It had been almost two weeks since the Rumasilian army left the harbour of Hutalaut and the armada was almost at its destination. The Valamen royal family were on the main flagship of the fleet, a large newly-made Man'o'war named the 'Singalaut'.

The armada had spotted small isles with minor posts and watch towers on them and some small buildings. They flew a purple flag with a white tiger on it holding a sword and wearing a crown. Soldiers were seen on the isles as well as some small ships and boats.

"We are nearing Siesia, your majesties." Prince Miguel said to King Valasaire and Prince Valaron who were beside him "Only a few more hours until we arrive at the great port."

Valasaire was fascinated at what he was looking at through his telescope. "I thought the colours of Provaria were a white dolphin on violet." King Valasaire said

"My brother had seen to it that we differentiate ourselves from the Gissario loyalists." Miguel explained "King Esteban is trying to grow more fervour and gather support from the people to the cause of the Valamen. As we have it now, the country is split in half."

"I'm not sure how your people will take this new call of loyalty to the Valamen family." Valasaire said "Why would the people throw themselves into the cause of a foreign king?"

"Pardon me, your majesty, but the 'de la Valamen' of Provaria should not be considered foreigners. We have been Kings of the country for almost a century. We are at least no less foreign than the Gissario themselves. Those fops were exiled noblemen from Florentia before they managed to worm their way as Provarian kings two centuries ago."

"Well, before all else, we must be rid of the Gissario then." Valasaire said as he closed his telescope and walked towards the helm of the ship to feel the ocean breeze in his hair "Though, the weather here is very nice if I do say so myself. At least there are some pleasurable things in this campaign."

"The beaches of Siesia are the best, I assure you."

Valamar was sitting down on a chair while crossing his legs and relaxing himself in the ocean breeze. His wife sat next to him reading a book while humming to herself. Valamar found himself staring at her, though he was thinking of other things. Soon, Cassandra noticed his stares and blushed slightly but asked what was going on in his mind.

"Nothing much really..." Valamar said "The fighting is yet to come as we have a meeting with His Majesty King Esteban first... Going to Provaria has gotten me thinking. From what we know, Provaria is a relatively new Kingdom being only founded a little less than two centuries ago, before that being a province of Auros and far before that being a colony of the Arastian Kingdom."

"And...?" Cassandra asked as she closed her book

"The Gissario doesn't sound like an Arastian or an Aurosian House name..."

"Oh... that's what my lord was thinking of. Why, yes. The Gissario are actually originally from Florentia. Some of them still are, the main house at least, though not as great as they once were. They used to be an influential Florentinian House, but now they are little more than petty nobles with little more to their name than clinging to past glories."

"What happened to them?"

"It was during the reign of my ancestor, Angelo the Great. During the early wars with the Lothirians, the House of Gissario tried to play both sides and only were concerned with their own prosperity, thus costing Florentia a great loss at a vital battle. Suffice to say, the other houses were less than pleased and they were greatly stripped of their ranks. Some of them chose to stay in Florentia while the rest were either banished or self-exiled... It appears some of them even managed to slither their way into their own crown in Provaria..."

"They are more snake than dolphin..." Valamar said to which Cassandra laughed

"By the way, I have something else I've been meaning to ask you..." Valamar said

"And what is that, my lord?"

"We've now been married for nearly a month..." Valamar said

"A month flew by just like that... Time flies when you're in love. But what troubles you, my lord?"

"I don't mean to be rude..." Valamar said as he hushed his tone slightly "But... I have yet to see you... you know... during your time of the month... I mean I have a mother and two sisters, I know what it looks like, the cramps and the like... I mean I can only guess why we haven't seen Vera at all today... not to mention the other daughters of Ruma..."

Valamar then saw Cassandra's eyes only widen as it looked like she was loading something in her mind.

"Dear, are you alright? Forget if I said something that bothered you..."

"No, it's fine..." Cassandra said as she caressed her husband's cheek "To be honest, my period was supposed to be last week so I shrugged it off, thinking I was just late... but now... When even you've noticed it, now I'm sure of it..."

As Cassandra said that, Valamar was still processing the information going through his mind as what Cassandra could've been sure of. After a while, it then completely dawned on him.

"...you're pregnant..." Valamar said with shock, surprise, and joy all in one expression "Y-you're carrying our child!" Valamar was starting to get all excited at the news while Cassandra smiled in happiness as well, immediately embracing her husband who was so enamored in joy.

In fact, Valamar returned her embrace and spun her around a little as he lifted her up as she only laughed gleefully.

"Slow down, my lord.... hahahaha..." Cassandra said "Don't get too excited, you wouldn't want anything to happen to the child before he's even been born, right?"

"Oh, you're right!!" Valamar said as he immediately set her down in slight panic "I'm so sorry... we have to be careful."

"I was only kidding, no need to get too worried, my lord..." Cassandra said "I was just so fond of your joyful expression!"

"Of course I am overjoyed! God has blessed our marriage with a child!! The future heir of the Valamen throne! Pujipujian sian rohangku tu Debata Jahowa! ( Praise be to God )"

As Valamar exclaimed with joy and was all in all feeling happy, King Valasaire and Valaron couldn't help but notice Valamar's ecstatic joy. "What's gotten into him?" Valasaire asked Valaron rhetorically before he walked towards his son.

"What exactly is going on here?" Valasaire asked his son who was still so happy when all of a sudden Valamar just came and hugged him heartily. Valasaire was confused but returned his son's embrace and couldn't help but feel happy as well even though he did not know what all this was about "Son, you're acting as if we've won the war already... What's going on?"

"Cassandra, please tell him!" Valamar said excitedly as he glanced at his wife.

Cassandra was smiling as well as she told the King the news.

"Your majesty, it appears the Lord has blessed my union with your son. He has blessed my womb with child... your future grandchild..."

Valasaire didn't realise that his jaw was ajar in surprise and disbelief as he looked at his son.

"What did she say?" Valasaire asked again to his son to confirm what he had just heard

"I'm going to be a father!" Valamar said excitedly "I'm going to have a child!"

As Valasaire heard that, he instinctively hugged his son tightly. "My boy is gonna have an heir!! My boy! My boy's gonna be a father!"

As Valasaire exclaimed that, the soldiers and sailors on the ship couldn't help but clap and cheer at the news and at the sight of the King's joy. Valamar and Cassandra were slightly embarrassed at the attention that they had garnered, but they accepted the cheers and fair wishes into their hearts. As Valasaire let go of his embrace, he slightly bent forward to Cassandra's belly.

"I know you're probably not able to hear me yet, but I'm going to spoil you rotten." Valasaire said

"You don't even spoil me." Valamar said

"You're my son, not my grandson."

"It's only been a month, your majesty..." Cassandra said to her father-in-law "But even so, I do hope you do not pull me from the front lines... When it is at this early stage, fighting shouldn't be much of a problem."

"My son, are you listening to your wife?" Valasaire said in slight disbelief "Casssandra, are you telling me you're going to risk my grandchild's life?"

Valaron merely laughed at Cassandra's behaviour.

"You are too much like your aunt..." Valaron said "Gianna was just as stalwart as you even though she was pregnant as well..."

Valamar was immediately worried as he looked to his wife who was still adamant in joining the warfare. He was worried for his wife and his future child's safety in this. Though Cassandra only looked at him with a pitiful expression, goading him into allowing her to fight.

Valamar was being torn apart as he looked to his father.

Valasaire only groaned at his son's indecision and his daughter-in-law's insistence.

"The Lord was kind to me as my wife is not a warrior..." Valasaire said, giving his opinions to Valamar and Cassandra "Though many queens in Rumasil's history were warriors. As was the first Queen of Rumasil, Queen Ulia who fought wars against the enemies of Rumasil even when she was carrying a child in her belly... I guess we can allow this instance..."

"They didn't have arquebuses or cannons back in those days." Valaron said "One stray bullet could end both the Princess and her child."

As Valaron said that, Cassandra only bowed her head. But this time Valamar spoke up,

"My wife was the one who was briefed of the battle plans later on and she is commander of her cavalry. I see no harm in my wife joining the battle from the back lines to direct her troops and to oversee the battle..."

As Valamar said that, Cassandra lifted her head as her husband spoke for her case. She then looked towards the King and Prince Valaron with resolve. "I agree with the suggestion my lord husband has put forth. I shall keep myself at a safe distance away from where the fighting will be the hardest..."

"Well that's good to hear." Valasaire said "Now, if you wouldn't mind, I have other matters to attend to. You two should take this wonderful news to the rest."

"We will." Valamar said as he looked to his wife

Valamar and Cassandra immediately made their way to Vera's cabin. When they approached the cabin door, they could hear a conversation taking place inside it. It didn't sound like his sister was alone there.

Cassandra looked at Valamar to ask him what was going on to which he only made a gesture with his index finger in front of his lips, signalling that they should be quiet, and immediately pressed his ear against the door.

"My lord, eavesdropping is very impolite and rude!" Cassandra said to which Valamar only rolled his eyes

Cassandra immediately pulled Valamar away from the door, tugging firmly at his arm.

"Okay, okay! I get it." Valamar said as he chuckled and laughed slightly

"This is no laughing matter, my lord! People's privacy should be respected! This is a troublesome character that should be improved."

Looking at his wife's insistence and seriousness, Valamar backed off on eavesdropping. In the past month of his marriage, he has learned more and more of his wife's noble character and understood when to not annoy her.

"If I had a coin for every time Vera has eavesdropped on someone and stuck her nose where it doesn't belong, I'd be a very rich man." Valamar said

"You're joking, my lord. Anyways, we didn't come here for that." Cassandra said as she moved in front of her husband and knocked on the door.

"Who is it?" Vera's voice asked from inside

"It's me, Vera. Your sister-in-law!" Cassandra said

"Cassandra?" Vera asked "What do you want?"

"I have news I want to share to you! May I come in?" Cassandra asked for permission

"Is it really important? I don't think I can really humor you right now, Cassandra. Maybe at a later time? I'm a little ill right now... I have a real painful cramp..."

"Kak, I'm gonna have a baby!" Valamar immediately butted into the conversation "Cassandra's pregnant!"

"She's what?!" when Valamar said that, they could immediately hear Vera running towards the door and opening it vigorously as she showed a joyful grin on her face.

"My little brother's gonna have a kid?!" Vera said excitedly

"What the hell happened to your period?" Valamar said teasingly to his sister

"I recovered."

"That's one hell of a recovery." Valamar retorted "Anyways, I do not respect the condescending tone you had with my wife. Apologize at once. Just because she's a better fighter than you doesn't mean you have to be an asshole."

"Okay, first off, I'm the better fighter. Secondly, I wasn't being rude. I just wasn't really in the mood to hear something that has a potential to be nothing of importance."

"So you're saying I'm not important?" Cassandra asked Vera

"That's not what I said at all. Anyways, Valamar, Cassandra, come right on in!"

When the two came in, they noticed some other people were already inside. Amara and Valantine were sitting on a pair of chairs next to the bed.

"I didn't realise you were having company." Valamar said as he saw the two

Amara immediately stood up and bowed at the two. "Your majesties! Forgive me if I may be an inconvenience here. I was merely accompanying Princess Vera." Amara said "Allow me to take my leave. Oh, and, congratulations for the both of you! It is good to see the line of the Valamen continue."

Amara slightly held her own belly when she said that before heading for the exit.

"Oh there's no need for you to be like that, Lady Amara." Cassandra said as she held the girl in place "The more the merrier! And I would be honored if you were here too."

"Besides, you're basically family too." Valamar said with a slight smirk and a wink to Valantine who only coughed at Valamar's quips

"I consider all my sisters in the daughter of Ruma to be my family!" Vera said "Please stay, we're... ooh... oww..." Vera who was standing held her abdomen as she looked like she was in pain "The cramps have returned."

Vera quickly returned to lay on her bed.

"This is why it is difficult to rely on women in warfare." Valamar said as he took a seat on the bed "I don't even know how the Daughters of Ruma handle these inconveniences."

"We have shifts, you know." Vera said as she slightly kicked her younger brother's back "What about you, Cassandra? How do you usually handle these kinds of things?"

"My time of the month doesn't usually inconvenience me that much..." Cassandra answered "But now that I'm pregnant, I'll have to be a little bit more careful..."

"You know, speaking of pregnant women, Angelina was just as tough as you when she was pregnant with Valea." Vera said "She had just transferred into the Daughters of Ruma as an instructor. At fifteen! Can you imagine that!"

"Vald's wife?" Cassandra said

All of a sudden in the midst of it all, Vald himself came into the cabin followed by the Aerlish Prince John.

"Is somebody talking about my wife?" He said as he stuck his head in through the door "Anyways, brother! I heard the good news!"

"It appears Valea's gonna have a new sibling!" Valamar said

"This calls for celebration!" Vald said

"I've brought the best brandy in all of Aerland." John said with a grin as he showed everyone there the bottle

"Wonderful!" Valamar exclaimed as they were going to have an impromptu family get-together