Three months passed, and Angelina lived each day as if it were her last moments, not for herself but for her time with Vlad. Ever since she and Vlad had made Vlad, he would invite her to dine with him, to sleep beside him, to make love to him. It was as if he were desperate for her; Angelina felt the same sentiment for him.

Ioana and Sorina found out about them; Ioana was thrilled, while Sorina looked almost shocked and saddened. Angelina had seen Bioan at times, but there were times when he would smile and wave, but that was about it. Whenever Angelina went out for a walk with Sorina or Ioana, they saw soldiers training; they knew they were training for war.

It made the trio nervous. 

Angelina was in the library, trying to read by the fireplace; it was getting dark soon. Vlad was away from the castle, training his sword-fighting skills. She was worried. Vlad hypothesized that Sultan Mehmed II would attack by the end of the year or the following year. Training for war took a significant toll, but Angelina couldn't help but worry that Mehmed II would attack sooner or later. She tried to read the book she chose, and it was about the history of Wallachia, so it was difficult for her to concentrate. Her head was hurting, and her body was aching.

A knock on the door made the young woman almost yelp. "Wh-Who is it!?"

"It is I."

It was Vlad the Monk. Angelina immediately sat up with the book in hand. "Oh! Uh, c-come in!"

Vlad the Monk slowly opened the door; he saw Angelina standing by the fireplace with the book in hand. "Ah, Angelina. Forgive me for intruding during your reading. I hope this is not a terrible time for interruption."

"Oh, not at all. I was reading an...interesting book."

Vlad the Monk entered as he closed the door while noticing the book. "Ah, you are reading the history of Wallachia. Quite an interesting book."

"You read it?"

"Only the first page, I got bored of it." The two chuckled, and Vlad continued as he slowly walked forward. "War seems inevitable; there was a meeting with the new nobles under his command, and they received word that the Sultan is gathering more of his army." He noticed Angelina biting her lower lip while looking toward the fire. Vlad remembered when he spoke to her and told her to try to convince his brother to avoid war. "I know you tried to convince him to pay back his tribute. I can see that you did. Although, you brought back his humanity. He is helping the poor and ordered food kitchens to be built."

Angelina softly smiled while looking at the fire. "I am glad to hear. Still...I tried hard to convince him not to go to war against the Sultan. I failed to do so."

Vlad the Monk put his hands behind his back and sighed. "I wanted to find you because I owe you an apology."

"An apology?" Angelina slowly turned around and looked at him. "Why?"

"I asked too much of you. I had more responsibility to try to convince my brother than you. I was such a coward not to try myself. Just how much of a coward that I did not fight more for my brothers against our father. I did not want to say this to my brother, but I was selfish in my own life and well-being. I did not wish to suffer more against his abuse and tyranny; I found it a blessing that I was sent away. However, my younger brothers suffered more, and if I was there, then I could have saved them from being hostages. I must imagine that my brother suffered." He noticed Angelina looking uncomfortable and massaging the back of her neck. "I know Vlad suffered more than Radu; Vlad has a stronger and violent temperament than all of us brothers. He always held pride, but I imagine the previous Sultan didn't like that strength. I must imagine my brother went through...things."

"I..."

"It is alright. I-" Vlad the Monk then noticed Angelina swaying back and forth slowly. "Are you well?"

The young woman smiled. "Yeah, why do you ask."

"You are swaying."

"Oh, am I? I just feel...feel..." Angelina dropped the book and was about to fall to the right, but Vlad the Monk noticed and immediately went to her before she fainted. Angelina tried to stay awake, but her eyes looked droopy. 

"I must take you to the physician!" Vlad the Monk carried Angelina out of the library and ran toward the physician's quarters. When getting closer, he yelled for the physician, who immediately ran out of his office. The physician saw the Lord holding an unconscious Angelina and instructed him to take her to the infirmary next door, which was done. 

Angelina was put onto the bed, and Vlad the Monk waited for the physician. The assistant arrived and was ordered to inform Vlad about the situation. The assistant went out to do what he was told. When the physician arrived, he checked Angelina's temperature and pulse and put pressure on her arms, feet, legs, and stomach. However, Vlad the Monk noticed a particular spot that the physician was checking more; he became concerned. "What is it? You have been checking that certain spot for a while."

"My Lord, I must ask for a midwife."

"A midwife?" The information was slowly ingrained in his mind; his eyes widened. "Are you saying that...?"

"I want to be certain, my Lord. There is a possibility that she may be pregnant."