Chapter 829: Pregnancy

The royal physician had arrived. Once he finished checking Oriana, he looked at Arlan and offered him a smile.

"Your Highness, Her Highness is expecting," he said. "Congratulations."

Arlan wasn’t surprised as he had already suspected, and given what Oriana’s father said before they left. Due to his powers, Valeron could feel his daughter was carrying a new life inside her, but he chose not to say it, leaving this precious news for them to discover.

On the other hand, Oriana looked utterly surprised as she had truly not expected it. Her thoughts about her messed up monthly cycle and guilt of messing up her own body didn’t allow her to expect it, at least not this soon, before her body was entirely healed, which she felt had not yet recovered.

She couldn’t even comprehend how to reply when the physician wished her.

Roman led the physician out to reward him and his apprentice for the news, leaving their liege alone with his Crown Princess.

Arlan went to her and sat at the edge of the bed, while Oriana tried to sit up. He helped her to sit, arranging the cushions behind her and offered her a smile.

"Did the physician say exactly what I heard?" she asked, her eyes looking into his for confirmation.

"Doubting the hearing senses of a demoness would be a sin," he said, his heart overwhelming with happiness. "You heard it right. We are going to be parents of little demons."

"Don’t call my child a demon," she frowned.

"When a mother is one, what else should I call our kids?" he leaned closer, his gaze observing her frowning face. "And trust me, I loved demons," and captured her lips into a gentle kiss.

His hands gently caressed the sides of her face, his demeanor serious this time, his warm gaze meeting hers. "Thank you, Oriana."

In response, she hugged him, letting her emotions settle in.

He held her in a gentle wrap of his hold. "Are you happy now?"

She hummed. "You?"

"Is it even a question to ask?"

"You asked the same."

"You could have been creative with your question."

She looked back at him. "Want to fight with me?"

He quickly shook his head. "I can’t dare provoke a demoness. I am scared of her sword, I swear."

She narrowed her eyes at him, only to see him chuckle. "Alright! I won’t tease you anymore."

The entire family got the news of it, and all of them arrived at the Thistle Palace without any delay, as if they couldn’t wait to see Oriana. Except for the king.

When Oriana arrived at the drawing room, she wasn’t just welcomed by the family members but by so many servants bringing in the gifts for her prepared by the family.

"Oriana," the queen cheerfully hugged her. "Congratulations, my dear."

"Thank you, Mother," Oriana replied.

The rest of the family members wished her as well, busy surrounding Oriana.

Arlan let out a sigh and settled in his chair. "All the attention to my wife. I was the one to put the effort into bringing this day to you all."

Julien narrowed her eyes at him for his meaningful words. "But afterward she is the one to go through all the trouble, so your efforts are not counted."

Lenard settled in the chair next to him, a teasing glint in his eyes. "I hope you are not too exhausted due to your efforts, brother. If you are, I will ask a royal physician to get medicine for you...."

"The one you had after impregnating your wife?" Arlan countered.

Lenard chuckled playfully. "There’s no need. I am strong enough to keep giving you nieces and nephews every now and then."

Their playful banter continued.

Along with Oriana, Arlan went to meet his father later on. The king was visibly happy and blessed the two.

Sending Oriana back, Arlan stayed as Ailwin had an important matter to discuss with him.

"Have you decided on attending a wedding?" Ailwin asked.

"Yes, Father. I have already given my word to Arthur, and also, I will be able to meet others," Arlan replied. "But I am sure Father has something else to discuss about."

Ailwin nodded. "It’s about your friend Nathaniel."

As a king, Ailwin was aware of every important subject, and Nathaniel and his father were no exception.

"Duke Mortem had something again?" Arlan asked.

Ailwin hummed. "He seemed to have fixed the marriage prospectus for Nathaniel."

That was indeed not a good news.

"Nathaniel won’t agree to what that man plans," Arlan said.

"I just wished to let you know," Ailwin said. "I did everything I could to help Nathaniel against his father by giving him power, but I have no right to meddle in such family matters."

"Nathaniel is already thankful for your help, Father," Arlan said calmly. "I am sure he will handle it well."

"I do hope by now you already know how his father works."

"That’s worrisome, but we will take care of him," Arlan assured. "Thank you for letting me know."

Ailwin offered a nod, and Arlan left after they talked for a while more about some other matters.

When Arlan returned to Oriana, she was resting in her bed.

He went to her side. "How are you feeling?"

She let out a sigh. "Realizing that even a powerful demoness is not spared from the effects of pregnancy. I feel like this nausea and tiredness will kill me, and I am already hating it."

"Too much to restrict you from jumping here and there like a bunny," he laughed a little and sat next to her. "It would be difficult to stick your beautiful butt in one place."

She was the kind to never stay put, and this was going to be a tough time for her.

Once more, a sigh left her. "Don’t even start about it."

"We have no knowledge of how pregnancy works in demon kinds. Maybe we can get help from your father or some physician from the demon realm to understand it."

"I don’t think it would be any different, as I am in the end born as a human," she said with her own experience as a physician. "What’s different is, what’s growing inside me is not a human. And I can’t expect any decency and mercy from a dragon’s baby."

Arlan chuckled again. "Can’t deny it. It wasn’t easy when I was inside my mother’s body. I heard the story from Mother Julien about how tired my mother was and how she was waiting desperately for the day to finally deliver me."

"I can already imagine my future ahead," she said in a complaining tone.

"Alright. You take care of our kids while they are growing inside you. Once they are out, I will take all the responsibilities. How about that?"

"Finally, you said something to make me feel better," she agreed.

"Still, I will have to talk to your father, in case we have to care for you in a special way," he offered.

"As you feel right."

"I told Father that I would be attending a wedding," he said. "Will you come in this condition?"

"There is still time, right?" she asked. "I want to meet others. Maybe by then my condition will be settled."

"Alright. But I have to make sure teleportation is fine for you, or we have to go the human way," he said. "I will ask your father. Or maybe Drayce’s mother, or someone else who can answer."

She offered a nod and closed her eyes, as if fatigue had drained her.