XI. July 7th, 1989

I know I'm not a high-class woman, but it doesn't mean I'm a peasant.

I came from a long line of doctors and my parents paid off their third home!

That means, if my brother inherits one house and I get the other; then, we still have a third house to fight over!

And my brother is almost done with his student loan debts!

I don't care how beautiful Queen Meredith looks, if she ever needed me or my family help with some sort of medical problem; she's going to have to wait in the lobby with all the peasants!

"Thank you, Your Highness, for your compliment," I responded. "And I must apologize for the placement of Gwen. She's simply concerned about our friend's well-being, particularly with how the King had responded on the night of the ball."

Honestly, I have no idea what's coming out of my mouth.

I wasn't there for the climax of the ball, but I can imagine how a wife wouldn't be jumping for joy seeing her husband drooling over a younger girl.

Queen Meredith glared at me.

I smiled, "Bulteria is truly blessed to have such a beautiful and understanding Queen."

Watch how I switch this real quick.

"And now, not only are you the mother of your people but, of the children that are to come."

These are all words. I hope Asena is not pregnant.

"And these children, who hold the future of Bulteria, will grow beautifully under Your Highness's mentorship."

It's not a secret that the Queen of Asena is having a hard time conceiving children.

Am I petty enough to poke at a woman who cannot get pregnant?

If the woman indirectly calls me a peasant - yes.

Tea time did not end the way anyone expected. Queen Meredith didnt punish Dawn - mostly because she forgot about her after my stand against her - or me because I didn't say anything that directly offended her. Silent rule of the royal world - say what you want, but in a very secretive and mistrusting way.

In the car back, Dawn stared at me.

"What is it?" I asked.

"How did you learn how to talk like that?"

"Well-" That is a very good question. How did I learn how to talk like that? In the past, I would've just sworn directly at them. I couldn't precisely do that here since it could end up with me behind bars, but it doesn't mean I can suddenly know how to talk like that. "I must be a genius." I nodded towards her, "I mean, I did come from a long line of doctors."

Probably my genetics makes me a fast learner.

"I'm pretty freaked out."

"By what?" I asked.

"Everything," she said.

I crossed my arms and leaned back, "I mean, it is pretty freaky how Asena is-"

"No-" she intervened, "I mean, you."

"Me?" I pointed at myself.

"Yeah."

"Me?"

"Yeah," she exaggerated the word, "I mean, think about it. You know dining etiquette and you're freakishly good at ballroom dancing. Now, you're suddenly good at dealing with the social elites' wordplay?"

"I'm a genius?"

"Please. I've known you since elementary school. You can't dance for shit."

I place a hand on my chest, "I'm offended you think that way. My parents say I'm a great dancer."

"The last dance they saw you did was the chicken dance...in sixth grade."

"I...I...I don't know," I said. "I don't know how I'm so good at this. I just am?"

With Dawn's sudden confrontation, I realize how ridiculous my response is. I'm not the smart sibling at home, but I'm not stupid either. I'm actually pretty above average in school, but being above average doesn't mean you automatically know how to fine-dine, ballroom dance, or snap at social elites without getting imprisoned.

If I'm not a genius, then where did I learn all these things?

Dawn creeps closer to me, "Are you sure you're okay?"

I look over, "I'm not...sure."

She exhaled, "What do we do? First, Asena and now you?" Her back falls onto the chair, "Maybe it wasn't a good idea to come to Bulteria."

"We should've stayed home."

Dawn closed her eyes, "Home is a blessing right now."

When we went back to the estate, Dawn told me she was going to try to talk to Emmett. I shook my head at her decision and went back to the bedroom.

Quickly, I fell asleep.

That seems to be the norm nowadays.

Maybe, I can sleep through this disaster and when I wake up, Asena somehow frees herself and I fly home in peace.

The days passed anxiously, with no words from Asena. Except for today, when Emmett joined us for lunch. When I saw him, I noted to keep my mouth shut, especially with the tired bags under his eyes.

Must be difficult going against a king.

"Tomorrow, we will join King Dimitri for dinner," he says.

Did he said: we?

Dawn dropped her utensils, "We can see Asena?"

He smiled and nodded, "Yes. So, please rest tonight."

To prepare for tomorrow's dinner?

I guess.

If the Duke says so.

Dawn was satisfied with the answer while I was suspicious.

"Is everything to your liking Mira?" Emmett asked.

I stop moving the fork and look up, "Yes."

"You haven't touched anything."

I exhaled, "Sorry, I haven't had much of an appetite the past few days. I'm worried about Asena."

Emmett smiled softly, "Don't you worry Mira. We will get Asena out. Please, eat."

Why do I feel like Emmett is secretly a devious person?

Then again, I feel like all elite people are like that.

After dinner, my condition got even worse. I tried to take some medications, but the pain wouldn't go away. When I reached Dawn's bedroom, I knocked at her door but there was no answer.

"Miss Mira?" Bennett appeared out of nowhere again.

"Do you know where is Dawn?" I asked.

"I believe Miss Dawn is strolling the gardens with Master."

Oh, she's having her main character moment, good for her.

I'd celebrate it much more if I wasn't in so much pain.

"Bennett, can you do me a favor?"

"Of course Miss Mira."

"Come here." I wave her over.

When he got closer, I grabbed his arm, "First, hold me up because I have no strength."

Bennett, despite his old age, held me firmly, "Would you like me to call you an ambulance?"

"No," I said. An ambulance would disrupt Dawn's main character moment. She needs it after stressing about her friends for days. "Can you just send someone and Um- drive me to the hospital."

"Miss Mira-"

"And don't tell Dawn." I don't want to ruin her moment, and I also don't want her to call my parents again. "Please."

"Of course Miss Mira." Bennett supported me to the front of the house.

"Can you also keep this a secret?" I asked. "And not tell anyone? Even Emmett."

"I apologize, but I cannot keep that promise."

I should've seen that answer coming from a mile away.

"If the master asked me about what happened tonight in regards to you, I must respond to my best knowledge."

This other half gave me some reassurance since Emmett hasn't shown a single speck of interest in me.

"Thank you."

The ride to the hospital feels insanely long, and when I'm there, the wait feels even longer. The front desk asked me to fill out some forms and I'm pretty sure I filled them out incorrectly since the words somehow blurred together.

But, hey, A for effort.

When I finally got called back, they did a variety of tests, and after who knows how long, I realized they had been calling me: "Miku."

I don't fucking care if they got my name wrong, I just want the pain to stop.

Halfway in, a nurse came and said: "Miku Luu?"

"Yes."

The doctor recommended some basic tests to be taken, and then draw blood to see what was going on.

I fell asleep halfway through the night and finally woke up to a doctor's knock.

Must be the saline solution they pump into me but I feel much better.

He sat down beside me, "I have good news and bad news. Well, the news is dependent on how you perceive it."

I made a mental note to get straight to the point with my future patients.

"Bad news. We've documented all this information underneath a different name by accident. But, don't worry, we'll get it fixed."

I don't care.

Just tell me what's wrong with me, prescribe me some pills to pop and I'm good.

"Good news-"

I'm actually just very sick and a little bit of medication will fix my booboo?

The doctor looked at me and smiled, "Congratulations. You are pregnant."