The Crown's Entrapment

Gilas and Clara continued to travel in a carriage along with Shila on their way back to the Capital City. The sun was almost down, and with the moon already peeking up from beyond the treeline, it was clear that they were running way off schedule.

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“You two look rather refreshed,” Shila giggled as she sat opposite them in the carriage. “Why, I could only assume that you two had a good night’s rest last night. Unless… you two did the deed right before we left?.”

She gritted her teeth in abject horror as she heard her mother-in-law’s teasing tone. For the first time in her life, she almost wanted to try and make this sweet woman just keep quiet and let her stew in her embarrassment in peace. However, she could also recognize just how happy it made Shila to see both her and Gilas clearly getting along together. It was almost enough for her to ignore it while just facing her gaze out of the window and ignoring the embarrassment altogether…

Well… Almost…

“W-We did, Mother,” Gilas replied beside her, his tone doing little to try and knock the older woman off their scent. “We were still recovering, and we kind of got cozy with the blankets a little bit.”

Clara’s eyes widened in surprise even as she forced herself to stay silent. Did he really just say those words just now?

“Got cozy underneath the blankets, I see,” Shila hummed with the same confidence as an inspector hot on their heels. “Underneath the same blanket, I take it.”

…

…

“Y-Yes…” she replied in resignation after a bout of awkward silence. There was no hiding the fact from her now anyway. She had them right where she wanted them.

“Excellent,” Shila beamed just as Clara turned to look at the older woman. “Shall I expect something nine months from now?”

As soon as those words entered her ears, Clara quickly turned back to the window and hid the mad blush forming on her face. Beside her, he heard Gilas choke on his own saliva, coughing and wheezing as he did his best to try and speak.

“T-That’s- I don’t think that’s going to happen!” Gilas weakly defended. “We just-“

“We simply shared in each other’s warmth!” Clara blurted out, cutting her mate off before he could somehow dig a deeper hole for the both of them to die of embarrassment. “Nothing of the sort that would result in a child happened between us!”

Yet another bout of silence settled within the carriage as the sound of the wheels spinning underneath them filled the void of awkwardness. Well, only the couple felt the thickening dread settling between them as Shila simply smiled with a knowing look on her face.

“What? Do you two think I was born yesterday?” Shila scoffed, her happiness still overflowing despite the mischief in her tone. “Did you two honestly think that I wouldn’t notice you two radiating with the telltale afterglow of a night well-loved?”

Clara bit her lower lip as she turned to the conversation once more. Beside her, Gilas let out a resigned shrug, his cheeks just as red as hers as he turned to face her.

“Clara, should we just come clean?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she quickly replied, though her face failed utterly to make her look convincing. “We told her the truth already, right?”

“Clara, dear… There’s no shame in making love to someone you love,” Shila insisted with a warm smile.

“But we didn’t make love,” Clara promptly replied, her eyes flying back and forth between her mother-in-law and the interesting window she kept on looking out of. “Nothing of the things we did would result in a child.”

It was technically correct. They merely pleasured one another. Nothing they did would have her pregnant, and she was hoping that wouldn’t happen anytime soon if she could help it.

[At least for now,] Sheba cackled.

[Don’t you dare start now,] Clara inwardly growled.

[Ah, but look. You made her sad,] her wolf retorted. [And we both know you’ll give in some time next week, if not even earlier than that.]

Before Clara could even retort, she inwardly winced as she watched some of the joy seep away from Shila’s face. While the older woman was still happy, she clearly had some of the wind taken out of her sail.

“I suppose I was mistaken then,” Shila shrugged with a hint of disappointment, only to then quickly smile as she gave them a knowing look. “Still, don’t think I don’t know what you two did.”

Once more, Clara could only sigh. “You’re too sharp, Mother…”

“These things come with age, Dear,” Shila smiled at her and Gilas. “I was young once, and there are some signs that anyone with enough experience would pick up on between young couples.”

Letting out another sigh, Clara turned to look at Gilas, his mate only giving her the same look of resignation she probably had before they both looked at the older woman.

“These… signs… Are there ways to hide them?” Gilas asked.

“Only if you know what to look for,” Shila hummed. “Why?”

Once more, Clara shared a look with Gilas. Somehow, even without the help of the Bond, they both had the same thing in mind as they both turned to the older woman.

“It would certainly help, should it… happen again,” Clara weakly answered. “It would prevent misunderstandings?” Well, she at least, wanted to hide it only from her mother-in-law who seemed to enjoy teasing her and Gilas more often than not.

“But why?” Shila innocently asked. “You two are mates, are you not?”

Gilas let out a choked chuckle before he responded. “I-It’s for politeness’s sake, Mother. It wouldn’t do for the two of us to look like… well… Whenever we go on a political function.”

“That’s right,” Clara quickly agreed. “It’s only proper for us to… make ourselves proper.”

Clara watched as Shila gave them another skeptical look, only to let out a sigh as the older woman simply chuckled before giving them her wisdom. Looking outside, Clara could only hope that this ride went on just a bit faster.

She wanted to get some rest. Not physically, but mentally from all of the embarrassment she went through.