Dr. Lein examined Eilownia who laid in the bed awkwardly.

Marix paced back and forth just outside the room as Dr. Lein continued his examination.

He bit the nail of his thumb and stared at the floor as his pace picked up.

"Here, I’ve brought you and Miss Eilownia some calming tea."

Jinya approached carrying a golden tray, which she placed atop a nearby hallway table.

She checked the temperatures by tapping the sides of the mugs with her middle and ring fingers, then handed him one.

"I started cooling Miss Eilownia’s earlier so it shouldn’t be as hot."

Marix took the mug from her and took a cautious sip.

"Thank you for your diligence, Jinya."

She smiled and curtsied, "Anything for you, General."

He raised his mug to her and nodded, "It’s much appreciated."

As he took another sip, Dr. Lein called him into the room.

"Here." Marix handed the mug back to Jinya who placed it back on the tray before rushing into the room.

Without hesitation, he took his place on the bed next to Eilownia and grabbed her hand.

"Well?"

Dr. Lein raised his eyebrows, "You must give me a chance to give you news first, General Marix."

Lein removed his gloves and tossed them in the nearby trash.

"Miss Eilownia is around two months along."

Eilownia smiled wide as Marix let out a slow exhale.

"What should we be doing to ensure that her pregnancy is safe? Whatever we need to do, I’ll do it. As long as she has a healthy pregnancy and child."

Dr. Lein held his hands in the air and gently pushed them down to try and get Marix to calm down a little.

"First of all, nothing can be guaranteed one hundred percent. There will always be risks, and we cannot control everything. What we can do though, is increase our chances of a healthy pregnancy and delivery, for both Eilownia and the child."

Marix nodded with Eilownia, "Yes. Whatever we can do."

Eilownia gently rubbed her lower abdomen, "Whatever you say. I will make sure that our baby is okay. I want to protect them at all costs!"

Dr. Lein nodded, "Good. It’s wonderful that you are both determined and want to be proactive. You should get plenty of rest, eat nutritious foods and get lots of fresh air. The most important is to avoid stress at all costs."

"What else? What should she avoid? Tell us everything, Dr. Lein."

Dr. Lein spent the next twenty minutes giving them a list of does and don’ts as well things to look out for.

Eilownia fidgeted with the blankets. "How am I meant to eat nutritious foods? I’ve been feeling very sick and have thrown up a lot since last month. Since Marix came to get me, my appetite has improved a little and I managed to keep more food down, but I still feel ill."

Dr. Lien took a slow breath. "If it’s improved after you changed scenery, your sickness could be a mix of your pregnancy and stress. Now that you’re out of that environment, it could be that your body is relaxing and you aren’t as anxious."

Marix let out a soft chuckle, "You should’ve seen her put away the chicken I got her."

Eilownia gasped and sat up further to turn to stare at him. Her hair flew around her with the quick motion.

"You were watching the whole time?!"

Marix laughed a little harder, "Did you think I had just woken up at the end?"

Eilownia pouted and nodded, "I did!"

Dr. Lein smiled, "At least I know your mood will be good."

Eilownia shot him a sheepish smile as Marix tried to stop himself from laughing harder.

"As for the rest of your sickness and nutrition. I’ll prescribe you some vitamins and write out a meal plan with nutritious and bland foods to help you stomach it better."

He began to write on his notepad.

"I’ll write out the rest of the things I told you earlier as well so you won’t forget it. You can take the vitamins daily- well, I’ll write that down too."

"Thank you Dr. Lein." Marix said after calming himself down.

"I’m just doing my job."

Marix smiled and let out another chuckle. He wanted to bring up their argument about using the medical wing but decided not to in case it stressed Eilownia out.

Dr. Lein tore off a few pages and handed them to Eilownia to look over. She started to read through them as Lein headed towards the door.

He stopped in the doorway and turned to Marix.

"General, will you walk me out?"

Marix glanced at Eilownia who was busy reading through his notes, then back at Lein.

"Of course." He slid off the bed and followed Dr. Lein out.

Once they got outside, Dr. Lein stopped and turned to Marix, his voice a low whisper, "General. Honestly, I’m quite concerned about Miss Eilownia’s condition. The neglect she’s faced in her life is evident. If she is unable to hold onto the pregnancy, don’t blame yourselves."

Marix narrowed his eyes and snarled, "Excuse me? Of course Eilownia will see the pregnancy to the end," his hands balled into fists, "You dare speak about a royal heir like this?"

Dr. Lein took a deep breath and rolled his eyes.

"Like this? It’s a legitimate concern. You are a fool if you treat my words like they are just some form of random gossip, General."

Marix crossed his arms, "You said yourself, nothing is guaranteed. So why say something like that?"

Dr. Lein shook his head, "Don’t take it personally, Marix. Obviously, we will all do what we can. I’m only giving you a warning that the possibility is high and to prepare yourself. If it happens, it won’t be because of anything either of you have done wrong."

Later that night, while Eilownia was taking a lukewarm bath, Marix frantically called Jinya in.

"Jinya. I want everything in this room to be scrubbed down and the pillows fluffed. Make sure everything is as comfortable as possible and that there is as little bacteria in here as possible."

He then grabbed Eilownia’s mildewed rabbit plush and held it up by the corner of its ear.

"And this," he tossed it to Jinya, "Clean it up. I don’t want it to be around her during this time as is. Make sure that every piece of mildew is removed from that thing."

Jinya barely caught the rabbit and wiggled her nose as she frowned at the scent of the mildew.

"Y-Yes sir." She nodded with a disgusted look on her face.

Jinya stuck her head out of the doorway and whistled. A group of maids appeared a short while later, of which included Aleiza who smiled wide and curtsied as she entered.

"I’ll be in the office." Marix left as they got to work as they started to scrub the floors and fluff up the pillows.

A few days later, Eilownia was laying in bed half-sitting up and half laying down, against the pillows.

Her eyes were closed with her eyebrows furrowed and her jaw clenched tight.

In her arms, hugged tightly to her chest, was the strawbunny plush that Marix had made for her.

Marix entered the room and slowly laid next to her and began to gently pet her hair.

The shift in weight of the mattress caused her to throw her hand up to her mouth and lean over the side of the bed towards a bin that had been placed there.

"HMMP-!"

He rubbed her back until she slowly exhaled and laid back against the pillows.

"Would your rabbit make you feel better? The one you came with?"

She nodded slowly without opening her eyes and spoke through her clenched teeth, "Yes, but...I lost it when.....we came back....can’t find it anywhere."

Marix lifted the rabbit from behind his back and wiggled it in front of her face. She slowly opened her eyes.

They widened at the sight.

Wiggling in the air in front of her, was her childhood rabbit plush. Both of its eyes were in-tact, its body was no longer a sad grey color but now a pale pink and was plump from being restuffed.

There was not a sign of mildew left on it, neither in color or in scent.

Tears formed in her eyes as she tore it out of his hands and hugged it tight.

"Hello old friend! You look so beautiful now! You must feel so much better!" She cried out as she burst into tears.

Marix continued to pet her head.

"How are you feeling now?"

She wiped her tears as her stomach growled.

"I want some honey cake."

Marix chuckled, "Are you sure? You were getting sick just a moment ago."

"Mhmmm, now I want honey cake."

"I’ll call Jinya to make you some. I’m also going to talk to my father about marrying you. I’ll set the wedding for as soon as possible."