Orc Dominion: Zentara Ch. 04

Steeling herself, Jeanette walked to the guest room Susannah was occupying until Jeanette moved in the royal apartments with the adjoining room for the chief lady-in-waiting. Daniels knocked on Susannah's door and announced the Queen Regent, and Susannah was quick to allow Jeanette in. She bid Daniels to wait outside, and entered in the room with Susannah alone.

"Susannah...I'm in a bit of trouble and I need your help." Jeanette bit down on her lower lip as Susannah looked up with concern. "Anything of course Your Highness, how can I help you?"

"I've...that is...I don't know how to say this, so I just will. I'm pregnant, and I need a place to go away to until I give birth." Jeanette tensed as she finished the sentence, but a weight was also lifted from her shoulders. It felt good to say it aloud, to share it with someone else.

Susannah opened and closed her mouth several times, trying to find the right words to say. Jeanette could imagine what was going through her mind...questions, condemnations, trying to find the right reassuring words or a plan to fix it.

"There's something else you need to know...the child...is going to be half orc." Jeanette looked nervously at Susannah, waiting to see the reaction and it wasn't long in coming. Susannah was shocked and appalled, then quickly threw her arms around Jeanette. "Oh Jeanette! I'm so sorry! How did it happen? How was an orc able to get to you?" Jeanette's heart jumped to her throat at Susannah's quick defense, the assumption that Jeanette was a victim. She had been torturing herself about how to explain that she was not a whore, and the idea never even occurred to her friend.

"It was the first night meeting the Duke of Braden after our betrothal...he was...just so loathsome and I didn't know what to do. I snuck out of the castle in disguise...and I was accosted by an orc in the streets. I didn't know what to say...and I didn't want anyone to find out. I thought it was behind me until..." Jeanette let the sentence trail off, the implication clear.

"Oh my poor dear...I'm so sorry this happened to you. What can I do to help? You want to come away with me back to Haverset and stay in one of our estates, yes?"

"That's right...your father will be here to run the Kingdom as Chancellor. The...the story will be that I am in mourning, and wish to be alone. You'll have to tell the staff that I'm...a cousin or something from Sandora, who was assaulted in a raid." Susannah nodded as she followed along with Jeanette's train of thought. "Of course...yes that will do. We'll take care of it Your Highness...you and me. I'll be with you all the way through."

The funeral came and went with Jeanette somewhat in a daze. Worry over her condition, the unpleasantness of the Duke of Braden and grief for her parents weighed on her mind and kept her distracted. After the funeral, the Duke of Braden departed after leaving more threats on what would befall Zentara if the marriage contract were cancelled. Jeanette met with Frederick to tell him that she was going away to stay with Susannah during her period of mourning, and that he would be in charge of the day to day running of the Kingdom. She also told him to postpone the coronation until after her mourning period was over.

Before Jeanette knew it, it was time to leave. Jeanette, Susannah, and a small retinue of servants left Greenthorn Castle and rode northeast towards Shropshire. As she rode through the city, the peasants parted on the street, clapping and cheering for their new Queen Regent. Jeanette felt a tinge of regret as she left them, both for departing so soon, and for the secret she carried within her womb.