"HUH?"
Irene screamed in her mind, trying to absorb what she just heard. She looked at the man, whose face was lit up, and smiled back.
"C-Congrats to us," she replied, "I am grateful that we're having a c-child."
The man's smile lifted and the shine in his eyes increased as if he was about to cry. She stared at him again, mesmerized by his superficial features—his brown hair, his tall and well-built figure hidden by his embroidered abaca shirt, and his face that could capture a woman's heart within seconds. To Irene, this dream is a dream that she could stay in forever.
The man kissed her hand. Her heart thumped.
"Is this what it feels like to be loved?" she thought.
He kneeled down and kissed Irene's belly. Though a thick satin fabric separated his lips from her skin, she felt his soft and loving touch.
The sun is almost setting. The man gently grabbed her wrist and brought her to the entrance of a palace. It was impressive and very much like the ones she saw from the museums. A grand entrance greeted Irene as she saw guards line up upon their arrival.
The glass-like floors reflected the beauty of the embellished walls.
"This floor must've been floor waxed hard," she thought.
She was then guided to a bedroom, where Irene assumed she'd rest, full of guests. The first is an old man in his fifties clad in black and white. Next to him was a lady of old age whose face was smothered by thick make-up and wore beautiful traditional clothing. Beside her was a man, her husband evidently, who also wore a suit.
The lady lifted her fan, only revealing her eyes.
The old man stood up and bowed. "Greeting the Kingdom's Sun and Moon, King Sebastian Leonardo Villaverde and Queen Flor Ann Villaverde. May the Kingdom of Suvia always prosper under your light."
Irene was taken aback. "S-Suvia? THE Kingdom of Suvia? The one from the missing baby?" she frantically thought, trying to calm herself.
"Doctor," Sebastian said, "I hope you are not lying when you said Floran, my wife, is pregnant."
Irene's hearing and vision dimmed. She searched for a mirror and ran as fast as she could. As soon as she saw her reflection, she nearly fainted at the sight she saw.
"That woman in the painting," her lips trembled, "t-this shade of pink. . . I-I saw it from the painting."
Fair skin. Rosy cheeks. Unique hair color. And definitely not an elegant posture. Those are what she saw from the reflection.
Sebastian ran up to Irene and reached for her cheeks. "Floran, my love, are you alright? What seems to be the problem?"
Her eyes wavered. "S-Sebastian. . ."
Her head thrummed up until the her nape. Her heart beat fast—though she knew not of the reason. Her vision grew dimmer until she felt her legs collapse. Her body was caught by Sebastian, his voice panicked and cried out loud to the doctor.
Irene couldn't hear nor understand what they were saying anymore.
---
Irene opened her eyes to the sight of Sebastian gripping her hand tightly.
"Doctor! Doctor! She has awoken."
The doctor—the old man clad in black and white—rushed and felt her wrist. "It seems she's fine, sire."
"How about the child?"
"It is still alive."
Sebastian sighed in relief and turned to Irene. "My love, I was so frightened."
To Irene's disappointment, it seemed as if she was still stuck in this dream. For how long will she be here? Until she gave birth?
"Why are you so silent, my love?" he asked, "Are you hurt anywhere? Doctor—"
"I am fine, don't worry."
"Are you perhaps irate because of the presence of my mother? I apologize, Floran, my love. I will try my hardest not to make you and mother meet, so please do not faint again."
The worry in Sebastian's eyes touched Irene's heart. It was somewhat a weird yet nice feeling to finally receive such genuine affection—one without greed nor envy. She did not reply to Sebastian, but she smiled and turned to the giant window that showed the starry night.
The doctor, after a while, left the room after talking to Irene's so-called husband. He laid down beside her and hugged her belly.
"You have to eat healthier from now on. The doctor said it is necessary for the nourishment of our child."
Irene nodded. The one-sided awkward air persisted and surrounded Irene. She hid her reddened cheeks, trying to sleep while an unknown man hugged her to sleep and hoping that he wouldn't do anything funny.
To her relief, she woke up facing Sebastian. She could feel her cheeks getting hotter, so she sat up immediately and examined the room.
"I am still here," she sighed. She turned her attention to the luxury wooden furniture around her and then to Sebastian.
"Seriously, who are you?" she whispered, "Where am I? What is this place, and when can I leave?"
"Leave?"