That Prince Is A Girl The Vicious King's Captive Slave Mate novel Chapter 345

Chapter 345
PRINCESS EMERIEL

Emeriel woke with a load in her chest that had nothing to do with the heaviness of her pregnancy. She stretched to relieve the aching pull in her lower back, sighing. At five months, her body was beginning to feel the strain in earnest. Yet it was not her body that troubled her this morning.

She had a bad feeling.

The morning passed, the servants arriving to help her bathe and dress, but the feeling did not fade. She told herself it was nothing. It was not uncommon for Daemonikai to be delayed. His duties often took him longer than was expected.

But the feeling would not leave her.

She tried to distract herself. Reading in the library, tending the garden, wandering through the plantations. Even time spent with Aekeira brought little relief. Eventually, she gave up entirely and made her way to Blackstone to confront Grand Lord Vladya.

She hesitated briefly before knocking on the door to his study.

“Come in,” came the deep, familiar voice.

Emeriel entered, finding the grand lord behind his desk, eyes narrowed over the scroll in his hand. The furrow in his brow eased slightly when he saw her.

“Emeriel.” He set the parchment aside, rising smoothly to his feet. “Please, come in.”

He crossed to her, steadying her as she lowered herself into one of the cushions.

She flushed faintly. “Thank you, my lord.”

“Is everything well?”

“Yes, yes, all is fine. It's just…” She cleared her throat, smoothing her hand over the fabric stretched taut across her belly. “I have not heard from Daemon in days. I am… worried.”

“You need not be,” he said after a pause. “You know how his duties are. It wouldn't be the first time they've kept him away from the Citadel for long, there’s nothing to be concerned about.”

“I know, I keep telling myself that.” She fidgeted. “It's just... he told me this would be a short journey. A day, perhaps two. And when there are delays, he usually sends word. Not always, but often enough.” Her voice lowered. “I have a bad feeling.” She looked up at him. “I’m sure he is fine. I just… I need to hear from him.”

Lord Vladya’s eyes dropped, shoulders drawing subtly taut.

It was the tiniest reaction, but Emeriel had long learned that with him, even the smallest movements spoke volumes.

She sat up a little straighter. “You know something, don’t you?”

He crouched before her until they were eye to eye. “Only that he is delayed. You will hear from him soon. Don't let this worry you. He is fine.”

Before she could press him further, the door burst open. “I'm really worried this feral episode still persists. Daemon is—” Lord Ottai stopped short, seeing her. Alarm flashed in his eyes.

Emeriel stared at him, her mind grasping the words she had just heard. “Feral episode?” Her brow furrowing in confusion. “What feral episode?”

The Fourth Ruler went pale, his eyes darting to Lord Vladya in a desperate plea for help.

Lord Vladya’s glare was sharp enough to kill.

Lord Ottai flushed like a youngling caught pilfering coin from his mother’s purse.

“What I meant,” he fumbled, “was the feral male Daemonikai paid a visit is still… well, he is taking longer to come out of his episode than expected, which is why the Grand King has been delayed.”

Emeriel’s frown deepened. “The Grand King went to Crystal Waters to oversee the new lands we acquired.”

“Of course, of course.” Lord Ottai nodded too fast. “What I meant was… on his way back, he stopped by to check on—uh—a male who was feral. And… and… that's why he hasn't returned yet.”

The silence was awkward.

Which the uncomfortable fourth ruler felt obligated to fill. “What I meant was, he, um—Vladya,” he hissed out of the corner of his mouth. “Help me out here!”

“Help you…?” Emeriel rose to her feet, heart starting to race. “What's going on?”

“Nothing. Do not listen to Ottai,” Vladya said through clenched teeth, rising. He shot Lord Ottai another lethal glare. “You know how he is—some days he behaves as though Morina overfeeds him, other days he's too overwhelmed by his duties to make sense.”

“Vladya is right,” Lord Ottai agreed. “I did not get enough sleep last night.”

“No.” Emeriel shook her head, though it felt far too light on her neck. “Something is wrong. I feel it.”