Su Li walked over. A thin sheen of sweat had formed on Saina's forehead.
"Sit down first." He pulled a chair over.
As Saina sat down, the thing clenched in her hand fell to the floor.
It was Martha's apron.
That night, she had taken the apron out of the wardrobe, intending to bring it aboard the ship.
Su Li bent down, picked up the apron, folded it neatly, and set it on the table.
Saina's complexion still looked off. She lowered her head, one hand pressed over her lower abdomen.
"Maybe I ate too much at dinner," she said softly.
Su Li stared at the hand she had pressed to her stomach, and a thought suddenly flashed through his mind.
His breathing stopped for half a beat.
"Let Elonore examine you tomorrow."
Saina raised her head and met his gaze.
Neither of them spoke.
The kitchen was so quiet that only the faint ticking of the stove's residual heat could be heard.
The next day.
Elonore's hand hovered two inches above Saina's lower abdomen, her fingers glowing faintly silver-white.
The room was so quiet they could hear birds chirping outside the window.
Su Li stood beside them, gripping a cup of tea. It had long gone cold, yet he had not taken a single sip. Elena leaned against the doorframe with her arms folded across her chest, her expression unreadable.
Elonore withdrew her hand.
The silver-white glow faded away.
She raised her head.
"Saina." Her voice was very soft, carrying a cautious note of confirmation. "It seems you're pregnant."
No one in the room made a sound.
Saina sat on the edge of the bed, both hands resting on her knees. Her expression shifted from confusion, to blankness, to complete emptiness in about three seconds.
"...Huh?"
Elonore glanced at