For a moment, I gazed at the woman who just barged in my room. But she didn't look like any ordinary woman. She was tall with velvety skin and silver hair flowing down her back. Her ears were a bit pointed, and her wide green eyes sparkled with an unusual light.
"You have no right to gaze directly at the Fae princess of Jihun! How dare you disrespect my presence in such a manner!" she exclaimed, fisting her hands. The wind around us even seemed to respond to her anger, swirling the curtains around the room. "Bend a knee and apologize for your insolence, slave!"
I was startled, not knowing how to react to her sudden outburst. But just by her attitude, I could now tell who she truly was.
"So you are Princess Gaia," I whispered, completely ignoring her initial demand that I must apologize. How would I? Although I knew that she was known for her temper and arrogance, I wouldn't ever bend a knee as I was a queen and she was in my kingdom. Maxus had planted in my head countless times that my title granted me power and respect, and I wouldn't let anyone, not even a princess, diminish that.
"I understand now why you are feared by all," I said, caressing my baby bump, which was starting to contract again . "But know this, Princess Gaia, I will not cower before you—not when you are in my territory and boastfully trying to assert dominance over me."
"What did you say?" Her mouth parted, and her pale face turned red with anger. "No one ever talked to me in such a manner before. Now prepare for your initial punishment."
With a single flicker of her fingers, I felt a sharp pain shoot through my body, causing me to collapse to the ground in agony. It wasn't from the laboring contractions, as the pain seemed to creep up from within my very bones.
"Ah!" I couldn't help but scream as the sharp pain redoubled to the point that my body shook uncontrollably. I tried to mind-link Maxus, but my thoughts were too clouded with pain to form a coherent message.
"Now let's start by asking who you really are." Gaia walked around me, circling me as though she were a predator ready to strike, arms folded across her chest as she shot death glares. "Who are you and what are you doing here?"