The Imperial Prince's Surrogate Wife

Chapter 7: The Furious Grand Prince

After the dinner banquet held in the Palace, Titania, together with the Viscount and Viscountess, departed home. Titania has been staying in the manor of the Viscount for essentially four days.

The villa has two sets of enclosing brick walls and a ground-floor hall used to welcome the peasants of commoners. There is also the upper-hall were reserved for the high-ranking guests, which is usually accessible by an external spiral staircase, which is generally open up to the roof trusses. It is a lot larger and finely decorated hall. The family's private chambers were also located off to the upper first-floor hall and invariably had their own fireplace and frequently a latrine.

"Bring the surrogate into her room and lock her up until I get back," the Viscountess ordered Titania's lady-in-waiting after they got into the manor.

Unlike Czarina, Titania was thrown into a harsh and violent house where she couldn't be herself. Her routine every day is being locked into her room unless it's mealtime. The fancy life she thought it would be, fade away after being mistreated by the Viscountess. For the last four days, she would preferably stay in the holding facility even without having the freedom to go outside the town rather than live in the manor with a harsh environment.

Daffodil, Titania's lady-in-waiting, bowed down. "Yes, Lady Victoria."

Titania rolled up her eyes and followed Daffodil instead. She couldn't defy and resist, or else she will end up as a lump of dead meat.

They passed into the spiral staircase and a wide hallway with plenty of peach lily and scented geranium flowers. The Viscountess is fond of collecting flowers around the manor which made Titania frown. She dislikes flowers.

"I apologize on behalf of Lady Victoria, Titania. She is actually a good person not until her firstborn baby died. She just wants you to be cautious this time to prevent any complications in carrying her child," Daffodil clarified, giving Titania a soft glimpse and closed the door.

Titania chuckled and sat on the cushion lounge chair beside her bed. "It's alright, Daffodil. I'm used to it, and I have even experienced worse than that."

"Then this is where I'll leave you. I still need to get into the Duke's manor to assist Lady Victoria. Do you still need anything?" Daffodil asked, leaning forward to her.

Titania shook her head. "No, go ahead. I'll take a shower and rest," she muttered.

"Have a good rest, Titania." Daffodil departed the room silently.

The area is about as big as any other room for a noble. Titania also has an enormous size, but Czarina's bed is way larger than her. Silk mattresses and fluffy cushions circulated every corner. She might have a more excellent accommodation than in the holding facility, but the people there are nothing compared to the royalties.

After taking a shower, Titania got some tarts around the coffee table and made herself comfortable in the cushion lounge chair beside her bed. They used to sleep late at night when they were in the facility, so dozing early for Titania is rough.

The following day came, and Czarina is about to sign the contract for the surrogacy procedure today. She woke up early and joined the breakfast with the King and Queen and the Duke and Duchess of Emerald. Prince Grey wasn't around the whole morning since he was busy taking care of her wife in the infirmary.

"Are you ready, Lady Czarina?" Felice raised a question, holding flat shoes for Czarina.

Czarina, who was currently examining herself in the vanity mirror, looked back. "I am, Felice. I can't wait to finish this bearing of the child to attain my freedom finally," she uttered.

"Let's go. The Physician is surely waiting for us."

Czarina and Felice left the room. They were instructed to go to the infirmary to see the Physician. She again recalled how the syringe pierced her skin back a few days ago. It was actually a traumatic event for her, and she hopes she won't suffer from it again. When they arrived at the infirmary, Czarina noticed that the Princess is not around anymore. She might be transferred into a cozy and comfortable area.

"Lady Czarina?" The Physician called out. "Are you Lady Czarina, the surrogate for the Prince and Princess?"

Czarina nodded. "I am." She is actually anxious and scared of what will happen inside.

Felice, who was behind Czarina, also feels uncomfortable. She hasn't encountered anything about surrogacy before, so she feels awkward. The Physician motioned himself and signaled Czarina to sit on the plush chair beside the wooden desk.

The Physician checked Czarina's records and glimpsed at her inevitably. Czarina's been pondering why she has to go several tests since when she lived her life along the walls of the holding facility she has to finish the test with a syringe every week. The only different thing is that the needle in the Palace is a lot bigger than in the holding facility.

The Physician gazed at her. "As for now, you will have weekly medications to prepare your body for the pregnancy, Lady Czarina. You don't have to worry about the contract since it has been already settled before you left the facility."

Czarina was left dumbfounded. She's mulling over how long the preparations for the surrogacy would take place.

"How long will the preparations last, Mister?" she raised a question, fixing her eye into the physician.

"You have lived your life preparing to become a perfect surrogate. We can have the sperm transferred at any time, but we still need to double-check your overall health first, Lady Czarina." The Physician elucidated her.

The surrogates have a body mass index of eighteen, excellent mental and emotional health, as well as they, should be physically fit.

The Physician stood up and gave Czarina a piece of paper. "You will undergo a traditional surrogacy. Wherein, you will donate your eggs with the sperm of the Grand Prince. Intrauterine insemination will be used to achieve the surrogate child," he explained.

Czarina is pondering why the Physician is telling her about it since they were already taught about the process since then, but then she just ignored it and looked into the paper she's been holding.

"Uhmm, Mister, am I still able..."

Czarina's words were cut out when the door suddenly made a boisterous sound and creaked open. The Grand Prince's eyes were feverish yet grief lurked in it.

"Why are you here?" he asked angrily, pointing out to the Physician.

Czarina who was sitting in front of the Physician stood up and went beside Felice who is currently shivering.

The Physician bowed down. "My apologies, Your Highness. I was told to check up on the surrogate and also Princess Arabella told me to accommodate Lady Czarina first."

"Let her rot in here. I don't care about any of them or that surrogate, check my wife this instant or you will never like the punishment I'll bestow upon you," he ordered, clasping his fist.

The Physician immediately rushed and left the infirmary.

The Grand Prince took a glimpse at Czarina angrily and diverted her gaze into Felice. "The moment I saw you and you're not with my wife, I'll immediately let you leave the Palace grounds." He warned Felice and followed the Physician into the royal bedroom.

Felice directly leaned to Czarina. "I have to go, Lady Czarina. I can't afford to lose this job," she mumbled sadly.

Czarina caressed her head. "It's okay, go ahead, Felice. I was told by the Queen consort to visit her royal library anytime this day so I'll be occupied."

Felice left the infirmary followed by Czarina. Before going into the library, Czarina explored the ground floor of the Palace where the mercenaries are located. Diverse weapons and spears scattered around the metal tables and several arrows hung into the walls. People around the area were confused why a Lady in an elegant dress like Czarina is going for a walk on the ground floor of the palace.

"Lady Czarina!" A familiar voice echoed in the entire corridor.

Czarina looked back and saw Edward who is currently walking in her direction. Edward is wearing a silk tunic with a touch of gold and silver, a trouser, paired with long stockings, leg bandages, and shoes. His hazel brown eyes augmented with his clothes.

Czarina smiled at him. "Commander Edward," she mumbled. "Why are you here?" she asked, fixing her gaze to Edward.

Edward chuckled. "I should be the one asking you that, Lady. What are you doing here?"

"Oh, nothing. I was just strolling the whole place before I got into the royal library since it's early to get there," she responded, clutching her hands around her belly. "How about you?"

"I was just checking on the new weapons delivered here from the neighboring kingdom earlier, making sure it is substantial and durable," he uttered.

"Oh, I see."

They roamed around the hall and Edward inspected the rest of the weapons while Czarina was silently following him. Edward has the highest position in the whole force of the Palace, which is the sole justification why the soldiers are kneeling every time Edward is around. He is responsible for setting parliament goals and gatherings within his troop, as well as organizing his soldiers and armies in different battalions.

They eventually departed the ground floor and walked into the aisle of the palace.

"So how's your stay here in the palace, Lady Czarina?" Edward asked her.

Czarina halted and glimpsed at him. "I'm getting bored and drowsy. I mean, I'm not used to living a life like this. Waking up, having a good meal, a servant to dress and fix my hair up, and a lady-in-waiting who is assisting me the entire day. Same routine, same life. You know what I mean."

"This is the reality, Lady Czarina. I just hope everything will be better soon, after the coronation of Duke Nicholas as the new King of Emerald Kingdom," Edward stated.

Czarina was fascinated when she heard what Edward said. It means that the new King is equal to new policies and regulations around the palace and she just hopes that the holding facility will have their freedom and will to do whatever they want. She feels pity about the other young surrogates in the facility now.

When Czarina saw the gigantic clock hung in the palace's wall, she stopped walking. "I think I should go to the royal library, Commander. It's already one in the afternoon," she mumbled.

Edward cracked up. "Can I have a request, Lady?"

"Sure, what is it?"

He bent closer to her. "Can you stop calling me commander and just Edward instead?"

Czarina giggled. "Then call me Czarina instead of putting up Lady in the front," she insisted.

"Deal."

They both smiled and bid goodbye to each other. Czarina hustled up walking into the marble hallway through the royal library. She passed into the spiral staircase and walked into another floor.

The reason why the palace and other manors inside Emerald City have a spiral staircase is that the staircase is built clockwise. Just as the clockwise spiral prevented the attackers, so, too, did it support the palace's defenders. As they descended, they could swing their swords in the arches that fitted the curve of the outer wall, and use the inner wall as a partial protection.

When she arrived in front of the library door, two guards were on duty. They both looked at Czarina with a troubled look.

"Only the royalties can enter inside," one of the guards firmly stated.

Czarina stooped towards the guard who spoke.

"The Queen Consort called me, Sir," she mumbled, giving them her nicest smile.

They immediately put their guard down since they knew the Queen Consort was inside the room and was expecting a guest the way she told them earlier before she entered.

"You may enter."

Czarina smiled at them. "Thank you, Sir."