"Your Grace, are you okay?"
Aira glanced at the little boy, who looked up at her nervously, fidgeting before her.
He was probably wondering why she'd been tugging at her hair for the last five minutes like a woman possessed.
Now that she thought about it… he looked way more innocent compared to the emperor and the rest of the men she'd seen since landing in this bizarre, testosterone-infested world.
Wait a second....
If there hadn't been any women here for, what, a hundred years then how the heck was he even born?
Her brain short-circuited for a moment.
Did he just… pop out of nowhere? Or—no way—a man gave birth to him?
"Uh…" she blinked, curiosity finally getting the better of her. "Hey, kid. Don't take this the wrong way, but… where's your mom?"
The boy tilted his head. "My… what?"
"Your mom," she repeated slowly, like she was teaching a toddler. "You know, your mother. The person who gave birth to you?"
He blinked again, eyes wide with confusion. "Mother? Birth…? You mean the Creator?"
Aira froze. "The what now?"
"The Creator of Life," he said earnestly, clutching the pendant hanging around his neck. "All life in Eldarion is born through the Light Pools. It is forbidden to speak of it without His Majesty's permission, but… that is how we come to be."
"Light Pools," Aira repeated blankly. "What the heck is that supposed to mean? Some kind of glowing pond where people just—poof—come to life like magic?"
The boy's eyes lit up. "Yes! You know about it! I knew it—you really are the woman from the prophecy! The Light Pools are the sacred source of all life. They give us form and energy, blessed by the Creator. Every soul in Eldarion is born from it."
Aira just stared at him, her mouth slightly open. Out of everything he said, only one horrifying thought stuck in her head.
"You mean… no one here actually gives birth? Like, no moms? No women? No, nothing?"
He nodded solemnly.
Aira groaned, rubbing her temples. "Great. So not only am I the only woman here, but I'm also walking proof that biology has officially stopped existing in this world."
The boy fidgeted again, his voice barely above a whisper. "Biology?.. Forgive me, Your Grace, but… are women from your world really… normal?"
Aira squinted at him. "What do you mean normal?"
He flushed, fumbling for words. "It's just… it's my first time seeing a woman. I thought women were divine beings, refined and radiant, like His Majesty said. But the only differences I see are that you have, um… round bumpy things on your chest, you look smaller, and a bit weaker… not so different from us. I thought women were more beautiful. Do all women in your world look like you? And smell like flowers after the rain? His Majesty said your presence makes the air feel heavy and—"
"W-wait—stop! Too much information, kid!" Aira flailed, then covered her chest defensively.
Did he just call my chest a bump? How dare he?!
Even if he was a kid, that didn't excuse him from insulting her perfectly average but still respectable chest.
And what was that about her face not being so different from theirs?
Excuse me?! Do I look like a man to him?!
"This world is seriously clueless about women," she muttered under her breath. "Kid, listen. I do not need to know how I smell to you, or how different I look compared to the men you've been looking at your whole life, okay?"
The boy instantly dropped to his knees, trembling. "I—I'm sorry, Your Grace! Please forgive this foolish child!"
Aira sighed, exhausted, and flopped back onto the bed, staring at the shimmering ceiling overhead.
"This world is insane… absolutely insane."
She muttered to herself, "First, an emperor who thinks I'm his personal pet, and now a magical kid who popped out of a glowing puddle. What's next?"
Her stomach growled loudly in response.
"Oh, perfect. Guess the next mystery is where I can get food that doesn't glow, move, or try to kill me."
The boy straightened up instantly. "F-food? I can ask the attendants to bring you some! His Majesty ordered the royal kitchens to prepare only the finest offerings for you!"
"Offerings?" Aira groaned. "I'm not a goddess, kid. Just… tell them to bring me something normal. Like bread. Or soup. Not, I don't know, golden roasted dragon tail or whatever you people eat here."
He blinked, completely sincere. "Dragon tail is actually quite delicious, Your Grace."
Aira covered her face and groaned into her palms. "Why does everything sound like a health hazard in this place?"
The boy hesitated, then asked shyly, "Would you like me to stay until your meal arrives?"
Aira peeked through her fingers and managed a tired smile. "Yeah, sure, kid. Just… bring me anything except dragon meat, okay?"
He grinned from ear to ear and nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, Your Grace!"
As he ran off, nearly tripping over his robe, Aira let out a long sigh.
"If this is what day one in Eldarion is like, then, I'm so doomed."
-----------
Moments later…
"Hey, kid..what is this?"
She couldn't stop herself from grimacing as she stared at the food laid out in front of her.
Her face paled at the sight of heads of some creatures she couldn't even name.
The rest of the dishes weren't any better, with chunks of oddly colored meat, greenish soup that smelled suspiciously like wet moss, and something that looked way too much like a roasted lizard tail.
"Is that… a monster's head?" she whispered in disbelief, pointing at one of the plates. "And what in the world are these supposed to be?!"
The young servant flinched and immediately lowered his head.
"Y-Your Grace, these are the finest delicacies from the Northern Plains! His Majesty ordered them specially for you!"
Aira blinked at him, completely speechless for a moment. Then, with a nervous laugh, she leaned back against her bed.
"Delicacies? For who—carnivorous beasts?"
The boy looked horrified. "N-No, Your Grace! They are… very nutritious. Warriors eat them to gain strength."
Aira sighed and rubbed her temple. "Yeah, well, I'm not a warrior. I'm a woman who prefers salads and food that doesn't look like it used to scream."
She carefully pushed the nearest dish away, trying her best not to gag.
The boy hesitated before asking in a small voice, "Should I… tell His Majesty you didn't like it?"
Aira froze. "No! Don't tell him that!" She frantically waved her hands. "Just—uh—tell him I'm saving it for later. Yeah. Later sounds great."
The boy nodded quickly, though it was obvious he didn't believe a word she said.
Once he left, Aira slumped back and groaned.
"Great..Just Great. Kidnapped by an emperor, surrounded by muscle-headed men, and now being served monster cuisine. What's next? Training to bite dragons for breakfast?"