The next day, General Collins visited Shadow in his study after searching all day for Cordovan. Shadow sat at his desk as the wolverine stood in front of it. "My men have his description," General Collins informed. "We're questioning, villagers, farmers, anyone who seems to fit Cordovan's description."

"Very good," Shadow replied.

"We will find the traitor, my lord." The door to his study opened and Amy walked inside, interrupting the conversation.

Knowing Amy wouldn't enjoy listening to their discussion, Shadow decided to cut it short. "Thank you, you're dismissed," Shadow addressed. The wolverine nodded and bowed before he departed the room, catching a glance at Amy as he exited. Once he was gone, Amy walked over to his desk. "Cordovan could be the king consort to Storm," Shadow speculated aloud as he shook his head in disappointment. "Soon enough they'll be holding a sword pointed directly at Mobius."

"He's not ambitious for power. He's just someone who is in over his head—his enemies are everywhere," she objected.

Shadow scoffed at her defense.

"Look, I'm responsible for this mess, Shadow. It isn't fair for me to even ask, but if we find him, let's allow him to leave the kingdom. Banishment is enough."

Shadow crossed his arms over his chest looking cross. "You're very forgiving for someone who betrayed your heart."

"Yes, he betrayed me, do you think I don't feel that?" she asked, tone rising. "I only request this—not out of love, but out of horror for what I have done to his life."

Shadow rose from his seat and came around the side of his desk towards her. "You had an affair and I allowed it. We all played our parts, but Cordovan was the only one who wed this nation's enemy," he countered. "Your enemy," he defined. "He has committed treason and the punishment for that is death."

Amy watched as Shadow walked around her, heading for the door. "Please, Shadow…" He didn't look back and left the room without another word.

•~•

After another wonderful romp in bed, Finitevus and Isabelle relished in the afterglow of their heated fun. The two laid on their backs under the sheets with delighted smiles on their faces. "Oooh…I keep thinking of our fugitive prince," she groaned snuggling closer to the echidna.

"How unflattering," Finitevus grumbled. "If you're going to bring another male into our bed, does it have to be him?"

She gripped the bed sheets in her hands. "Well, he's a threat to my family as long as he lives."

"Don't worry, we'll find him." He sat up, leaning on his side. "General Collins and his men are turning over every blade of grass to find him."

"But what if Amy interferes like she has been?" Isabelle questioned. "Actually…perhaps you can help me with something."

"…Oh?" Finitevus eyed curiously.

"Maybe she's confided in her ladies. You could speak with Lady Rouge and see if you can find anything out," she suggested.

He raised a brow. "Why would I have any special influence over Rouge?"

"You have spoken with her often. I believe I heard you wished to court her once as well…"

"No," he denied. "It was flirtation, nothing more," he lied.

Isabelle reached out and ran a hand down his bare chest. "I heard there was one night she shamelessly offered herself to you."

He took her hand in his, entwining his fingers with hers. "Did you hear that I turned her down?" he grinned.

She stared at him with scrutiny. "Yes, which makes me suspicious. Especially when you thrive on sexual conquests."

Finitevus tried to laugh it off but stopped when he saw she was dead serious. "Why are we talking about Rouge when I though the subject was about Cordovan?" Isabelle remained quiet as she raised a skeptic brow and Finitevus scoffed in annoyance. "She was just a passing amusement, nothing more," he dismissed.

"Then prove it," she challenged.

"And how exactly would I do this?"

She thought for a moment before an evil smirk crossed her lips. "Do something unforgivable."

•~•

Later that afternoon, Rouge and Cream wandered down one of the halls together. But as the two girls walked side-by-side, a group of young, handsome noblemen in the hall stared at the two with eager smiles. Rouge noticed their glances but tried to ignore it as they walked past. "Am I imagining it, or are males peering at me lately in the most unseemly way?" she asked quietly.

Cream shrugged as she looked back at them. "I haven't noticed."

"Hm, it must just be my imagination." The two took a seat on a nearby sofa by a window to continue their discussion. In the background, more noblemen sat around tables playing chess, talking or drinking. Some of them, continued to stare in Rouge and Cream's direction, while the two girls chatted.

"Have you and Finitevus called it quits with a pursuit to a relationship?" Cream inquired. "I haven't heard you talk about him much recently."

"Well, I think I can safely say there's no chance of us. Isabelle seems to have gotten quite cozy with him," Rouge answered. "I mean, Finitevus was quite sweet to me at times, but I don't know…"

"I've only heard negative things about him so perhaps it's just fate's ways," Cream noted.

A gray armadillo keeping an especially keen eye on Rouge stood next to a male black cat that also couldn't stop staring in her direction. Rouge watched as the armadillo pulled out a scroll and unrolled it slightly as the cat looked down at it. Their eyes went from the paper, back to Rouge multiple times as they smirked and whispered to one another. After feeling uncomfortable with their prolonged stares, Rouge frowned and stood up abruptly. "Okay, that's quite enough!" Rouge bellowed, startling Cream.

"Rouge, what's wrong?" Cream called. Instead of replying, Cream watched as her friend marched over in their direction. The moment Rouge stormed over towards them, the armadillo quickly rolled up the scroll trying to act innocent.

"What's going on here?" Rouge asked, rather pointedly.

"Nothing, my lady," the armadillo replied, as his eyes looked her up and down. "But you seem agitated. Perhaps your servant should draw you a relaxing bath," he chortled. The other males in the background snickered at his comment.

Rouge furrowed her brows. "What is that?" she asked, pointing to the scroll in his hands. With no response, she snatched it from him and unrolled it to see its contents. But once she saw what it was, she immediately felt humiliated.

The males smirked and chuckled at her reaction, and Rouge knew immediately who was to blame for this. Quickly, she turned away, taking the evidence with her as she walked off down the hall, fuming.

•~•

Meanwhile, in her chambers, Amy received a knock on her door and answered it only to find a messenger in wait. He smiled as he handed her a small envelope. "This was left at the gate for you," he informed.

Amy accepted the letter, looking down at it curiously. "Thank you," she smiled. The messenger walked off, and Amy shut her door just as she started to open it. But suddenly, the door opened again and Shadow walked inside. "May I have a moment?" he asked politely

Amy turned and kept her message sealed. "Of course."

"I've considered what you asked of me, to allow Cordovan to escape rather than execute him for treason."

"And?"

"I've thought it over seriously, and I promise this has nothing to do with my feelings towards him. But if the marriage didn't take, he could be running to Storm to marry her right now, and I cannot allow a prince with a claim to the Mobian throne to escape." Amy refrained from showing any emotion and turned slightly, eager to read her message. Shadow sighed, believing she was upset with him. "You understand, don't you? This is a matter of this nation's security."

Amy's eyes finished scanning the message and she turned around to address him. "Yes, I understand."

"I am so sorry, Amy," he apologized sincerely, but suddenly caught sight of the envelope in her hands. "What is that?"

"Nothing, just an invitation," she lied smoothly. With no other words to exchange, Shadow walked out of her room, closing the door behind him. Once he was gone, Amy instantly opened up the envelope to look at the message again. The message was fairly straightforward. It read: Meet me.

•~•

Like requested, Amy waited at their rendezvous point, anxious to reconnect with Cordovan. Footsteps approached her from behind and she turned only to spot him slowly walking towards her. She didn't smile at his sight and instead furrowed her brows. "What have you done?"

His ears lowered sadly, hearing her tone. "I'm sorry—Sorry for the pain you must feel, but I swear I didn't do this to hurt you," he pleaded.

She held her angry expression. "I know you felt forced to marry Storm, but…"

"—But I'm not married," he interjected. "Every trace of proof is gone, and her envoy abandoned me. I'm just trying to escape, to survive, but the truth is, there's no way out," he finished in defeat.

She crossed her arms over her chest, still peeved with his betrayal. "Not when you've committed treason."

"My treason was in loving you," he gestured. "They would have killed me anyway."

He was being sincere in the moment, but despite it, this only made things more complicated. "Cordovan…"

"—It's over for me. That's why I risked coming, even if you had troops waiting. At least I could ask for your forgiveness before I died—To tell you that my heart is still yours, despite what I've done," he said, eyes watering slightly.

It was then Amy's expression softened by his sincerity. He may have done a terrible act of betrayal, but she didn't want to see him die. "No, you can't give up hope just yet. Can't you find refuge with your brother in Knothole?"

"There's people looking all over the countryside for me. Shadow will never let me get away. Please, Amy…help me."

If there was any chance he was manipulating her in this moment, it was for sure working. She silently cursed under her breath she looked around, rapidly thinking of a plan. "Okay, let me think…" With all the ideas running through her mind, one came to fruition. "Listen, there is a tanner in the village, he provides clothing for the court servants. I know that he is taking a wagonload of skins to Mercia to be made into coats. I can create safe-conduct papers that say you are that tanner," she explained.

"They certainly wouldn't be expecting me to be hauling a load of animal skins," he noted.

"Do not let General Collins see you. He is your greatest risk if you run into him," she advised. "I'll leave the papers and instructions under these rocks," she gestured. "But we can't risk meeting again."

He blinked a few times, as the thought dawned on him. "…For the rest of our lives?"

"Yes," she replied despairingly. "I hope that yours is a long one." She walked over and leaned up and gave him a soft kiss on the cheek. "Go," she ordered.

Reluctantly, Cordovan backed away, wishing he could last with her for a second longer. As he took steps back, he kept his eyes on her, imprinting her image into his mind before finally turning to leave her forever.

•~•

Back at court, Rouge managed to corner Finitevus in his chambers after making a disturbing discovery. "A sketch of me in the bath, naked, graphically detailed I might add. I don't know which is worse, the fact that you created it or the fact that you allowed it into the hands of other nobles."

Finitevus held the paper in his hands, admiring his own work with a sly smirk. "The likeness is impressive you have to admit," he mused.

She snatched the paper out of his hands in disgust. "Oh, stop praising your own work," she scolded. "Did you really think that I'd forget I took a bath in front of you?"

"Well, that depends, I don't know whom else you've bathed in front of," he shrugged innocently.

"You disgust me," she scowled.

"I only made the sketch for my private edification, but then I made a large wager with another noble. He bet that his paramour was the most beautiful female in court. I felt otherwise, so I offered your picture for the various nobles to vote on."

She looked at him in astonishment and disappointment. "I can't believe you…"

He took a seat on one of his sofas, lounging his arms on the backrest behind him. "Sadly, though your beauty is sublime, I lost the bet."

She placed her hands on her hips. "You do realize that all the males at court now believe we slept together?"

"Mhm," he nodded.

"All we did was talk," she objected.

He rubbed his chin in thought. "Well, you were naked at the time, but I do see your point."

"You said you cared about me, and now you…"

"—I said a great many things," he interrupted. "The mistake was yours in trusting me."

She took a step closer to him, suddenly feeling majorly insulted. "Why are you doing this? You're not the kind of person to hurt someone just for money."

He furrowed his brows. "I took advantage in the suffering of others to build my holdings. I blackmailed the king, I threatened everyone he loved!" he beseeched.

"But you have shown me that there is another side to you," she countered.

"Which gave you the assurance you needed to take a bath in front of me, revealing all the sides there are to you," he boasted dignified.

"If that's the kind of person you really are, then I want nothing to do with you anymore." Finitevus watched as she turned on her heel and left his room. Hearing his door close, he couldn't help but feel a little bad for what he had done.

•~•

In the village, Cordovan lugged a cart of skins as he waited in line at one of the Mobian checkpoints to leave the kingdom. As he got up to one of the castle guards, he gulped nervously before composing himself. The guard extended out his hands towards the hedgehog. "Papers?"

"I'm taking these skins to the tannery in Mercia," he lied while he handed his forged papers over. The guard eyed him curiously but ultimately didn't say anything before he looked over his paperwork.

"Be on your way then," the guard ordered. Cordovan took his papers back and felt a sigh of relief as he made his way through the first checkpoint. Just as Cordovan bent down to continue lugging his cart, he felt a firm hand grip his shoulder.

"—Well, look who we have here," a gruff voice said from behind. He was forced to turn around, only to come face to face with General Collins. "Prince Cordovan of Knothole." In and instant, two guards came over and seized him and Cordovan narrowed his eyes in anger. This was the end of the line.

•~•

An hour later, Cordovan was held in a tent at the checkpoint he had been detained at. He stood with his hands tied behind his back as a wooden pole held him in place. While no one was watching him inside the tent, he tried to wiggle his wrists free of his binds, but it was no use. "Damn it," he grumbled.

Suddenly, the tent flaps opened and a muscular green echidna wearing a black uniform walked in. Cordovan felt his heart race. "Are you here to kill me?" The echidna said no words and entered the tent along with two other males wearing similar uniforms behind him. All three encircled him and began to undo his binds. Cordovan struggled under their hold as they led him out from the tent. "Unhand me," he growled, but once he saw what was outside, his struggled deceased.

All of Collin's men were laid out in the dirt, dead. Cordovan eyed them all in curiosity. Who were these people? He was led over to a group of males wearing the same black uniforms and spotted a familiar face. A brown and black lynx turned to face him. "Lightning?"

"Conquering Storm sent us to look out for you," he replied. "We need to get out of here, the Mobians are coming." A horse was brought over for Cordovan to ride. "Quickly, get on," he ordered.

Without another word, Cordovan mounted his horse and he and Lightning's men took off down a dirt path together.

•~•

Once they had managed to outwit the Mobian guards, Lightning and his men walked their horses together. "What's going on? You abandon me, you rescue me, and now you're speaking of a safe house?" Cordovan questioned.

"When I returned to court, I found her Majesty waiting for me at the docks to escort her new husband and give you a good inspection. When I told her about the fire, she sent me back on the very same ship."

"You mean she still wants the marriage?" he asked in surprise.

"She needs to marry even more now. By murdering the proxy, Storm's enemies have shown their boldness. They're trying to tumble her from the throne," he explained. "She needs to secure her position."

"Then why is she still interested in wedding a mere prince?" he inquired.

"She's not. No more dukes and princes for her," he replied. "She's determined to wed a king."

Cordovan scratched his head. "Someone who can join his kingdom and power to hers? The perfect strategy," he praised.

"Yes, so I've been sent to inform you that her majesty still rejoices in the idea of marrying you, and she's ready to give you her backing if you take the throne of Mobius." Cordovan looked in awe at the tall order. Could he really accomplish this, and did he really want to?

•~•

Back at court, Isabelle found Finitevus waiting for her in her chambers. "I hear you are quite the artist," she noted.

Finitevus looked disheartened as he dwelled over his task. "Yes…Rouge will never speak to me again."

"Good," she smiled wickedly. She approached him by his side. "I'm sorry, my dear, but you needed to be tested. As Queen mother, I'm privy to very sensitive information." She guided him over to the sofa in front of her fireplace. "To be in my inner circle, I need to be able to trust you." She plopped down onto it, seductively. "Now I know I can."

He didn't smile. "Should I pretend to believe all that nonsense?"

"Don't flatter yourself, it's not your love I seek. Just your allegiance."

He looked at her sternly. "You have that, but as a friend, I warn you, beware."

Isabelle chuckled in amusement. "Of you?"

"Of yourself. Don't be the first to destroy something just because you don't trust that it's real." With that, he stormed out of her chambers, leaving Isabelle perplexed by his irritation.

•~•

At the safe house, Lightning and Cordovan talked in the stables. "Mobius is vulnerable with their troops away from home. There are still very bitter branded Mobians willing to rally behind you," he argued.

"I doubt that," Cordovan muttered.

"When Shadow dies, your claim to the throne will make you far more attractive than Sonic," he countered. "Take them while they're at their weakest!"

"Bring me to these men and I'll think about it."

•~•

Meanwhile, back at court, General Collins returned to Shadow to update him on their captive. He, Isabelle, and Shadow stood in the war room as he briefed the king. "You captured him and then you lost him?" Shadow questioned, completely bemused in astonishment. "Did it ever occur to you to leave him under guard?"

"I did, my lord," Collins replied. "You gave me no warning, that he might have outside help. My men at the checkpoint were massacred." Shadow and Isabelle looked at each other in surprise. "He had more help, though," Collins spoke, catching their attention again. "He had official papers."

"Mobian papers?" Shadow repeated. Collins nodded.

"You may go," Isabelle commanded. The two waited for Collins to leave the room before beginning their speculation.

"After all this, could Amy still be helping him?" Shadow questioned in disbelief.

"Yes," Isabelle nodded. "Out of guilt or affection, even though he's lost to her. Has she no idea what she risked?" Isabelle bellowed.

Shadow marched for his door. "I'm going to speak with her."

•~•

Shadow met Amy in her chambers to get to the bottom of their speculation. "How could you do this to me?" Shadow asked, beyond pissed. "Do you deny helping Cordovan behind my back?"

Amy sat on the bench by her window and stared out of it, unable to look Shadow in the eye. "No…"

He kept his firm expression. "Amy…where is he now?"

Amy's ears twitched and finally, she turned to look at him. "What do you mean? He was captured by General Collin's men."

"He was rescued," Shadow clarified.

Amy blinked in surprise. "I-I didn't know…"

Shadow dragged a frustrated hand over his face. "Do you realize that by helping him escape, Storm could have a foothold in Mobius?"

"These are all abstract future possibilities," she defended.

"Cordovan's army is loyal to him personally. If he becomes king consort, we will essentially have an enemy army on our soil!" Shadow placed a hand on his forehead as he closed his eyes in anger. "Amy, this is the most dangerous thing you have ever done. Do you really love him that much? I thought this was about your healing, but now you've done what a queen must never do. You've put the personal above the political."

She bowed her head and felt her ears lower in shame. He was right. "Whatever happens to him, it's over. I will never see him again," she said sadly.

"You say that as if somehow I've won… But how can it be over when he's so ingrained in your heart?"

"I didn't ask for him to return to me, but he did. I even told him when he returned to leave for my own good."

Shadow turned away. "It doesn't matter, you will always see him just as I will: naked in each other's arms."

•~•

Later, on her balcony, Sonic joined Amy to talk her through her problems. "I spoke with Shadow, and I'm sorry for what you're both going through." Amy kept her eyes straight ahead, as she stared off into the night sky. Sonic frowned by her unresponsiveness. "Now that things are over between you and Cordovan, you and Shadow might," he stopped himself, re-wording his statement. "Well, what I mean is, you're both in pain. You might at least look to comfort each other."

"I don't think that's likely right now," she replied solemnly. "The truth is, I helped Cordovan get away. Shadow thinks I made that choice out of love, that I rejected him. He doesn't understand how I could feel so responsible for Cordovan's suffering."

"You mean that you encouraged the love of a male below you in rank, just like what happened between you and Shadow when he was once a bastard? You felt responsible then as well?"

Amy blinked in surprise by the comparison. She had never really seen it that way until Sonic had served it to her. "Yes, exactly..."

He gave her a weak smile. "Yes, Shadow walked that road first, but I don't think even he realizes the similarities."

She closed her eyes, feeling tears start to well up. "I feel awful for all the mistakes I've made. I feel like poison to those around me at times."

Sonic looked at her sympathetically. "I'm sorry, Ames." He watched as she reached out and embraced him. Sonic wrapped an arm around her, consoling her. He rubbed a hand up and down her back. "Brave Amy, I'm so sorry."

•~•

Meanwhile, at the safe house, Lightning led Cordovan downstairs. "How many showed up?"

"Enough," he replied. "Lords with holdings all over Mobius. They're all ready to listen to you." The two stopped at the bottom of the stairs at a door.

"You seem to have a lot of faith they'll follow me," he observed.

"I don't think you're aware of how unhappy a lot of your brethren are," he noted. Lightning opened the doors, allowing Cordovan inside. When he walked in, he was surprised by a number of male noblemen waiting for him. "Prince Cordovan, no longer prince of Knothole!" one them exclaimed.

"King Cordovan of Mobius!" another cheered. The entire crowd erupted into cheers and claps only goading Cordovan and giving him the assurance he needed.

"Cordovan, Cordovan, Cordovan," they chanted.