THE HEIR?!
Leyla felt the sunlight piercing through her closed eyelids. It was early. Too early.
She turned to the other side, wrapped herself deeper in the blanket, and tried to ignore the world.
And then she heard a voice.
"Good morning, princess."
"Mmmmrrrhh," was all she could manage to produce.
"You know, it would be wonderful for the court to see you like this. So graceful. So elegant."
Leyla jerked awake.
She opened her eyes and saw him—leaning against the door frame, dressed in some shamelessly luxurious kimono, with perfect hair tied in a low ponytail. He looked like he had stepped out of a magazine.
She, on the other hand...
She quickly looked down at herself. Her hair was a mess, living its own life, with a pillow imprint on her cheek, and somehow, she had managed to tangle the blanket into some strange, mummified version of herself.
And, of course, he was perfectly calm and enjoying her distress.
"You're way too awake for this time of day," she mumbled, throwing the pillow over her face.
"And you're way too cute when you're angry," he said.
Leyla silently groaned into the pillow.
Naru laughed. "Come on, princess. It's time for breakfast. The whole court is waiting for us."
She slowly moved the pillow. "The whole... court?"
"Of course."
"What, like... a public breakfast?"
"Isn't that fun?"
"No. It's not."
"But what if we miss it? You know what people might think if you don't show up at breakfast, my dear wife?"
Leyla started running through possibilities in her mind.
Could she escape through the window? Maybe pretend to be sick? Or just jump through a dimensional rift and disappear forever?
But Naru was already extending his hand to pull her out of bed.
"Princess, you wouldn't want to embarrass me, would you?"
She sighed, put her feet on the floor, and crossed her arms. "You know what? Just wait. When we get downstairs, you'll embarrass yourself way more than I will."
He laughed. "I can't wait."
---
Leyla was trying to ignore the stares.
The whole dining hall was packed. A massive dark wood table was covered with delicate dishes. Trays made of foggy gold shimmered under the candlelight, and the fruits and pastries looked too perfect to be real.
But she wasn't interested in the food or the decor. What caught her attention was the fact that everyone was staring at her. And not just staring. There were whispers, giggles, and even a few icy glares from the beautiful yokai women who looked like they would gladly eat her for breakfast.
Naru, of course, seemed completely relaxed. He sat in his seat, casually draping his arm over the back of Leyla's chair, watching with a smile as her jaw slowly tightened.
"Why is everyone looking at me like I'm a glitch in the system?" she muttered.
"Oh, probably because you are," Naru replied.
"Thanks for the support."
Naru laughed. "Princess, they've never seen a mortal as a royal wife. For them... it's exotic."
"Exotic? Am I here as a wife or a tourist attraction?"
"I wouldn't say it's exactly... one or the other."
Leyla groaned and grabbed the first piece of bread she could find.
But just as she took a bite, someone from the other end of the table spoke up.
"So, Your Highness... when can we expect an heir?"
Leyla choked.
Like, really choked. The bread got stuck in her throat, and as she desperately searched for water, Naru was already there, gently patting her on the back, thoroughly entertained by the situation.
"Oh-ho, princess, I see you really like the idea," Naru teased.
Leyla managed to swallow, her face red. "You... you... WHAT HEIR?!"
"Well, traditionally speaking, marriages result in children..."
"NOT IN THIS CASE!"
The whole dining hall went quiet.
Naru raised an eyebrow. "Oh? So, princess... have you thought about it?"
"Oh, stop!"
"Interesting."
"Forget it. I'm leaving." Leyla stood up, but Naru had already gently grabbed her hand and pulled her back into the chair.
"No escaping, princess. We're still having breakfast."
Leyla looked at him, then the stares of everyone present, and then back at him.
This is going to be. A long. Day.