Daufina leaned back in her quarters in the Byern castle. Home. It was so incredibly nice to be back home. Albion was beautiful and ancient, filled with everything she could ever want. It had been her home once. She had grown up there, and it was a treat to return there on procession from time to time. But she had been in Byern too long now to consider anything else as home.

Now that Edric had given up his hunt for Cyrene, they could begin to move back to order. She would have her Affiliates and High Order to assist. She could plan strategy with the King. She could continue to help plan the Eos holiday. It was all at her leisure.

That was wonderful, considering the tension and anxiety that had plagued the castle.

There had been only one other death since Cyrene had disappeared. Jardana, however unfortunate, was the only one to have perished. No more clues were found. The investigation was coming to a close.

Perhaps, one day…they would all know what had actually happened. Until then, they could get back to business as usual and pray to the Creator that nothing else happened like that again in their kingdom.

A knock at the door drew her from her thoughts.

“Come in,” she said softly.

An Affiliate with strawberry-blonde hair hurried into the room, dipping a low curtsy. Daufina had seen her before. She was one of the Queen’s favorites. She had always trailed after Jardana and her friends. Adelas.

“Consort,” Adelas said.

“Please rise. What is the matter?”

“It’s the Queen. She sent me to retrieve you promptly.”

“Whatever for?”

This was quite unlike Kaliana. If the Queen sent for her at all, it was through a servant with a letter. Nothing urgent. Nothing that anyone could gossip about.

“She didn’t say. She just told me to get you at once.” Adelas looked frightened. “If I could be so bold, she was quite out of sorts. I haven’t seen her in such a mood since…” She bit her lip.

“Yes?”

“Since her last miscarriage.”

That got Daufina right out of her chair. “I’ll come at once.”

She hauled up her skirts and hurried after the young Affiliate. They took the shortest route. She was uncertain what was wrong with Kaliana and wanted to get to her as soon as possible.

Daufina didn’t particularly care for the Queen—her duty was to Edric—but Kaliana wouldn’t have requested her if it wasn’t important.

They made it to Kaliana’s chambers in quick order, and Daufina shooed Adelas away. Whatever Kaliana wanted to discuss with her, it was clear she wanted it to be in private.

“Kaliana?” Daufina said, entering the chamber and closing the door behind her.

No response returned. Daufina walked through the living quarters and toward the bedroom. She heard sobbing coming from the room. Daufina stood there for a moment, debating on whether to go in or not. She knocked gently, but the sobs just came louder.

With a heavy sigh, she stepped into the bedroom and found Kaliana curled into a ball on the floor. She wore nothing but a cream shift. Her hair had fallen out of its careful bun at the nape of her neck. Her cheeks were red and splotchy. Her eyes were puffy and swollen. She looked so young and fragile. Daufina would never have even known it was Kaliana.

“Whatever is the matter?” Daufina asked.

Kaliana looked up at her and then burst into tears all over again.

Daufina hurried over to her side and sank down to her level. “Are you hurt? Has someone hurt you? Kaliana, talk to me.”

“I was late,” she whimpered.

Daufina drew herself up with wide eyes. “You’re pregnant?” she asked hopefully.

“Dear Creator, please let it not be so,” she sobbed. Her blue eyes searched Daufina’s, and then she leaned her head between her knees, starting to cry all over again.

“What is this, Kaliana? Why are you crying? A baby is a blessing. Edric will want to hear at once.”

“No!” she shrieked. “No. He…he can’t know.”

Daufina had a horrible feeling come over her. “Why? Why can’t your husband know of this joyous occasion?”

“Oh, Daufina, how can I ever look at him again?”

Daufina’s stomach flipped. She didn’t know what Kaliana was talking about. But she didn’t like the sound of it.

She grabbed ahold of Kaliana’s shoulders and stared her dead in the eyes. “Tell me. Everything.”

“I’m late,” she repeated.

“You said that.”

“I’m a month late,” she whispered morosely.

“A month,” Daufina said softly.

“I thought it was a mistake. That I was just under stress. I thought this month, when we were back home, things would be different. I would bleed once more,” she cried. “But it is not the case.”

“You’ve been pregnant for more than a month,” Daufina said. “You’re sure?”

“Yes.”

“I…I sent Edric to your chambers. He’s seen you, hasn’t he? Been with you?” Daufina asked.

Kaliana nodded. “He was too late, Daufina. I begged him before that. Begged him. Like a whore,” she cried. “And he would not see me. Refused to see me. He loved her so much that he couldn’t even look at me. His own wife!”

“So, you did something about it,” Daufina said, realizing the horror of what she was witnessing.

“I had to. I thought…”

“You did not think.”

“Daufina,” Kaliana said. Her eyes begged, pleaded, with her. “Help me.”

Daufina shook her head. She couldn’t do this. It was treason. What Kaliana had done was treason. Helping her would be worse.

“Who was it? Who did this?” Daufina asked.

Kaliana shook her head. “You can’t know.”

“I won’t help you unless you tell me.”

“No!” Kaliana cried. “Is it not shame enough that I am pregnant? With my luck…the baby will miscarry anyway, and this will all be for naught. But I cannot tell you.”

Daufina pinched the bridge of her nose and closed her eyes. How could this possibly be happening?

“You will tell Edric now. Whether or not the baby survives the pregnancy. If you hide from him, it will look suspicious. You have to glow with the knowledge that you hold the future King of Byern in your womb. Do you understand me?”

Kaliana nodded.

“No one else will know, and if the time comes and the baby chooses to be born after all, then we will say it is premature. I am betraying my King and my country for this. So, you must do everything I say from now on. Everything.”

“I will,” Kaliana said, clutching Daufina’s hands.

“He might not even suspect if it is premature since you have never carried a baby to term. But you must act the part and never give away to anyone that the baby could be anyone else’s.”

“How will I face him?”

Daufina shook her head and stood. She reached down and helped Kaliana to her feet. “Like a queen.”