"Are you regretting your choice, princess?" The voice in her mind asks, she knew it to be the creature's. Her head was spinning, exhaustion slowly closing in, but she'd press on.

"I haven't decided." She answers, brushing her hair behind her ear as she continues to walk. She listens to him hum. "Are you planning on eating me as well?"

"I have 9 months to make that decision. You did pledge your body to me." He answers, moving a branch aside as he walks through and toward a clearing with a lake.

"I believe you already know I offered my body in hopes of a fatal rejection." She answers, thinking back to all those times her husband and her father had caused her harm. Even the time when...

"Yes. If I hadn't known your father formally, perhaps I would've done so. Nonetheless, I am no better of a man than your father and husband." The creature responds, helping the woman over a branch blocking the trail.

"Yes well..." she carefully jumps off the thick log and the creature steadies her with his tendril. "I doubt you hold the same intent my former husband held."

The creature falls silent and the static in her mind slowly fades. Within the clearing beside the lake stood a cabin. It was clearly lived in, a small garden on the side and a small shack a yard or two behind it. The two approach the shelter, (Y/n) awestruck at how something so small, in the middle of nowhere, could be so beautiful.

The creature opens the door motioning for the woman to enter the quaint home. The creature enters behind her, having to bend down to get through the door that was only a little more than half his size. Her chest of items was then placed down the hall in a room.

The woman followed, only to find a small bedroom with a tiny desk and a smaller nook. There was a small wardrobe as well, she would be able to fit whatever clothing she was given in there. She turns the the creature, only able to see his midriff through the doorway. Stifling a laugh, she exits back to the hall to make whatever eye contact she could with the creature, even if it was... lacking on his end.

"The door on the left at the front of the hall is the bathroom. The two in the back are my office and bedroom. If you feel you are having any problems, come get me." The creature explains, he turned on his heel to head to either his room or office.

"W-wait!" The creature pauses in his movement and turns, giving a small hum. "A-am I actually pregnant? I-is it like a spell or does it have to be done by more... traditional means?"

"It is a spell, per say. Your latest miscarriage was reversed, you're in the beginning stages of pregnancy once more." The creature answers before turning and finally walking away.

(Y/n) nods her head and slinks back into her room. She places a hand to her stomach. It was no wonder the pain had gone away, she had just assumed the pain was consumed by her shock and distress. Instead, the baby was just given life once more.

The former princess begins her adjustment to her new room. She opens her trunk to look inside. It was filled to the brim with clothes and she begins to unload. (Y/n) was glad to see that none of the clothing was her formal attire and was strictly casual. The dresses weren't as heavy and weren't as long, making them easy to hang.

Soon, her wardrobe was full and as she neared the bottom, only a couple thin nightgowns blocking the bottom, something catches her eye. It was a small case. Her old pencil case. And beneath her nightgowns was the new sketchbook she had been gifted.

Her smile grows wide, boredom wouldn't be with her as she had her sketchbook now. Perhaps she could draw her room, or the animals outside, or even the creature. No matter what she were to draw, she was just happy she had her sketchbook.

A wave of exhaustion hits her once more and she stumbles back and onto the bed. Her head spins and slowly her vision went dark.

When her eyes opened once more, the sun had hidden away behind the trees, the rays seeping through the leaves and in through her window. (Y/n) squints her eyes and groans at the light in her eyes, sitting up with a whine as pain shot through her side. She placed her hand on her side and when she raises it...

Blood. There was blood.

Panic fills her body as she jumps up from the bed and hits her back to the wall. She heard the sound of glass shattering as her bottom hit the ground. She lifts her dress to look at the wound, only to find... nothing.

"What happened?" The creatures voice fills her mind, the static sending a spike of pain through her head. It was loud, deafening, perhaps he was angry. Now that she could focus she saw that she'd broken a vase during her fall.

"Th-there was blood, I-I was bleeding." She raises her hand to find no blood, the dark liquid gone without a trace. She hikes up her dress once more, searching for the bloody wound she swore she had.

"Please pull your dress— what is this?" He abruptly question, a tendril wrapping around her leg, lifting and spreading it slightly. She gasps, loudly, shocked at his sudden action. His finger ran up and down her inner thigh, tracing a scar on her left thigh. "Who did this?"

"My husband was upset with me for losing another child, so he cut my thigh open." She answers, placing her arm in whatever space between as a guard.

"Tch." He drops her leg and stands back up. "I'm going to take care of something. There are items in the kitchen for you to make yourself dinner. I'll see you in the morning."

"Ok, but—" she frowns as the creature abruptly disappears. "I... can't cook."

(Y/n) sighs and makes her way to the kitchen anyway. She looks for something to eat, something simple that didn't require any cooking. Fortunately, she found stuff to make a salad, as well as an apple.

She makes her salad and eats her apple, taking a moment to get her sketchbook and drawing the kitchen as she eats. It was so quaint, nothing compared to the grand kitchen in the castle. How could something so small be so lovely?

Soon her hunger was gone and her mind wanders. She tucks her sketchbook beneath her mattress, along with the pencil case, just to be safe. Finally, she flops back on the bed and rubs her belly.

It was odd. How did she miscarry yet the child was now alive and well? It made no sense. No matter, she was just glad she didn't have to do the dance to become pregnant again. Glad she didn't have to struggle through those grotesque moments of self hatred as a man she had barely known used her body.

Her only regret was that the child was still his... however, she wasn't too certain how her father would feel if his heir was part tentacle monster. She smiled widely and breathed out a sigh, now that was a funny idea. Yet, also disturbing.

She hadn't believed the creature could do it. She only knew of the traditional way to create a child and black magic had only been a thing of stories, never real and never so powerful. It was strange and yet she wondered how he'd done it, or rather, when.

They had been together the majority of the time, perhaps he made her space out or faint and she doesn't remember? Perhaps it had just been her. She was feeling quite drowsy, even now. Her exhaustion had set in hours ago and now it was returning despite her refreshing rest.

Her eyes flutter shut, her neck hangs back, curling with the curves of her pillow pile. Her mental images blur and her body begins to feel heavy, now unable to raise her head. Exhaustion takes over once more as the world disappears around her.

"Well? What of it?" The king questions after noticing the tall creature in the reflection of his mirror. "Is she pregnant? Is it a boy?"

"Yes, and yes." The creature answers, stalking closer to the king who finally turns toward him.

"It won't look like you, will it?" The king questions, clear disgust in his voice.

"The fact you even think I would do such a thing is insulting. No. It is the child she had miscarried earlier this week. It is still her husband's." Slender answers, his voice unchanging but his mind internally tearing the man apart once more.

"Hah. Of course, it's still the child of the man digesting in your stomach. It could've at least been my child if things had been done more... traditionally." The king suggests, a wide grin on his lips.

"You are suggesting sleeping with your own daughter. You are aware of the dangers of inbreeding?" He questions, disgust filling his chest.

"It's not unusual for our time. She's grown to be a beautiful woman, if it wasn't for the fact she can't carry a baby, probably would've been easier to marry her off." The king answers, lifting a bloodied knife off the vanity. "Besides, the wife's dead. I only asked you here to get rid of her."

"I'm not your errand boy."

"Certainly. I just need this last little favor. Besides, you could eat her too."

"No thank you. Your wife was one of the few pleasant humans I've encountered. I'll have her buried. Give me one of your disposable men and I'll have her gone before your infidelity arrives." Slender counters.

"Ah yes. My new wife. Do refrain from telling my daughter. She'll find out on her monthly visit." The king answers, waving off Slender's potential threat.

"Indeed. You are aware your daughter will not be the same person by the end of this?" The king lets out a laugh.

"Oh I'm counting on it. She wanted to escape me, she'll pay the consequence. Besides, I'm sure what you have planned for her is far worse than anything I could do to her." He states, grinning madly as he wipes the blade on a small cloth.

"Well then. I'll be taking my leave." Slender announces taking a pillowcase and pulling it over the dead woman's head, the blood from her open wound quickly soaking the fabric.

"Ah yes. Ask for Eric. He was a friend of my daughter's husband. I don't like him." Slender shakes his head and leaves. "Oh, and be sure you make my daughter regret her choice."