My heart suddenly froze at her words. I looked at her in disbelief before I laughed nervously. “Pregnant with Claude’s pup?” I asked, scoffing. “That is impossible. I am certain that I am taking my fertility control before-”
I halted as my heart stopped for nanoseconds from realization. Wait…
Wait up…
When was the last time I took my fertility control?
I gasped as I mindlessly placed my hand on top of my stomach, wide-eyed before I looked up at Cherish. “N-No… I am not…” I gulped, panicking inside.
Cherish sighed. “Older sister, allow Doctor Gilbert to check up on you. Having migraines and morning sickness are not supposed to be normal unless you are conceiving a pup,” she said and glanced at Gilbert.
“H-Halt!” I immediately stood up and distanced myself from them. “I am not… I am just tired and… perhaps, I have eaten some rotten food from your cooks…” I said as I was starting to get defensive.
With that, Cherish stepped forward, looking at me earnestly. But she halted when my elite commanders blocked her way. She squinted her eyes at them before she looked at me.
“If so, then I want to have it checked,” Cherish said coldly.
I clenched my hands. “No,” I said firmly. “If I said that I am alright, I am telling the truth.” I sighed. “Cherish, I am still the Luna Queen so my orders must be absolute,” I said coldly. “Go back now,” I ordered.
Her jaw dropped. Perhaps, she couldn’t believe that I was ordering her as the Luna Queen. She heaved out a sigh. “Then, I will suspect that you are pregnant with my older brother’s pup. I shall inform him and-”
“Are you threatening me, Cherish?” I stepped forward as I ordered my elite commanders to block the way.
“No.” She forced a smile. “Why are you being defensive, Your Majesty?” She emphasized addressing me. “If you are being like that, does this mean it is true?” She tilted her head, challenging me.
I averted my gaze as I bit my lower lip, gulping. I didn’t know what to say because I wasn’t certain if what Cherish said was right.
However, if Cherish was right that I am pregnant with Claude’s pup right now, then I would have to stop leading the brigade.
That should not happen!
Sighing, I looked at her. “Fine. I will allow Gilbert to check on me to ease your suspicion,” I said but I felt my heart was racing rapidly because I wasn’t certain from the last time I took the fertility control.
I didn’t even remember if I took it when I departed the palace.
Damn it…
I sat in my chair as Gilbert sat across from me. “Please bestow me your hand, Your Majesty.”
Hesitant, I bestowed him with my hand. I felt nervous all of a sudden when he started to listen to the pulse on my wrist. I watched his reaction grow in horror as his eyes widened looking at me.
“What is it?” Cherish asked, creasing her forehead.
“Yeah… What is it?” I asked, second the motion. I suddenly felt nervous because Gilbert’s expression was unexplainable.
Gilbert inhaled and exhaled before he looked at me with a worried expression. “Your Majesty, Luna Queen…”
“W-What?” I asked, feeling edgy.
He glanced at Cherish then at me. “Y-You’re pregnant…” he said meekly.
“WHAT?!” I stood up in no time and suddenly felt dizzy.
“Sister!” Cherish immediately tended to me when I almost lost my balance.
My hands were fidgeting from the news I received. “D-Does this mean…” My heart suddenly sank when I glanced at the worried expression of Cherish. “Cherish…” I shook my head. “Don’t tell…” I held onto her uniform as I kept shaking my head. “Don’t tell this to Claude…”
She helped me to sit down and made me drink some water when I felt like hyperventilating. Even the elite commanders were almost panicking and fanned me.
“This is my fault… I missed taking the fertility control,” I voiced out without thinking. Then I turned at Cherish when I gripped her uniform again. “Cherish, please… You cannot tell Claude…” Then I looked at Gilbert, Lucy, Flora, Cornelius, and Piran. “Don’t tell my condition to him. If Claude knows that I am pregnant with our pup…” I mindlessly placed my hand on top of my stomach. “I would be forced to go back to the palace…” Tears formed in my eyes, feeling melancholy.
Cherish looked panicking as she held my hand. “But… the environment will be too distressful, Rachelle. You have to go back now. The pup needs to be delivered safely… sooner or later, everyone will find out that you are pregnant…” she said as she glanced at Gilbert.
Gilbert spoke. “Luna Queen, there will be consequences if you are still going to the front lines in the near future. You will put your pup in danger… I suggest you need to go back to the palace and let Alpha King Claudian lead the war.”
“No!” I said firmly and grabbed Gilbert’s collar. “No,” I said, looking at him murderously. “This is my dream that came true. You cannot just steal this away from me by leading the brigade just because I am pregnant!” I said through gritted teeth, lowering my voice as I didn’t want others to hear us. “Do you understand me, Gilbert? Or shall I gouge out your eyes and make you drunk with wolfsbane?” I asked coldly as I wasn’t letting his collar go.
“Rachelle.” I glared at Cherish. “Calm down. We need to settle this… Please release Doctor Gilbert first.” I didn’t listen to her, still holding Gilbert’s collar so tight. “You need to cease being selfish. You have a life forming in your stomach. Let’s settle this, please, sister-in-law…” she pleaded.
With that, I couldn’t help shedding tears as I felt distressed all of a sudden upon learning about my pregnancy. I released Gilbert’s collar as I leaned in my seat.
“About… how many months do I have to bear my pup?” I asked as I looked up, sniffing.
“Three months is the lead time of bearing a pup, Your Majesty,” Gilbert answered. “Based on the pulse, you are already in your one month.”
“I see…” I closed my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose, trying to assess this situation.
What must I do now, Moon Goddess? It was so careless of me not taking the fertility control. This was the event Claude and I were avoiding.
But what Father said was to continue the mating ritual. However, I am pregnant now. There was no way I was going to back down from leading my brigade.
“Let’s assess this tomorrow. I am tired…” I said and opened my eyes. “Princess Cherish, Doctor Gilbert, please… I beg you. Do not announce to everyone about my pregnancy… No one must know,” I said softly as I didn’t want to argue. I just wanted to retire now, I wanted to add.
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Gilbert said politely.
“I will talk to you tomorrow, Rachelle, sister-in-law,” Cherish uttered.
I nodded and dismissed them by gesturing with my hand that they needed to leave now because I felt like I was going to collapse now. When I felt that they left, I stood up and almost collapsed.
“Your Majesty…” I looked up seeing Piran and Cornelius who looked worried right now.
I sighed and smiled meekly. “I wish to retire, gentlemen. However, I felt like I couldn’t move my legs…” I sniffed.
Cornelious was the one who spoke. “We will lift you, Your Majesty,” he said, worried.
I nodded and allowed them to carry me up to my bed. I sat properly and ushered Flora and Lucy to come near me. I halted for a moment to feel my surroundings to check if no one was around. I already mind linked the palace guards to bestow us some privacy with my elite commanders for a moment.
They knelt before me and lowered their heads before I spoke.
“Listen, four of you… As you are all witnessed earlier, I must tell you that no one must know about my pregnancy. Leading a brigade is my dream and we are near the peak of the war. Whatever happens, do not admit it to your Alpha King Claudian if in case he is the one who asks and learns some gossip about it. Do you all understand?” I asked earnestly.
They all looked at me with a solemn look before they bowed their heads before me.
“Yes, Your Majesty. Our loyalty remains only to you,” they said in unison.
Cornelius spoke. “If someone gossips about this, do you wish us to slay them, Your Majesty?” he asked coldly.
“Just say the word, Your Majesty.” It was Flora who spoke seriously. “We will not allow anyone to know this.”
“We will protect you and the future heir or heiress of the Waevalon Kingdom, Your Majesty,” Piran stated.
“I am willing to taint my hands, Your Majesty, just to protect your secret until you give birth.” It was Lucy the one who last spoke.
I chuckled at how hilarious they were. “No…” I placed my hand on top of my stomach. “Just do not admit that I am carrying Claude and I’s pup…” I sighed and caressed my flat stomach. “Also, I need to hide my bump once it starts to grow. We need to do it discreetly… From there on, we will give an update to the palace.”
Their eyes widened at my decision. I knew that reaction. I knew they found it hilarious.
“I know, I know. It seems odd that I will do that. It would raise Claude’s suspicion if my pregnancy starts to circulate and reach his ears,” I said, sighing. “We will act the normal way. And I need to take precautions if I start to go to the frontlines.”
They gasped.
“Your Majesty, you cannot do that!” Cornelius said, horrified.
“What if you get hurt, Your Majesty?” Flora asked, being tense right now.
I summoned my hand to halt them. “I will be careful. I need to go to the frontlines from time to time once my bump grows. I need all of you to help me grab an oversized military uniform for me if that happens. Who knows if my bump will remain small or will grow big…” I hissed.
I didn’t expect that I had to make diversions right at this moment.
“Your Majesty, you must prioritize your safety along with your pup. Eagle Mist can handle the war,” Lucy butted in.
I smiled and patted her head. “Of course, I know that, Lucy.” She frowned at me while I chuckled. “Anyway, we need to change your schedule of guarding me. Lucy and Piran will handle training the Eagle Mist soldiers. Flora, you are guarding me every morning while you, Cornelius, will guard me every evening.”
They all exchanged glances, looking hesitant before they nodded their heads. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
“You may leave now and let Cornelius guard me for tonight.” I gestured my head to Piran, Lucy, and Flora that they could leave now. They nodded and left my tent. I smiled looking at Cornelius who was still kneeling. “Cornelius, you worry too much for my welfare,” I said softly.
His cold facade melted away as he lowered his head. “Please forgive me, Your Majesty.”
I patted his head. “Does your instinct of being an Alpha kick you and you always want to fight bloodshed?” I jested because he always wanted to resort to violence.
Cornelius frowned. “I am just acting what I think is the best since my priority as the battle commander is to protect our Luna Queen. Or even if you are not our Luna Queen, I will protect you as the General and our master of the Eagle Mist,” he said politely and seriously.
“Alright, alright.” I raised both of my hands, surrendering. I laid on my bed as Cornelius helped me to tuck in my blanket. “I still couldn’t believe what I found out tonight. I thought I was just having normal sickness. I didn’t know I was already pregnant. And my pup is already a month old inside me… How hilarious…” I murmured, not minding if Cornelius was listening or not.
“Please rest now, Your Majesty. You need to retire as you still have to know the progress of the war tomorrow,” he said softly as he bowed his head before me.
“Right…” Sighing, I closed my eyes as I placed my hand on top of my stomach again. “I am sorry…” I murmured before I drifted off to sleep.
I’m sorry, Claude… I have to keep this pregnancy with you… Do forgive me, love…