“What about the blood?” Jasper asked, still worried. “And her stomach aches?”
Ortega looked at us with a grim expression on her face, but she soon smiled thinly.
“It's common to have cramps and spotting in early pregnancies but let's do an endovaginal ultrasound to be sure.” The doctor showed us a 'wand-like' probe. It looked and seemed to be about the size of my curling wand. “This will be the device I will use to record images of her pelvic cavity. As the name suggests, I need to insert this to her v agina to do that.”
“Is it safe?” Jasper asked again.
“Of course! Look at you all worried.”
I looked up at the duke, staring at his gorgeous face as he watched the doctor prepped her ultrasound machine. He was frowning a little and I had an indescribable desire to smooth it out. I squeezed his hand and he looked down at me, confused. I smiled at him through the mask, making sure my eyes conveyed my emotions and he smiled back before leaning in an
“I'm infertile?” I was thankful for the face mask I was wearing because it muffled my loud voice a bit and it helped to not shower the good doctor with spittle when I shouted. After a few days of holding it off because of my pride, I went back to Doctor Ortega’s clinic and endured all of the tests she wanted to do. I had a lot of terrible scenarios in my head during and a few days after the tests, but I never imagined that one. Given the doctor's concern, I thought I was dying. The final result was even worse. To say I was shocked was an understatement. “That's—no, it can't be!” As the future empress, it was my responsibility to have children. If I don't get to have that… I'll be useless. If Henry knew this— “I didn't say that,” the brown-haired doctor said, frowning a little. “I said you have polycystic ovary syndrome, Mary.” “Same difference.” I folded my arms on my chest. “I’ve heard of that condition. I won’t get pregnant if I have it.” “Why would that matter to you? I thou
Jade was talking animatedly to another student while smoothing out the pink poster on the wall. I walked towards the elevator a few feet from them, ignoring them, intending to ride the elevator to go to my class. A few other students were intrigued by the new poster and flocked to the female Lycan, listening to what she had to say.Jade’s soft-spoken voice was loud and clear while she explained to the group the importance of having a ‘well-woman exam’ at least once a year. Her words seemed to be filled with genuine concern and compassion for her fellow women, which made me huff. Where was that concern and compassion when she stole Henry from me?I pressed the button on the elevator again, willing for it to go down faster, but it was stuck on the fifth floor for some d amned reason. With a huff, I turned on my heels, and walked towards the stairs, but Jade’s words stopped me in my tracks.“Me?” She was smiling warmly while looking at the group of students in front of her. “As a matter
My heart had been pounding so hard on my chest when the heathens pushed me into the back of a car and made me lie on my back. It was where they gagged me and tied up my hands and feet. They drove the car for a while, driving through a couple of tunnels and a train crossing and a lot of humps and when they finally stopped, I couldn’t hear the hustle and bustle of the city. All the sounds I could make out were the occasional chirping of crickets, rustling of leaves, and the squelching of our feet against the soft, wet grass when they got me out of the car.The people who took me dragged me carefully inside a building and made me sit on a cushioned couch. The place smelled like rotten wood, stagnant water and dust. By the time my kidnappers pulled the bag off my head, I was already calm and collected. My security team always told me that in an event that I was taken, I needed to preserve my voice and strength. I must not encourage the kidnappers to hurt me, which I didn’t. Aside from the
“I’ve seen the written accord; I have studied it ever since they displayed it in the Museum for all to see. It doesn’t say anything about that.”I narrowed my eyes at the glasses girl, “Are you saying my father lied?” “N-no! I’m saying he’s mistaken, Your Royal Highness.” Nervously, she passed around folders containing graphs, charts, and pictures showcasing ancient texts alongside their modern translations. “I mean, I can’t blame His Majesty, the accord is very old. But… as you can see in your copies, the translation clearly says ‘a child sired by Wilhelm’s blood’ … so, it could be anyone of them, not just the king.”“You mean the spare?” Julian interjected, eyebrows furrowing.“It doesn't matter who is sitting on the throne now,” the girl said, adjusting her glasses that were slipping down her nose. “Even if he has just a drop of the first emperor's blood, he will still be considered eligible. The person Princess Selina decides to marry will inherit both the throne and the title al
“Your Royal Highness,” Clifford's voice called from outside my door. I scowled and turned towards it. What was it this time? “His Majesty is here to see you.”“The king?”“Yes, miss.”My eyes almost popped open in shock. Henry never visited me in my room, especially at night, because he was wary of the rumors it might create. What does he want?“Shall I tell His Majesty that you’re indisposed?”“No, let him…” I glanced at the table and noticed the vial of period blood was still there.In my panic, I grabbed it so that I could hide it on the couch again. However, it slipped from my hand and rolled under the table.“Argh!” I tried to reach it, but it was so far away from my hand.“Your Royal Highness?”“Just a minute!” I tried to use my foot, but the vial rolled under the other couch and near the fireplace. Spilling small amounts of thick liquid in its wake. I forgot to put its lid on.The door swung open, and I dived to snatch the vial and, before I could decide against it, threw it in
I ran upstairs to the third floor of the Lyall Palace, where the guests’ bedchambers were located. As soon as I reached the door at the end of the halfway, I pounded my fist on the sturdy wood. I don’t care if it’s the middle of the night; I need to speak with the occupant of the room.“Princess Selina?” a voice came from behind me. I turned to see Jasper peeking out from an open door across the hall. He looked dumbfounded to see me. “What are you doing here?”I could ask him the same thing because I know that’s not his assigned bedchamber. I walked towards him and his expression turned into a deep concern. The duke stepped out of the room, closing the door behind him.He looked ridiculous in his silk pajamas and nightcap.“You can't be here,” he said, his eyes combing the dimly lit hallway for signs of life. “What if other people–”I grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him down to crash my lips into his.When Henry said I could not have a lover while he had one, he failed to co
Thank the Rozen Maiden, Jasper was already hard. I don't know what I'd do if he wasn't.He smelled like mint soap and tasted nothing in particular. Like clean skin.“What are you doing?” the Lycan exclaimed, horrified. He shoved me, causing me to fall off the bed. I assumed he didn't intend to do that, as he quickly rushed to my side, visibly concerned. “I'm sorry!”I didn't move from my spot. I hurt my back when I hit the floor, but my pride and dignity hurt even worse.He was right. What was I doing, coming to his room and pouncing on him like that? I have no shame left in me. I couldn’t believe I’d stooped so low.“Hey, are you okay?” the duke asked, and I turned away from him, ignoring him completely. “Don't just lie in there. The floor's cold.”“Leave me alone.”“Selina...”I breathed deeply before opening my mouth and screaming at the top of my lungs.“Alright! Fine! Fine!” Jasper yelled through my screams, stepping back and covering his ears. “Fine, I'll leave you alone, jeez.”
Someone was standing by the window.The drawing room was dark, but I could see their silhouette thanks to the moonlight shining through the mesh curtains. They appeared to be looking out of the window, their back turned towards me. My heart thumping in my chest, I stepped back in an attempt to escape, only to be stopped by a familiar male voice.“You’re here…” The person finally looked at me. They were wearing a turquoise and gold suit. A royal butler.“Clifford?” I squinted to see the man properly, my eyes adjusting in the dark. He was… smiling. It was unusual, but not unwelcome. “It’s late. What are you still doing here?”“I noticed you were not here after His Majesty’s visit. Where were you?”I closed the door behind me and walked towards my bedroom. “I just went out for a walk. You can go back now.”“Oh, alright. Good night, my princess,” he said, a soft lilt in his voice. “Sweet dreams.”I raised my eyebrows at that. He never smiles or croons. The butler was always professional a
I let out a blood-curdling scream.“It’s alright, my princess,” Clifford tried to reassure me with a soothing voice as he approached me, but his actions had the opposite effect on me. “Do not be afraid, it’s–”Before he could finish speaking, a shadow leaped in front of me and tackled the butler to the ground with a growl. It was Jasper. They fought over the knife before the duke knocked Clifford out with a punch to the face, dislocating his jaw.“Freddy!” Bridgette screamed. Everyone rushed towards the prince, and they pushed me out of the way. I landed on my behind, the grass cushioning the fall, still too stunned to care.“Are you okay?” I heard Jasper ask. He knelt in front of me. I gazed at him and the hand he offered, still wide-eyed. “Selina, are you hurt?”I shook my head no. I was trembling like a leaf in the wind. I didn't even realize I was crying until the duke put an arm around me, pulling me close to his chest. “It’s alright. It’s over now.”It was strange. Even though h
Someone was standing by the window.The drawing room was dark, but I could see their silhouette thanks to the moonlight shining through the mesh curtains. They appeared to be looking out of the window, their back turned towards me. My heart thumping in my chest, I stepped back in an attempt to escape, only to be stopped by a familiar male voice.“You’re here…” The person finally looked at me. They were wearing a turquoise and gold suit. A royal butler.“Clifford?” I squinted to see the man properly, my eyes adjusting in the dark. He was… smiling. It was unusual, but not unwelcome. “It’s late. What are you still doing here?”“I noticed you were not here after His Majesty’s visit. Where were you?”I closed the door behind me and walked towards my bedroom. “I just went out for a walk. You can go back now.”“Oh, alright. Good night, my princess,” he said, a soft lilt in his voice. “Sweet dreams.”I raised my eyebrows at that. He never smiles or croons. The butler was always professional a
Thank the Rozen Maiden, Jasper was already hard. I don't know what I'd do if he wasn't.He smelled like mint soap and tasted nothing in particular. Like clean skin.“What are you doing?” the Lycan exclaimed, horrified. He shoved me, causing me to fall off the bed. I assumed he didn't intend to do that, as he quickly rushed to my side, visibly concerned. “I'm sorry!”I didn't move from my spot. I hurt my back when I hit the floor, but my pride and dignity hurt even worse.He was right. What was I doing, coming to his room and pouncing on him like that? I have no shame left in me. I couldn’t believe I’d stooped so low.“Hey, are you okay?” the duke asked, and I turned away from him, ignoring him completely. “Don't just lie in there. The floor's cold.”“Leave me alone.”“Selina...”I breathed deeply before opening my mouth and screaming at the top of my lungs.“Alright! Fine! Fine!” Jasper yelled through my screams, stepping back and covering his ears. “Fine, I'll leave you alone, jeez.”
I ran upstairs to the third floor of the Lyall Palace, where the guests’ bedchambers were located. As soon as I reached the door at the end of the halfway, I pounded my fist on the sturdy wood. I don’t care if it’s the middle of the night; I need to speak with the occupant of the room.“Princess Selina?” a voice came from behind me. I turned to see Jasper peeking out from an open door across the hall. He looked dumbfounded to see me. “What are you doing here?”I could ask him the same thing because I know that’s not his assigned bedchamber. I walked towards him and his expression turned into a deep concern. The duke stepped out of the room, closing the door behind him.He looked ridiculous in his silk pajamas and nightcap.“You can't be here,” he said, his eyes combing the dimly lit hallway for signs of life. “What if other people–”I grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him down to crash my lips into his.When Henry said I could not have a lover while he had one, he failed to co
“Your Royal Highness,” Clifford's voice called from outside my door. I scowled and turned towards it. What was it this time? “His Majesty is here to see you.”“The king?”“Yes, miss.”My eyes almost popped open in shock. Henry never visited me in my room, especially at night, because he was wary of the rumors it might create. What does he want?“Shall I tell His Majesty that you’re indisposed?”“No, let him…” I glanced at the table and noticed the vial of period blood was still there.In my panic, I grabbed it so that I could hide it on the couch again. However, it slipped from my hand and rolled under the table.“Argh!” I tried to reach it, but it was so far away from my hand.“Your Royal Highness?”“Just a minute!” I tried to use my foot, but the vial rolled under the other couch and near the fireplace. Spilling small amounts of thick liquid in its wake. I forgot to put its lid on.The door swung open, and I dived to snatch the vial and, before I could decide against it, threw it in
“I’ve seen the written accord; I have studied it ever since they displayed it in the Museum for all to see. It doesn’t say anything about that.”I narrowed my eyes at the glasses girl, “Are you saying my father lied?” “N-no! I’m saying he’s mistaken, Your Royal Highness.” Nervously, she passed around folders containing graphs, charts, and pictures showcasing ancient texts alongside their modern translations. “I mean, I can’t blame His Majesty, the accord is very old. But… as you can see in your copies, the translation clearly says ‘a child sired by Wilhelm’s blood’ … so, it could be anyone of them, not just the king.”“You mean the spare?” Julian interjected, eyebrows furrowing.“It doesn't matter who is sitting on the throne now,” the girl said, adjusting her glasses that were slipping down her nose. “Even if he has just a drop of the first emperor's blood, he will still be considered eligible. The person Princess Selina decides to marry will inherit both the throne and the title al
My heart had been pounding so hard on my chest when the heathens pushed me into the back of a car and made me lie on my back. It was where they gagged me and tied up my hands and feet. They drove the car for a while, driving through a couple of tunnels and a train crossing and a lot of humps and when they finally stopped, I couldn’t hear the hustle and bustle of the city. All the sounds I could make out were the occasional chirping of crickets, rustling of leaves, and the squelching of our feet against the soft, wet grass when they got me out of the car.The people who took me dragged me carefully inside a building and made me sit on a cushioned couch. The place smelled like rotten wood, stagnant water and dust. By the time my kidnappers pulled the bag off my head, I was already calm and collected. My security team always told me that in an event that I was taken, I needed to preserve my voice and strength. I must not encourage the kidnappers to hurt me, which I didn’t. Aside from the
Jade was talking animatedly to another student while smoothing out the pink poster on the wall. I walked towards the elevator a few feet from them, ignoring them, intending to ride the elevator to go to my class. A few other students were intrigued by the new poster and flocked to the female Lycan, listening to what she had to say.Jade’s soft-spoken voice was loud and clear while she explained to the group the importance of having a ‘well-woman exam’ at least once a year. Her words seemed to be filled with genuine concern and compassion for her fellow women, which made me huff. Where was that concern and compassion when she stole Henry from me?I pressed the button on the elevator again, willing for it to go down faster, but it was stuck on the fifth floor for some d amned reason. With a huff, I turned on my heels, and walked towards the stairs, but Jade’s words stopped me in my tracks.“Me?” She was smiling warmly while looking at the group of students in front of her. “As a matter
“I'm infertile?” I was thankful for the face mask I was wearing because it muffled my loud voice a bit and it helped to not shower the good doctor with spittle when I shouted. After a few days of holding it off because of my pride, I went back to Doctor Ortega’s clinic and endured all of the tests she wanted to do. I had a lot of terrible scenarios in my head during and a few days after the tests, but I never imagined that one. Given the doctor's concern, I thought I was dying. The final result was even worse. To say I was shocked was an understatement. “That's—no, it can't be!” As the future empress, it was my responsibility to have children. If I don't get to have that… I'll be useless. If Henry knew this— “I didn't say that,” the brown-haired doctor said, frowning a little. “I said you have polycystic ovary syndrome, Mary.” “Same difference.” I folded my arms on my chest. “I’ve heard of that condition. I won’t get pregnant if I have it.” “Why would that matter to you? I thou