The mistress

Calista’s POV

I was at a loss for words.

Finally, after three years.

After enduring countless nights beside a man who barely acknowledged my existence, now, against all odds, I was carrying his heir.

My lips parted in awe as I looked down at my stomach, unable to believe a child was growing inside of me.

I was going to be a mother.

The mere thought made my heart swell with warmth, tears of joy gathering at the corners of my eyes.

Slowly, I raised my hand, my fingers trembling as they rested on my stomach.

The king and queen shared a knowing glance, and although I couldn’t tell what they were thinking, they seemed pleased at the news.

Aldrid moved away from the window, standing beside his parents with a neutral expression.

“What now?” He asked, looking between the physician and me.

The young physician adjusted the glasses resting on the bridge of his nose before speaking. “The princess and the baby are both healthy. Her Highness is still in the early stages of pregnancy, so she must avoid unnecessary stress and get plenty of rest.”

Aldrid nodded, “Very well.”

The Queen stepped forward, “You now have a new responsibility, Calista,” she said, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. “You’re not just carrying a child, but the future of Vargath.”

She offered me a small smile, but her words sounded more like a warning than encouragement.

“Let us know if you need anything,” King Edric added, and I nodded meekly in response.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Aldrid didn’t say anything else, and the physician examined me once more before everyone left.

Once I was alone, I let the tears flow freely down my cheeks. My shoulders shook as I cried, unable to contain the turmoil of emotions coursing through me.

As I wiped the tears from my face with the sleeve of my dress, a small laugh escaped my lips. A new sense of hope blossomed within me, growing quietly alongside the little life that had just begun its journey.

Perhaps this would change everything.

With this, Aldrid would have no choice but to look my way, not as his political wife, but as the mother of his child.

And for the first time in years, my future didn’t seem so empty.

****

After the news of my pregnancy was made public, the public’s perception of me shifted drastically.

Servants attended to my every need, and nobles who gossiped behind my back now bowed respectfully whenever I passed.

Queen Helena often visited my chambers, always recommending herbs that would help with the baby’s development.

Everything was going better than I expected, and I should have been happy, but despite this, I found myself longing for one person.

Aldrid.

To my utter disappointment, nothing about him changed.

Every morning, I watched him escort Seraphine through the palace grounds, and they attended meetings and public events together.

Because of my state, we could no longer spend the night together, and in my place, Seraphine warmed his bed.

Not once did he ask how I was feeling. Not once did he ask about our child.

I learned from the physician that Aldrid had asked for detailed reports of each check-up, and that was as far as he was willing to go.

The pregnancy might have changed how people acted towards me, but Aldrid’s behavior made it painfully obvious that it was all temporary.

When the loneliness became unbearable, I wrote to the Council, hoping they could advise me on the next step to take. It was like throwing a rock in the dark, because they barely ever responded.

Days later, their reply arrived, and it was the same thing I’ve heard all my life; Uphold your discipline and fulfill your duty.

Nothing more. Nothing less.

It was a hard pill to swallow, but I still clung to that hope. He could still change after the baby was born, and until then, all I had to do was protect my child.

Whenever the walls of the palace threatened to suffocate me, I found myself wandering into the royal gardens.

It was peaceful there.

And today, I settled beneath a large willow tree, absentmindedly tracing circles over my growing stomach.

Two guards were stationed not too far from me, and just as I was about to drift to sleep….

“Stop!”

I turned towards the commotion, and it was the guards trying to block someone from walking up to me.

It was the palace joker. How odd.

His colorful costume was impossible to miss, and despite the guards pushing him back, he didn’t retaliate. He simply stood there, as motionless as the painted smile on the mask that hid his face.

“Let him through,” I called, my curiosity getting the better of me. I had only seen him at some royal events, so why would he want to see me?

The guards hesitated before making way for him. I sat up, and without a word, he extended a single white flower toward me.

It was a silver lotus, a flower that represented good fortune and celebration.

I blinked. “…For me?”

He simply nodded.

“Thank you.” I chuckled softly before taking it, taking it as his way of congratulating me.

The moment I accepted it, he dramatically stumbled backwards.

“Oh!” I exclaimed, “Are you alri—”

Just then, he sprang back to his feet, somehow producing a tiny wooden rabbit from his sleeve.

It caught me off guard, and when I realized it was one of his tricks, I burst into laughter. A genuine laugh, and it surprised me.

As I caught my breath, I met his gaze through the opening of his mask, and my smile faltered.

His eyes were a striking shade of amber, glistening with an unfamiliar emotion. But it was gone before I could tell what it was.

With that, he bowed his head and quietly walked away.

I watched until his colorful figure disappeared beyond the hedges, then my gaze flickered to the silver lotus.

“Your Highness,”

I perked up at the sight of Tina, my personal maid, as she hurried over. The guards let her through, and she looked down at me with a solemn expression, wringing her hands together.

“What is it?”

Tina chewed on her bottom lip, and I instinctively knew it was far from pleasant.

“Lady Seraphine invited you to have lunch with her.”

My stomach tightened.

Ever since Seraphine started living in the palace, we haven’t had the chance to speak to each other. We occasionally saw each other in passing, but that was it.

So why would she want to see me now?

Having lunch with my husband’s mate wasn’t on my to-do list for today, but refusing would only lead to unnecessary rumours.

“Alright then.” I sighed as Tina helped me to my feet. “Lead the way.”

A few minutes later, we arrived at Seraphine’s chambers, and I was in awe at how lavish it was. Her room was twice the size of mine, adorned with silk curtains, luxurious furniture, and paintings from famous artists.

A table had been set for two in the corner of the room, and the moment I stepped inside, Seraphine greeted me with a smile warm enough to melt ice.

“I’m so glad you came.” She beamed, offering me a courtesy bow.

Her silver hair cascaded over her shoulders in soft waves, and her bright blue eyes carried a gentleness that made her seem almost too innocent. I searched her face for any sign of hostility, but found none. If anything, she seemed genuinely happy to see me.

I managed a small smile, unsure of how to respond. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”

“Likewise.” She gently took my hand in hers, guiding me toward the table.

I sat stiffly in my seat while she leaned forward, her gaze briefly drifting to my stomach.

“I wanted to congratulate you personally,” she began, her expression softening. “I may be Aldrid’s mate, but the last thing I want is to come between the two of you.”

I lowered my gaze, letting out a soft chuckle at the irony of her words. If only she knew there was nothing for her to come between.

Still…I appreciated the thought.

“You don’t have to worry about that,” I said. “Who am I to stand in the way of fate?”

Relief washed over her features.

“I’m glad,” she said. “I really want us to get along.”

I considered her words for a moment, thinking it would be easier for everyone if we did.

Our conversation flowed easily, and as we ate, I found myself genuinely enjoying her company

No one in the palace had ever bothered to get to know me—not even Aldrid—and I hadn’t realized how much I’d needed it.

That single encounter became the first of many, and as the months slipped by, my stomach grew with each passing week.

The joker appeared now and then as well, never speaking, always finding new ways to make me laugh before vanishing as mysteriously as he arrived.

Meanwhile, Aldrid buried himself in palace affairs. We barely spoke anymore, and whenever we crossed paths, he’d simply look away.

I spent more time with Seraphine, and she never failed to reassure me.

By the time I was fo months gone, Queen Helena announced that she would host a grand baby shower to celebrate the future heir. But I was more excited about attending the event with Aldrid.

After getting dressed, I found him standing outside my room, wearing a sharp black suit. A brooch bearing Vargath’s royal crest was pinned to his chest, while a silver crown rested atop his raven-black hair. His grey eyes were as cold as ever, but it didn’t matter.

As long as he stood beside me, I was content.

Without a word, Aldrid reached for my hand, never once meeting my eyes. My heart raced as we stepped into the grand hall, welcomed by a resounding round of applause.

Then—

“Ah!”

A sharp pain seared through my abdomen.

My steps screeched to a halt as I instinctively clutched my stomach,  another wave of pain crashing over me, far more violent than the first.

A sickening sensation lurched up my throat.

My eyes widened in alarm as I clamped a hand over my mouth, convinced I was about to throw up.

Instead, I erupted in a fit of coughs, and something warm spilled between my fingers.

I slowly lowered my hand.

Blood.

The color drained from my face as it splattered across the front of my dress, staining the pale fabric crimson.

A high-pitched ringing filled my ears, drowning out everything else.

As I raised my gaze, the world seemed to move in slow motion.

Aldrid was barking orders at the guards. Queen Helena rushed frantically toward me. And Seraphine…

Seraphine stood perfectly still.

Then, for a split second, the corners of her lips curled into a knowing smirk.