The Crown's Entrapment

As soon as the sun had set, the King and Queen's convoy quickly had a stop at another inn to rest for the night. With his worry still present, Darius immediately called for Aurelia to take a look and check on Xen as soon as they were settled in their own private chamber.

Unfortunately, despite the reassurances he got a while ago from Aurelia, he still couldn't help but feel worried. It was the first time he had witnessed Xen acting like that.  He had even instructed his men to go back to the castle in secret and double-check everything being served and prepared for them, including the servants and the head cook assigned to the royal kitchen.

[And what about our mate still being annoyed at you for tricking her into putting up a wall against you in the wrong way?] Zeus scoffed. [I told you it would backfire on you sooner or later.]

[How come you didn't remind me about it then...]

There was silence, and Darius could only let out another sigh. So many things had happened, and more pressing matters occupied his and Zeus's thoughts at the time.

Darius looked at Xen intently while she was talking to Aurelia, his thoughts running faster as he noticed something. [There's something different about her scent...] Darius worriedly mused.

[Yes... I just can't pinpoint just why exactly...] Zeus commented. This was why he was still worried.

[It could be because of the angel blood in her that got activated,] Darius pondered. It was just a faint scent that came on and off without much prompting.

Curious, he walked towards the two women. He then turned to Aurelia and said, "I smell something different from her usual scent..."

"Do I smell awful? Bad, even?"  Xen quickly asked with a frown as she unknowingly sniffed herself. It was snowing, and she wasn't even sweating enough to smell bad, surely. If so,  what did Darius mean by his words? What was he smelling off of her?

Darius chuckled. "Of course not, my love. Your scent is still the same fresh and sweet soothing smell like the sea breeze as it has always been," he replied. "Only this time, the mix of salt is quite stronger at times instead of the usual sweet and coconut-like smell I'm used to."

He then looked at Aurelia with a frown. In response, the physician simply smiled at him and said, "Your Majesty, I assure you that Her Grace is not sick. She is very much in good health."

"I told you... I'm feeling much better now," Xenia beamed. "How about you just go and get me some black plum? I want some of them to eat right now..."

"Black plum? But it's winter, my love," Darius frowned. "That fruit is only usually available during the summer and autumn seasons."

"I'm sure it's still available somewhere," Xen answered with her sweetest smile, one that would always melt his heart. "I'm craving it. Go and get me some black plum, my love."

Although confused, he simply shrugged at his wife's demands. "Alright then. I'll go get some and be back soon."

Resigned, he then turned and walked away, ready to search the whole kingdom to get what his wife wanted to eat. He had also already tasked his men internally to find some black plum for them, assuming that it would be hard to find especially during this season.

*****

Meanwhile, Xenia stared at Aurelia as soon as Darius left. She was waiting for her final diagnosis, and the suspense was killing her.

"Are you really craving black plums, Your Grace?" Aurelia asked with a grin. "Or did you just say that to make His Majesty leave?"

"I'm really craving it," Xenia truthfully replied. "I just got this feeling that I want to eat them so badly..."

"Hmm... You're already in the early stages of pregnancy. Around three weeks or more at most," Aurelia stated. "Congratulations Your Grace. You are with child..."

Xenia's eyes widened as she rapidly blinked her eyes at Aurelia, the latter simply smiling wildly at her at the news. She was speechless, an overwhelming feeling surging all over her body as the news sank in. She just wanted to scream out in joy, but she didn't want to make a scene before she was truly ready to announce it to the world.

"Don't tell Darius..." Xenia murmured with a wide and mischievous smile.

Aurelia nodded. She then turned to her queen and added, "Still, I must remind you that you can't keep this from His Majesty for too long. He will find out soon enough, and you do know that a werewolf's senses are far more advanced and sensitive than a human's."

She explained further, "From what I can tell, not all can detect the signs of early pregnancy, but the King is the Supreme Alpha, and he'll be able to feel another heartbeat inside your body soon. He even recognized a change in your smell just now."

Xenia thoughtfully smiled at Aurelia. "Don't worry, I won't keep it from him for that long," she chuckled. "I'll tell him the good news as soon as we reach and get ourselves settled in his hometown."

"I see," Aurelia nodded in understanding. "Judging by our current pace then, we'll arrive at the Moonlight Pack come tomorrow morning."

"I'm sorry I had to drag you around with me like this," Xenia timidly murmured.

She was fully aware that Aurelia was working in the Infirmary. She had also heard of how the latter preferred her solemnity and privacy, which was unlike now when she would always have to be exposed by being by her side most of the time.

"It's alright. His Majesty didn't force me into this position anyway," Aurelia reassured her with a scoff. "He also asked for my permission first, to which I agreed to take this position while Lady Jayra isn't available."

Darius had suddenly appointed Aurelia to be the royal physician particularly assigned to her while Jayra was away on her own journey. Classically, royal physicians were mostly men, but Darius wanted a female physician around her to replace her friend. So instead of going for his usual physicians, he pulled on one of the best female physicians from the Cordon infirmary for the job.

And speaking of Jayra... Xenia couldn't wait to tell the good news to her and her whole family!

"Hopefully, Jayra won't take too long so that I can stop depriving you of your usual or preferred routine..." Xenia excitedly hummed. "Also, while Darius isn't around, feel free to discuss some of the things I should and shouldn't do. I want to take care of myself more and make sure that my baby will be well and healthy as soon as they're born..."

It was the right thing to do, and she couldn't help but touch her belly as she caressed the unborn child currently growing inside her.

"Hmm, alright, Your Grace," Aurelia nodded. "Shall I make you a list of things to do as well?"

"That would be great," Xenia beamed. "I want what's best for me and our baby, and I won't stop at nothing short of excellence when it comes to making sure we'll be alright."

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