Alya stood in front of the small mirror in her room, gazing at her increasingly weary reflection. The symptoms of pregnancy were becoming harder to deny—morning sickness, sudden dizziness, and persistent fatigue. But she refused to let the truth be revealed. She knew that if anyone—especially Damien—discovered her secret, everything would fall apart: her mission, her freedom, perhaps even her life.
"I have to stay strong," she whispered to her reflection. "This is temporary. I must stay focused."
---
**Tasks That Demand Resilience**
The days passed slowly, and Alya became more adept at hiding her pregnancy symptoms. She stifled her morning sickness by drinking warm water before leaving her room, ensuring no one saw her falter. When dizziness or fatigue struck, she controlled her breathing, pretending to stay busy with her work.
However, the tasks Damien assigned were becoming increasingly strenuous. One morning, he requested Alya's assistance in the laboratory—a job that required high focus and stamina.
Inside the lab, the sound of machines filled the air. Rows of glass tubes containing glowing green liquid stood in alignment, housing unconscious subjects. Alya fought back nausea as she helped Damien organize crucial documents.
"You look pale," Damien remarked suddenly, breaking the silence.
Alya swallowed hard, keeping her voice steady. "I'm fine, Sir. Perhaps I just need more rest."
Damien scrutinized her for a moment before nodding. "If you ever feel unwell, let me know. I don't want my personal maid to fall ill."
"Thank you for your concern, Sir. I can manage," Alya replied with a small smile, though her body felt like it might collapse at any moment.
---
That evening, Alya sat on the edge of her bed, her hands resting on her still-flat stomach. She knew there was nothing she could do to halt the changes happening inside her body. But she also knew she had to keep this truth hidden from everyone, even Sofia.
When the communication device on her table buzzed, Alya hesitantly activated it. Sofia's voice came through the line.
"Alya, are you there? How's the mission progressing?" Sofia asked.
"Everything is proceeding as usual," Alya replied, trying to sound normal. "Damien trusts me more. I've gained access to more important information."
"You sound tired. Is something wrong?" Sofia asked, her tone filled with concern.
"It's nothing. Just heavy workloads," Alya replied quickly. She couldn't tell Sofia about her pregnancy. If Sofia knew, the mission might be called off, and Alya couldn't accept such failure.
"All right," Sofia finally said. "Take care of yourself, Alya. We can't lose you now."
Alya turned off the communication device and exhaled deeply. This secret had to remain buried, even from her allies.
---
Despite Alya's best efforts to conceal her condition, Damien began showing signs of suspicion. One evening, while they were talking in the reading room, Damien looked at Alya with a sharp gaze.
"You seem different lately," he said. "Are you hiding something?"
Alya held her breath but quickly forced a small smile. "Nothing, Sir. Maybe it's just fatigue."
Damien squinted but didn't press further. "Make sure to take care of yourself, Alya. I don't like losing people who are important to me."
Those words only increased Alya's sense of pressure. She knew Damien wasn't a man easily fooled. If she continued showing signs of weakness, Damien would surely find out.
---
**Signs That Are Hard to Hide**
As time went on, the symptoms of Alya's pregnancy became harder to ignore. Her maid uniform began feeling tighter around her stomach, and she had to adjust her posture to avoid raising suspicion. While she managed to hide her nausea and dizziness, her changing body posed a new challenge.
She began avoiding places where Damien or Madam Eliza could observe her too closely. When she noticed her stomach starting to protrude slightly, she discreetly added extra fabric beneath her uniform to conceal the change.
But every day felt like a new test. Every time Damien called for her, Alya felt as though she was walking on a tightrope. She knew that if Damien learned her secret, everything would collapse.
---
That night, Alya returned to her room, her body exhausted and her mind weighed down with anxiety. As she removed her uniform, she looked at her stomach in the mirror. Though the changes were still subtle, Alya knew it was only a matter of time before they became impossible to hide.
Sitting on the edge of her bed, she placed a trembling hand on her stomach. "I can't let them find out," she whispered to herself. "I have to protect this… and myself."
But deep in her heart, Alya knew her struggle was only beginning.
---
**Morning Tasks and Lingering Doubts**
The next morning, Alya woke earlier than usual. She had to maintain her routine as a maid to avoid drawing attention. Despite her weakness, she forced herself to rise and straighten her uniform.
Upon arriving at the kitchen, Madam Eliza was already busy giving instructions to the other maids. The woman was strict and never allowed anyone to slack off or show weakness.
"Alya, you'll assist in the drawing room today," Eliza said without looking at her. "Make sure everything is spotless before the guests arrive this afternoon."
"Yes, Madam," Alya replied, bowing politely.
She grabbed cleaning supplies and headed to the drawing room, where a few other maids were already working. One of them was Clara, a cheerful but overly talkative maid.
"Alya, you've looked thinner lately," Clara said while lifting a vase. "Are you on a diet?"
Alya chuckled lightly, trying to divert attention. "No. Maybe I've just been busy."
Clara approached, scrutinizing Alya's face closely. "But you look a bit pale. Are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm fine," Alya said quickly. "Let's focus on finishing this before Madam Eliza checks."
Clara nodded, though her curious expression lingered. Alya felt relieved when the conversation ended and returned her focus to her task.
---
**A Dangerous Gift**
One afternoon, Damien unexpectedly summoned Alya to the library. His presence alone made the quiet room feel charged with tension. He walked toward her confidently, dressed in a perfectly tailored dark suit. Alya lowered her gaze respectfully, concealing her unease.
"Alya," he said softly yet firmly, "I've heard you haven't been feeling well lately."
"I'm fine, Sir," Alya replied quickly. "Just a little tired from work."
Damien raised an eyebrow, then gave a faint smile. "You're my personal maid. I can't have you working in such a condition."
"I don't want to disappoint you, Sir," Alya said, attempting to redirect Damien's attention.
But Damien wasn't easily deterred. He pulled a small box from his pocket and handed it to Alya. Inside were several shiny green pills.
"Take these," he said. "They'll help you recover and stay fit."
Alya looked at the pills hesitantly. "What are these, Sir?"
"A specially designed supplement for stamina and health," Damien said convincingly. "I use them myself occasionally. Trust me, they'll make you feel much better."
Feeling uneasy, Alya hesitated but knew she couldn't refuse Damien's orders without raising suspicion. Carefully, she took one pill from the box.
"Take it now," Damien ordered, his eyes watching her every move.
With trembling hands, Alya swallowed the pill with a glass of water provided by Damien. The taste was slightly bitter, but the effects were almost immediate. The fatigue and dizziness that had plagued her began to fade.
"How do you feel?" Damien asked.
"Better, Sir. Thank you," Alya replied, though she remained unsure about what she had just consumed.
---
**Unseen Effects**
In the following days, the pills seemed to boost Alya's energy. Morning sickness, which had been difficult to conceal, began to subside. Her uniform felt more comfortable, though her body continued to show subtle changes.
However, something felt off. Her stomach, which had previously only slightly protruded, began to feel heavier, as if the changes were accelerating faster than expected. Alya couldn't understand what was happening but chose to ignore it to focus on her tasks.
Meanwhile, Damien continued to provide her with the pills, ensuring she took them regularly. He never explained further, only insisting they were crucial for her health.
"Alya," Damien said one day while they worked in the reading room, "you're the most trusted maid I've ever had. I don't want you losing energy to serve me."
"I will always do my best, Sir," Alya replied, hiding her growing unease.
---
**Generational Experimentation**
What Alya didn't know was that the pills Damien provided were far from ordinary supplements. They were specifically designed as part of the Byron family's generational experimentation—a long-held obsession to create superior humans. The pills contained substances that accelerated fetal development, enhancing the physical and mental capabilities of the unborn child.
However, the effects on the mother's body were severe. The pills strengthened the uterine walls and enlarged the placenta, potentially causing serious complications during pregnancy. But as always, Damien cared little for the risks. To him, the success of the experiment was paramount.
"Alya shows perfect responsiveness," Damien told one of the scientists in his laboratory. "She doesn't even realize what's happening to her body."
"This is risky, Sir Damien," the scientist replied cautiously. "If she finds out what we're doing, she might resist."
"That won't happen,"
Damien said with a faint smile. "Alya is too loyal. She'll do whatever I ask."
---
Unbeknownst to her, Alya's secret was already at the heart of Damien's plans.*