Maia opened her eyes and yawned. As usual, especially during her first Arcadian winter, she woke up lying on Wes who was always so warm. She was slowly adapting to the drastically different climate from where she had spent the last seventeen years of her life. Now, as an eighteen-year-old woman, she would rather forget about her time of slavery, but on the other hand, the birthday gift she received on her eighteenth birthday wouldn't be as great as it had been. After all, it was the day she met Wes. It was the day he took her to Arcadia. The day he set her free... She put her hands under her chin and watched him sleep. Maia almost always woke up long before her husband. She often prepared breakfast for them but sometimes, like today, she simply wanted to cuddle a little bit longer. She enjoyed every second of her new life and she no longer woke up from nightmares, crying that everything was just a dream.

  A nightmare in which she would wake up in the forest tied to that tree...

  She didn't feel well in the parks of Avalon and, like many of the freed slaves, Maia loved life in the city. But, it wasn't like she despised nature in general. She loved the incredible meadows full of flowers and lakes hidden across Arcadia. She even enjoyed the picturesque forests near the city. She simply hated the enormously large trees... But when she was near Wes, nothing scared her. Even when the Emperor asked her to tell her story to the important people, she agreed because Wes was with her. Maia even helped the new girls who had been saved from slavery. She became a Priestess of Hestia and according to the Archbishop, Lady Gloria, Maia had an incredible talent. The girls she helped now suffered the same as she had before the Arcadians took her away from that hellish place. They were scared, disoriented, and as powerless as Maia felt back then. But they all had the same desire. So, she helped them the same way Hope had helped her earlier. This time, though, there were so many of them and they were all similar to Maia. No matter their race and age... They all wanted revenge on Vestargo.

  Something, they all were going to pursue. One way or another.

  She smiled dreamily, slightly shifted her body, and rubbed Wes as she licked her lips lusciously. While last night was very pleasant and very satisfying, she woke up with a desire for more. After all, she had plans. Maia slowly and deliberately sat up on her husband while her fluffy tail trembled slightly in anticipation. She knew that she was considered beautiful, even by Arcadian standards, and she gladly used her charms on her man. She placed both her hands on Wes's broad chest and she was about to slide slightly lower when her stomach rumbled strangely. Suddenly, her mood was ruined when she felt incredibly nauseous. She covered her lips, rushed to the adjacent bathroom, and vomited into the sink. She stood there feeling incredibly weak when another bubbling wave of nausea hit her stomach and she vomited again. She was trembling. Wes's strong arms grabbed her before she fell to her knees. Why did her stomach hurt? A menses? It was always unpleasant but it had never been so painful before. She never vomited! Besides, she should still have a few days... Unless... Her hands very slowly moved towards her womb and she used her Diagnose skill...

  "Maia?!" Wes asked with a worried voice full of compassion as he stood behind her. He must have been awake earlier because he was right behind her when she dashed to the bathroom. "Was the food we ate yesterday bad? Are you all right?"

  "Wes..." She whispered as she gently rubbed her belly with one hand. She giggled stupidly at her ruffled reflection in the mirror. Her eyes were filled with tears of happiness when she ran the faucet, flushed her mouth, and washed her face. Maia cleared her throat, turned around, and hugged him tightly. "Wes! I'm pregnant!"

  She was incredibly happy. She was going to be the best wife and mother...

  ???

  Maia was lying on the luxuriously soft bed with her belly exposed and inspecting the pristine white ceiling. She was enveloped by a comforting golden light, but despite its warmth, she was extremely nervous.

  "You are indeed pregnant. Congratulations, Maia, Wes." Empress Irene va'Theon herself announced as she finished examining Maia's body and smiled brightly. "You can stand up and fix your clothes."

  "T-thank you, my Lady!" Maia slowly sat up from the medical bed in the private medical facility of the Royal Family of Arcadia and rolled down her clothes to cover her belly. "But you shouldn't have bothered yourself with someone like me..."

  "That's one of the best parts of being the Empress, Maia." The Saintess grinned at her. "No one, well, maybe except for my husband, but otherwise no one can tell me what I can and cannot do."

  Once they had eaten a light breakfast, Maia and Wes had headed straight to the nearest hospital to confirm Maia's pregnancy. It wasn't exactly required, and Maia was almost certain that she was right because, as a healer, she had skills to confirm something like that, but they wanted to be absolutely sure. Wes was slightly nervous and asked every five minutes if she wanted to sit down or if she was tired. He was cute and she planned to enjoy his closer attention. Deep down, she loved it when he spoiled her. Once they reached the hospital and registered, they waited for a while before one of the resident healers asked them to follow her outside the hospital where they boarded a lavish carriage in confusion. A confusion that turned into consternation when the carriage took them to the Imperial Palace.

  Not only were they allowed to see the normally closed area of Avalon, but they also had been invited into the castle. While Wes, somehow, managed to ignore the magnificent surroundings and focus completely on Maia, she couldn't take her eyes off the mesmerising paintings, incredibly decorated walls, columns, and tall ceilings. After a short trek through the long corridors of the Palace, they entered a part that was hard not to recognise. Clean, white and turquoise walls gave a characteristic aura known in every hospital in the Empire. They immediately realised they were in the private hospital of the Royal Family and it more than slightly scared them. However, the fact that Empress Irene herself was waiting for them in one of the rooms, shocked them the most. They obediently followed her instructions and here they were... In her wildest dreams, Maia couldn't dream of being examined by the Saintess herself.

  "I believe that you two deserve a word of explanation..." The Empress flipped her fingers and they teleported into a stunning room with a wall-sized window open to the legendary Palace greenhouse which most people would never see.

  The room was incredible as was probably everything in the Palace. On a magnificent table, carved with various creatures that looked alive, was a tiered tray containing various cakes and cookies.

  "Tea? Coffee? A juice?" The Empress asked Maia with a smile as if it were the most mundane thing. Then she looked at Wes and asked with an amused smirk. "Something stronger?"

  "Ummm... Yes. If we may, my Lady." Wes helped Maia sit down before collapsing on the incredibly soft sofa himself.

  The Empress laughed and Maia felt jealous. She could never be like that incredibly blessed woman but then she blinked in shock. How could such a preposterous thought ever cross her mind?! Be jealous of the Empress?! That was ridiculous. Maia shook away that stupid thought and focused on the perfectly beautiful face of the woman whose very existence contributed to what Arcadia was today. The Slime Maids poured her a fragrant fruit tea and served her husband a reasonably large cup of alcohol. Judging by its colour, Maia guessed it was a whiskey. She smiled slightly at her husband who certainly deserved that much after this morning. The Empress had a tall glass of apple juice in front of her and finished taking a few cookies on her elegant plate which was slightly bigger than a saucer.

  "Please, help yourself and don't hesitate to take seconds." Empress Irene smiled and got slightly serious. "There was, in fact, a little more than a word or two of explanation I owe you. However, I want you to keep everything secret until we are ready to tell everyone what I’m telling you now. Will you promise me that?"

  They looked at each other in shock but when Wes smiled and took her hand reassuringly, she slowly nodded.

  "Yes, my Lady. I will stay silent until told otherwise." Maia bowed her head.

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  "I live to serve the Royal Family, my Empress. Your wish is an order to me." Wes stood up and slammed his fist on his chest. He quickly sat down under the sharper gaze of the High Elf Empress.

  "Thank you..." She took a sip of the juice and adjusted to be more comfortable in her cushioned chair. "I need to tell you about something we realised recently. I personally don't believe that you have anything to worry about but, if you allow me, I would like to personally examine your pregnancy’s progress every month."

  "It would be an honour, my Lady! " Maia smiled in shock and couldn't believe her ears. "But even though you said not to worry, I can't help it but I'm getting nervous..."

  The Empress took a deep breath and started explaining everything to them. At first, they didn't understand but she patiently addressed every question they had and every term they didn't understand. Maia felt the cold fury of Wes as he listened to the Empress's voice. To his credit, he set aside what was probably the most excellent drink he normally couldn't afford and focused completely on the Empress and her. For her part, Maia was only slightly shocked by the Empress's words. She felt sorry for those girls who died in slavery but the years of that life herself made her a little indifferent to death. However, she wasn't that naive and gullible girl who escaped the Ancient Forest, she was now an Arcadian citizen. She was studying, working, and levelling quickly so as to never bring shame to Wes or herself. That's why she probably understood more than her husband from the Empress's explanation. It also confirmed many things she and her freed friends suspected. It was a serious matter but when she heard that she might have twins, she smiled wryly.

  "I hope that you are right, my Lady," Maia said with a triumphant expression painted on her face. "Everything that monster did to us... Every evil we suffered..." She gently patted her belly and looked straight into the marvellous and gentle eyes of the Saintess. "You don't have to be worried about the girls, my Lady. That won't change who we are or our gratitude for Arcadia... But... That will certainly change how we feel. I can assure you that the girls will take pride in every change that our bodies undergo now away from that terrible slavery. Oh, Vestargo, you damned fool..."

  "Maia?" Empress Irene looked at her in slight shock but also with some degree of respect.

  "He wanted to use our bodies for his purposes... He made us to bear more children than usual. He made us more resilient and, I can assure you my Lady, that we are far more durable than our constitution suggests..." Maia looked at Wes and laughed. It was a laughter of relief that she needed so desperately. Her eyes looked with hatred towards the distant Ancient Forest. "Vestargo... You wanted more slaves to be born before you planned to kill every single one of us... Now we will turn it against you. We will turn everything against you, you bloody monster. My Lady, I humbly ask you to disclose this knowledge as soon as you confirm it."

  "Maia..." Wes put his hand on her shoulder but she simply leaned on his side. She was so happy right now.

  "Don't worry about me, my Dear... I'm happy. I'm more than just happy! I felt so powerless and clung to anything to repay Arcadia for saving my life. To repay you, Wes. I’m not alone, you know? The girls talked a lot during the time in slavery and we even fantasised about what we would do if we could run away. Then Arcadia saved us. We have discussed this for a very long time and have come to the same conclusions as the High Elves. I can't imagine that the new girls would feel differently. I regularly speak with them, after all..." The Squirrelkin woman smiled with a strange and slightly malicious smile and looked at a very concerned Saintess Irene. "I can safely say that I speak for all the freed girls, my Lady. We want vengeance. Even if we are powerless and useless to help Arcadia wage war ourselves. We still can do what Vestargo bred into us and so insisted on in his attempt to control us. We will be the best wives... We will give birth to the mightiest warriors and mages of Aderon. Our children will be raised by the greatest warriors of Arcadia to serve the wisest and mightiest of the Rulers. They will serve Lord Theon Avalon."

  "Gods..." The Empress's eyes went wide as she realised something. "Nearly all of the girls whom we freed so far married Guardsmen, Marines, Sailors, Inquisitors, Special Forces Operators, or people considered Heroes of Arcadia... You... You did it on purpose?!"

  "Don't get me wrong, my Lady, and especially you, Wes. I love you so much, my Dear." She smiled reassuringly at her husband as she grabbed his clenched fist with both her hands. Then, she slowly turned her head and nodded in confirmation towards the Empress. "Please, don't look at me like that. It was our only chance. As you call it, it was our only card to play. We observed how the Arcadian men looked at us and we listened to how they compared us with the girls they knew. So, we quickly learnt that we were beautiful... We had to decide what to do. Fortunately, we got help."

  "The High Elves?" Empress Irene asked with a flat voice. But that wasn't exactly a question.

  "Yes, my Lady. Hope and the rest of the girls who volunteered had the same idea as we wished. With their help, we quickly realised that we had a chance to get revenge. The Elves assured us that we will be safe in Arcadia and that the Emperor would protect us." Maia took a deep breath.

  "And the only card you mentioned earlier?" Wes whispered, there was a shocked disbelief in his eyes.

  "Our bodies, Wes. Even pretty dolls have their ambitions and desires, my beloved..." She answered sheepishly, knowing how painful and heartless it might sound to him. But the cat had already escaped the bag. There was no return now. She could only tell them the entire truth. "We could have been slightly naive back then but we weren't clueless or stupid. We knew that if those men could fight Vestargo's minions, they must be powerful. So, yes. We did it deliberately. Even if those men left us after they satisfied their urges... But... They never cast us away as we expected. They taught us what being a wife truly meant. They gave us homes and surrounded us with support, compassion, and love."

  "By the heavens..." The Empress covered her eyes with a slightly shaking hand.

  Wes grabbed his cup of whiskey and emptied it in a single, fluent motion.

  "Maia... What you have just admitted, is probably the greatest security breach in the history of Arcadia." Wes said with a serious voice full of disbelief.

  "Not necessarily..." The Empress sighed heavily. "All Empresses of Arcadia possess a skill that gives us information about our subjects' loyalty. To keep things simple, imagine this as a percentage bar. Every single freed girl who received the Arcadian citizenship is nearly unconditionally loyal to Arcadia. They are more loyal than some soldiers. No, not you, Wes. You couldn't be in the special forces if there were a shadow of doubt about your loyalty. Anyway... We never considered them a threat..."

  The Empress shocked Maia for the second time today when she lowered her head in what seemed to be an apology.

  "I'm sorry, Maia. We underestimated you all..." When Saintess Irene lifted her head, Maia noticed a strangely comforting smirk on her face. "As one pretty doll to another, you played your cards Gods damned right. You fooled everyone. You can be proud of yourself."

  "Thank you, my Lady!" Maia smiled brightly in return and took the cookie she deeply believed she deserved. It was divine...

  "Wes..." The Empress turned to her husband. "Are you all right?"

  "Yes, my Lady... I just..." He lowered his head and Maia felt a painful pang of guilt in her chest upon hearing his slowly breaking voice.

  However, the Empress started laughing at him which angered Maia. Her fluffy tail tensed and the fur on it started furrowing as she felt agitated. She thought that the woman whom she so far had adored was mocking her husband.

  "Don't overthink it, Captain." The Empress said, grabbing a cookie for herself, and pointed using it at Maia. The stunned Squirrelkin didn't know what to say. "She loves you. You are her entire world, Soldier. That's all that matters at the end of the day, isn't it?"

  Maia felt as her husband regained his confidence and couldn't be more grateful for the Empress's words.

  "Yes, my Lady!" He straightened slightly and looked at Maia with sorrow and a slightly awkward smile. "I'm so sorry I doubted you even for a moment..."

  "Oh, Wes..." She hugged him and almost broke down in tears. "I love you! I love our child... Our children if the Empress is right. Nothing will change that!"

  Wes felt terrible and uncomfortable but, at the same time, happy as when Maia agreed to be his wife. The Empress did a remarkable job of pretending to be occupied with her juice and a cookie...

  ???

  It turned out that Empress Irene spent most of the day with them. She prepared lengthy instructions for Maia and asked her to write a diary. Maia was supposed to record everything in that diary including her body temperature and what she was eating. Her head was spinning but the Empress patiently explained everything to her. She was afraid that Wes was going to change but, to her delight, he loved her as much as before. Maybe even slightly more. She was sitting on her pillowed chair and watched him training his sword forms.

  "Wes..." She looked at him dreamily and smiled innocently. It was the best time...

  "Yes, Honey?" He asked and wiped his face with a towel.

  "I..." She licked her lips and smiled warmly. "I would like to introduce you to one of the friends I made among the newly freed girls. She's a really nice Succubus..."

  Thank you all for reading.

  I wish you all a great day and as always I wait for your comments.

  A big thanks to who edited the chapter!

  The map of Aderon is on my Discord :)

  https://discord.gg/G6SVrBeDdG