Alya woke the next morning with a long, contented yawn, stretching lazily across the enormous, silk-draped bed.
'Ah… this is it. The heavenly rest I deserve.'
With a satisfied little smile, she opened her blue eyes, gazing around her lavish new room with a satisfied smile. "Now that's what I call a good sleep."
But the moment she sat up, a sudden wave of nausea crashed over her. She clutched her stomach, brows knitting together in discomfort.
"Did I just jinx myself?" she grumbled, pressing a hand to her forehead. "Why do I suddenly feel so light-headed…"
She drew in a deep, overly dramatic breath, cheeks puffing slightly and muttered, "Okay, time for some yoga to find my zen."
Climbing off the bed, she sat cross-legged on the floor in a proper yoga pose. "This stupid gown is such a hindrance," she complained, tugging at the layers of fabric. "Why do they make everyone wear these flowing dresses all the time?"
After several moments of adjusting her posture, she finally straightened her spine, closed her eyes, and began breathing slowly, a peaceful smile forming on her lips.
'This… this is how life should be. Calm. Quiet. No responsibilities…'
Her mind, however, quickly drifted back to the chaotic wedding and the memory made her lips purse into an adorable pout as she cracked one eye open.
"Seriously, does everyone in this world only know how to vanish and reappear like ghosts instead of simply walking through doors? They even fly at will! Hmph. I want to fly too… I want to vanish and pop up wherever I want. It looks so convenient."
Just then, she heard footsteps approaching outside her door.
Alya's eyes flew wide in alarm.
Gasping, she scrambled back onto the massive bed with haste, pulled the silk covers up to her chin, and squeezed her eyes shut, pretending to be fast asleep.
"Lady Rehn!" came a respectful female voice from beyond the curtains.
The delicate silk drapes were drawn aside with a soft whisper and a young maidservant in plain black attendant robes stepped inside, carrying a tray of fragrant tea.
"She is still not awake!" the maid called back toward the doorway, preparing to leave.
Alya cracked one eye open, just a sliver, and nearly jumped out of her skin in shock.
Kafel stood silently at the foot of her bed like a looming mountain, arms folded behind his back, expression calm yet carrying a hint of exasperation.
"You… what are you doing in my private chamber?!" Alya blurted, bolting upright so quickly that another dizzy spell assaulted her.
She pressed a hand to her temple, wincing.
Kafel merely shook his head, sighing.
"Enough with the theatrics, Alya. Your uncle has come to speak with you before we depart. He awaits outside."
Alya sat up fully, still cradling her head as another wave of vertigo washed over her.
"He's leaving already?" she asked, voice tinged with surprise.
Kafel gave a single nod.
"We are departing shortly. Come. Speak with him before he goes."
Then he walked away.
Alya released a long, weary sigh, her brows furrowed in bewilderment.
'What could Uncle Halwin possibly want from me now? Surely not that so-called Primordial whatever-it-is…'
Shaking off the lingering dizziness, she slipped off the grand bed, adjusted the flowing gown, and made her way out of the pavilion.
In the stone courtyard, Halwin Valehart stood waiting with Geoffrey at his side.
The moment Halwin's sharp gaze landed on her attire, a cold scoff escaped his lips.
"Black truly suits you, doesn't it?"
Alya blinked in genuine confusion. She glanced down at the elegant black gown she wore, then back up at him, frowning.
"It's just a color."
Halwin's eyes flicked toward Geoffrey and Kafel, his voice turning commanding.
"Leave us. I wish to speak with my niece alone."
Both men bowed deeply without question and withdrew from the courtyard.
Only then did Halwin turn fully toward her, his expression shifting into something colder.
"You are no longer merely a princess of Star Haven," he said slowly, each word heavy with meaning. "You have become part of the Supreme Domain… more than that, you are now its Lady."
Alya raised an eyebrow, then the realization struck her. 'No wonder that servant girl addressed me as Lady Rehn…'
"But do not allow yourself to become drunk on this new status," Halwin warned, his eyes hardening into cold steel. "Remember well what you stand to lose if you fail to deliver what I want. Your father… will never wake up again."
Alya was immediately taken aback. "Huh?"
Halwin tilted his head, his gaze piercing. "Don't think for a second that I'm joking. His time is running out, and I will not grant you endless time. Find the Core and bring it to me." His gaze turned utterly terrifying, and his voice dropped to a chilling whisper. "I trust you understand."
With that, he turned and walked away.
Alya stood frozen, staring at his retreating back, her blue eyes growing wider with disbelief.
'OMG. This is unbelievable. Did he just openly threaten to kill his own brother? His own blood? He must be very desperate for whatever this thing is he wants me to obtain.'
Her expression gradually shifted from shock to deep worry as the weight of her new reality settled upon her shoulders.
'This is not good… at all. As much as I want to stay out of it, I'm stuck in this body now. These are my problems now, my family, my burdens. I can't just stand by and allow… my father to die.'
She turned and walked slowly back into the pavilion, returning to the grand bedroom.
With a heavy sigh, she lowered herself onto the edge of the bed, hands resting lightly in her lap.
"No," she muttered, shaking her head, trying to convince herself. "He's probably just bluffing to scare me into action. Why would he actually kill his own brother?"
Then she scoffed, but the unease in her chest refused to fade.
Alya suddenly heard voices drifting in from the courtyard outside.
"Lord Alistair!"
A lady's voice rang out, filled with deep reverence and deference.
Her eyes flew wide open.
"Alistair…?"
"How is she?" came his unmistakable, calm voice. "Is she awake yet? I've brought a physician to examine her."
Alya blinked rapidly and immediately flopped back onto the bed, squeezing her eyes shut and pretending to be unconscious.
'Nope. Not ready to face him yet.'
Moments later, Alistair entered the room, followed closely by an elderly man dressed in the robes of a high-level alchemist, carrying a small wooden medicine box.
Alistair stopped at the bedside, arms folded across his chest, his sharp gaze fixed upon her still form with a hint of skepticism.
'Is she really unwell?'
The old physician approached respectfully and gently took hold of Alya's slender wrist, his fingers pressing lightly against her pulse point. His snowy brows gradually furrowed deeper and deeper as he concentrated.
Alya's closed eyelids twitched with growing irritation.
'I'm not sick, you old quack! Just finish your nonsense and leave already!'
"Is something wrong?" Alistair asked, his tone sharpening as he noticed the physician's increasingly puzzled expression.
The elderly healer finally released Alya's wrist and straightened, turning to face Alistair with a deep bow.
"Lord Alistair," he began solemnly, "after careful examination… this old one must report that the Young Madame… is with child."
Alya's eyes snapped open instantly, wide as celestial moons.
"Huh?!"