wrapped around his head and body. In his private room, he was lying on a large bed.
Cheryl didn't go in, only saw the unconscious man from outside the door.
As soon as the doctor came out, Cheryl held him back.
"How is the Crown Prince doing? Are his injuries severe?"
"Prince's state—"
"Stop right there! Fifth princess, you are the suspect for harming the Crown Prince. Now, don't fight back and come with us!" A man's harsh voice interrupted the doctor's words.
Immediately, a dozen royal guards surrounded Cheryl, pointing swords at her.
"What does this mean?" Cheryl cast a disapproving look at the man in charge of the guard.
"Are my words not clear? You are a suspect in the Crown Prince's assassination plot. You should be detained for further investigation, especially since Prince is seriously injured and unconscious. Now, obey and follow us." The leader said it again.
Cheryl exclaimed. "What kind of charge is that? It was a mistake! I had no intention of involving the crown prince in this situation!"
Cheryl's words, however, were ignored by the guard leader. He directed the group of guards to ambush Cheryl right away.
"Do not come near our Marchioness!" Beth stood guard over Cheryl, keeping her out of reach of the guards' large hands.
These sent-out guards appeared to be heartless. They pushed Beth so hard that she fell and landed on her shoulder.
"Ah!!!" Beth screamed in pain because of the pain in her shoulder.
"Beth!" Cheryl yelled. She wanted to grab Beth, but she was stopped and one of the guards firmly grabbed her arm.
"Retreat everyone!"
Harold's yell echoed, as did the few guards from the Baldwin Mansion they had brought with them.
The man stormed in and slashed at the hand of the guard who had cornered Cheryl. When the Marchioness was freed from her restraints, Harold shielded his master's wife behind his body and raised his sword high, unafraid.
The guards from the Baldwin Mansion assisted and protected Beth.
"Never bother the residents of the Baldwin Mansion. I will not hesitate to decapitate you all!" Harold made a threat. His demeanour was determined and ready to fight.
When he saw Harold, the guard leader clenched his teeth. At his waist, his hand touched the hilt of the sword.
"Right Hand Marquess, we are simply carrying out the King's orders." Please do not obstruct, or all of you from Baldwin Mansion will be labelled as rebels for disobeying the King's orders."
"What?!" Cheryl exclaimed.
She immediately touched Harold's shoulder, calming him down, realising the weight of the charge in the guard leader's words.
"Harold, put down your sword."
"But..."
"Simply follow my instructions. You didn't hear what charges he's pressing against us if you keep this up? Don't subject the entire Baldwin family to unnecessary hardships."
"But, Marchioness, it is my responsibility to ensure your safety. I can't imagine what the Marquess would do if something happened to you."
"It's not your fault. Everything can be explained to Edgar later; he will understand."
Impatiently, the guards' commander stomped his feet.
"Please do not obstruct our work any longer."
Cheryl steeled her heart and moved ahead of Harold.
"I'll accompany you," she said.
The group of guards who had previously surrounded her had now formed a blockade line around Cheryl, making escape impossible. This treatment was identical to how criminals were treated in the most difficult cases.
"Wait, please take me as well! Please allow me to accompany the Marchioness!" Beth yelled from behind her.
Cheryl turned her head as she was led several metres away.
"I'm fine by myself," she reassured. She even cracked a smile.
Cheryl's smile, on the other hand, irritated Beth's eyes. It felt like a bad omen smile.
"No, no, no. Please take me with you, guard leader. Please, please, please ..."
"Okay." The guards' commander waved impatiently.
Cheryl and Beth are led to prison.
The leader of the guards opened one of the cells and let the two women in.
"Go in first. I still have to report to the King so that your case is processed immediately," he said coldly.
"What case!" Beth retorted fiercely, "don't go too far and treat the Marchioness like she really is plotting something bad against the crown prince like you guys allege!"
"It's pointless to say that if there's no proof. Now, come on in."
Cheryl and Beth were pushed inside by force.
The door of the bars is locked using an iron chain and a padlock.
Beth was taken aback as they were completely surrounded and the guards began to disperse.
"Did they really lock us in?" She shook her head in disbelief.
Cheryl was even more composed than Beth. She sat on the only couch in the long, narrow room.
The young lady sat there deep in thought. Her mind, which had begun to calm, was able to connect the dots of today's events.
She now not only regretted her decision to attend the tea banquet, but she also wanted to punish herself for being so careless.
"I am the novel's author! How could I have failed to read the situation and voluntarily jumped into the trap when it was so obvious from the start? Am I really that stupid?" Cheryl mumbled something incoherently. Inadvertently, her hand brushed against her flat lower stomach.
Cheryl went completely still. "I ... I completely forgot about this pregnancy!"
"Do you feel okay? Do you have any aches and pains?" Beth came over. Beth became uneasy when she noticed Cheryl rubbing her stomach.
After Beth mentioned it, a subtle pain flared up in her stomach. It feels like a woman's menstrual cramps.
Cheryl was unconcerned about her subtle reaction. She laughed.
"Why are you so concerned? I'm perfectly fine."
"I'm relieved to hear you're fine."
They both regained control, each with their own set of thoughts.
After a while, the pain returned. Starting with a subtle pain like the first time, the pain becomes more real over time. Cheryl couldn't keep her cool any longer. Her expression changed, and beads of sweat began to form on her brow.
Beth touched Cheryl's shoulder, sensing something was wrong.
"What happened, my Lady?"
Cheryl's body started to shake.
"It's ... it hurts so much," she grumbled.
Beth was taken aback. She became alarmed when she heard Cheryl say, "it hurts."
"Please tell me, my Lady, which part hurts?" she asked nervously.
Another wave of agony arrived. Each time it appears, it will be more painful than the last. Cheryl couldn't hide it any longer; her face was pale, and she let out a muffled scream.
"Ahh... my stomach... my stomach... my stomach hurts so much..."
Beth's heart was pounding, and panic washed over her.
"Please wait a moment, My Lady. I'll have someone contact the doctor."
Beth dashed to the bar and shook it. The shaking had little effect on the sturdy barred door.
"Is anyone there? Guard? Guard? Please, everyone, I need your assistance! Please contact a doctor!"
Beth's voice rang out throughout the facility, but no one responded.
"Someone! Please, please, please! We require assistance! Marchioness, please contact a doctor!"
Beth exclaimed a few more times. There has been no response.
Cheryl's moans are becoming increasingly audible behind her.
Beth had had enough of yelling for help. She moved her gaze to Cheryl, who was lying on the couch.
Cheryl sat and spun around, nervously shifting from side to side as the pain in her stomach became unbearable. She couldn't even make a sound because of the excruciating pain, which felt like she was being stabbed from within, as if her body was about to split open at any moment.
"Ahhh…"
Warm liquids flowed out from beneath her body during this time. Cheryl understood what was going on, but her body was not given time to think calmly. The pain attacks continued unabated.
Beth, on the other hand, could only see. She knows nothing about medicine. Nothing could be done except hold the young woman's hand in pain and occasionally wipe the sweat dripping from her forehead and neck.
Cheryl's lower stomach was still squeezed and crushed from the inside, leaving her weak and powerless. Cheryl passed out as thick warm liquid flowed continuously from below.
Beth was taken aback.
"Marchioness!"
Cheryl shook her head gently.
There was no response. Beth was terrified that something terrible would happen to Cheryl, but she was relieved when she saw the young woman's chest move up and down despite her weakness.
Beth, on the other hand, was terrified of confirming one thing. She should have guessed it even if it wasn't confirmed. Furthermore, there was a strong odour of blood in this small room.
Beth is saddened for the Marchioness.