Eyan's eyes widened in shock.
"What…?"
"Yes, my lady," the woman said gently. "That tonic is meant to help women conceive a child."
Eyan stared at the bottle in his hand, then pointed sharply at the second red tonic still sitting on the counter.
"Then what about that one? What is it for?"
"That tonic," the woman explained, "is for married couples who do not wish to have a child."
Eyan's voice rose. "Then that one is the right one."
The woman quickly picked up the bottle from the counter. "But my lady, you said the tonic your husband drank was bitter. This one is sweet, while that one—" she pointed at the bottle Eyan was holding "—is bitter."
Eyan's breath caught in his throat. He looked between the two bottles, heart pounding.
Without warning, he snatched the second bottle from the woman's hand, opened the lid, and took a large swig. The moment the liquid touched his tongue, he spat it out violently.
"It's sweet…"
The two women panicked. "My lady! You shouldn't drink it! That is meant for men!"
Ignoring them, Eyan opened the lid of the first bottle — the one he had chosen earlier — and drank from it. The sharp, bitter taste flooded his mouth instantly.
He spat it out as well, eyes widening in realization.
It's this one… he thought, the memory crashing back. I still remember the taste. It was exactly this.
He ran a hand through his long, silky hair in frustration, breathing hard.
That means that night… Eva and I were together while I drank the tonic that helps women conceive a child.
His hand began to shake as he stared at the bottle.
Panicking, he looked up at the women. "Did this tonic work in just one time? Do people actually have children after drinking it once?"
The woman shook her head quickly. "No, my lady… The husband usually needs to drink it two or three times for it to take full effect."
Eyan let out a long, shaky breath of relief and suddenly dropped to the floor, his legs giving out beneath him. His hands were still trembling violently.
"Thank goodness…"
The women bent down worriedly, reaching out to help him up. "My lady, are you alright?"
Eyan looked at them sharply, voice sharp. "Don't touch me… Stay away."
Frightened by his intense gaze, the women quickly stepped back.
He remained on the floor for a moment longer as another thought crossed his mind.
Wait… I remember now. Eva got her monthly cycle last month. That means nothing happened... I got scared over nothing.
A faint, relieved smile touched his lips.
He pushed himself up from the floor, steadying his breathing.
Eyan took out a few gold coins and placed them on the counter. "Here. This is for both bottles."
The women bowed gratefully. "Thank you for coming, my lady."
Without another word, Eyan turned and walked out of the shop, the bell chiming softly behind him as he stepped back into the busy Velmoria Market.
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(Royal Palace of Velmoria)
Eyan entered the royal palace and immediately turned to the knights on duty.
"Knight, go and bring Leo to the Queen's chamber."
The knight bowed. "Yes, Your Majesty."
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(Eva's Chamber)
Eyan quickly changed out of the Eva's dress and back into his own clothes.
Just as he finished adjusting his tunic, the door opened and Leo walked in with Luca and the knight.
Luca raised an eyebrow. "Eyan, you returned already? How did it go?"
"Not well," Eyan replied, voice low. "The woman I was looking for wasn't at the shop."
He turned to his son. "Leo, deactivate the disguise spell."
"Okay, Father."
Leo raised his hand. Magic glowed around his palm, his eyes flashing crimson. The disguise spell shimmered and faded away, restoring Eyan to his true self.
"It's done, Father," Leo said softly.
Eyan gently patted his son's head. "Thank you."
He sat down on the edge of the bed, breathing heavily, a deep crease between his brows.
Luca studied him. "Eyan, did something happen? You don't look well."
"Nothing… it's nothing. I'm fine," Eyan said, though his tone suggested otherwise.
His gaze fell on Eva's dress lying on the bed. He picked it up and extended it to Leo.
"Leo, can you put your mother's dress back in the wardrobe?"
Leo nodded. "Yes, Father."
He took the dress and opened the wardrobe doors, carefully placing it on the lower shelf.
Crash!
The sharp sound of glass bottles shattering echoed through the chamber as several vials fell and broke on the floor.
Leo froze. "Father, I apologise—"
Eyan moved quickly, picking Leo up and carrying him a safe distance away from the broken glass. "Leo, it's okay. It was just a mistake."
He set his son down and crouched beside the shattered pieces. He picked up a fragment of glass, frowning.
"What is this…?"
"Father, it's Mother's tonics," Leo said quietly.
Eyan looked at him sharply. "Tonics?"
"Yes, Father. Mother has been taking those tonics."
"But Leo, I never saw her taking any tonics."
Leo shifted uncomfortably. "The thing is… I saw Mother taking them at night, after you and I had fallen asleep. She didn't know I saw her."
Luca glanced at Eyan. "Eyan, Sister-in-law never told you about these tonics?"
"No," Eyan said, voice tight. "She didn't."
He stared at the spilled liquid and broken bottles, confusion and worry growing. "Why is she taking them…?"
Eyan stood up and began searching through the wardrobe. As he moved the clothes aside, a small folded paper slipped out and fluttered to the floor.
Luca noticed it and picked it up. "Eyan, look."
Eyan turned and took the paper from Luca's hand. His eyes widened as he read the neat handwriting:
Women's Apothecary
Physician — Miss Seraphina Voss
Next appointment for check-up: after one month
Eyan's hands began to shake as he clutched the paper.
Luca spoke carefully. "Looks like Sister-in-law went to a physician… and those tonics were prescribed by her."
Eyan's breath grew heavier. "But why…? Why did she go to a physician…?"
Luca's expression turned serious. "It looks like she's sick… and in need treatment."
Eyan's heart dropped. "Sick… she's sick…"
His breathing came harsher now. "Eva is sick… Why didn't she tell me about her sickness?"
Luca grabbed Eyan's shoulder firmly. "Eyan, calm down. Don't get so worried yet."
"How can I not?" Eyan said, voice strained. "She went to a physician, she's taking tonics in secret, and I knew nothing about it… What kind of sickness does she have that she couldn't even tell me?"
Leo looked up worriedly and grabbed Eyan's shaking hand. "Father… is Mother very sick?"
Luca glanced at Leo and spoke gently. "Leo, don't worry. Your mother is fine."
Eyan turned to Luca and gripped his arm. "Luca, let's go."
"Go where, Eyan?"
"To this physician. I need to meet her. Only she can tell me what kind of sickness Eva has."
Luca nodded. "Alright, let's go."
Eyan placed both hands on Leo's shoulders, trying to sound reassuring. "Leo, don't worry. Nothing will happen to your mother, okay? Wait here. I will be back soon."
Leo nodded, eyes still anxious. "Okay, Father… Please come back fast."
"I will."
Eyan stood up and walked out of the chamber with Luca, the door closing behind them with a heavy click.
__________________________________
(Capital of Velmoria)
Eyan strode out of the palace with Luca close behind, both men moving quickly through the bustling streets of Capital.
The address on the paper led them to a quiet, well-kept building on the edge of the noble district — the clinic of Lady Seraphina Voss.
The moment they stepped inside, the waiting women and attendants froze. Whispers spread like wildfire as everyone recognized the Emperor.
They bowed deeply, heads lowered in reverence.
Lady Seraphina Voss. Her face paled slightly when she saw Eyan standing there in person.
"Your Majesty…" she said, voice trembling with surprise as she bowed low. "Lord Luca… To what do I owe this honor? Why have you come to my humble clinic?"
Eyan's expression was grave.
"My wife came to you for a check-up some time ago. Can you tell me about her sickness?"
The physician blinked in clear confusion.
"Your Majesty… the Queen never came here. If Her Majesty had visited, I would have recognized her immediately."
Luca leaned in slightly and spoke quietly to Eyan.
"I think Sister-in-law came in disguise."
Eyan nodded once, jaw tight.
He turned back to the physician. "Show me the list of all the patients who have visited you in the past two months."
Lady Seraphina hesitated only a moment before nodding.
"Of course, Your Majesty." She retrieved a thick leather-bound ledger and placed it on the table.
Eyan and Luca began flipping through the pages, scanning names and details rapidly.
After several tense minutes, Eyan's eyes suddenly stopped on one entry:
Name: Sia
Age: 29
Husband: Kyel
Eyan's finger pressed hard against the page.
"It's her. This is Eva. She really came here…"
He looked up at the physician, voice urgent. "This lady — Sia — came to you. Tell me about her?"
Lady Seraphina studied the name for a moment, then nodded.
"Yes, I remember her. She came here once."
Eyan's heart pounded.
"Tell me about her condition. Is she very sick?"
The physician smiled gently and shook her head. "No, Your Majesty. She is not sick at all."
Eyan frowned in confusion. "If she's not sick, then why did you give her so many tonics to drink?"
Lady Seraphina's smile softened.
"Those tonics were not for any illness," she explained gently. "They were strengthening tonics… for the health of the mother and the child."
The word child dropped like a stone into still water.
Eyan froze mid-breath.
His heartbeat slammed once — hard — then seemed to stutter.
"Child…?" His voice came out low, almost hoarse, barely above a whisper. "What child?"
The physician looked at him with quiet surprise, as if realizing she had spoken something he did not yet know.
"Your Majesty… did the Queen not tell you?" She paused for a brief moment, her tone careful. "She is pregnant."
The words landed like a blow.
Eyan's body went rigid...His mind blanked...His fingers loosened slightly, the ledger slipping in his grasp...His heartbeat thundered in his ears.
Luca stood beside him, equally stunned, but his gaze shifted quickly to Eyan.
Because Eyan wasn't moving, wasn't speaking...His entire body had gone still.
.
.
To be continued—