The Revealing Sample

“Where are you going at this time of the night?” my father’s voice stops me cold in my tracks.

It’s stern and cold. He's looking at me like I’m a book he’s trying to read.

I freeze and bow quickly, my hand hiding behind me, clutching the small pouch like it’s my life. Lina bows too, beside me.

“I… I’m going to see Dr. Arun,” I manage to say, my voice a bit nervous. “I’m not feeling so good.”

He steps closer, his brows folding into that deep fatherly concern he’s mastered over the years.

“What’s wrong with you, Christie? Why didn’t you come to your mother?”

“It’s… it’s nothing serious, Father,” I lie, touching my lower abdomen gently. “Just an unusual kind of monthly pain. I wanted to talk to the doctor, myself.”

He lowers his eyes, staring straight into mine. That look again, the one he gives when he suspects I’m lying. My knees go weak under my long pants. I brace myself, expecting him to order me back to my room.

But instead, he sighs and waves his hand. “Go on then.”

I bow again quickly and hurry off before he changes his mind, Lina right behind me.

When we get to the eastern wing, I knock once on Dr. Arun’s chamber door.

He opens immediately, like he was already waiting. “Your Highness?”

His eyes are wide with surprise and worry. “What brings you here at this hour?”

I glance around to be sure we’re alone, then press the small pouch into his palm.

“I need a DNA analysis,” I say quietly. “Compare it with mine.”

He looks down at the pouch, then up at me. His eyes narrow, but he doesn’t ask questions. That’s why I chose him.

He gestures to a chair. “Please, sit.”

Lina stands behind me as I settle into the seat. Dr. Arun brings out his kit and draws blood from my arm. He’s quick and gentle.

“How soon can I get the result?” I ask.

“At least forty-eight hours,” he replies, sealing the vial.

“Thank you,” I say, rising.

I don’t wait for more questions. I walk out with Lina, my chest still pounding from the run-in with the king.

Two days. That’s all I need to finally know the truth.

***

The morning sun is soft on my skin as I sit in my private garden, behind my quarters. The flowers are in bloom and the air smells fresh, but inside me is nothing but fire.

Lina walks in with my breakfast tray, wearing that small smile she always has when she knows something juicy. There's a glint in her eyes. I catch it immediately.

“Good morning, Princess,” she says with a little bow.

She’s the only one in the palace who still calls me Princess. Everyone else says Your Highness, but not Lina.

I nod without smiling and pick up the orange juice. I take a small sip, watching her closely.

“What’s the news in the palace this morning?” I ask lightly, but we both know I’m digging.

She clears her throat and lowers her voice, “There’s a girl in your brother’s chamber.”

I freeze. She studies me, already preparing herself for the storm.

“It seems she spent the night there,” she adds quickly.

The orange juice turns bitter in my mouth. I put the glass down slowly and stare at nothing. So Gregory had someone over. On my birthday night. While I was up plotting to know if we were truly blood-related, he was in bed… with a girl?

The anger starts to rise in me like hot smoke. My fist folds. I want to storm into his chambers right now and rip her hair out. But I don’t move. I can’t. That would be scandalous, again. And if I cause a scene, my father will get mad. He’ll threaten to send me away again, far from the palace, maybe to some boring boarding school in the desert or mountains.

No, I can’t afford that.

I pick up my juice again and take another sip to calm my nerves. I turn to Lina and ask, voice calm but cold, “Who is she?”

she replies. “Princess Anna of Nurelia.”

I almost laugh. Of course. That desperate peacock. The one my parents have been trying to pair up with Gregory. Always smiling too wide, walking like she own the entire universe. And now, she's already crawling into his bed before they’re even engaged.

Disgusting.

I focus on my plate and start eating slowly.

“We got him drunk last night, remember?” I say, trying to sound unaffected. “The crown prince of Aerithia doesn’t drink alcohol. The wine must’ve affected his judgment.”

Lina says nothing, but I know she understands what I’m really saying. The matter is closed.

She bows slightly and walks back into my bedroom, probably to lay out my gown for the day.

But even after she’s gone, my breakfast tastes bitter.

***

I’m already seated in the palace lecture room, ready for today’s class. It’s one of our regular science sessions, Human Anatomy. Gregory and I still have a few joint classes, even though our fields are different now. He’s studying further into Governance and Diplomacy, being four years older than me. I’m focused on Law. But Father insists we both study certain subjects to be well-grounded.

Professor James breezes in, looking slightly out of breath.

“Your Highness,” he greets with a bow.

“Prof,” I reply flatly.

He looks around. “Where’s your brother, the Crown Prince?”

I shrug and roll my eyes. “I haven’t seen him.”

He frowns, clearly surprised. Gregory and I usually come together, always seated before the professor walks in. But not today. Not after what Lina told me. I didn’t even bother stopping by his wing. I didn’t want to see that bitch. I didn’t want to lose it.

Professor James turns to the board and writes out the topic for the day:

"How the Human Reproductive System Works: From Hormones to Having a Baby."

He’s just about to start when the door creaks open.

Gregory walks in, looking a bit rough, shirt not well tucked in and hair not perfectly combed. Unlike him. He nods at the professor and mutters, “Apologies for being late.” He takes his seat.

His eyes flick to me immediately, maybe expecting a smile or the usual silent greeting we share. But I don’t even glance his way.

The lecture begins. I hear the professor talking about hormones, glands, functions… but my head is elsewhere. I'm still mad. Still boiling. He had her. That girl. In his bed. On my birthday night.

He keeps glancing at me. I can feel his stare. But I don’t look at him.

Then the professor finishes and asks, “Any questions before we wrap up?”

I raise my hand before I can think too much about it.

“Is there anything in the male hormones that makes them… promiscuous?”

The room goes dead quiet. The professor looks stunned. Gregory's eyes go wide.

But I just sit there, waiting.

Waiting for an answer.