A week later…
“This color would be great on you!” Nadia dragged the fabric Mary was holding away to sample on my body. “You see, can’t you see how it brought out her color?” she asked Mary who glowered at her for snatching it away rudely.
I was standing there like a statue, allowing them to sample different materials on me like a damn mannequin. It’s the Luna ceremony the next week. Alonso announced last week during breakfast that he wanted it done fast before the festival of the moon.
I was very delighted. I mean, I can’t wait to be married to him and become not just his mate but his wife and partner. It was all that matters to me. To finally be able to achieve this one dream that has been on my mind since I was a kid. And maybe I will eventually win against my father and prove to him I can be better than a domestic wife!
However, what I didn’t look forward to was my friends turning me into a model at the slightest opportunity. There is a royal modiste and she is supposed to come in with the fabrics for the ceremony as well as the wedding dress by the weekend. But, my friends insisted they shop for me themselves before she arrived.
Normally, the Queen Mother was supposed to do this with me, but since, actually, I’m not my mother-in-law’s favorite, I am all alone. With my besties.
“Do you guys know I’m tired?” I whined in a brisk tone.
They stopped their charades to look at me in an awry fashion. “Is everything alright?”
I plopped down on the chair, massaging my temples. “I don’t know, my friends. I am happy that I’m getting married to the love of my life, and believe me I’m more than grateful to have you two by my side, but I’m worried.”
“Worried about what?” Mary sat beside me.
“Paisley’s father just came in last night and while we were having breakfast, Paisley fainted,” I told them.
“What! Was that why the doctor rushed into the house when we were leaving?”
“Exactly,” I pointed out. “To be honest, since that morning, I have been having this unrest inside me. I feel something is off somewhere and it’s not helping that the camera has not picked up anything!” I flipped, biting into my chin.
“You have to relax, Danika. The truth must come out… whatever your gut is telling you that is making you restless, you need to allow yourself peace. In fact, I think it’s due to the ceremony. Mother said it happens to everyone before they get married,” Nadia soothed.
“Yeah, she’s right, Danika. Very right.”
“But, I’m so scared. What if she turns out pregnant? With us not having any evidence, the Queen would interfere immediately and connive with Paisley’s father to make her son marry his daughter. I swear that woman hates me so much she can do it!”
“But your mate will never allow that,” Mary drawled, then hissed and took my hand. “Stop stressing yourself, Danika. She is not pregnant, Mrs. Dolly confirmed it.”
I shook my head and stood, going to the window to draw in quick air. In the past week, my turmoil has worsened. I hardly slept a wink, always thinking of so many things that could go wrong. My life is like that. Nothing has ever gone straight for me. There is always something to ruin it. That is why I fear. Anything can happen, that’s why I’m fighting to prevent it.
I sneaked into Paisley’s room a day before yesterday, but the camera was empty. I had to place it back, praying by Gad, a miracle happens fast. This is my only chance.
“Maybe you need to see the doctor, Danika.” Mary came to stand beside me.
I flicked my eyes to her. “Why?”
“I think for the starters, your skin is becoming paler, and your lips chapped, and yesterday, Nadia said you were very hot when she touched your forehead.”
“I am fine, it’s just the stress,” I revolted.
“Exactly why you need a doctor. You might need a prescription to calm you this period because I said the same to her. Albeit seeing the way your mind is working ten times faster round the clock, I think you need medical help.”
I exhaled loudly. I don’t want to make Alonso worry about me now. This period is hard on him as it is on me. He is to entertain that oaf of Paisley’s father, and even though he doesn’t show it, I know he is tense. Without a piece of evidence to prove to the man that his daughter was cheating on him, the other man might think the King a fraud. “Okay, I will stop worrying too much. Does that help?”
They exchanged glances and sighed. “Fine,” Mary surged, “but any more tirades and we might have to tell the King you are not alright.”
I cocked my brow. “My friends now threatening me?” I asked.
Nadia shrugged. “You left us no choice.”
I smiled lightly and went to the chair to flop down. “Alright, guys we have to go home. We have to know what is going on with her so that we are not caught off guard.”
We gathered our bags and made our way outside where Luther was packed waiting for us. All through the way, I kept thinking of Paisley and thinking of what could possibly make her faint. She might be sick, on a norm that is what I’m supposed to think but my mind tells me it’s more than that.
Could it be that Mrs. Dolly missed something? But, it couldn’t have been possible. Or, what if she caught up with what we did? She might have pretended to be unaware to play us all for a fool, meanwhile, she knew everything that took place. Thus far, that girl has proven to be devilish.
I might have promised my friends that I will no longer think too much, yet, before we got home, it seems my thoughts increased by another fifty percent. And it was proven when we got home.
When I entered the room, Alonso was sitting down on the bed, his face in his hands. When I walked in and went to him in deep concern, he looked up at me and said the words that broke my heart.
“She is pregnant.”
…