06.

I sat in front of my mother with my legs shaking uncontrollably. It has been two months since the ball incident and today I am going to tell my mother. Mostly because I am tired of sneaking out to go to the doctor for check-ups and I'm starting to show.

"What is it darling?" my mother asked with a concerned look on her face.

"Mom I have to tell you something," I said. "But you have to promise you won't hate me," I added while my belly did a summersault.

"Honey, I will never hate you," she said putting her hands on my shoulder in a motherly manner. "I promise that I will never hate you," she assured me with a smile caressing her pink lips. I started to cry historically.

"Mommy do you love me?" I asked.

"More than anything," she said truthfully caressing my hair. "I love you no matter what."

"Can you hug me? I really need one right now," I asked.

"What is it?" she asked after she held me in her arms.

"Mom..... I'm with a child," I sobbed. After exactly ten seconds, she started to laugh.

I looked at her confused sniffing. "W- why are you l-laughing?" I asked with my voice breaking.

"Honey I know," she said while laughing.

"What? But... how?" I asked looking at her in disbelief.

"Well, for starters, when we came home from England, I noticed that you were walking a bit funny which clearly means you have h-".

"Mom!" I yelled to stop her. She laughed for a while then continued.

"Let me finish," she demanded playfully before continuing. I sighed and listened as she stated the obvious. "A month later, a maid said she keeps finding vomit in the vases in the halls. You have been sneaking around and going to the 'mall' lately. I searched your room and found the pregnancy test and asked Christine if anything is off with you. She said you are getting fat and you eat everything at dinner time," mom pointed out and I chuckled at the last part.

"So are you okay with me being pregnant?" I asked.

"A bit disappointed because of your age but of course I'm okay sweety. The question is who's is it, as in, who's the father?" she asked running her hand through my hair.

"Prince Nathaniel of England," I said.

"Wow." She gapped. "Does he know?" she asked in shock.

"No," I sighed.

"When do you plan on telling him?" she asked.

"Tomorrow at the Christmas ball," I said.

"Well. Good luck honey. In the meantime," she said straightening up so we were facing each other. "Tell me about my grandbaby," she squealed.

"He's two months and the doctors said he's healthy," I said.

She squealed loudly and I smiled. "Have you told your friend?" she asked.

"No. I wanted to tell you first," I answered.

"Well go tell her now," mom said hurriedly rushing me out of her room.

"Okay," and with that, I hurried out of her room to mine.

I called up Phaedra on Facetime and she answered almost immediately. "Hey babe, what up?"

"Remember how you said that the night at the ball would change my life forever? ," I said hurriedly as I took off my coat revealing the small well-formed baby bump.

"Okay what is- Oh my God your pregnant!!!!" she said staring at my stomach with tears in her eyes.

"Yes, I am," I nervously smiled.

"You have a lot of explaining to do tomorrow," she squealed.

"I know, see you," I said to her.

"Bye."

I felt something wet on my cheek and I rest my finger there. I was crying. I looked down at the bump and began rubbing it. I was feeling very emotional at the moment because what I had been worried about for a long time turned out to not be a big deal. I was afraid of how my mother would react to my pregnancy but I was so relieved to know how supportive she is.

But I wasn't too happy yet because I still haven't told the father. The thought made me feel more scared.

"HOLY MOTHER OF SCOTLAND YOU'RE PREGNANT!!!!!" Christine yelled before I put a hand over her mouth.

"Shh," I said slowly removing my hand from her mouth.

"I'm so happy for you Princess," she said bouncing up and down.

"Thank you," I giggled shyly.

"I.. you...Oh my God," she hugged me I laughed and hugged her back. "Okay, I came to find out about what you want to wear at the ball," she said pulling away.

"Anything black but not tight," I said.

"Okay. I am so happy for you," she repeated once again before running out of the room.

I have I big day ahead of me so I better get some rest. I climbed into my bed and sleep took me over.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Okay it's time for the party," Phaedra informed hugging me.

"Okay," I sighed. "Let's do this," I said standing, gathering my dress in my hand, and leaving the room.

I entered the boll room and it was magical. The room was huge and had a large Christmas tree in the middle decorated with expensive ornament. There were Christmas lights running along the walls in a pattern all going to meet the chandelier at the center of the ceiling.

When we entered the ballroom, we waited for the horns to sound signaling the coming of the Princes.

At last, it sounded and they came into the room. I spotted him leading the group and to me, he seems more handsome than before. Nathaniel's eyes scanned the room swiftly and then they landed on me. He smiled at me and I smiled back. He entered the room in front of me.

"Hi," he said.

"Hi," I replied softly. We stared at each other for a while and I decided to talk.

I was about to tell him that we needed to talk when we were interrupted.

Someone cleared their throat as I opened my mouth and our attention was turned to them. Princess Maria held my gaze for a while with a fake smile.

"Excuse us," she said with her strong Spanish accent. She grabbed Nathaniel's hand, tugging him away and she let him.

"Nathaniel?" I questioned confused but he just gave me an apologetic look as he was tugged by her up to where his father stood.

What's this all about?

"Attention," King Harold said gaining everyone's undivided attention. "Princesses and Princes. Kings and Queens and VIP. I proudly have an announcement to make on behalf of my son and England's soon-to-be King. I am glad to tell you about the engagement between my son and the beautiful Princess Maria", the king said. The room was filled with the sound of applauds.

What the f***?!

My knees felt weak and my head suddenly began to hurt. I looked up at him to see him looking at me apologetically but then he looked away avoiding my eyes.

What have I done?

I hurried out of the room not being noticed by anyone and ran straight to my guest room, into the bathroom crying hard. I stood in front of the mirror crying and gripping the sink until my knuckles were white.

He's getting married. My baby's father is not gonna be there.

I was so f**king careless and look where it has taken me.

I unzipped my dress and let it fall to my waist revealing the small baby bump.

My child.

I caressed it with love and looked in the mirror at my pathetic state.

Of course, this was gonna happen. You didn't expect him to accept you with open arms. He's soon to be king! He has no time for a princess with a child from a one-night stand. You're so sad Kitanya. What am I gonna do now?

I can't just waltz into his life and make it complicated with this baby. He'll think I'm only lying because I want him to myself. God, I don't want to seem like a gold digger.

I ruined my life and I'm the one to blame. If I didn't open my legs like a s-

The bathroom door abruptly flew open and Nathaniel looked at me unbelievably. I put my hand over my stomach trying to hide it but he stepped closer to me and tugged my hand from my belly.

"You're.." He swallowed and continued. "You're pregnant?" he asked looking at me.

I nodded as tears slip down my face and sobbed involuntarily. He looked as if to be thinking then his eyes widened along with his mouth.

"You're pregnant. You're pregnant with my baby?" he asked surprised.

Should I lie? What do I say? I could say no and raise her on my own but there will be many consequences and if I say yes, I might get rejected and called a wh***. God help me.

"Yes," I swallowed and his shock slowly fades to anger.