She hesitated at the door, fingers curling against the wood as if holding herself together. "Come on, talk to me. We are like sisters."
The physician did not answer immediately. She looked away first, then back again, like someone choosing between silence and damage. Finally, she exhaled.
"Your mistress is pregnant."
The words did not land gently. They struck.
Evelyn's body stiffened. Her lips parted, but no sound came out. For a moment, even the air in her lungs felt borrowed. She searched the woman's face, as if the truth might shift if she looked hard enough.
"Are you sure?" she managed, her voice thin.
The physician nodded once. "As sure as I am about my own name."
Silence followed. Heavy.
Evelyn swallowed, forcing herself upright. "Thank you. You may leave."
The physician bowed slightly and stepped out, leaving the door to close with a dull, final sound.
Evelyn remained where she was. Still. Then her thoughts began to move, fast and sharp.
Pregnant.
In Astarous, that word could crown a woman or bury her alive. There was no middle ground. No mercy for mistakes. No room for explanations.
Her hands trembled. She pressed them together, trying to steady herself. But the images would not stop. Faces whispering. Eyes judging. Names turning into insults.
Maria.
Evelyn pushed herself forward and returned to the room. The others were still there, gathered around the bed, speaking in low voices. But she did not join them. She stayed quiet, watching. Waiting.
Hours passed before Maria stirred.
Her eyes opened slowly, unfocused at first. "What… happened?" she asked, her voice weak.
The room shifted immediately. Relief washed over the others.
"Commander, you are awake."
Evelyn said nothing. She moved instead. Prepared food. Set it down. Watched Maria eat.
Something felt off.
Maria noticed it too. She lifted her head slightly. "Are you alright?" she asked. "You seem quiet."
Evelyn held her gaze for a second too long. Then she spoke.
"We need to talk. In private."
The tone was enough. The others did not argue. One by one, they stepped out, closing the door behind them.
Now it was just the two of them.
Maria shifted on the bed, studying her. "What is this about?"
Evelyn did not answer immediately. She stepped closer instead, her eyes fixed on Maria's face. Measuring. Deciding.
Then she spoke. "You are pregnant."
The word hung in the air long after Evelyn spoke it.
Pregnant.
It did not settle. It did not soften. It struck, then echoed, then struck again, each time harder than before.
Maria's fingers pressed tighter against her face as if she could block it out, as if her palms could silence the truth that had already rooted itself deep inside her. Her shoulders trembled, not from cold, not from weakness, but from something heavier. Something that had no shape, yet filled her chest completely.
"No!" she whispered again, though the word had already lost its strength. It came out thinner this time. Fragile.
Evelyn did not interrupt. She watched her, carefully, like one watches a glass about to shatter but not knowing how to stop it.
Maria dragged her hands down slowly, revealing her face. Her eyes were wet, but not fully broken. Not yet. There was still resistance there. Still denial, clinging to the last thread.
"This… this cannot be happening now," she said, her voice uneven. "Not now. Not when everything is already falling apart."
Her mind did not stay still. It ran. Fast. Too fast. Drexo's face. Friya's voice. The forest. The waiting. The silence.
Her chest tightened.
Evelyn shifted closer on the bed, her gaze steady. "You have to tell him." The words were simple, but they landed with weight.
Maria's expression changed immediately. Not confusion. Not hesitation, but rejection.
"No." The response came sharp this time, almost defensive. "I will not tell him." Evelyn frowned, her brows pulling together. "Maria!"
"He does not deserve to know." Maria's voice rose slightly, not loud, but firm. "Not after what he did."
She stood up abruptly, her bare feet pressing against the cold floor. She began to pace, slow at first, then faster, as if movement could outrun her thoughts.
"He left me there," she continued, her voice tightening. "He did not come. Not even once."
Her jaw clenched. "And she came instead." Evelyn watched her closely. "Friya?" Maria stopped pacing. Her back was to Evelyn now. "Yes," she said quietly. "Friya."
The name tasted bitter on her tongue. "She stood there, in that forest, looking at me like I was nothing." Maria's fingers curled into fists at her sides. "Like I was beneath her."
Evelyn's lips pressed together. Maria turned slightly, her eyes burning now. "She asked me where he was. She asked me why he did not show up."
Her voice cracked just a little, but she forced it steady. "And I had no answer."
Silence filled the room again, but this time it was heavier. "I waited," Maria added, softer now. "All night."
Her gaze dropped. "He did not come."
Evelyn exhaled slowly. "That does not mean he does not care."
Maria let out a hollow laugh. It had no humor in it. "Then what does it mean?" she asked, turning fully now. "That he suddenly forgot the path to the forest?"
Her eyes searched Evelyn's face, but there was no answer there. Only concern. "He chose her," Maria said finally. "That is what it means."
The words settled differently. This time, they did not shake. They hardened.
Evelyn stood up and stepped closer. "You do not know that."
Maria shook her head immediately. "I do." Her hand moved instinctively to her stomach, though she seemed unaware of the motion. "And now this," she added, almost in disbelief.
Evelyn's eyes followed the movement. "This changes everything," she said quietly.
Maria's lips pressed into a thin line. "It changes nothing." Evelyn blinked. "Nothing?" Maria nodded, though the motion was slow. "I was already leaving."
The statement landed with quiet finality. Evelyn's eyes widened slightly. "Leaving Cliffland?"
Maria did not hesitate. "Yes." She walked toward the window, her steps measured now, calmer, but not lighter. "I cannot stay here," she continued. "Not after this."
She rested her hands on the edge of the window, staring out, though it was clear she was not seeing the city.
"If people find out," she paused, her throat tightening, "they will not see a commander. They will not see a warrior."
Her voice dropped. "They will see a woman who could not keep her legs closed." The words were harsh. Brutal. But they came without hesitation.
Evelyn flinched slightly. "Do not say that."
Maria let out a slow breath. "It is the truth." She turned her head slightly, just enough for Evelyn to see the pain in her eyes. "They will call me a prostitute," she added. "They will spit when I pass."
Her lips trembled, but she held them firm. "And he," she swallowed, "he will be untouched."
Evelyn stepped closer again. "That is not fair."
Maria gave a faint, bitter smile. "Since when has the world been fair?" That question lingered.
Evelyn reached out and took Maria's hand gently. "Running away will not solve this."
Maria did not pull away, but her fingers did not tighten either. "I am not running," she said quietly. "I am protecting what little I have left."
Evelyn's grip tightened slightly. "And what about the child?"
That made Maria freeze. For a brief moment, everything stilled. Her breathing. Her thoughts. Her anger. All of it paused.
Slowly, her hand moved again to her stomach. This time, she felt it. Not physically. Not truly. But something shifted inside her.
Fear, and Confusion.
She swallowed hard. "I will raise the child," she said, though her voice lacked certainty now. "Alone."
Evelyn's expression softened, but there was worry in her eyes. "Do you know what that means?"
Maria nodded, though the motion was faint. "Yes." Her gaze hardened again, as if she had to force herself back into strength. "It means I will live with shame," she said. "It means I will be judged."
She paused. "But it also means the child will live." Evelyn's eyes glistened slightly. "And Drexo?" she asked carefully.
Maria's jaw tightened again. "He made his choice," she said.
Evelyn shook her head. "You are making that decision for him." Maria turned sharply. "He made it first." The room fell silent again.
Evelyn searched her face, looking for any crack, any doubt she could reach. "You still love him," she said softly.
Maria's expression did not change immediately. But her eyes, they betrayed her. "I do," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
The admission felt heavier than everything else she had said. "But love is not enough," she added quickly, almost as if correcting herself.
Evelyn exhaled slowly. "Then let him decide."
Maria shook her head again, more firmly this time. "No."
"Why?"
"Because if he chooses me," she paused, her voice catching, "then he loses everything."
The words came out raw. Evelyn blinked. Maria looked away. "I will not be the reason he falls," she said quietly.
"And you think leaving will save him?"
Maria did not answer immediately. Her silence was enough. Evelyn stepped forward and pulled her into a tight embrace.
Maria stiffened at first, then slowly, she gave in. Her hands gripped Evelyn's back, tight. Too tight. "I do not know what to do," she whispered.
And this time, there was no strength in her voice. No armor, just truth.
Evelyn held her closer. "You are not alone."
Maria shook her head slightly against her shoulder. "I am."
Evelyn pulled back just enough to look at her. "You have me."
Maria's lips trembled. Tears slipped down again, quietly this time, not violent, not explosive, just steady.
Evelyn wiped one away gently. "Whatever happens," she said softly, "we will face it together."
Maria nodded, though it was slow, uncertain. But she did not argue. And for that moment, that was enough.