It has been two weeks and three days–over half a month!–for Lyall not to return to his room or even to see me at all. I repeat, over half a month!

Over half a month!

Even when I purposefully order the maids to change the room drastically; I literally ask them to put pastel wallpaper, lace decorations, also put up positive quote posters on the walls; the lycan king does not feel alarmed to go back to his room. The posters are hella ridiculous, so I can't believe Lyall would let me do all this without care.

Once I even compulsively pile his clothes outside of the room, thinking that Lyall would be angry and come meet me face to face. He never does. Instead, the maids take all the clothes to somewhere I am not allowed to know.

So, for half a month, Lyall's room has become my room with entirely new furniture. And he doesn't even care one bit.

In the academy, I asked Ganesh to bring me to a rural village, much further than Fidre Village, for the month's field study. I was hoping that Lyall would hear of this and then come to talk me out of it.

No sign of him.

So now I am traveling with both Ganesh and Naver to a village called Medira, at the border of the kingdom. Not a lot of students volunteered for this mission, so Ganesh brings Naver as a backup. Although after we have done health control in the village, I know then that Ganesh brings Naver along so both of them can talk to me.

Because people have noticed that the king is avoiding me.

"Rumor has it that the king has gotten bored with you," Naver says while extending a bottle of water to me. We are on the edge of a paddy field. The sun is striking hot and everyone else has chosen places with lots of shades to rest. But Ganesh and Naver followed me to rest on a single wooden bench with no shade whatsoever next to the paddy field. I thought they would give up following me after some time, but they didn't.

"What? Who says that?" But then I add in a defeated tone, "It's true..." I slump to the wooden bench. If I can melt my entire body to the scorching earth, I would.

"Nah," Ganesh waves his hand in the air, "No way he is bored of you. You probably did something that upset him and he just needs space to deal with the emotions you have stirred inside him."

I slump, even more, my hands are almost reaching the ground. "I did," I let out a long, heavy sigh, before telling the twins about the last time Lyall and I met. But I held back about my pregnancy and I didn't tell them that my source of Adina's information is from Sky.

Naver chuckles while Ganesh squints his eyes and mouths the word 'oooh' with a painful expression. "That's rough," both of them say at the same time.

"But can you blame me? I am alone in this kingdom with no sense of security. Is it wrong for me to be wary and to look out for myself? I mean, no offense, but your king doesn't have the best reputation, even amongst his own people. Everyone keeps talking about Adina. They adore her because she has done a lot for this kingdom. So, is it so hard to understand that from my point of view, everything points to the fact that Lyall is the bad guy?"

I take gulps of breaths to refill my lungs after that long monologue.

Ganesh whistles while Naver blinks a few times. Honestly, these two turn into a comedic duo when they are together.

"I think you absolutely have the right to be scared," Naver says slowly, "Your situation is tough. Especially with the baby and all..."

My face turns quickly to Ganesh. A shocked expression is painted on my face. "Ganesh!" I cry out, "You told him?"

Ganesh shakes his head after raising both arms in the air. "Nope," then he turns to his twin, "How did you find out about Mars being pregnant?"

The twin shrugs with a comical expression. "I'm just good like that. People don't call me The Oracle for nothing."

"How long have you known?" I ask.

Naver tries to steal Ganesh's cane, but Ganesh moves it before Naver's hand can reach it. They are acting like 5-year-old twins instead of hundred-something-year-old twins. It's cute. I just find it hard to remember that these two are powerful sorcerers and are part of The Council in this kingdom sometimes.

"I have known since the moment I tested you with my eyes," Naver says after pouting to Ganesh, who doesn't want to lend his cane. "You have another soul within you. A soul with an unordinary existence. One with a special trajectory in this life. It's fascinating, isn't it? The mother has a special gift and the child she is carrying has a special fate in this world, too. And you both are intertwined with a cursed king. Oooooh!! This will be a tale that people will talk about and sing for centuries!"

"Is he always so hyperbolic like this?" I point to Naver, but my eyes go to Ganesh.

Ganesh shrugs, "Another word people use to describe 'Oracles' are 'Dreamers.' Sometimes I think he manipulates people to think a certain way so they will do whatever he has 'prophesied.' We science and practical magic people don't operate like that."

I nod to Ganesh. Personally, I never really believe in oracles or tarot reading, or astrologists. I am more into facts that I can see, hear, and/or touch. My old pack was also more into scientists and practical magic, like healers, blacksmiths, and elemental magic. We didn't have Oracles.

"There must be some sort of placebo effect involved, right?"

Ganesh nods excitedly to me because I use scientific jargon. "Exactly."

"Hey!" Naver puts one hand on his chest with a pained expression. He feels insulted by our words. "Oracles are important. Without you realizing, we have the ability to shape the world, to shape people, to maintain world balance."

Both Ganesh and I become quiet at how serious Naver's tone is. "That's called manipulation," Ganesh says matter-of-factly and I nod to support my favorite of the twin.

Naver clicks his tongue, "Tch. Whatever you guys say. I'm the only one who knows the truth and how things will unfold. Your science or practical magic cannot do what I can."

I clear my throat to erase my nervousness before asking Naver, "Are you going to tell Lyall?" my hand grabs a fistful of my dress fabric hard. Sweats pour out from the back of my neck.

"No," Naver answers calmly, "that should be your right to tell him."

I sigh again. More people have known and accepted my pregnancy except for the lycan king.

"Does this... oracle ability of yours can tell me if telling Lyall about the baby is a good thing?" The atmosphere suddenly becomes heavy.

"That's not how this magic works, Mars," Naver continues, "I can't tell people what to do. I can't manipulate people like you both accused me of. What I can do is nudge people to make their own decisions. Because nothing is set in stone in this life. No matter how many futures I have seen, life will always be unpredictable since it relies on the decisions people actually make, not speculate."

With a lower voice, he adds with a shameless grin, "Although my priority will be to secure the safety and prosperity of our people. So sometimes... perhaps... I do some manipulation."

"What do you choose to do, Mars? What are the things you can control? And how can you change them to have the life you want?" Naver continues, "You can't seriously think that you're completely powerless in this kingdom, right? I have heard how you handled some... fanatics."

He is talking about Adina's followers. Nari, Lola, and Duncan. All three of them have not tried anything weird with me ever again. Lola and Duncan have even gotten closer with me and have helped me for the past month as I have helped them, too.

"Certainly, you are not powerless against the king," Ganesh adds his twin's statement, "You know that too, right?"

I look alternately between the twins with an unsure look. I might be able to influence Lyall's emotions, but I can never be sure how effective it is, and that is one other thing that makes me hesitant to tell him about my pregnancy. "What if he wakes up one day and stops feeling anything when he's with me? I'll be no one, then. He can easily discard me and I haven't even made a solid footing in this kingdom with my own name."

"But that's not the case now," Ganesh says and almost immediately Naver says, "Shouldn't you decide on what to do based on what you have right now and not based on speculations about what could be? I thought you're a science or practical magic girl only." That last bit is a shade to me because I reduced Naver's oracle ability as a placebo effect just moments before.

I sigh. Longer this time. My eyes suddenly feel hot and my nose is stuffed. "I'm scared. It feels like everything around me is made of glass. One wrong step can crack them all and make me bleed."

Ganesh finally gives his cane to Naver, who looks puzzled. The head of the royal healers then walks without his cane to me and brushes my hair gently. "Oh, my dear Mars." I break a little at his warm, soothing voice. "We know you're scared. We know. But you can't keep this secret forever. No one might realize it now, but to be honest, it is already showing... And if the lycan king finds out about it as a surprise, it won't do you good."

He is right. My weight has gained in the past weeks. My boobs are becoming bigger and my clothes size is growing too. Nari is upset that she needs to adjust my clothes almost every few days. I think she is also the one spreading the words among the maids that I am a glutton and in no time, I will be a fat lady.

I drop my face to the palms of my hands. "But... what if... he hates the baby and tells me to abort her?" My voice is shaking. This is my ultimate fear. This is the biggest thing that is holding me back from telling him. After all, I ran away from my old pack to make sure of my baby's safety. And what Sky told me about his past... adds more fear to me.

"If you truly believe that Lyall will hurt your baby," Naver walks closer to me too with Ganesh's cane, "you will find ways to run away from this kingdom just like you ran away from your old pack, don't you think?"

"But you haven't made plans to run away." The old man drops to sit on the ground to find my eyes. "Instead, you've made plans to solidify your life here, as a healer, as someone on the king's side. Am I wrong?"

What he says about me being a healer in this kingdom is true... but what he says about being someone next to the king... is that really what I want? Do I want to be that kind of person?

One thing I know is that I can't say he is wrong. Yet I can't really say he is right either...

Ganesh and Naver both seem to see the question behind my eyes. "In all honesty," Naver says carefully, "Seeing how you and the king interact with each other... I don't think he can be mad at you. Disappointed, maybe. But everyone can tell that he won't hurt your baby because it would hurt you. He even let you go to the academy because he knows it will break your soul if he refuses."

"I can't tell that," Ganesh protests, "the king has been acting unpredictably ever since the curse. Even more after..., you know what."

I quickly understand that 'you know what,' stands for what happened to Adina and his son.

"You should ask him personally about that, Mars," Naver says, "hear his side of the story. Then, make your own judgment."

My eyes open wide at Naver because of his words. I never told them about my suspicion about Lyall's past, and yet Naver knows. And if The Oracle says that Lyall won't hurt me... it must be what will happen, right?

"Lyall has surprised me a lot, actually," I mumble the words, but the twins seem to hear me just fine. "He has been considerate, has been warm and playful too. Sometimes I forget he is cursed."

"But I..." my voice rises, but it becomes even shakier. "I... I never experienced things like this... never experienced things this good... this exciting... I get to learn more about magic, discover my hidden ability, and... people see me as I am and not as... a female or just a werewolf. On top of that... Lyall has been... nice to me. And he is my fated mate... But..."

I bite my lip hard. It hurts, but the ache in my heart is more painful. There is this lump piling inside me that is preventing me from letting out the words I need to say.

"My dear Mars," Ganesh rubs my hair again, "Correct me if I'm wrong, but it feels like you are leaning to fear right now. You had been through so much that when, for once, things are going well for you, you feel like it's a setup, you feel like something terrible will happen to you soon."

I break down into a sob at the words. That is exactly how I feel.

For the first time, I have the opportunity to not only breathe but to fly in this world. For the first time, I am brave enough to walk on my own and try to build a name for myself. For the first time, the future seems bright for me and my baby.

And I am so afraid I will mess it all up because I choose the wrong moment to tell Lyall about my pregnancy. Or that my desire for this future has clouded my judgment about Lyall being the warm individual I have been seeing.

I am terrified.

I am so so terrified.

Naver grabs my arms gently away from my ugly, crying face. He then wipes my tears with a small handkerchief he brings out from his breast pocket.

Once I calm down, he says, "This is The Oracle asking you; hasn't it been long enough for you to sabotage yourself with fear?"

"There are two ways Lyall might react to the news of your pregnancy. One, he will be upset knowing you are pregnant with another man. Two, he won't be upset," Naver explains, "Either way, he will have to accept the baby if he wants you staying here if he still wants your smile."

I know now that Naver's ability is remarkable. Lyall has repeatedly told me he wants me to smile at him as I smiled at that newborn baby. I have told no one about this, and I don't think Lyall would tell anyone, too.

"If he gives any indication that he will harm you or your baby," Naver puts the handkerchief in my hand, "tear this handkerchief and help will be on the way."

Amazing. This oracle knows just what I need right now. He knows I need a sense of security.

"I will also put words to the king that you are an indispensable treasure in our healing community," Ganesh says firmly, "And if the king tries to lock you up or hurt you, I don't mind rallying my healers to help you. Although we are small in numbers and I don't see how we can really help you. But we will try!"

The twins look at each other. A pair of youthful grins paint their faces. It's like they are patting each other on the back without saying anything.

They are so weird. But brilliant at the same time.

"You guys will do that?" My voice is small, but my heart is full. I can't believe they will go over and beyond for me. "Although I hope we won't have to come to that..."

"We hope so too," they both say.

"Now," Naver continues as he stands up slowly, "We should head back and you should force your way to see Lyall, whether or not he wants to see you. Just barge into his office and demand an audience. The sooner you tell him and solve this tension between the two of you, the better."

"Yes. We don't want the king to forget how you can stir his emotion, too. We prefer him this way, when he's with you," Ganesh also adds, "So you need to do a big gesture here."

I stand up and follow both of them to walk back to the village. "Like what?"

Both of them look at each other and smirk at each other. They do it all with so much precision that I almost think they rehearsed it.

Then they turn to face me at the same time. "You're going to hijack the king's office," they say in unison.

It's crazy and I didn't think it is a solid plan, but here I am now, standing in front of Lyall in his office. Without an appointment, of course.

Lyall only stares at me in silence ever since I walked in. Especially because I walked in carrying a small table and foldable chair in the room. It's quite heavy that I stumble a bit at times, but Lyall keeps on watching me in silence.

I set the table and chair in one corner of his room before finally greeting him with his title. "Your Highness." Then I give him a small curtsy.

He doesn't reply to me.

"I need you to shut up for ten minutes and hear me out," I roll out the words smoothly with every ounce of courage I have mustered. One of my hands is gripping Naver's handkerchief hard. "After that, you can do whatever you want to me."

Again. He doesn't reply.

But I am confident I don't need him to give me permission to say what I need him to hear.

A corner of his lips quirks upward in amusement. "This villain is all ears for you, Werewolf Girl."

–to be continued–