Submitting to the Orc King

Chapter 6: Coronation

HENRIA

A baby. I could be pregnant right now with Rokhar's baby!

What did Lettie just say about pregnancy complications? That everything would be okay as long as I am taking my medication doses...which I am definitely not, since I literally just learned about them a few moments ago!

I realize I've clutched my stomach subconsciously, and I tear my hands away.

I can't let Lettie and the other women know I'm worried about this, because it could expose me for the liar I am. If they realize I'm not supposed to be here, they could send me back to the palace. Unlikely, but not impossible. And I can't have that, no matter what.

A trill of laughter reaches my ears and I focus on Lettie once more. She and the other women are chuckling fondly. But I cannot, for the life of me, figure out what is so funny. I could be carrying some sort of monster baby right now!

"Henria, calm down. It's okay."

Calm down?! That's all she can say to me? She keeps telling me there's nothing to worry about but I'm pretty sure this is a pretty big thing, exactly the type of thing someone like me should be worrying about!

Lettie grabs my hands and pulls them away from my stomach. I hadn't even realized they had moved there again of their own accord. "Henria, I can tell you're worrying about being pregnant but you don't have to be. It's impossible. You were only just Claimed."

"I don't..." I hesitate, unsure if I should ask the question or if it will be giving myself away. But I need answers, especially if monster babies are a possibility. "I don't know what that means. I know sex means babies but..."

The brunette snickers and I feel myself blush, embarrassed at my own naivety.

Lettie hushes the woman and smiles kindly at me. "No one is born knowing these things, Henria, so don't be afraid to ask any questions. But the orc men here are, well, they're built a bit different than human men, that's all."

As if that answers anything! At least she seems confident that I can't be pregnant, which means it's unlikely that a monster baby is an imminent problem. But I still don't know any more than I did a second before.

The conversation, though, is apparently over as the women return to getting me ready for whatever kind of coronation ceremony the orcs have in store. They take clothing out of their baskets and help me get dressed, styling my hair with elaborate braids.

Finally, Lettie sighs, her eyes misty. "Such a beauty. Come, see for yourself."

Lettie leads me over to a crystal mirror set into one of the stone walls and stands me before it.

The girl that looks back at me from the reflection is an unfamiliar one. A stranger. The only reason I know it's me at all is because when I lift a hand to touch my hair, the reflection mirrors my movements.

The braids are an odd hairstyle choice, not one I've ever seen before. And the clothing is scandalous enough to make me blush. The dress ends at my knees instead of ankles, and there are no sleeves, leaving my arms bare. It's lacking a corset, too, and the fabric flows around my body.

Not to mention the fabric itself, which is practically dripping with tiny little gemstones that sparkle with even the smallest movement of my body.

This outfit... It leaves me completely exposed. I turn to Lettie. "I can't officially meet the public wearing something like this!"

All three of them laugh. "All the women who come to the Orc Kingdom feel the same way at first," Lettie says. "As if they're half-naked. But you'll get used to it. Honestly, I can't believe what I used to have to wear at the palace. The clothing here is much more comfortable and functional. And the dresses have pockets!"