Nine

{TWO WEEKS LATER}

Caralyn was curled up on her bed, sweats covering her forehead. She had woken up like that, feeling uncomfortable.

It’s been two weeks since she realized she was pregnant. Her morning sickness is getting worse day by day.

The pregnancy was more difficult than she had imagined. The only perk is that somehow, the pregnancy seems to be hindering her rage fit; something she would have been more than grateful about… if her pregnancy eased on the amount of pain it’s currently giving her.

 

The door to her room opens, and Mrs. Hale enters with a tray. On it was a glass cup, a spoon, and a bottle. Caralyn watches as she places the tray at the edge of her bed. Then, she walks to her bedside table and takes her jug of water, filling the glass cup on the tray. She drops two spoonfuls of the bottle's contents into the water and stirs the liquid.

She helps Caralyn sit up and passes the cup to her. “You look so pale,” she says with worry as she wipes the sweat off her forehead with the back of her hand.

“What is this?” Caralyn asks, looking into the cup.

“A concoction. It was prepared by the royal doctor himself. Look, I know you don’t know what to do yet, but till you make your decision, the baby still needs to be healthy. The concoction will work for that and also reduce your morning sickness. The coronation ceremony of King William is in three days, you need to be up for it.”

Caralyn was a bit alarmed. “This means the royal doctors know about my pregnancy now.”

Mrs. Hale exhales. “Your Highness. Pregnancy is not a disease. You are second to the king now; you should have it in mind that you can make your own decisions without being questioned. You’ve been in a cage for far too long; don’t let any thought keep you in anymore.”

 

Caralyn gives her a weak smile, albeit seeing sense in Mrs. Hale’s advice. She tips the cup against her lips and swallows the contents.

“I wonder why this pregnancy is so difficult, though. You are only a few months in. The baby must be one hell of a stubborn child,” Mrs. Hale jokes as she places the concoction bottle on Caralyn’s bedside table, placing the cup back in the tray so she could take it back.

Caralyn chuckled soundlessly, blinking slowly. “I know, right? It’s like carrying a sorcerer’s child.”

Mrs. Hale’s brows knit together instantly.

Seconds later, she looks up with a smile on her lips and helps Caralyn lie back on the bed.

 

*

Caralyn looks around in boredom, with an obvious expression on her face. The crowning ceremony had commenced a few hours ago, and the Supreme Ultima arrived an hour ago. They’ve been sitting at the royal table with him, eating while also listening to King William yap on. Riccardo only spoke a few words.

She already read everyone, and what intrigues her the most is the realization that Princess Dora and Princess Willow seem interested in Riccardo; it’s written all over their faces.

Caralyn was grateful for the concoction Mrs. Hale brought her; it’s really been suppressing her morning sickness. She sighed soundlessly again, her mind roaming on how she could approach Riccardo and tell him about the pregnancy.

She’s still unsure about her own decision, though the largest part of her wants the baby. However, if Riccardo wants the baby, then she will surely keep it.

“I really appreciate you not condemning the whole royal family of the Lycan Dominion Pack. You are indeed a just judge. To show a tiny appreciation, allow the princess to pour you a drink, please,” King William requests.

“Go ahead,” Riccardo accepts without hesitation.

Princess Willow stands up with grace, her purple gown flowing behind her as she walks toward the Supreme Ultima.

Caralyn watches from under her eyelash as Princess Willow pours Riccardo a drink. When he picks up his glass and is about to tip it into his mouth, his strong gaze meets hers, and she quickly looks away.

He finishes the drink and places the cup down. Princess Willow fills it again before she goes back to sit.

“My Lord. I apologize in advance if this seems preposterous. But I would like you to know that the royal household is open if you are ever interested in taking a partner. Four wonderful princesses are of marriageable age.”

Enzo scoffed with anger visible in his expression. “Four? Did you just propose the possibility of the Supreme Ultima taking the cursed princess or the spoiled princess as a partner? The first and second seed of the traitor that tried to kill him?”

He was referring to Caralyn and Dora. Dora was the spoiled princess in the sentence.

Caralyn’s eyes shut in reflex.

She has no intention of being Riccardo’s partner, but that does not make Enzo’s sentence burn any less. Mrs. Hale was right after all. If his taking her as a partner is even frowned upon, then having his child will sound like an abomination.

At that moment, she regretted coming to the occasion.

Left for her, she wouldn’t have even bothered to attend the gathering. But she is still a princess, the first princess from the Royal house of the Lycan Dominion Pack, which makes the event compulsory for her. Not attending would be interpreted as being rebellious.

With Caralyn and Dora out, that only leaves Princess Willow and Princess Wilma. Princess Willow’s lips stretch into a subtle proud smile.

“I didn’t mean to belittle the Supreme Ultima. I apologize if it offends you in any way, Mr. DeSantis,” King William apologized.

  

*

{A few minutes later} 

“I shall take my leave now,” Riccardo announces and stands up.

The royal family stands up too and follows him. It is tradition for the host’s household to line up in order of rank and see off the Supreme Ultima when he is leaving a household.

Caralyn’s shaky hand moves towards the glass of water before her, and she empties the contents down her throat. Her eyes water, and she just wants to disappear; she is tired. Tired of everything: the royal title, the cursed title, her identity.

“Your Highness!” The urgent voice of Mrs. Hale comes from beside her, and she looks up.

She traces her gaze and sees that the royal family has gathered already.

The Supreme Ultima stands directly opposite a space that breaks the line everyone is in. The space she should have been standing in, the second place, beside King Williams, as the eldest and most legitimate heir to the throne.

She sees everyone already looking around, wondering where she is. She gasps in realization and stands up, hurrying towards them. They saw her, and she lowered her eyes in embarrassment, trying to get to her space.

However, as she is about to pass Princess Dora, she is secretly tripped, and she falls forward, her eyes and mouth widening in shock.

The Supreme Ultima caught her in time, one hand splayed against her stomach and the other around her middle back, the palm curved against her waist.

“Apologies, My Lord,” she immediately gets out of his hold.

She is about to go stay in the space when Riccardo spoke. “Follow me,” he says to her, even though her back is facing him.

When Caralyn turns around, he is already stepping over the threshold of the open doors.

“What are you waiting for?” the king urged her back to her senses.

She hurries after Riccardo. They watch through the open door as Riccardo stops beside his car and Caralyn approaches him. Not just the royal family is watching, but the other guests too.

They were curious as to what the Supreme Ultima could want with the cursed princess. Alessio and Enzo stepped outside the threshold, but Alessio halted Enzo, who was about to proceed towards the Supreme Ultima.

Caralyn’s eyes dance across Riccardo’s face, trying to figure out what is going on with him.

“You have my seed in your womb.”