Take better care of yourself

"Because it's late autumn, it's starting to rain less, but the air is getting colder," commented Sutton as he closed the verandah door to Selah's study. "Should I start turning up the heat in your room, Your Highness?"

"No need," Selah replied. She realized something then. "No, wait. I'll ask Prince Aeneas first. His Highness seems to get cold easily."

"Umm…" Sutton looked doubtful. "But before leaving two days ago, His Highness advised me to ask you…"

After exhaling a long breath, she replied, "Then, don't worry about it."

Then Janette came in, apparently carrying tea and some snacks. Smelling the aroma of freshly baked tea and pastries made Selah's stomach growl instantly.

"Sorry," Selah said with embarrassment.

"Your Highness, if you are hungry, how about I prepare a heavy meal as well?" she offered.

But just two hours ago, I had lunch, and Selah groaned inside.

"Please don't hold back, Your Highness. It's normal to get hungry easily with all this work," added Sutton.

"No. It's been a week since I've eaten more than usual," Selah refused. "At this rate, I'll get fat."

Sutton and Janette exchanged glances. "I don't think His Highness will mind it, Your Highness," said Sutton carefully.

Selah glared at him. "Prince Aeneas won't mind it, but I will," she said. "Instead of taking issue with my appetite, why don't you just go back to work? There is still much for you to do."

"I'm sorry, Your Highness."

Sutton follows Janette in a hurry. After the two of them left and Selah was alone, she realized that her behavior just now was very childish. How could Selah be offended just because of her appetite and weight? Even though she used to be ignorant about it.

Is it because I now have a very charming husband? That's why I don't want to lose to him, Selah thought.

But after researching it, Selah realized she wasn't just irritable. Her moods fluctuate, more often than not, she gets irritated when someone is not good at what she does. Selah could still hold it in, but after a while, she got tired too and started to think that she must be crazy.

"How about you take another day off, Your Highness?" Janette suggested.

"Hah?!" Selah looked at her, annoyed. "Seriously! How can I take time off when it's going to be winter like this?!"

"Th-because I thought Your Highness might be starting to get stressed out by the job. So… Your Highness start getting stressed because of the huge workload," explained Janette doubtfully.

Janette wasn't the only one who advised her to take time off. Sutton, some of the employees who work with her, even Aeneas also suggest the same thing. Of course, they all couldn't escape Selah's sharp gaze.

"Actually, I've wanted to tell you since I returned two days ago. But seeing how you scolded Janette and Sutton, I had my doubts," admits Aeneas, then laughs.

"How could my own husband say that," Selah hissed and chewed her food roughly.

Aeneas chuckled. His gaze then fell on Selah's portion of food. "If you don't want to take time off, I'll just call a healer, how about that? Maybe the healers have something to relieve your stress or something to calm you down."

"If they give me herbal tea, I won't drink it."

"Ha ha ha!"

Selah doesn't know what Aeneas said to the healer before he examined her. Aeneas and the healer seemed to be discussing something in front of their bedroom door in whispers. Aeneas looks excited, while the healer listens intently.

Well, whatever it is. Selah just hoped that Aeneas wasn't planning anything outlandish.

"I get wary every time I see you smile like that," Selah said as the healer examined her.

Aeneas smiled broadly. "There's nothing wrong with how I smile," he said.

Feeling uncomfortable seeing that suspicious smile, Selah turned her attention to the healer. The healer looked serious; Check pulse, heart rate, stomach, also legs. Lastly, he started asking about the state of Selah's body.

"You haven't had your period for more than two months?" repeated the healer after Selah had explained everything. She looked shocked and in disbelief.

"It's been like that ever since. There is even a period off up to three months. The healer from the Dulcia family used to say that it was normal for me to be stressed a lot," explained Selah.

"With all due respect, Your Highness," sighed the healer, "you can't match your circumstances when you're married."

Selah widened her eyes for a moment. Why had she only realized it now?

She didn't feel nauseous or dizzy. But this easy fever, big appetite, and mood swings mean… "I'm pregnant?"

***

"It's only natural to get pregnant after marriage, right? Why is your expression like that?"

After blinking her eyes, she woke up from her daydream. Aeneas, who had just let go of the healer's return, returned to their room. "No, you see… Women around me always complain of nausea and dizziness early in their pregnancies. While I…"

Even up until three days ago, Selah was still training with Aeneas' knights. She took a morning jog, warmed up a bit, and went back to learning to use a knife. Selah has done physical exercises that are pretty hard for a young pregnant woman and she is fine.

"I heard that you slaughtered my knights last week."

"I didn't slaughter them."

Aeneas sat on the edge of the bed and tucked Selah's hair behind her ear. His eyes searched but quickly turned serious.

"Selah, please listen to me as your husband this time," said Aeneas. "After this, take better care of yourself. Don't just think about work."

That sentence hit her right in the heart.

"I'm glad you don't have to vomit or faint easily as most pregnant women do. But you who don't realize that you are pregnant after two months of not having your period shows that you are ignorant of your own condition." Aeneas let out a long breath. "If I don't come home, maybe you'll realize you're pregnant after your belly grows."

"You… are scolding me?" Selah asked in disbelief and amazement.

"Sounds like what?" Aeneas shook his head. "Even though I didn't get pregnant, I immediately knew you were pregnant. How can you not know yourself?"

"Okay, okay. Okay. I'm sorry," said Selah surrendering. "I also promise to take more care of myself."

"Don't hold back either."

"I promise I won't hold back."

Aeneas finally smiles. "Thank you," he said meaningfully. He hugged Selah then. It took a long time until he said, "I'm sorry."

I don't understand why you must apologize, Selah thought as she patted her husband on the back.