Chapter 17: The Duty

The dawn broke over the camp with a golden glow, but it did little to thaw the chill that had settled over the camp since the previous night. Ranma and Akane emerged from their shared tent, their faces drawn and weary. The tension from their argument clung to them like a stubborn shadow, coloring every glance and movement.

As the servants hurried to dismantle the camp and fully repair the carriage, Akane grabbed her travel bag with an abrupt motion, slinging it over her shoulder. Her movements were stiff, her lips pressed into a thin line. "Hmph."

Ranma rolled his eyes, but his attention was quickly drawn elsewhere. Ryoga approached Akane with a steady stride, his expression polite yet tinged with something more. Ranma stiffened as Ryoga took Akane's travel bag from her hands, his posture radiating protectiveness—and something Ranma could only describe as longing.

Before he could stride over and intervene, Ranma felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned to find Taro standing there, his smirk infuriatingly smug.

"Didn't sleep well?" Taro's tone was casual, but the glint in his eyes was far from innocent.

Ranma's jaw tightened. Seeing Taro here was an unwelcome reminder of his father's decision to include him among the guards. After Taro's past comments about Akane, Ranma had hoped his father would remove him from the detail. But here he was, ready to stir the pot.

"Don't try and provoke me," Ranma muttered, his voice low and dangerous.

"Provoke you? Never, Sire," Taro replied, his voice dripping with mock deference. But his smirk said otherwise.

Taro's gaze shifted toward Ryoga and Akane, and his smile deepened. "You told me to know my place, but maybe you should be telling that to your other guard. Look at him, cozying up to your wife."

Ranma's stomach churned, his pride stinging as he watched the scene unfold. It wasn't just Ryoga's proximity to Akane that irked him—it was the way it looked to everyone else. Their arguments, the obvious lack of unity between them—it was humiliating.

Before Ranma could step in, Taro sauntered past him, heading straight for Akane. Ranma watched as Taro leaned in close to her, whispering something he couldn't hear. But he didn't need to hear it to notice the change in Akane's demeanor.

"King Gosunkugi sends his regards," her eyes widened, fear flickering in their depths as her face grew pale.

She turned sharply to face Taro, but he only smiled—a cold, knowing grin that made Ranma's fists clench at his sides.

"You should be playing the role of a good wife," Taro murmured, his voice low and venomous. "And here you are, throwing tantrums and flirting with guardsmen. Don't forget, Princess, this political marriage holds your people's lives in its hands."

Akane's lips parted as if to retort, but instead of her usual fire, her shoulders sagged. "I—I wasn't flirting," she said, her voice trembling.

Taro leaned in closer, his words meant only for her. "Gosunkugi has a new order for you," he whispered. "Give Prince Ranma an heir. If you want to see your family again - stop stalling and consummate the marriage."

Akane froze, her breath catching in her throat. Her wide eyes filled with a mixture of horror and confusion, but when she nodded, it was slow and reluctant.

Taro straightened, his sickening smile never faltering, and walked back toward Ranma.

"I think I handled that for you," he said breezily.

Ranma's stomach churned. "What in the world did you say to her?" he demanded, his voice tight with a mixture of anger and unease.

Taro shrugged. "Just reminded her of her duty," he replied, his tone infuriatingly casual.

Ranma's gaze snapped to Akane. She had walked away from Ryoga and now sat stiffly in the carriage, her head bowed and her bangs shadowing her expression. There was something disturbingly solemn in the way she held herself, a stark contrast to the fiery, defiant Akane.

Ranma felt his anger simmering beneath the surface, not just at Taro but at himself. He should've stopped Taro immediately.

Without another word, Ranma strode toward the carriage. Whatever Taro had said, Akane needed to hear from him that it didn't matter. Taro was antagonistic, but he was still just a guard. His words meant nothing.

As he approached the carriage, Ranma hesitated for a moment. The image of Akane's haunted expression lingered in his mind, and his fists clenched at his sides. She outranked Taro, yet somehow, he had managed to make her feel small.

Ranma climbed into the carriage and shut the door firmly behind him, the sound punctuating his determination. This was a conversation meant for the two of them—no one else.

He settled across from Akane, his gaze fixed on her as she stared out the window, her hands twisting nervously in her lap. "What did Taro say to you?" Ranma asked, his tone quieter than he intended, though the concern in his voice was unmistakable.

Akane flinched slightly, as if startled by the question. Her expression was a mix of fear and guilt, and when she finally looked at him, her eyes were shadowed with unease. "He was… reminding me of my duty. That my people's lives are on the line."

Ranma frowned. Her tone was off—too subdued, too troubled. "Your duty? You've already fulfilled your duty by marrying me. What else could he possibly mean?"

Akane hesitated, biting her lip. Finally, she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "...You forget, Ranma. I'm supposed to give you an heir."

Ranma blinked, the weight of her words sinking in. He opened his mouth to respond, but Akane's gaze had already drifted downward, her thoughts seemingly miles away.

Akane's mind was a whirlwind of questions and fears. Why would King Gosunkugi care about her giving Ranma an heir? He knew she wasn't the real princess. How long did he plan to keep her here, tangled in this web of deception? And the revelation that one of their personal guards was a spy for him—it made her blood run cold.

Ranma studied her face carefully, his brow furrowed. There was something more to this—something she wasn't telling him. Why did she look so scared about being reminded of her so-called duty?

He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, feeling an unfamiliar mix of frustration and embarrassment. The topic was awkward, but he couldn't ignore it. "Are you… afraid to get pregnant?" he asked hesitantly. "Or is it the idea of consummating our marriage that scares you? Or…" His voice trailed off, his tone hardening. "Did Taro say more than what you're telling me? He needs to know his place. It's not a guard's role to remind a princess of her duties, and I'll make sure he's punished for overstepping."

Akane's head snapped up at his words, her eyes wide with surprise. "You don't need to punish him," she said quickly, but her voice wavered. "It's not about that."

Ranma leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees as he tried to catch her gaze. "Then what is it about? Akane, you can't let someone like Taro scare you like this. Whatever he said—it doesn't matter. He's beneath you."

Akane's throat tightened as she struggled to find the right words. She couldn't tell him the full truth. Not without putting her family in danger. But the sincerity in Ranma's voice, the way he looked at her like he genuinely cared, made it harder to keep her walls up.

"It's just… overwhelming," she said finally, her voice soft but steady. "The expectations. The pressure. Everything."

Ranma nodded slowly, his expression softening. "I get that. But you're not alone in this. Whatever Taro said, whatever anyone says, I'll deal with it.

Akane blinked at him, startled by the unexpected strength in his tone. For a moment, her heart felt lighter, and she managed a small nod.

But as she glanced back out the window, her thoughts remained tangled, the weight of the secret she carried pressing heavily on her chest. If only she could trust him with the truth. If only the stakes weren't so high.