CHAPTER:NINE
Gilas slowed his strokes when he realized Senki had stopped talking. His chest rose and fell rapidly, sweat dripping from his forehead.
Senki.
She didn't move. Didn't even blink.
There was no anger on her face. No grief. No hatred. Nothing. That made it worse.
That silence—her silence—was worse than a thousand curses.
Gilas clenched his fists, digging his nails into his palms. The pain grounded him, but it didn't stop the guilt from tearing through him.
He opened his mouth, ready to say something—anything. He wanted to beg. To explain. To apologize.
But no words came out.
He stared at her, heart breaking a little more with each second.
He felt like the worst man alive.
KING LETUKA'S CHAMBER
Kaira stepped into the king's chamber—and her breath caught in her throat.
King Letuka lay sprawled on the floor, his body unnaturally still. His skin had lost its color, and sweat glistened on his forehead. His chest rose and fell in short, labored breaths, his body burning with fever.
Kaira froze.
Her mind screamed at her to move, but her feet remained rooted in place.
"Is the poison already working? No—no, it's too soon. I was told it would take at least ten doses. He can't be dying yet! Not now—not like this! I need him to suffer. Slowly. He's supposed to beg for mercy, not slip away like a shadow in the night!"
Panic surged through her veins as she rushed forward, dropping to her knees beside him. Her trembling fingers reached for his neck.
A heartbeat.
Faint, but steady.
Relief crashed over her like a wave, but it didn't last long.
"What do I do now?" she thought, swallowing hard.
She pressed her hands against his shoulders, trying to lift him, but he was too heavy. Frustrated, she stood up. She needed help.
As she turned to leave, something caught her eye—the drawer.
It was slightly open,she quickly closed it to find someone.
And then, as if fate had heard her silent prayers, she saw him.
Gilas.
He was standing just outside the chamber, his back turned.
Without thinking, she rushed to him.
"Oh, Gilas! Please, I need your help!"
Gilas turned, startled. "My lady, what's wrong?"
"It's the king! He collapsed! He's burning with fever, and I—"
But before she could finish, Gilas was already sprinting past her, pushing open the chamber doors.
"Your Majesty!" he gasped, falling to his knees beside the king.
Kaira watched as worry and fear flickered across his usually calm face. But then, something changed.
Gilas turned to her, his expression darkening.
For the first time ever, he looked at her with suspicion.
His jaw clenched, his voice sharp. "I need to get the royal physician!" He jumped to his feet, ready to run.
But just as he turned, something unexpected happened.
The king's eyes snapped open.
Gilas stopped in his tracks. Kaira's breath caught.
Letuka's gaze was sharp as it moved between them.
"What's all this noise?" His voice was raspy, but not weak. There was steel in it—quiet, sharp steel.
Kaira took an instinctive step back. Her mind raced.
He was supposed to be unconscious. Barely breathing. Weak. But the man now sitting up was very much aware—and watching her closely.
"You—Your Majesty," she said, her voice cracking despite her best efforts to sound calm. "You collapsed. We… I thought—"
The king raised one hand. Just one. But it was enough to silence her.
He turned to Gilas instead. "You are dismissed."
A pause stretched between them. Gilas didn't move at first. Kaira could see it—he didn't want to leave. His eyes flicked between her and the king, his jaw set, his fists clenched.
But in the end, he had no choice.
"Yes, my king." His voice was clipped. Controlled. He bowed stiffly, then turned and walked out of the chamber.
Kaira heard his steps fade down the hallway, leaving her alone.
Letuka sat up further, his arms resting on his knees. He stretched with a low groan, like a man waking from a long, peaceful nap.
Then he looked at her.
"I am fine, my lady," he said softly. Too softly.
Kaira's heart thudded uncomfortably.
Then, to her surprise, he opened his arms slightly. "Come here."
She blinked. "Come where, Your Majesty?"
His lips curled into something that looked like a smile—but felt more like a threat. "I just escaped death, my lady. And right now, I need a warm embrace."
She hesitated. Every part of her body screamed at her not to move. But she stepped forward.
Just a few inches separated them when everything changed.
Letuka stood.
Not slowly. Not like a man recovering from a collapse. He moved with sudden power, rising to his full, intimidating height in an instant.
The weakness was gone. Completely.
Kaira froze mid-step. Her stomach turned. This wasn't recovery. It was revelation.
Kaira's breath caught as he turned to her, his eyes burning with something unreadable.
Letuka looked down at her, eyes dark with something unreadable.
"My lady," he said smoothly, "I want you to carry my child."
The words echoed in her skull like thunder.
Her mouth went dry. "W-what?"
"I will set a date for us to conceive." He stepped closer, gaze never leaving hers. "Prepare yourself."
Then came the smile—the real one this time. Cold. Knowing. Cruel.
"I can be… rough sometimes."
A chill shot down her spine. She couldn't breathe. Couldn't speak.
Letuka chuckled, then turned away. "Goodnight, my beautiful lady," he said over his shoulder.
And just like that, he climbed into bed, pulling the covers over himself like nothing had happened.
Kaira stood there, motionless.
Her legs were shaking. Her mind spinning.
She needed to act—fast.
THE NEXT MORNING
At dawn, Kaira prepared another dose of poison for the king. This time, she added more to make sure it worked as soon as possible.
LADY LARISA'S CHAMBER
Lady Larisa had been feeling sick since morning. She was shivering and vomiting non-stop.
Senki stood beside her, looking worried.
"My lady, should I call the royal physician?"
"No!" Larisa snapped weakly.
Senki's eyes were red with exhaustion. She had been standing for hours and was tired, but she didn't complain.
"Call Soyara for me," Larisa ordered.
"But, my lady, won't it look suspicious if we call a physician from outside the palace?"
"SENKI! Obey before questioning me!" Larisa shouted.
Senki sighed and rushed out of the chamber, even though her body ached. She had no choice.
QUEEN MAYANA'S SECRET MISSION
Queen Mayana moved quickly through the palace halls, her steps silent, her eyes sharp. Three maids followed behind her, but she stopped just short of the east corridor.
"You should stay here," she said. "I need to go somewhere alone."
"Yes, my queen," they replied in unison.
Once they had retreated, she ducked into an old storage chamber. There, she quickly changed into a maid's uniform, tucking her hair under a cloth and wiping the royal scent from her wrists.
At the palace gates, a guard blocked her path.
"Where are you going?"
She held up the queen's insignia ring. "A task. Directly from Her Majesty."
The guards stepped aside, and she hurried into the marketplace, making sure to cover her face.
When she arrived at a dark hut, an old blind man sat inside. His clothes were tattered, and his hair was unkempt.
"My lady," he said, bowing slightly. "How may I help you?"
Queen Mayana was surprised. "How does he know I'm a lady when he's blind?" she wondered.
"I heard you make the best fertility medicine," she said.
"That is true, my lady," he replied with a small smile.
Without another word, she grabbed a small bottle of medicine and threw a bag of money on the floor.
"My lady, that medicine must be used with—"
But she didn't let him finish. She hurried out of the hut.
The old man sighed. "Ah… I hope she returns. She must use the medicine with the blood of a fowl, or else…"
He shook his head. "What a pity."
LADY LARISA'S SHOCKING NEWS
The room was quiet. Too quiet.
Lady Larisa lay still on her bed, the sheets soaked with sweat. Her skin felt cold, but her forehead burned. Her stomach kept twisting, and every few minutes, she had to sit up to vomit again. She was weak, tired, and scared.
Senki was back and stood at her side the whole time. Her eyes were swollen from lack of sleep. She hadn't sat down in hours. She held a cloth to Larisa's forehead, then replaced the basin beside the bed. She wanted to speak—but she didn't know what to say.
Finally, after what felt like forever, there was a knock at the secret back door.
Senki rushed to open it.
A tall, thin man entered. He had white hair, and kind eyes. He didn't speak much. He didn't ask questions. This was Soyara—the one physician Larisa trusted to keep quiet.
He placed his bag down beside the bed and began checking Larisa gently. He took her pulse. He touched her neck. He asked her to breathe in, then out. He looked at her eyes. His hands moved slowly but with purpose. Senki stood nearby, watching, her hands shaking.
After a few moments, Soyara straightened his back and looked at Larisa.
"My lady," he said softly, "you are with child."
The words didn't make sense.
Larisa blinked. "What?" she whispered.
"You are pregnant," he repeated calmly. "The signs are clear."
She stared at him. Her mouth opened, but no words came out. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears.
"Pregnant?" she said again, louder now. "No. That's not possible."
Soyara gave her a small nod, then gently closed his bag. "You should eat more fruit, drink more water. Rest. You need strength. The baby will need it too."
But Larisa wasn't listening. She was still frozen. Still trying to understand.
The physician stood and gave her a respectful bow.
"This news must not leave this chamber," Larisa said suddenly, her voice sharper now. "You are both dismissed."
Senki hesitated. "My lady—"
"Go," Larisa snapped.
Senki and the physician exchanged a glance, then bowed and quietly left the room.
As soon as the door closed, Larisa sat up slowly.
Her hands trembled. Her heart raced.
"No, no, no," she whispered. "This can't be happening. Not now…"
She stood up and walked to the mirror.
Her face was pale, but her eyes were wild. Angry. Afraid.
"How can I be pregnant?" she asked herself.
But the truth was right in front of her.
Only one man she had let in.
"Gilas…" she said softly.
The name left her lips like a secret escaping into the room.
She remembered their last moment together. The heat of it. The closeness. The night she had convinced herself that it was a mistake—one she would bury and never speak of again.
But now, the mistake had grown. It was no longer just a memory.
It was inside her.
A life.
Panic filled her chest. She felt like she couldn't breathe.
Her thoughts raced.
"What if the king finds out? What if someone talks? What if Senki say something she shouldn't?
She closed her eyes tightly and took a deep breath.
She couldn't let her fear show. Not now.
She had spent years building her place in this palace—winning trust, protecting her secrets, playing the game. She wasn't about to lose everything because of one moment of weakness.
No.
She would fix this.
Somehow.
Her body still felt weak, but her mind was made of fire now.
"I need to see Gilas," she whispered. "Right now."
Without waiting another second, she opened the door and stormed down the hall—her footsteps fast and furious, her heart pounding with every step.