| INTIMACY | - HPxTMR

Chapter 37: [Meltdown]

This is quite a big chapter, and it has been complete for a little while now :) Writing ahead is a whole lot less stressful, but I keep forgetting what I've revealed and what I haven't ^-^

Also, with this, the word count is now over 150k!

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20th December 1999- Monday

Harry groaned dejectedly as he once again had to grab hold of a wall, breathing heavily out of his nose. As if sensing his irritation at the situation, his stomach roiled more violently, and he practically curled into himself, deaf to Anya's concern.

Morning sickness had hit him earlier this time around, and far harder. Harry was sure he couldn't be more than four weeks along by now, yet his body was already obviously projecting the signs of pregnancy.

At the current time, it was more annoying than anything, especially as he had to keep a straight face and composed facade during the morning meetings. There had been a few slip-ups already, but they were luckily easily explained away as feeling a little 'under the weather'. How long that excuse would last, however, was debatable.

The concubines seemed to have a nose for sniffing out falsities, and already some had been giving Harry glances, despite the morning sickness having started only a couple of days before. The most worrying was the looks coming from those who had children, as they were the most likely to realise his predicament. Penny, especially, had stared at him hard this morning, meeting his eyes with no shame.

Harry was heading back to his Palace after the morning meeting, grateful that he had kept his composure throughout for the most part. However, his body now seemed to be protesting vehemently, and it left him feeling light-headed.

"Your Highness, would you like me to call for a sedan?"

Harry groaned, nodding. They were near enough to a garden that he could wait in there for the time being, hidden from view in the maze of bushes and winter roses.

After being settled on a bench, Anya hurried off to call for a sedan, and Harry leant back with a sigh, feeling the dizziness abate slightly. He breathed in the cold winter air deeply, his stomach settling after a little while.

A rustle to his side had him cracking an eye open, straightening as he caught sight of a human-shaped shadow. It was lucky Harry had composed himself, as a few moments later, First Prince Alexus rounded the corner, a faithful gathering of maids and Eunuchs trailing behind him from a distance.

It took him only a couple of moments to recognise the Prince, although the circlet in his hair was a dead giveaway to his status. The boy, despite having the Emperor's hair colour, looked little like the man, perhaps sharing only his eye shape.

The Prince blinked at him, blue eyes piercing as they observed Harry coldly. The man made to stand, gripping hold on the armrest, before the boy brightened.

"Royal Uncle!" Prince Alexus chirped, and Harry faltered, bowing. "I've wanted to meet you properly for ages!"

The boy, much to Harry's astonishment, skipped forward and sat next to him, patting the bench he had just vacated. Harry sat, and Alexus beamed up at him, legs swinging where they dangled off.

"You have, Your Highness?" Harry murmured, feeling uneasy. He had never had a proper conversation with one of the Prince's before- the 'confrontation' with Second Prince Silas notwithstanding. All of them were much too young, at nine, seven, five, three and newly born.

The Prince hummed brightly. "Mhm! But you're always so busy, and I'm never out of the Palace when you are free."

The First Prince was nine now, having celebrated his birthday a couple of months ago. He had grown a lot since Harry had entered the Court two and a half years ago, and it showed by how he approached him.