chapter 2
Liosia was a little nervous staying at the palace it was her first day living there. "You are safe here." Lion-o told her. "I will protect you and our baby." he said.
She leaned against him and smiled. "I love you Lion-o." Liosia said.
They both went to breakfast. Liosia saw the food that was placed in front of them. Then she tasted it, it was really good. It made her really happy to be with the one she loved and his family.
The wedding planning had started. "We want this wedding to be a big celebration," Claudius said.
"Yes this is very important," Leona said. "We are going to get a daughter in law and a grandchild very soon," she said.
"I'm happy you all took me in," Liosia said. "I feel so welcome here," she said.
"We want you to feel right at home after all you make my brother happy and I'm going to be an uncle soon." Tygra said.
"And father," Cheetara said kissing her husband.
"You and Cheetara are having a baby too? That's great," Lion-o said.
"Yes and we are looking forward to it." Tygra said.
"Two grandchildren what a day indeed." Claudius said.
Liosia was happy to be at the palace safe and sound. The wedding was coming very soon. They wanted it done before she was showing that she was pregnant. They agreed on it. Today Lion-o and Liosia were out in the market. One of the servants from Liosia's stepmother's house saw them. He saw Lion-o kiss Liosia and gently touched her belly as if held a fragile treasure.
He told his mistress what he found. "Doesn't he know she's pregnant?" the stepmother said.
"Maybe it's Lion-o's child," the servant said.
So the stepmother talked to the doctor who told her Liosia was pregnant. "She told me the only male she slept with was prince Lion-o so the baby is Lion-o's." the doctor said.
"Which means my step daughter is pregnant with royal blood," the stepmother said.
"Yes, but the royal family might be protective of her, because I hear she is now engaged to Lion-o and both him and Liosia are very happy about it," the doctor said.
"This is interesting," the stepmother said. She decided to find Liosia and get in her favor.
Outside the palace in the courtyard Liosia was petting Lion-o's pet Snarf. "Good boy," Liosia said.
"Hello Liosia," the stepmother said.
"Get out of here and leave me be," Liosia said.
"I want to talk to you about the royal baby you are having," the stepmother said.
"Leave me alone," Liosia said. "I don't want to talk to you after how cruelly you treated me," she said.
"Come on this is royalty we are talking about," the stepmother said.
"Please leave, I don't want you here, or to talk to you," Liosia said.
"You will talk to me or else!" the stepmother said was about to strike her.
Liosia screamed loudly. Lion-o, Tygra and their parents heard. They came running. "Why are you here miss? Why are you bothering Liosia?" Claudius asked.
"She's my stepmother and she won't leave me alone, she wants to talk but I don't want to talk to her." Liosia said and ran to Lion-o sobbing.
"You are the one who caused poor Liosia such pain," Tygra said.
"Yes she's so nice, and I love her. If you dare hurt a hair on her head again you won't like it," Lion-o said.
"But she is having a royal baby this means I can be the envy of my friends and she is such a worthless girl, and my husband refused to go with my wishes to get rid of her before he died," the stepmother said.
"Guards arrest her!" Claudius said.
The guards grabbed the stepmother. "Lock her in the dungeon," Claudius said.
"Yes sire," the guards said.
Lion-o comforted Liosia and kissed her. Liosia cheered up and now they can look forward to the future.