"And what could that possibly be, Celia? Because there's nothing you could ever say or do that would change my feelings for you-"
"I found out I was with child." she cut in.
There, she'd said it.
Lucas visibly paled. Something withered in his eyes.
"You're having a baby?" he eventually choked out as the gravity of her words sunk in. He even took a small step backwards from her.
Celia felt that backwards step as if he'd stomped on her heart. She wanted to start smashing things in anguish.
"Congratulations then, Your Highness." He gave her a tight, shallow smile. A courtier's smile. "You must be very pleased to be having a child. Prince Tobin's heir, I should say. And yes, you're quite right to say it makes things impossible between us."
She understood the polite distance that had crept into his tone. He was merely trying to protect himself, and her. What else could he do when the mother of his future king stood before him?