It's been two days since Nico's exile.
Her mother's death.
Her wedding.
And now she was sick in bed with a fever and she was constantly throwing up in her wastebasket. Her father assigned her a new maid, who occasionally came in to check on her.
Kaya was sitting on the edge of her bed clutching a book in her hands that were shaking uncontrollably. She set the book down and glanced at her untouched breakfast on the table.
She reached and grabbed the piece of buttered toast and nibbled.
Kaya hadn't spoken a word to anyone. She hadn't yet forgiven herself for getting Nico into trouble or trying to deny her feelings for him. Maybe if she had tried to tell him how she felt, they wouldn't be in this predicament.
He'd still be here. They'd be together.
There was a stinging pain in her stomach and she cried out, dropping the bread and wrapping her arms around herself.
Her maid hustled inside. She was plump but not unpleasantly so, with bronze skin, brown hair up in a bun. Her dress was faded and wrinkled slightly.
"Is everything alright?" she scooped up the bread, tossing it into the trash bin before turning her attention to her. She placed the back of her hand to her forehead. "Great mother! You're burning up!"
She races back to the door shouting for a nurse.
Kaya tried to get to her feet but she was unstable and she fell onto her side and darkness welcomed her like an old friend.
...
Muffled voices woke her and Kaya blinked.
"...you need to figure out what to do." her father. He sounds...upset. "My first grandchild will not be a half-breed."
Grandchild?
"We-We're doing everything we can, Your Highness." stuttered a voice.
"You'd better figure something out quick or you won't like the consequences." her father snarled.
Kaya tried to sit up and the man wearing a white suit moved toward her but King Kojo waved him away. "Leave us."
"Your Highness-"
"Do you dare wish to test my patience?" King Kojo hissed.
The man bowed. "Of course not. I'll leave at once."
When the man was gone King Kojo sat down and took her hand in his. "Kaya, dear. How are you feeling?"
Kaya glanced at the bowl of grapes beside her.
"Are you hungry?" King Kojo grabbed the bowl and held it out to her.
Kaya grabbed a handfull, popping them in one by one, their sweet flavor exploding on her tongue. She closed her eyes.
"Your mother was laid to rest today. We're going to be holding a ceremony later today." her father wrung his hands together. "It would mean so much if you attended."
Kaya opened her eyes and took in her father's crestfallen expression. His hair was sticking up in every direction and there were dark circles under his eyes from lack of sleep. He looked as though he were losing weight.
"Would you like to attend?"
Kaya nodded and handed him some grapes. Her father shook his head. "I'm fine, dear." he stood and kissed her forehead. "You should be worried about keeping your strength. I'm going to go check on your siblings."
When he left the room, Kaya glanced down at her stomach and choked at the sight before her. Her middle was round, and she had to blink and rub her eyes to make sure she wasn't hallucinating.
Pregnant.
She was pregnant.
Suddenly everything was clicking into place. My first grandchild will not be a half-breed.
Wait...half-breed?
Kaya gasped. Nico.
This was Nico's child.