Imprisoned to Love You [Edited]

♦⊱ Chapter 36 - Family ⊰♦

Kichiro sama pov:

I groaned as I awoke, feeling extremely exhausted despite having slept rather deeply. I recalled that I had been poisoned by the foolish elders of this village through the sake that they had served. They should have known that something as weak as this poison would not hurt me when I was resistant to most poisons, even ones that were considered the most deadly.

The first thing I noticed when I came to was the light weigh on my chest. Peeling my eyes open, I looked down only to see Ruka asleep on me. I felt warmed and instantly calmed by her presence. I placed a hand on her head and the other on her fist that was gripping my clothes.

"Your Majesty, you're awake," I heard Kijima speak. Looking to the side, I saw him on one knee on the floor. "My deepest apologies, Your Majesty. I was careless and gave those b******* a chance to harm you."

I looked back at Ruka, caressing her head as she snoozed comfortably. "This kind of poison is nothing to me, Kijima, surely you are aware of that. What happened doesn't matter – Ruka is safe."

"I understand, Your Majesty."

"Was she beside me the whole time?" I asked, relishing how good it felt to have her close to me.

"Yes, she was tending to you when you were unconscious. However, she fainted due to exhaustion a little after midnight," answered Kijima.

I looked at Kijima with narrow eyes immediately. "She fainted? Was the food poisoned?"

If the elders had harmed Ruka, they would pay with their lives! I came here to attend the festival solely because I thought Ruka would enjoy it. She was excited after I had mentioned it and I had assumed that we would not be put in any sort of harm if we attended a simple village festival. However, if she had been harmed in any way, I would wipe out this entire village as punishment and as a warning that no one should try something so foolish again.

I, however, narrowed my eyes further when Kijima chuckled. He shook his head as he stood. His smile widening, he spoke, "It is not something you need to get so worked up about, Your Majesty. Her highness was not harmed in any way. In fact, I must congratulate the two of you."

"Congratulate? For what reason?" I questioned sharply. Ruka had fainted and Kijima was congratulating us for it?

"Your Majesty, Her Highness, Ruka sama is pregnant."

I didn't quite understand what he meant. Frowning, I repeated, "Pregnant?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. It means that she is with child now. She is carrying your child, the heir to the throne, the heir of royal blood," he explained.

I didn't get to react to what he said for Ruka shifted with a sigh. It was moments before she awoke and sat up. I watched as she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and ran her hands through her hair to set it down neatly. She looked beautiful and the desire to kiss her washed over me.

I sat up with a grunt in pain from the after effects the poison had on my body. Ruka became alert at that, immediately holding my shoulder with one hand and placing her other hand on my chest.

"Kichiro sama, are you alright?" she asked, worry swirling in her deep, dark eyes.

I didn't answer her and merely wrapped an arm around her shoulder to pull her closer to me. I placed my lips on hers, closing my eyes in satisfaction when she responded. We parted much too soon for my liking but I held the side of her face with one hand to caress her.

"Ruka, how do you feel?"

She smiled in response to my question, placing her hand over mine that was on her face. "I'm alright. I was a little tired yesterday but I'm fine now."