A look of unspeakable shock coloured Kiev’s face. His grip on the maid’s hand tightened as a sharp pain stabbed his heart upon learning that his soulmate was pregnant with sobody else’s child.
Surprised by Eva’s statent, Elis, realising she was still holding the derian prince’s hand, instinctively pulled back, attempting to release herself, but Kiev held it firmly, refusing to let go.
"Is this... true?" the derian Prince turned to the maid as he asked, his words laced with disbelief.
"No! I’m not pregnant!" Elis quickly denied it.
"Mother, there must be so mistake. You can’t possibly think she’s pregnant just because she vomited. Many conditions could cause the sa symptom," Rafe interjected, trying to reason with Eva.
"But she ntioned craving nuts last night in my room. I saw how she eagerly consud them, and I’m sure she’s pregnant! She might not know it since this is her first ti!" Eva insisted with conviction.
"I did ntion that... but it was only a joke! There’s no way I could be pregnant!" Elis exclaid, attempting to clarify the situation and alleviate the growing tension in the room.
As the maid emphasised her words, Kiev felt a wave of relief wash over him. He began to believe that this was all just a misunderstanding.
"How can you be so sure you are not? You have all the symptoms. Pale complexion, lack and change of appetite, easily getting tired, vomiting, and even cravings! Tell , when did you have your last nstrual cycle?" Eva inquired, her tone filled with curiosity.
Elis blinked, taken aback by the direct question.
"My... my nstrual cycle?"
"Yes, did you have it recently?" the middle-aged woman pressed further.
The maid found herself at a loss for words. Her heart pounded, and her face flushed with embarrassnt and anxiety. A heart-wrenching pain filled her, and her lips quivered. She wished she could lie to Eva’s face, but fear and guilt consud her.
"I... I don’t..." Elis swallowed her words, unable to continue. She bowed her head, her face darkening with sha.
Kiev furrowed his brow upon hearing the maid’s response. The situation was becoming more complex.
"What did I tell you? She really is pregnant!" Eva exclaid, her excitent overriding any awareness of Elis’s emotional state.
"Not having recent nstrual cycles does not necessarily an she’s pregnant, mother. So won have irregular cycles and may skip their monthly occurrence. A proper blood test should be conducted to confirm a pregnancy, and it will take so ti for the lab to process the results," Rafe interjected, attempting to provide a rational perspective amidst Eva’s anticipation.
"Then, there still might be a chance of it! You can’t simply push aside this probability until it’s proven not! We should take the necessary precautions to keep her healthy and safe! Besides, this is the heir of a derian Prince we’re talking about!" Eva asserted confidently.
"An heir..." Callis repeated the words slowly, her mind processing the statent.
"Yes! A wife’s responsibility is to bear an heir for her husband. But of course, in Kiev and Lady Elisabeth’s situation, I’m sure it’s not only out of duty. We can see clearly how loving he is to his wife," said Eva with a warm smile. "I wish you and Rafe would have a baby soon, too! Having the laughter of little ones filling the ho would be lovely!"
Callis blushed at the thought, appreciating her mother-in-law’s excitent, but she knew Rafe and her would take so ti to plan for their future family.
"I think we shouldn’t get too worked up over this. Elis is still weak and requires so rest. Just leave the porridge, and I’ll make sure she eats later. For now, let Rafe check her condition first," Kiev suggested, trying to steer the conversation away from the speculation.
"It’s all right. I’ll wait. Besides, she needs soone to attend to her. I already feel guilty for what happened tonight. Please allow to redeem my mistake," Eva insisted. She then turned to her son and said, "Go on, examine her."
Kiev appeared sowhat uncomfortable with Eva’s response but didn’t want to seem rude by resisting the host’s offer. He nodded slowly and moved aside, allowing the healer to proceed.
Rafe approached the bed and carefully examined Elis. After a thorough assessnt, he turned to the others and shared his findings.
"Her weakened state is most likely due to poor nutrition and consumption over the past few days. There doesn’t seem to be any serious underlying condition. However, a proper blood test would be necessary to get a complete diagnosis. Unfortunately, we don’t have the facilities to conduct such a test here in Rivendelle. The closest lab is in Gantz," Rafe explained, his voice composed.
"What about her pulse?" Eva asked, her brow furrowed with concern.
"It is a bit elevated, likely due to the anxiety of the situation. But it’s not alarming. With proper rest, she should recover well," the healer reassured.
The middle-aged woman nodded, a small smile forming on her lips.
"A strong pulse often indicates a healthy pregnancy. However, we shouldn’t risk subjecting her to a long journey to Gantz in her delicate condition. You all should stay here a little longer until she’s fully recovered."
Rafe’s expression hardened as he firmly replied, "Mother, please! Stop saying such things! Elis is not pregnant. So, there’s no need to prolong our stay here," he insisted. "I’m afraid I must return to Gantz tomorrow. I have a job to do, and Lady Raychard requires my attention."
Eva’s face fell, her displeasure evident.
"How can you be so insensitive, thinking only of your work? I know you have responsibilities to His Highness the Grand Duke, but Lady Elisabeth is unwell. Surely Lady Raychard can spare you for a few more days?"
The derian siblings exchanged concerned glances, their attention now focused on the healer’s insistence on leaving. Callis spoke up, raising her concern over Anna, "Is there sothing wrong with Lady Raychard?"
She had to address the princess with such a title before Eva to avoid further suspicions. Kiev intended to pose the sa question, but since his sister had already voiced it, he remained silent, awaiting Rafe’s response.
The healer’s eyes darted away, avoiding their gaze.
"No, of course not! It’s just that... she’s fragile, so I need to monitor her condition occasionally."
Kiev’s instincts told him that Rafe was hiding sothing. He pondered for a mont before speaking up.
"I agree with Rafe. We should head back to Gantz tomorrow."
Eva’s eyebrows shot up in surprise.
"What? You still want to leave despite your wife’s condition?"
"As Rafe said, we can’t confirm the pregnancy without a proper blood test, which can only be done in Gantz," Kiev explained. "And if she’s not pregnant, there might be another underlying condition causing her symptoms. We need to run thorough tests to rule out any possibilities."
His gaze then drifted to Elis, and his hand from behind instinctively wrapped around her waist, his palm resting on her stomach. The maid’s eyes widened in surprise, her face flushing red.
"Even if she’s pregnant, the baby would be fine. It’s my child, after all, a derian royal lineage. It should be strong like its father, isn’t it so, Elis?" Kiev gently uttered.
"What??"
Elis’s jaw nearly dropped at the derian Prince’s bold statent. She would have pushed his audacious hand away, which was gently rubbing her stomach, if Rafe’s mother wasn’t present in the room.
"What I ant to say is, we should return to Gantz as soon as possible. Or would you prefer to stay here longer?" Kiev asked Elis again, his words carrying a hidden intention.
The maid blinked, finally managing to grasp the aning behind his words. She quickly caught on to his subtle ssage and responded, "Yes! Yes, we should return! The sooner, the better!"
Kiev’s lips curled into a satisfied smile as he said to Eva, "See? Even Elis is eager to get back and confirm the pregnancy. So, we shouldn’t delay our journey."
"But will she be all right? It’s a two-day journey," Eva asked, her concern evident.
"Don’t worry about that. I’ll take excellent care of my wife. I would never endanger her in her current condition," Kiev reassured.
Observing the derian Prince’s attentiveness towards his wife, Eva remarked, "You truly are a devoted husband, and I’m certain you would make a wonderful father!"
Kiev grinned and replied, "Indeed, I would. Elis adores children, and we both dream of having a large family."
"Well, I suppose your decision to return is the best course of action. Now, shall we have the porridge, Lady Elisabeth?" Eva suggested.
"Pass the bowl. I’ll feed her myself," Kiev offered.
The middle-aged woman gladly handed him the porridge, and Kiev gently persuaded Elis to eat it. Slowly, she opened her mouth and swallowed each spoonful. The nourishing al brought comfort to her stomach.
Rafe and Callis watched in astonishnt as Kiev treated Elis with the utmost tenderness as if she were his wife. He even held the warm mug of milk for her to drink and wiped her mouth clean afterwards.
Eva felt a wave of relief seeing Elis eat and drink properly. Her guilt began to dissipate.
She turned to her son and daughter-in-law, suggesting, "Callis, you must be tired. Why don’t you go back to your room and rest? And Rafe, please brew a dicinal concoction for Lady Elisabeth. We have so ingredients in the kitchen that can help replenish her energy. Let’s step out for now so Kiev and Lady Elisabeth can have so rest, too."
Rafe looked alard and protested, "They can’t sleep in the sa room!"
Surprised by his reaction, Eva replied, "Why not? They are a married couple, and it’s only natural for them to sleep together!"
Elis and Callis exchanged worried glances, but Kiev remained composed.
The healer hesitated, his eyes searching for an excuse.
"Because Elis is unwell. Perhaps Callis should accompany her instead," he finally answered.
"Hush! What are you blabbering, Rafe?" Eva exclaid. "Callis has already done enough to help, and she deserves so rest, too. Kiev has assured us that he will take care of his wife. So, stop saying nonsense!"
Eva walked up to Rafe and pushed him towards the door, with Callis following hesitantly.
Rafe tried to protest, saying, "But, mother! Wait! Wait!"
"No buts! Off you go!" she scolded her son. Turning to Kiev and Elis, she bowed in respect. "Please excuse us and have a good night’s sleep."
Ignoring Rafe’s protest, Eva continued to guide them out of the room, forcefully closing the door behind her.
She spoke in a low voice, still reprimanding her son, "Now is not the mont for you to disturb them! How can you not understand that this is an intimate mont for both of them? They just found out they are having a baby!"
Rafe knew he couldn’t change Eva’s belief about the maid’s pregnancy, so he broached a question related to Elis’s safety, "What if Kiev does sothing to her? We can’t allow that to happen!"
Eva defended the derian Prince, her voice filled with certainty, "Why would he do anything like that? He knows Elis’s condition well! Can’t you see how he’s holding and caring for his wife? He would never harm her!"
"But, mother!"
"Stop worrying unnecessarily! Go to the kitchen and prepare the concoction!" Eva ordered.
Reluctantly, Rafe relented. "Fine! But let go in and have a word with him first."
Eva sighed, realising Rafe’s persistence. "You still want to disturb them?"
"Just for a short while. It’s very important, please! I promise I won’t disturb them again!"
"All right, but make it quick!" Eva relented.
Rafe knocked and reentered the room, closing the door behind him after asking Callis to return to their room. Elis was seated on the bed while Kiev stood beside her.
"What do you want?" the derian Prince asked, his tone guarded.
Rafe’s anger flared as he confronted Kiev. "Just what kind of act were you putting on? You made it seem like Miss Canton is actually carrying your child! How absurd!"
Kiev responded nonchalantly, "I had to play along with your mother’s idea. She was the one who insisted on it. Had I not, she would have prolonged our stay here. Weren’t you also eager to return to Gantz before?"
Rafe clenched his jaw, holding back his emotion. Though angry, he realised that without Kiev’s outstanding drama performance, it would have been difficult to resist Eva’s persuasion.
"Fine! But now that has caused you to sleep in the sa room with Miss Canton! It’s inappropriate!"
"She slept on the bed before while I was in the room. Nothing happened then! What makes you think that sothing will happen tonight?" the derian Prince said as he crossed his arms over his broad chest.
Rafe turned to Elis, seeking affirmation. "Is that true?"
The maid hesitantly nodded.
"Yes, it is true. It happened yesterday after we left the dining hall. He asked to rest on the bed while he slept on the chair. Nothing inappropriate occurred, I assure you."
The healer let out a frustrated sigh. "Still, this is not right! You are not married! It goes against Cassian law and customs for an unmarried couple to sleep together!"
Kiev calmly responded, "We are not sleeping together! She will be in bed, and I will sleep on the chair like yesterday. What’s there to be fuss about?"
Rafe grumbled in annoyance, feeling conflicted. "I still don’t trust you."
Kiev’s voice remained composed, "Do you want to go out and draw attention again? Your mother would surely create a scene about it. What do you suggest?"
Rafe bit his lower lip, reluctantly giving in.
"Fine! But stay away from the bed, and don’t lock the door! If I catch you misbehaving towards her, you’ll be dead at!" he warned.
Kiev chuckled mockingly. "As if you’re capable of turning into that."
The healer’s frustration grew; his fists clenched tightly, and he bunched them in annoyance. Ignoring the healer’s reaction, the derian Prince asked, "Now, tell , why do you insist on returning to Gantz so quickly?"
Rafe was taken aback by the sudden change of topic. He hesitated, then replied defensively, "It’s nothing important! I already told you the reason!"
Kiev’s gaze hardened.
"Lies! I can tell you’re hiding sothing from . Tell what it is now, or I’ll go and ask Princess Anna myself!"
Rafe let out a sigh, knowing that the truth would eventually co out. "Her Highness wants to undergo knight’s training. Sir Navin has arranged it to start next week."
Kiev exploded in anger.
"What the h*ll? Why did you agree to her request? Are you insane? Do you not realise her condition?"
Rafe growled in annoyance.
"You think I and the others didn’t try to dissuade her? We did! But she was adamant about it. If we ignore her and keep on refusing, she might seek soone else to train her, which could be dangerous!"
Kiev shook his head in disbelief.
"This is ridiculous! You all are incapable of handling her! I guess I have no choice but to confront her myself and put a stop to this madness! We will see her as soon as we arrive at the palace!"
"Fine then! Go ahead and try to convince her if you can! I’d love to see that!" Rafe sneered.
"I will definitely do it!" the derian Prince asserted.
Rafe turned to leave, thinking the conversation was over when Kiev called him back.
"What now?" the healer grumbled.
"You also need to behave tonight. Rember what you promised ," Kiev reminded him.
Confused, Rafe frowned.
"What do you an?"
"Don’t you have to share a room with Callis as well?" the derian Prince questioned him.
"Are you insinuating that I would take advantage of her? Even if sothing happened between us, it wouldn’t be wrong since we are married!" Rafe retorted defensively.
Kiev’s glare intensified.
" Go on, and I’ll shove your body into the grave myself!"
"Fine! It’s not like I’m going to do anything to her! I’m not a man that couldn’t hold back my desire! It’s you I’m concerned about!" Rafe snapped back.
Kiev spoke firmly, "Elis is my maid. Nothing will happen."
Rafe ignored the derian Prince’s remark. He looked at Elis and said, "If anything occurs, just scream. I’ll co quickly to rescue you."
Elis nodded, acknowledging his words.
"I’ll have soone bring the concoction over once it’s ready. If you’re already asleep by then, you can take it first thing in the morning. It should help you feel better," the healer added.
Just then, there was a knock on the door, and Eva called for her son.
"Coming!" Rafe responded.
He left the room with a grunt, leaving Kiev and Elis behind.
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