In one of the more modestly furnished rooms within the imperial palace, Sorayah lay down on the bed, her figure partially concealed behind a veil of curtains. The soft drapery created a barrier between her and the others present...Dimitri, the royal physician, and Liam who waited in heavy silence for the results of the examination.
The doctor, a graying gamma with sharp eyes and a steady hand, had two fingers pressed gently against Sorayah’s wrist, his focus unshaken as he tried to detect the rhythm of life within her. After several tense monts, he finally withdrew his hand and turned to face Dimitri.
Sorayah, sensing sothing significant, slowly sat up in bed, her gaze alert despite her composed expression.
"Congratulations, Your Highness," the physician announced, offering a respectful bow. "She is indeed pregnant. It’s still very early in the term, but the signs are clear."
Sorayah felt her stomach clench at the confirmation. She instinctively placed a hand over her belly, her expression unreadable.
Dimitri exhaled heavily, the sound more of resignation than relief. "Alright. Thank you, doctor," he said curtly. "Liam will accompany you to retrieve the prescription for the abortion."
The physician rely nodded in acknowledgnt. Without another word, he turned on his heel and exited the room, Liam trailing closely behind him.
Sorayah remained silent, her hand still pressed to her stomach. Well... at least this spares from being forced into Lupien’s harem, she thought, a strange mix of guilt and relief coiling inside her chest. I’m sorry, child...
Dimitri approached her then, his heavy boots making barely a sound against the polished floor. He lowered himself to sit at the edge of the bed beside her, his erald eyes locked on her face.
"Are you alright?" he asked gently, studying her carefully. "You found out about the pregnancy during the war? When exactly did you learn?"
Sorayah hesitated for a mont before replying, her voice barely above a whisper. "When I was shot with an arrow. The physician who treated ... he told ." She paused, swallowing hard, then looked away as color crept into her cheeks. "But I don’t understand how it happened. I drank the abortion concoction right after we... after it happened between us."
Dimitri let out a soft laugh, his lips curling into a smirk that made her feel uneasy. "My pups are strong, apparently."
That cocky response only deepened her discomfort. Before she could respond, Dimitri’s tone shifted...softer now, almost secretive. "Anyway... you’re not pregnant."
Sorayah blinked. "What do you an?" she asked slowly, her brows furrowing. "Didn’t the physician just confirm it? You heard him."
Dimitri’s smirk remained, though it was now tinged with sothing darker...calculated. "You’re not truly pregnant," he said. "You’re just experiencing the symptoms of pregnancy. Eventually, your body will also exhibit signs of a miscarriage."
"I...I don’t understand you," Sorayah said, her voice tightening with confusion. "Explain it to ... clearly."
Dimitri leaned forward, his tone now serious. "The drug. You rember that full moon night, we were both drugged. It wasn’t just a common aphrodisiac. That particular drug mimics pregnancy symptoms. With ti, it even simulates a miscarriage. It also temporarily blocks real conception. It’s been used in foreign territories for decades to control bloodlines without the ss of actual pregnancies."
He paused, watching the shock dawning on her face. "I’ve traveled far and wide, Sorayah. I know more about rare substances than I ever let on. But I don’t reveal my knowledge unless there’s a reason."
Sorayah sat there, stunned. Her thoughts whirled. So that’s why he stood back when Lupien tried to claim as a concubine. He knew I’d use the pregnancy to protect myself. He knew Lupien would back off.
Such a master planner...
"I see," she said aloud, her voice quieter now. She nodded slowly in dawning understanding. "So I was never pregnant... not truly. But why didn’t you tell earlier?"
"There was no point in telling you right away," Dimitri said as he rose from the bed, brushing imaginary dust from his robe. "You would’ve found out soon enough."
His gaze flicked to the curtained doorway. "Soone from my manor actually wanted you to be one of my concubines. That plan... didn’t exactly go how they expected."
"Oh please, we both already know it’s Lady Arata," Sorayah said sharply, rolling her eyes and turning her head away in frustration. "But I still don’t understand why she wants to beco one of your concubines."
’Lady Arata told a few things about her intentions. She said she wanted to rise through the ranks...so I could eventually avenge Lily’s death. That was her offer. But I don’t need her help. I don’t trust anyone here. Especially not her.’ Sorayah thought to herself as she swallowed hard.
"Oh, she’s trying to kill you," Dimitri replied calmly, his tone so casual it sent a sudden chill down Sorayah’s spine. "Now that the drug has made it look like you’re pregnant, soon it will mimic symptoms of a miscarriage. And once that happens, a physician will be called to check on you."
He paused, watching her pale. "And when they find out there was no pregnancy to begin with, the assumption will be that you faked it...deceiving a royal son to beco his concubine. That cri, Sorayah, is punishable by death."
"What?!" Sorayah gasped, suddenly feeling dizzy as the weight of his words settled over her. Her mind reeled. "I thought Lady Mira was the dangerous one but Lady Arata... is even worse. So she wants dead too? All because of you?"
Dimitri’s expression darkened. "She might not want you dead. In fact, she probably doesn’t. If she did, she wouldn’t go through all this trouble. Arata wants you to survive as my concubine. That way, she can use you. Work through you. Control you."
Sorayah clenched her fists at her sides, fury flashing in her eyes. "This is disgusting!" she snapped. "And you...you knew all of this? You knew and said nothing until now?"
"What’s the point in telling you sooner?" Dimitri shrugged, smirking again, as if it amused him. "You would have learned eventually. Still, a lot about Arata remains a mystery. That’s why I want you to find out more...once you beco my concubine."
"What?!" Sorayah’s voice rose as disbelief and anger surged through her. "You want to investigate her? Absolutely not! If you want to spy on your pregnant concubine, do it yourself. You’re the only one who can tolerate their behavior anyway." She folded her arms stubbornly across her chest, glaring at him.
"I never wanted to be your concubine in the first place. I only made the fake pregnancy public to save myself from becoming his highness the Alpha Emperor’s concubine."
’That was the lesser of two evils.’
"You don’t have a say in this, Sorayah," Dimitri said, his voice hardening as he stepped closer, his gaze locking with hers. "You will beco my concubine and carry out the small task I’m giving you. I have far more important matters to deal with than babysitting my harem."
He paused, his tone sharp and commanding. "Lady Mira was originally ant to carry out this assignnt, but she’s under punishnt. She’s not even clever or patient enough to deal with Arata’s mind gas. But you...you can. Beco my concubine, get close to Arata, and find out what she’s planning. She may look weak, obedient, even graceful but beneath that mask, she’s cunning, calculating. Dangerous."
Sorayah stood frozen, every word crashing into her like a wave of betrayal.
"And if you refuse," Dimitri added coldly, "even if Arata has so plan in motion to save your life... I will personally see to your execution. Do not test ."
"You’ve already got everything planned out, haven’t you?" Sorayah hissed, her voice shaking with fury. "You manipulate , threaten , force into your harem like a pawn in your little ga."
How dare you!
"There’s a reason Arata set this whole thing in motion," Dimitri replied, unbothered by her rage. "And if she wants to play a ga, then you’re going to be part of it. What’s the point in rebelling, Sorayah, when obedience could save your life?"
He turned away briefly, his voice more composed but no less ruthless. "Also, as a punishnt for refusing Alpha Lupien proposal, you’ll be working under him for a month or more. Likely within his inner chambers...so he can keep a close eye on you. But you’ll be keeping close eyes on him more."
Sorayah’s eyes widened with fury. "Are you giving another task now?" she barked, her patience gone. "I haven’t even accepted the damn concubine mission, and now you want to assign to the Alpha Emperor too?"
"Yes," Dimitri said simply, his voice infuriatingly calm. "I’ll give you the full details concerning it soon."
Sorayah let out a sharp scoff of disbelief, every muscle in her body tensed with frustration and dread.
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