Finally, a knock.
"Enter," I call out, my voice steadier than I feel.
The door opens, and the royal physician steps inside.
He's not what I expected. Handsome in a refined way. Mid-thirties, maybe, with blonde hair swept back from his face and wire-rimmed glasses perched on his nose. His build is strong, solid, like he does more than just examine patients all day. There's something competent about him. Professional.
His eyes sweep the room, land on me in the bed, and his jaw tightens.
"He told you to wait like this?" His voice is clipped, annoyed.
I nod.
"Of course he did." He mutters something under his breath that sounds like "entitled prick" and moves to the bed. "May I?" He asks as he touches the sheet covering my body. I nod again. He pulls the sheet up higher, repositioning it so only my lower half is exposed. The rest of me is covered, given some semblance of modesty.
The gesture is so unexpected, so kind, that I almost cry.
"I'm Dr. Stefan" he says, pulling on examination gloves. "I apologize for the circumstances. This won't take long."
He's professional throughout the examination. Clinical. His touch is impersonal but not rough. He doesn't make it more uncomfortable than it needs to be.
But then he makes a sound. A small, confused "hmm" that makes my stomach drop.
"Is something wrong?" I ask.
"Just... taking notes," he says, but his voice has changed. There's something uncertain in it now.
He makes another sound. Then another. Each one more puzzled than the last.
Finally, he removes his gloves and turns his back to me. "You can get dressed now. I'll speak with you once you're decent."
I scramble out of bed and grab my robe, pulling it on quickly. My hands are shaking. Something is wrong. He saw something wrong.
"I'm dressed," I say.
He turns around, and his expression is carefully neutral. Too neutral.
"You're very healthy," he begins, and I can hear the 'but' coming. "Your body shows no signs of illness or injury. Everything appears to be functioning as it should."
"But?"
He hesitates. "But... there are some... abnormalities. Things I've never seen in other women your age. Or any age, for that matter."
My heart is pounding now. "What kind of... abnormalities?"
"I'd like to take a blood sample, if you'll permit it. To run some tests. I want to be certain before I say anything definitive."
I nod. "Yes. Please."
He retrieves a needle and a vial from his bag. His hands are steady as he ties off my arm, finds the vein, and draws my blood. The needle pinches, and I watch my blood fill the vial. It looks dark red and normal.
"How long have you been married to the prince?" he asks as he works.
"Three months."
"And before that? You were... asleep?"
"For a hundred years. Yes."
