IGIWS FIRST DRAFT: Vol.7 Ch.397 When Do You Think You’ll Be Carrying?

Most of the day went by uneventfully as Rya and her friends went around the shops trying on jewelry, clothes, and glanced at an alchemist's potions. Amelia Dule finally was getting clothes that fit her new mature form, while Rya found enchanted laces that were meant to keep armor together from the abuses of monster attacks, but instead on armor, she had a tailor put them on her corset. This time her mana didn't get triggered when Anna was able to tighten her corset to hide her bump.

After that pleasant afternoon, Rya told the girls to come to the Palace so see could help them grow their Veins. She was able to convince most of them to come. Only Amelia, Julia, and Aris declined to the offer due to other engagements. Rya was a little disappointed that Amelia declined, but she didn't want to push the girl. She had time to help Johan's sister get stronger, but she wanted to see what Amelia's Mana Vein was, and when she snuck out her Seer Stone to see what Amelia was working with and she nearly fell over. Not only was Amelia Dule sporting a Elite level Mana Vein like her brother, but her had a mage vein that was pulsating purple on the rim, while the core of veins were darker than the standard black. It was a Mage Vein that Rya was unfamiliar with and she couldn't recall if the old tome written by the Demon Sage, Lord Grazon, had any information on what type of Mage, Amelia was. It was something new, and Rya's curiosity couldn't help but want to learn about it.

But now wasn't the time. Right now, she had to help her other friends grow their Mana Veins, and the only way to do that was by having them slay captured monsters. And Amelia's Mana Vein was already a good size from slaying monsters in her youth. The daughter of the Baron needed to learn how to channel her Mana more than anything else. But the other girls had a lot to work to do. Their veins weren't thicker than a single strand of angel hair pasta. Making it impossible for any of them to use the most basic of Maja techniques to strengthen or enhance their bodies.

So, Rya made sure to focus on them first and maybe she can go through the Demon Sage's book once more to see if she could find out what kind of Mage Amelia is.

The Vellanax sisters returned to the palace and had dinner with the family. The Revelia sisters were all there as well. Everyone was in there usual spots. However, Rya couldn't help but notice that Hilda wasn't there for a second day in a row. She thought she would feel triumphant , but she didn't for some odd reason. A part of her felt sorry for the foreign princess. She never had a chance in winning Quin's heart, but she would be going back to a country that looked down on women and Rya didn't know what was going to happen to her once she was finally married to Quinus.

'Pfft! Like I care what happens to her... She was a pain in my ass, and she didn't have a clue. Plus, she was mean to me saying that the gods were making me fat. Ha! Don't make me laugh... Ignore the laugh before that statement,' Rya huffed to herself as she waited for her food. She was trying to convince herself that she should be happy to be rid of the red headed nuisance, but she couldn't help but feel like she was going to miss her little confrontations with the foreign Princess.

'Well, it's unfortunate. But it's life. Plus, I doubt I'll be seeing the last of the Divine Three. And if they want to start a war over me, then maybe I'll check in on Hilda to see if they are treating right. Yeah, that's what I'll—oh? What's that smell?'

Rya's mind drifted as her eyes were glued on the food that was brought to the table. The spread was magnificent. The roast chicken was glistening, the potatoes were creamy, the carrots were sweet and tender, and the bread was warm and fluffy.

Rya couldn't help but indulge herself, which caught Rianna's and Yuliana's attention. While the Queen couldn't help but be excited, the Green Haired Elven Princess was panicking. She saw how the Queen was looking at her daughter and she knew that Rianna was going to ask questions that might catch the ire of the wood spirits. This only amplified Yuliana's anxiety, but she did her best to hide it.

After some time has passed, Rya sighed in satisfaction after finishing her...second meal.

'Maybe I should get thirds—No! I had enough... To save room for desser—huh? What's going on?'

Queen Rianna was beaming as she stared straight at Rya, which was making her uncomfortable. She even noticed her mother, Yuliana, was acting weird. She looked anxious as all hell and the green haired wood elf couldn't help but glance away from her adopted dark elf daughter every time that they made eye contact.

"Mom?... What's going on?" Rya asked.

Yuliana almost jumped out of her seat from Rya's sudden question. "Oh! It's nothing! I was just thinking about the future. That's all. Are you done eating, sweetie?"

Rya looked at her plate and saw that it was empty. "Yes... I guess I am," she said a little confused.

"Great! Then! I should go and...and..." Yuliana was panicking as she didn't want to anger the forest spirits by telling her that she's pregnant. And now that Rianna knows too, she can't get it out of her mind. She feared that is was going to slip out of her mouth by accident at any moment. "I need to go check on... on the... the Elder Tree saplings! Yeah! That's it—"

"Mom!? You stutter when you get nervous. And it's almost night. You said the saplings shouldn't be disturbed during the night," Rya pointed out.

Yuliana gulped. She was trapped and didn't know what to do. It wasn't until Rianna came to the rescue.

"Your mother is just excited about you getting married, and she wants to grow the perfect assortment of flowers for your bouquet. She's just bad at keeping secrets. Do you usually assume that people are keeping a secret from you when they are acting nervous?" the Queen asked, not giving Rya the chance to answer.

"N-No. But you are both acting weird," Rya pointed out. She looked over to Nieren, who stayed out of it as she ate her food.

"Hey!? Back me up here, Nieren," Rya pleaded.

Nieren didn't know what her mom or the Queen were up to. But she didn't want any part of it if it meant that her mother was going to punish her by making her practice the Green Word for another hour a day.

"The Queen has a point, Rya. You do have a tendency to suspect the worst in people if they are nervous," Nieren said as she took a sip of her tea.

Rya's jaw dropped.

"I-I do not," Rya protested and turned to Quinus, "Quin! Tell them I'm not like that."

The Prince, who was sitting next to Rya, was eating his dinner. He swallowed his food and looked at his fiancée with a long face as he tried to figure out how best to answer her.

"Quin? Are you taking their side?" Rya asked with an angry tone.

"I was just thinking about how beautiful you look today—"

"Quin? Answer the question," Rya's voice grew more stern.

The Prince scratched the back of his head and was trying to avoid eye contact while figuring out the best way to break the truth to his fiancée without getting in trouble with her later.

Sara and her sisters were amused by the antics. They never really had little family squabbles like this and seeing their cousin flounder was very entertaining and comforting in a strange way.

King Cyndre was all to aware of being in a situation like this with Rianna. He was glad it wasn't him this time who was on the hook.

'Goddess speed, my boy. I've been there and it's not fun when you give the wrong answer,' the King thought as he took a sip of his wine. He noticed that Quinus was looking at him, and Cyndre promptly looked away as if there was something far more interesting in the distance.

'Aw! Come on, Dad! You're not going to help me out here,' Quinus thought in a panic.

"Ahem!?"

Quinus's tension was brought back to Rya as she cleared her throat. Her eyes were narrowed and was tapping her foot under the table.

"Alright, fine. You do have a tendency to suspect the worst and hope for best in people. B-But I understand why. It's kept you alive this far. And I love that about you," he answered with the best of his ability. Rya's critical look softened and she smile.

Cyndre was impressed that his son got out of that situation, while Sir George who was on duty watching over the Prince, took out his notebook and scribbled away.

"However..." Quinus continued.

Rya's warm smile faded and Cyndre eyes widened as he saw his son walking into a trap of his own making.

"You sometimes tend to think that your friends and family would hide things from you... And it might be true in some cases, but you act like it is something nefarious. I doubt Yuliana is... R-Rya?" Quinus stopped himself as he saw Rya's eyebrow twitch and a sinister smile formed on her face as she tapped her pointer finger on the table.

Quinus knew he screwed up and he immediately looked at his father for help.

The King quickly looked back at his son and gave him a "You're on your own" look.

"So... You think I'm an untrusting person," Rya said in a calm voice.

"N-No! Not that! Maybe I could have worded it better," Quinus stuttered as he tried to back pedal his way out of the trap.

"I think you have said enough, dear," Rianna said with a giggle.

Rya looked at the Queen and saw the amused look on her face and her mother was relieved to not have screwed up. Yuliana silently thanked the Prince for his rare blunder.

Rya sighed and relaxed, but she made sure to give Quin one last glare.

"I'll deal with you later," Rya whispered.

Quinus gulped and gave a weak nod. He was really hoping that she would forget about this, but he knew that was a fool's hope.

'Damn it. Why am I so clumsy with my words? I-I will make this up to her,' Quinus thought as he was beating himself up inside.

Rianna couldn't help the have a mischievous smirk. She wanted to probe Rya some more. She wanted to get a couple things out of her future daughter-in-law, but Yuliana's nervousness was holding her back. But the Prince had given her the perfect opportunity to tease the Princess a little more.

"The first lovers spat has begun. That's good. It means you care for each other, which is a must for a healthy family and a healthy heir. And speaking of heirs..." The Queen trailed off as she looked at Rya, who was confused.

Yuliana's calm demeanor was shatter as she knew what the Queen was about to do. She wanted to stop her, but she had no clue how to do it, without her blurting it out. She wanted to bury her head in her hands, but she sat there in horror as the Queen continued.

"Which would you prefer. A boy, or a girl?" Rianna asked as with interest. She motioned for one of the staff to refill her tea as she awaited for the answer. Her taste for wine hasn't returned yet, but she didn't. Why force herself to drink something she doesn't want.

Rya laughed a little, "I don't care. As long as I give birth to a healthy baby is what I care about," she answered like it wasn't that big of a deal.

Yuliana's left hand was shaking as Rianna looked like she wasn't going to stop.

"That's a good attitude to have. What do you think about that son? Are you okay with a girl?" the Queen looked at Quinus.

Quinus thought his mother was coming in to save him and smooth out things with Rya. He couldn't be happier to answer confidently, "I'm in full agreement with Rya. As long as are baby is healthy and happy, that is all that matters." He reached under the table and held Rya's hand.

Rya's anger melted away as she gave his hand a squeeze, and smiled at him. 'Aw!? That's so sweet! I love him—WAIT!? Wasn't I mad at him for something? Oh yeah! He thought I was a little too—'

Quin squeezed her thigh gently and a warmth spread up her spine and made her shiver.

'W-Well? M-Maybe I am overreacting a bit. B-But he will need to make it up to me—'

He squeezed her thigh again and gave her a gentle smile, which he only gives to her when they are alone.

Rya's face reddened as she felt a familiar heat between her legs. She felt her annoyance fade away as the Prince worked his magic.

'I guess I can let it slide... For now,' Rya thought as she turned her attention back to her mother and the Queen.

Rianna was pleased that Quinus answered correctly, but she wasn't done. Her smile widened as she continued her probing. "I'm glad to hear that, Quinus. Not many noble men would easily say such a thing. You're lucky to have him, Rya," the Queen said.

Rya nodded her head in agreement. She was still a little embarrassed by their earlier spat.

Rianna continued, "Now, I know it is early, but when do you think we be seeing the first signs of caring a child, my dear?" she asked as she took a sip of her tea.

Quinus nearly shot wine out of his nose while the entire table grew silent. The Revelia sisters stopped eating and looked at their aunt. The King sighed and went back to his food. Sir George and Lady Nelumbo who were standing behind the King glanced at each other. They were both surprised by the Queen's forwardness.

Yuliana looked pale, Nieren wanted to laugh, and Elaine looked confused. Rya looked at Rianna with a dumbfounded expression. The Queen had a mischievous glint in her eyes that made Rya's bullshit detector to go off. 'Is she... teasing me about something?' Rya thought as she tried to make sense of what the Queen was getting at.

"I mean, it's not like we aren't trying. But your guess is as good as mine, my Queen," Rya replied.

Rianna's brow raised slightly in amusement at Rya's obliviousness. 'Oh, my sweet summer child. It's so adorable that you don't even know,' she thought.

Yuliana was silently pleading to Rianna to stop it. The Queen saw the green-haired Elven Princess in her peripheral vision, but she played it cool and acted like she didn't see her. She was having too much fun.

"I see," Rianna said as she took another sip of her tea. "So, when would you know if you're with child? Is there any difference between humans and elves? I've read that some elves can tell right away, while others don't know until their stomach starts to grow. I'm just curious, that's all."

Rya laughed, 'Jeez! This isn't only a Earth thing? It's amazing the crap that most newlyweds have to go through with their parents and In-Laws. They always want their baby fix... Or is this a girl thing? Like, my mom back on Earth didn't pressure me into marrying someone, then interrogate me about when she was going to become a grandmother. However, I wonder if I could say the same thing about my sister? Damn... I miss them... Huh? Oh, Yeah!'

Rya sat up straight in her chair and gave Rianna a small smile, "Well, I'm still knew to this whole elf adulthood thing. But I was told that I don't get a menstrual cycle for a good five to ten years after turning 25. And I haven't had my first cycle yet. So, who knows when I'm going to be fertile. If I had to guess, it would be sometime in the next five years. But even then, who knows. It's not like I can go to a doctor and find out."

Rianna smirked, and whispered under her breath, "You won't have to worry about that, my young Rya."

No one heard her but the elves, and Rya, Nieren, and Elaine were confused, while Yuliana slammed both her hands on the table getting everyone's attention.