Chapter 30 – Surrogate for the Alpha Prince in a Coma

“Now, once you are pregnant, you won’t be able to do this,” Josephine said.

“All the more reason to have fun tonight,” Benedict added.

“I’ll just have this one,” I said.

“No you won’t,” said an authoritative female voice from my right. I froze, and so did Josephine.

Benedict merely lifted his drink. “Nice to see you, my Queen.”

“I should have sensed your influence in this, Benedict,” the Queen said. Even though she spoke to Benedict, her glare was on me and me alone. “You should not be drinking in your condition, surrogate.”

“It’s alright, dear sister,” Benedict said. “She’s not pregnant yet.”

“Then she should not be here. She should be there, with Grayson, performing her duties,” the Queen said.

“I’m going… over there…” Josephine said, immediately excusing herself. I couldn’t blame her. To my surprise, though, Benedict stayed, slowly sipping from his own glass.

“You were brought on for one purpose,” the Queen said to me, “and yet you are here, taking advantage of our hospitality while you ignore your duty. Do you have anything to say for yourself?”

I lowered my head. Permission to speak felt like a trap, one I had suffered before with Calvin and my father. Any chance where I had been allowed to speak was immediately turned around, against me.”

“I thought not,” the Queen said. “Hear me. Have your little merriment tonight, but it will be the last. You will fall pregnant before the upcoming ball, or we will send you back to the hole you came from. Do you understand?”

I nodded.

“I don’t hear you.”

“Yes, your Highness.”

“Better,” she said.

“You might be being a little harsh,” Benedict said.

The Queen gave him a deadly glare. “Stay out of this, Benedict. Until an heir can be established, the kingdom remains at risk. Duty before self, always. Or is that not something you honor anymore?”

She didn’t stay for an answer, turning around and abruptly walking off. wasn’t until she was across the room and whispers started that I realized most of the dining room had been witness to my scolding. Bad enough that Benedict had to hear, but everyone else too?

Ophelia’s whispers were the loudest and the hardest to ignore, “She’ll be kicked out soon enough. Back on the street where she belongs. Probably to work on the street corners.”

The girls around her – sans Clara – giggled.

Benedict huffed. “Ignore them. They don’t know what they are talking about.”

I nodded, trying to stay brave and calm, not wanting to show my very real internal fear. The pressure was on, more intense than ever before. I doubted Grayson wanted to actually make me pregnant, but how much longer could he keep up the ruse without doing so?

Unless he didn’t care. If I failed to fall pregnant, the only one who would suffer the consequences was me.

I could see it now, the Queen casting me out, Grayson turning his back to me.

On the street, I wouldn’t be able to go home, knowing I’d only be tortured and imprisoned there. But how would I survive? And how long would it be before Calvin, in his fury, tracked me down?

Without the protection of the royal family, Calvin would show me no mercy? My life would be as good as over.

But, on the other hand, if Grayson were to agree and I were to fall pregnant, I would be giving up something that I had hoped to give to my true mate alone. My virginity, yes. But also my first child.

Would my true mate want me if I had borne a child to another?

Either route, I imagined myself alone.

This was an impossible choice.

Dulian’s POV

After the Queen’s scolding, despite Benedict’s best efforts to try to cheer me up, I couldn’t even manage a smile. The thought that I could have believed for even one minute that I might be able to relax tonight was now a laughable notion. I should have known better.

Peaceful moments were not meant for people like me.

I felt the weight of the crowd’s gaze upon me. People staring and whispering to one another.

“When will she get pregnant?”

“Why isn’t she pregnant now?”

“Maybe she can’t get pregnant?”

“A surrogate who can’t get pregnant? What use is she, then?”

Benedict finished his drink, then plucked my ignored one from my hand and finished that too. Putting both glasses to the side, he offered me his arm. “Why don’t I walk you back to Grayson’s room?”

“This is your party,” I said. “You should stay.”

He huffed. “The Queen has a way of ruining the mood. I’d rather not stay here myself.”

“But you are the guest of honor,” I said, confused.

He shrugged. “They are used to me running off. It won’t be that shocking when I don’t stay for the toasts.”

“If you are sure,” I said.

He shook the arm he had offered. “I’m positive.”

I slid my arm around his and allowed him to lead me from the room. The whispers dimmed slightly as we went. Though the guests seemed willing to badmouth me, they seemed less inclined to do the same to the King’s younger brother.

In the hallway, I finally exhaled the breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding.

“Thank you,” I said.

“No need for thanks,” Benedict said. “I could tell that if you stayed in that room, you might hyperventilate. That wouldn’t be a good look for anyone. Besides, this gives me an excuse to dip out early. I really hate these formal events, and I’d been meaning to step in to check on Grayson.”

“I’m sure he would be appreciative,” I said, though I wasn’t so sure at all. “Though, it is later in the evening. Perhaps a visit could wait until the morning.”

I had no idea what Grayson was up to, but he likely wouldn’t be expecting visitors. I shouldn’t be back for another hour at least.

“Nonsense,” Benedict said. “I’ll only stay a minute. Everything will be fine.”

“Okay,” I said, still unsure. But, Grayson had kept up this ruse for long since before I came into the picture. He must have had spies looking out for him, to alert him when he needed to be in bed. Worrying about this was foolish.

Grayson didn’t need my help in any capacity, least of all this. dly, that thought made me unhappy.

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