The characters from the game belong to Capcom.

A/N:I'm not english native speaker, so you might find some typos or grammar mistakes, I do apologize for that.

The sunbeams of the morning passed through the curtain illuminating the sleeping naked bodies lying on the bed. Katarina's face was resting on Pierce's chest. She had woken up first and watched her new conquer sleeping soundly with his belly up. She observed every trace of him with delight. His white skin, his messy spiky brown hair, his perfect eyebrows, his perfect nose, his perfect jaw line, his pink thick lips – ah his lips! She smiled at the good memories and sensations they caused her.

She hadn't regretted for any second about the long wait he made her go through. She obtained what she wanted. She didn't envy the other women he might had had anymore. He was hers now and she certainly will want to repeat their lusty moments even after her marriage to the disgusting Duke and, hopefully, he will not last long so she can be free again and finally get the so wished independence she longs for.

Pierce is a perfect substitute – of Christopher- and surely, he acquired more affection from her after their previous night. Undoubtedly, she might even learn how to love him in a different way. To love him more than just her sexual jouet - toy.

Pierce woke up as he felt her caresses on his chest and abdomen. Her delicate hand travelling his skin felt delicious and caused him shivers. He opened his eyes and turned his face to look at her. Both smile thrilled like they were waking up to see the angels of heaven.

"Good morning love" she greeted planting a kiss on his lips

"Good morning my love" he replied with a sleepy voice

"Did you have a good sleep?"

He smiled from ear to ear, "The best, you?"

"Likewise"

"Now I won't let you leave and marry that scumbag!" he spoke rolling over to her

She smiled largely, "So what do you have in mind? Running away?"

"No, getting you pregnant"

She laughed loud, "What?"

"You said that if that happens, it might give us the permission to get married due to reputation matters…"

"Yes, I did say that"

"Won't you want to be the mother of my children?"

"Yes I do but not for now"

He groaned, "Now you want me to wait?"

She laughed, "Yes, it seems that way, right?"

"I don't want that man or any other touching you! I can't stand the thought after last night!"

She made a face, "But you know that decision is in my father's hands and he chose the Duke who has chosen me because of my reputation"

"I don't think he will keep you if you end up pregnant with my child" he replied and nibbled her neck causing her shivers

"Maybe I got pregnant with your child last night… maybe not…" she spoke making a face

"Practice makes you pregnant and that's what we will continue practicing…"he replied with a naughty expression and kissed her passionately

She didn't contest. His lips and touches put her in a state that her mind couldn't really think or stop what her body enjoyed. Giving herself entirely for him again for countless hours until she would have to return home at her own will. They both were lost and immersed in the ocean of pleasure and whatever bond they were creating wouldn't stay forgotten and progressively stayed marked for eternity.

Time had passed. His smile was from ear to ear. No one had never seen Pierce Northman with such contagious enthusiasm and for so long. Always seen with a serious demeanor man and temperamental at times, watching him in such good mood seemed to have only one explanation: a woman.

Pierce had been called by the king. On his way to the king's chamber, he encountered the so called Duke in the hallway. Inevitably, the men stared at each other not seemly to lose sight of each other. They crossed paths and Piers couldn't help the laugh when passed by the serious old man who had previously mocked and insulted him several days ago.

"Who are you laughing at?" the old man couldn't help the question as he felt insulted by the younger man's rude attitude

"Au revoir!" Pierce replied with a mischievous large smile, continuing his walk to the royal chambers ignoring any sound the old man might have been done. A bittersweet delightful victory. Pierce couldn't help the thought.

Katarina inhaled deeply as she prepared herself to enter the land of her prison. Not a home anymore. The maidens and servants welcomed her back happily. Fortunately, her sister was the first family member she encountered. That way she could be updated in the house's atmosphere and prepare herself for any tricky questioning.

"My beloved sister, you're finally home!" the younger O'Gregon hurried towards her welcoming the brunette with a tight hug

"I wish I could speak and share the same enthusiasm…"

"Did you miss me?"

The brunette woman smiled warmly, "You were the only one I truly missed, my little sister!" she caressed the blonde's face, "I am so proud of you!"

"You were right in not telling me where you have been"

"I know you my beloved honey-like sister and I'd have been a terrible sister if I told you my hideout, but now, you have to tell me how the things are here"

"The Duke is still in town waiting you to recover from your sickness. Father made it out and the Duke didn't demonstrate any reprehension about it. He decided to patiently wait for you"

Katarina sighed rolling her eyes, "Did he see you?"

"Yes"

"And?"

"And nothing. He wants you!"

At distance, Katarina spotted her father and mother coming to their direction, "Respond quickly, am I going to be exiled or something?"

"No, I don't think so. Your duty is to marry the Duke and father most probably won't permit you to go out alone anymore"

Katarina exhaled heavily as she prepared her ears for infinite lectures from her parents. She was back to prison and the habits of that time limited her actions and reactions.

As expected, her father scolded her more than enough, reminding her all the time her misbehavior and how bad daughter she had become. As punishment, he prohibited her to leave their land and never stay unaccompanied even at home.

A noble prisoner, but only as long as she would allow that. When things got calmer, her father told her about the lie he had told the Duke. She pretended to be surprised and a couple of days later he set up the meeting day and when the day arrived, and as Katarina had been educated for, she acted graciously and with politeness as expected of a woman of her nobility despite the river of sludge coring inside her.

"I am stunned by the beauty of the young lady. As a matter of fact, the young lady is even more stunning than the rumors and portraits. I am no less than mesmerized by the enchantment of my future wife. The wait to meet her was worth it!"

Katarina forced a faint smile. It was the marriage arrangement of dreams to everyone else. To her, it was a slave arrangement, taking her to a new prison in chains. Outwardly, she was everything a well brought up girl should be. Inside, she was screaming. She used all the education and emotional control to not snapping out when the grotesque lips and beard touched the delicate skin of her hand causing her shivers of loathing and despair.

She had survived that meeting, making sure to keep the Duke away from her. While the old man discussed the wedding details with her father, Katarina travelled in her memories – the sad and the sweet ones – as an escape to keep still and with a china made demeanor.

"I have to go on a trip. We shall marry when I return" the old man spoke with a gentle tone, bringing Katarina back to reality

Katarina nodded softly with a faint smile and for the first time with real interest. That trip would be all the time she will have to set her plans accordingly and avoid her dark future at the side of that man. Her brilliant brain wouldn't stop machinating all possibilities. Time was now in her hands.

The days without Angelique proved to be lonely and boring as expected and for an active man of action that enclosure was a torment. After finishing the home chores, Christopher explored the nearby areas and always kept himself in alert in case of any uninvited visit at the lake house. He always concerned of being caught, so he walked miles observing the area to look for a place where he could keep a second hideout.

Angelique had told him about a nearby small village of peasants and in order to feed himself or buy things for the house, he provided some of his skills work in exchange of money or food and goods. He had never been there which was a good thing, as there wouldn't have the danger of being recognized.

"Hello"

His heart pounded, frozen and almost had spilt the beer when he heard a female voice by his side one day at a tavern before returning home.

"The good-looking man might want some company before taking the long road again"

Christopher turned to the side after the scare and saw the beautiful blonde woman of long hair, wine dress and a very exposing cleavage smiling seductive at him. She was a beautiful woman, but from her behavior, he knew what kind of company she was willing to make to him.

"Do you mind if I take the seat?" she asked with a seductive tone

He looked quickly at his bottle still filled with the liquid, "Yes I do" he replied avoiding looking at her

"Waiting for someone in particular?"

"Yes I am"

"Well… no one has arrived yet and that doesn't mean we can spend some good time together in the meantime…"

"I'm not interested in your services" he spoke dryly

"I'll make you a special price…"

"Not interested!" he replied almost in a harsh tone

The woman didn't insist any longer and Christopher made sure to finish his beer before any other would try to hit his nerves again.

Differently of the majority of the men's behavior, Christopher was the type of belonging to only one a woman at a time. The problem was that he had had only one commitment prior to Angelique and the other women he had was during his singlehood. Not that he had many either as missions and duty took most of his time. However, in his mind, he wasn't a free man anymore and should respect their commitment that in fact he had started.

Days had passed since the night Angelique heard her father and stepmother discussing her future. The following day was one of the hardest ones she had to go through. Sleepless and under nervousness waiting for the conversation that didn't happen due to her father's laboring absence again, she considered running away again to meet Christopher and tell him her parents' plan, however, her stepmother made sure to stop her.

Flashback

"Where do you think are you going?"

"To where I always go"

"You are not going anywhere!"

"You're no one to tell me anything!"

"I am your father's wife and I have the power to turn your miserable life in true hell such as taking your precious hideout from you if you continue misbehaving and opposing me!"

"You don't even like me! Why do you bother in making me stay at the same place as you?"

"Because differently of you, I have a good reputation to care and don't want to be known as the stepmother of a whore"

"I'm not a whore!"

"No? Who is this man?" the woman questioned looking at the drawings over the table

Angelique swallowed and stuttered, "I draw random people and you know that!"

"There are several drawings of him… he seems special!" the woman walked examining the unfinished painting taking notice of the similarities with the young woman's recent works

"Some works tell stories. That's why he repeats"

"And… who is he?" she asked raising one eyebrow

Angelique unconsciously looked away in distress, "I don't know" he voice almost failed

The older woman giggled. Angelique was a bad liar, "Is he the reason why you run away so often?"

"No! I really don't know who he is!"

"Are you bedding him?"

"No, of course not!" Angelique almost yelled as her face's light skin blushed

The older woman gasped, "Your blushing face and apprehension shows otherwise"

"You're seeing it wrongly… I can't believe you're thinking something like that of me!"

"Women at your age are already married and have children!"

"Not me! Now please, leave my chamber"

"You'd better not be lying otherwise your father will live in disgust and punish you!"

End of Flashback

Angelique exhaled heavily as she remembered that day. In order to keep her composure, she postponed the visit at the lake house, praying everything would be all right at Christopher's end.

Ah! She so wanted to tell him the news and hoped that the man she loved could do something to prevent her stepmother's tricky plan to get rid of her. Angelique was a shy girl, but not a stupid one. She knew her stepmother machinated that so she could enjoy everything on her own and without having to share with Angelique.

Lost in her thoughts, she had a scare when she noticed her father opening the chamber's door, "Father, you're back home!" she greeted him politely

"Yes I am and I want to have a conversation with you"

"Sure!" she replied keeping her composure, trying as much as she could to hide her apprehension, trying to anticipate the subject, arranging herself on her bed

The man didn't even bother to take a seat or stay close to his daughter. There was always distance between the two of them and the man never demonstrated to want to change that.

"You are seventeen years old and has no prospects of marriage. I cannot raise you forever, so after reflecting for a while I have decided that you will be sent to a nunnery next year"

Angelique bit her lips squeezing her hands, gaining courage to speak out her disagreement. She shook her head in denial.

"I know you don't want it, but it's for your own good. You don't have many talents, or talents to be a good wife. I've heard about some aspirants' complaints about you, so I don't want to take the risk that you will be helpless if anything happens to me since we never know when our last day will be…"

"I am seventeen and not a useless old woman. Things are changing…"

"Yes, things are changing but not for women"

"I can't be a nun!"

"Yes you can. You love helping people!"

"That's not enough to become a nun"

"You will marry God"

"I can't marry God…"

"Why not?"

"Be…because…I…" she looked down in complete distress and cold sweat

"Because of what?"

She swallowed hard, trembling, sweating, her heart pounding in her chest, her throat seemly to be blocked, dry. She had never passed by such experience of breaking the news about a man in her life. Those sensations were all new and her father's rigid attitude didn't make it easy to feel somewhat comfortable or that she could trust his understanding. Although she had to speak it out. It was her last and only option to stand up for her happiness.

"Because I… I met someone…"

"You met someone… as in?"

"I'm in love with him… and he's in love with me too"

"What?"

"I can't marry God because I love a man"

The man laughed, "Are you serious about that?"

She nodded, "Yes. I'm serious"

"And who is the man?"

"His name is Christopher"

"Christopher what?"

She gasped, "I… I don't know…" she lied. She remembered Christopher's concern about the knowledge of his whereabouts

"You don't know?"

"I didn't ask… I forgot to ask…"

"You forgot to ask? Angelique…"

"I'm not experienced father! I'm still learning…"

The man let out a sigh, "Sure you are… and can he afford you?"

"Of course he can! He's a landowner" she lied again considering the possibility that her father could know Christopher due to their work

"How can you be so sure?"

"He told me…"

"Ah and just because he told you that, you believed?"

"I know he loves me father. He's a man, works hard and respects me. What else do I need? Don't you want me to be get married? Be happy?"

"Of course I do! Your wellbeing is my concern"

"So that's why I can't be a nun. I want to marry Christopher and I ask for your permission to do that"

"Christopher himself should be the one asking me that"

"He will!"

"He might to! Otherwise I will not give you permission to marry a liar and opportunist!"

"Christopher is none of that! He's a man of great honor!"

"Where does he live? Or you don't know that either?"

"His land is in a province at the north of Bohma, in a village nearby the king's main land."

"Where did you meet him? Is he the reason why you run away so often?"

"No, of course not! But I admit that I met him during my recent runaway…"

The man made a thoughtful expression and looked around at the unfinished painting, "Is that him?" he asked pointing out with his head

Angelique nodded in confirmation.

Outside the chamber, without anyone taking notice, Angelique's stepmother listened to their conversation. She had a mischievous expression and shook her head slightly as if she disliked their agreement and clearly had other plans.

Thank you Herpderp for the review :D

I don't have much to say this time, just that a lot is happening in everyone's life. Chris living the solitude and fear of being a "rebel" and prisoner of his own desperate choice.
Angelique finally standing up for herself as the feelings of being in love gives people some abnormal strenght xD which can be a good thing and sometimes not...
Pierce enjoying the good wave of his life
And Katarina being Katarina!

For people whom the wheel of life will turn soon...

Stay Tuned!