Rebirth: The unfavored Princess is the Tyrant King's favorite-Chapter 120: You are not happy

Luciana: "I’m pregnant?"

Nicholas: "Are you sure?"

The imperial physician’s gaze moved from the prince and princess consort, and he felt as if he was imagining things.

’Why did it look like both the eldest prince and the princess didn’t seem happy about the news?’

"Yes, your Highness, I’m sure. His Highness could also let another physician read Her Grace’s pulse if he wants a second opinion. Her Grace is about two weeks pregnant. She is still in her early stages, but all signs tell she is pregnant, just a little tired," the imperial physician said, and Nicholas solemnly nodded.

"I understand; you are excused..." he said and paused before adding in a threatening tone

"If anyone hears about what happened here, I’ll come for your head."

The imperial physician hurriedly nodded in fear.

He bowed and carried his medicine box and said fearfully,

"I’ll take my leave, Your Highness."

Nicholas ignored him and approached Luciana. He held her hand in his, intertwined their fingers, and squeezed it gently. For a moment there, they were both lost in thought and had no words to say to each other.

’Was he that unhappy that she was pregnant? Shouldn’t he show some reaction at least?’ Luciana thought, feeling hurt.

The room became quiet...So suffocatingly silent that Luciana couldn’t take it anymore and spoke up.

"You are not happy about the news," she said in a matter-of-fact tone, her voice coming out small and her eyes already glistening with unshed tears.

"No, no, Luciana, love, I’m not unhappy. My heart just aches for you, for us. I’m scared; I don’t want you to experience the pain of carrying a baby for nine months when there’s a curse on our heads," Nicholas said.

Luciana’s tears fell at his words, but she didn’t want to hear about the curse right now. There was a little life growing inside her. It was the fruit of their love.

This time she was carrying his child willingly, not because he forced himself on her but because she had willingly surrendered herself to him.

She was going to give birth to her son, and this time, she was going to raise him herself, and no one was going to take him away from her.

"Are you suggesting that you want me to get rid of our baby?" She asked in a cracked voice; there was a hint of disbelief and accusation in her voice.

"No! No way, Luciana, how can you think I’d be capable of suggesting something like that? This is our baby; this is the fruit of our love, and I’ll move heaven and earth to keep you safe. I’ll make sure no one, not even a finger of an ancient curse, touches you and our child," Nicholas promised.

His eyes held countless emotions as he stared into her eyes, and Luciana slowly nodded, her heart warming at his words, and she gave him a subtle smile through her tears.

Nicholas cupped her face in his hands and wiped away her tears with his thumbs. He leaned in and pressed his lips on her forehead, making his lips linger for a while.

Luciana also closed her eyes, savored the feeling of his lips on her forehead, and prayed to the deities in her heart.

’She and her child must be safe. The gods mustn’t be so cruel to her in this lifetime too.’

~~~

Luciana didn’t expect the Empress Dowager’s birthday to be so huge. She didn’t know if everything was indeed different from her memories or if she hadn’t paid attention to the decorations in her previous life, but she could tell this was on another level altogether.

People were seated according to their social ranking, and the imperial family was seated on a raised platform that overlooked two long rows of tables and chairs.

The rows of tables were placed in such a way that there was ample space between them, enough for about five or six people to walk side by side and converse as they passed through.

Many people were in attendance. The invited guest list ranged from aristocrats and ministers to even some members of the royal family from other countries who were present.

Among the people present was the royal family of the Wazuzu kingdom, which included the two princesses and the crown prince.

Another person in attendance was Robert, the crown prince of Florendel, who came together with General Mathias, the feared and renowned commander-in-chief of the Florendel army.

Luciana’s eyes widened when she saw the crown prince of Florendel, and her heart skipped a beat.

’How could she have forgotten such an important detail?’

She recalled that in her past life, someone had attacked the crown prince of Florendel on the night of the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet.

Fortunately or unfortunately, it was Lady Evelyn who had miraculously chanced upon the bleeding crown prince and had called an imperial physician to save him.

In her past life, because she knew she had to keep up appearances with this "brother" of hers so that her identity as the princess of Florendel would be further confirmed and also to make sure that no one suspected their relationship, she made it a point to visit him in his assigned residence as the prince of a foreign country.

But due to her stubbornness, she did something to anger Nicholas, and he forbade her from leaving the manor without his permission. After all, he was the first person who knew Robert was no brother of hers.

Due to this house arrest, Lady Evelyn took it upon herself to "help her" take care of the crown prince, and she foolishly believed it when Lady Evelyn asked them to be on good terms from then on since they were sharing the same husband.

Seeing Evelyn’s sincerity, she had agreed for them to be on good terms, believing her to be genuine, especially since Evelyn made it a point to always check up on the crown prince of Florence on her behalf and report his progress to her every day.

Remembering all those scenarios, Luciana began to piece together how it was that everyone found out she was a fake princess of Florendel.

Evelyn must have found the truth from Robert but had waited for the right moment before making it known. And the right time came when she found out she married Nicholas to kill him and avenge her parents.

Luciana recalled those bad memories from when her real identity was discovered, and she involuntarily felt a shiver run down her spine.

She must keep an eye on Robert tonight; no matter what happens, she must be the one who finds him first. She must be the one who saves this brother of hers in this lifetime.

Nicholas sat in his assigned seat in his usual dark-colored robes, and his face looked cold as if the whole world owed him money.

He wasn’t happy because the intruder who had barged into their room was yet to be found. What made him angrier was how the seating arrangement was made.

Luciana was seated at his right, and Lady Evelyn was seated at his left. His other two concubines were seated somewhere he didn’t even pay attention to.

Nicholas despised Lady Evelyn’s pretentious giggling from time to time. The girl would ask him a question and giggle when he gave her an answer.

He didn’t even find anything amusing about the questions, but she wouldn’t stop yapping and whispering to him even though he clearly wasn’t interested.

He turned to look at the emperor, who had put him in such a predicament, and shook his head at the scene he saw. The emperor had a gentle look on his face as he exchanged some words with Noble Consort Margaret.

His eyes moved to Luciana, who had not spoken to him ever since she came to have a seat. Was she angry at him? Could it be that she was jealous because of Lady Evelyn?

He had seen her approaching the table of the crown prince of Florendel, and he saw how she had given him a sweet smile and acted chummy with him.

How long did she stay in Florendel for the king to adopt her as a daughter?

He knew it didn’t take very long considering the day he had found her in the bridal chambers as his wife, but how did they become so close in such a short period? Could it be that they were only putting on an act?

Nicholas didn’t know Luciana’s silence would affect him to such an extent. Seeing she didn’t even touch the pastries in front of her, even though she was such a foodie who liked to eat sweets the most, he couldn’t help but ask.

"Luciana, are you all right?"

His voice was low and gentle. It showed that his words were only meant for her ears. Luciana, however, gave him a noncommittal "Mhmm" and looked away.

Nicholas saw this and pushed the plates containing the pastries closer to her.

"It’s tasty; you should have some," he said, and everyone present turned to look at their usually emotionless prince in surprise.

They didn’t know that their eldest prince was capable of showing such affection. Evelyn’s eyes were full of jealousy, but she lowered her gaze so that no one would see the anger in her eyes.

Little did they know that Nicholas wasn’t done yet. When Luciana refused to eat, this time Nicholas took a piece of heart-shaped cookie and lifted it to her lips.

"Here, let me feed you," he said.

Everyone, including Luciana, stared at him in shock.

’What was he doing in public!’