The castle has been quiet for the past few days ever since the incident that happened in my room. Holland kept to his promises and surprisingly slept in my room for three days. I would never have believed that Holland and I would always walk together without any slurs coming from him towards me and that we could get along. Not even the king and queen could believe that he was getting close to me. We practically became closer than before, but I could feel that he wasn't totally happy with staying in my room and probably missed his girlfriend.
I wasn't wrong. After three days, he announced that he would return to his room and that I was fully protected. At least he made an effort to protect me, but aside from that, I still needed my own privacy, especially while trying to hide my bump that was already starting to get obvious.
Simon, on the other hand, had been completely acting strange and was keeping a distance from me. At first, I thought it was nothing and he was probably busy, but over time, I realised that he was avoiding me on purpose, but I don’t understand why.
He had been skipping dinner on purpose, and yesterday, I happened to see him coming towards his room, but just as I was about to call him, he sighted me, then he turned his back and left.
I stood outside my room's door, waiting for him to come back and enter his room, but I waited for what seemed like hours, yet he never came back. I eventually gave up.
He has been acting strange ever since the incident happened, or could it be that he was acting this way because I was vulnerable around him that night, or was it because he probably saw my nakedness?
"No, it can't be," I muttered, shaking my head in an attempt to shove the thought away from my head. Simon wouldn't be like that, but then again, I can't tell because he has suddenly decided to ignore my existence.
I had no idea why the nicest person in this castle was keeping his distance from me, just as Skye had done, but I guess I should mind my own business and concentrate on those I have around me, Holland and the girls.
"This looks like a nice spot, don't you think?" Miriam said, bringing me out of my thoughts.
"Yes, let's stay here," I replied. I was lost in my thoughts and had almost forgotten that I was on a walk with the girls to the garden.
"Why do you look troubled?" Evelyn asked, bringing her face closer to mine and staring straight into my soul. If I wasn't troubled, I definitely would be troubled with her huge blue eyes staring at me up close.
"I'm fine, thanks for worrying," I responded, carefully shifting her face away from mine.
Miriam set the mat on the garden floor and placed the snacks we had on it as we all sat under the cool shades of the huge tree that was rumoured to be the first tree in Latvera. The garden was crowded today, but I got to know that a noble's daughter was celebrating a birthday party in the garden, and both her guests and servants were everywhere.
The weather was a little bit too sunny, and the shades from the tree were a good option, but I wasn't feeling too well. My head felt light and I was dizzy. I felt weak.
I knew it was the baby causing these, but the symptoms seem to be increasing over the past few days alongside the bump growing. It no longer feels like a bloated stomach and I've been forced to wear those hideous free and huge gowns that were brought from Edessa.
My face was also getting fuller and I was putting on weight. I've been trying my best to sit furthest from the queen because I had a feeling she would instantly know that I was pregnant if she came close to me.
I thought my child would hold on a little bit longer in there, but hell, it has been months since I conceived and I will be expecting in some weeks' time. I need to leave here soon because I doubt that I will be able to hide it any longer.
"A girl's date without me?" Skye yelled, walking towards us from a distance with a smile on her face. I thought she didn't want to have anything to do with me, so why was she here?
"Princess Skye" The girls greeted her with a bow. I bowed in response to the girls' bows.
"I thought we all agreed to come here together. It's not fair to leave me out. " She pouted, immediately picking the grapes in my bowl.
"You've been doing a pretty good job at avoiding me. I didn't want to ruin your good acts by meeting you. " I replied. Her face was focused on the grape she was eating, but her lips curved into a smile.
"I was just being... let's say immature." She said, I was going to ask her what she meant by that, but I wasn't in my right mind to say anything. Her perfume was strong and it was making me feel nauseous.
"Are you okay?" She asked, her eyes studying me.
"Yes, I am fine…" I tried to say, but before I could finish my sentence, I felt a warm liquid of vomit gushing through my throat. Covering my mouth tightly, I immediately stood up and rushed to the nearest bush I could find before letting out all of the warm liquid from my mouth.
"Princess Addison, are you okay?" The girls both screamed in terror and ran up to me, their voices trembling. I tried to say that I was fine but I couldn't seem to bring the words out of my mouth, staring at them with my head seeming to be floating away from my body. I was feeling weak, nauseous, and light-headed at the same time. It felt as if my child had suddenly decided to pour out all of the symptoms that it had been hiding at once.
These were supposed to come out in the earlier stages, but they didn't. I thought that I might be lucky to not experience these, especially at a time like this, but I was wrong. All of the effects are suddenly showing up now and they are worse.
"You really don't look well," Skye said, slowly walking towards where I was, but on getting to me, she placed the back of her hand on my forehead.
With a gasp, she said, "You're burning out; we better take you to the doctor" and proceeded to drag me with her, but I withheld.
"No!" I exclaimed. I can't let her take me to the doctor; it would take less than a minute of examination for the doctor to realise that I am pregnant.
"Why? You need it" she asked, her brows furrowed.
"I'll be fine," I replied, but noticed her eyes opening wide and her palm covering her mouth while she stared at me.
"Wait a minute, are you pregnant?" She asked, taking some steps back with her eyes staring into my soul, followed by the gasps of the girls, and practically everyone's eyes suddenly fell on me. She didn't keep her voice down.
"Don't be silly, I'm not," I replied, but I don't think she believes me.
"I am an apprehentice and I work directly with the king's physician. I would know when a person is pregnant. I have seen a lot of pregnant women and I have diagnosed tons. You are pregnant, Addison," she added, her voice louder than before.
My hands started to sweat as I stared at her in silence. There would be no point in arguing with her. She was skilled, and if I kept on arguing, she might insist on me going to the doctor, and that would only prove her right. The wedding would be cancelled, and I would be escorted back to Edessa.
There would be nothing that I could say that would save me from going back to Edessa, but that would be a terrible place to escape from. The queen might expose me to her citizens, and I would be dead in no time. Not even Miriam and Evelyn would want anything to do with me. I couldn't let that happen, but I knew it was too late.
Different people were staring at me, and I could see them whispering to one another. This was definitely going to be a huge problem for me. Rumours are already spreading.