Hyperia awoke in a foul mood. The moons had waned to slim crescents in the morning sky, and there was still no word from Bonn Skaard concerning Starlex's rescue.

A lot could have happened during that time. Perhaps the impatient Nargos had made her his wife along the road, or maybe he had taken her without the dignity of that bonding ceremony. The thought of an Illymium princess being defiled by such a man set her teeth on edge, but worse was the thought that Starlex would conceive a child. Worse still, Hyperia's moon blood had started that morning, confirming she was not pregnant.

She was careful to burn the stained gown and sheets in the fireplace before the new maidservant, a simple-minded farm girl named Simmy, discovered them and blabbed to the other household servants. As the sun rose, chasing shadows across the marble floor, Hyperia lingered in her bed-chamber until mid-day when Simmy arrived with her tea to inform her that Scipio's younger sister, Roselynn, had arrived at the palace for an impromptu visit.

That's just like that fool to miss our Zar celebration and to just show up out of the blue with no word.

"Please tell Lady Roselynn I will be down to meet her shortly." Hyperia took a sip of tea and added, "I will attend to my own bath and dressing today."

Simmy bowed nervously and left her lady's chamber.

Later, when Hyperia swept into the inner court to greet her sister-in-law, she wore a loose-fitting gown of a woman in the early stages of pregnancy. She smiled warmly at Scipio's sister and held out her hands to greet her as if she were her best friend.

Roselynn, looked wan, her eyes red. She was a sweet but emotional woman. Her husband, Tynnire Davadas, an army commander, had been killed in a routine scouting mission when his small boat capsized during a sudden squall on the Crimson Sea. That was six moons ago, and since then, Roselynn had remained alone and childless in her large country house in east Oran. Roselynn had grown plump in her grief, and her usually vibrant dark complexion had turned sallow.

Hyperia wondered if she were ill and hoped this visit wasn't about her wanting to move into the palace. Scipio had always been indulgent of his younger sister, but Hyperia found her silly, gossipy, and prone to histrionics—the last thing she needed right now. Scipio joined the women for their mid-day meal. They stuck to the usual banal topics while they dined, but when Scipio broached the subject of Hyperia's impending motherhood, Roselynn burst into tears.

Scipio called for more wine to calm his emotional sister. After he left the table, awkwardly, to attend to his imperial business, Roselynn began to unburden herself to Hyperia in a fit of sputtering sobs.

Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

"Not here, my dear," Hyperia said, her violet eyes scanning the garden below for any lurking interlopers. "We must speak privately."

When they were safely tucked away behind the thick, pink marble walls of Hyperia's sitting room, Roselynn told her sister-in-law the reason for her visit and her hysterics.

"I'm with child," Roselynn whispered, her nose dripping.

Hyperia dropped her eyes to Roselynn's flat belly. "How far along?"

"I ...I ..." A shuddering sob cut off Roselynn's words.

"It's not your husband's child?" Hyperia asked, her grip tightening on Roseylnn's wrist.

Roselynn moaned and threw herself face down into Hyperia’s lap, staining her silk gown with anguished tears.

Hyperia gently shoved her sister-in-law aside, crossed the room, and returned with a large goblet of wine. "Drink this, my dear."

Hyperia waited calmly for Roselynn's hysterics to wane. Sitting next to her sister-in-law, she patiently rubbed her back. When the glass was empty, Roselynn told her what happened.

She had hired a man to do work in her country home after her husband had died.

"Who is he?" Hyperia insisted.

"His name ..." Roselynn sobbed. "I can't bear to say it." A fresh torrent of tears exploded on her face. "He ... he ...raped me."

Hyperia embraced Roselynn, soothing her with cooing sympathy. She doubted the rape story. It was obvious that Roselynn had taken a lover out of loneliness and had been careless.

"I demand to know the offender's name," Hyperia said, breaking the embrace to hold Roselynn at arm's length. "We will have him arrested immediately."

"No!" Roselynn insisted, verging on hysterics. "No one can know."

Hyperia fought against the smile tugging at her lips. She had her answer. There had been no rape. "If you won't tell me his name, will you at least tell me where he's from? What if he returned and attacked you again?" The Queen’s voice trembled with feigned concern.

Roselynn blew her nose into a handkerchief and replied bitterly, "He won't return. He's gone back to Terragonian Bluff."

A gasp escaped from Hyperia's lips despite her effort to control it. “An Illyminum?" she whispered.

Roselynn shut her dark eyes tightly and nodded. "He needed work, and I took pity on him. He—he was tall and slender but strong—and handsome ..." She stopped, overcome with sobs.

"Don't worry, my dear," Hyperia said, gently patting Roselynn's arm. "I will take care of everything."

"H-how?" Roselynn looked up hopefully.

Hyperia thought fast. "Does anyone else know?"

Roselynn shook her head.

"Good. You must tell no one. Spend a few days with us and then return to your house in the country. Let your household staff go."

When Roselynn began to protest, Hyperia brought a finger to her lips. "I will send a good maidservant to attend to you. I will visit you every month to take care of your needs, and when the time comes for the birth," she tightened her grip on Roselynn's arm, "I will be there with you, and I'll make sure the babe goes to a good home. Your name will remain pure, and afterward, we will find a new husband for you in Oran."

Roselynn sighed with relief and closed her eyes. Hyperia stroked her smooth dark cheek until her sister-in-law, at last, gave in to exhaustion and reclined on the bed. Soon, she was sleeping.

Illym has shown me mercy once again. This fool's child, half Davadas and half Illyminum shall be my child.