MY SUGAR MUMMY IS A BEAUTIFUL VAMPIRE

Rose stood in front of the long mirror in her chambers, staring at her reflection with a frown. She smoothed her hands over the soft fabric of the loose gown she was wearing, but it did little to hide the swell of her belly that seemed to grow more prominent by the day.

When she had first discovered her pregnancy, Rose had immediately acquired an entire wardrobe of flowing, oversized dresses and gowns. She wanted to conceal her condition for as long as possible from the judgmental eyes of the court. But now, even those tented garments were growing too snug, clinging in ways that made her bump unmistakably visible.

Rose sighed deeply and turned to the side, trying in vain to camouflage her protruding abdomen. But there was no denying it - she was going to need even larger clothes soon if she hoped to keep her pregnancy under wraps. The thought filled her with a mixture of sadness and trepidation.

Gladys had made it abundantly clear that Rose was not to be afforded any assistance or supplies from the palace staff. As an outcast, she would receive no special treatment or accommodation. That left Rose quite stranded when it came to discreetly acquiring proper maternity wear.

Chewing her lip worriedly, Rose moved to the narrow window and gazed out over the grounds below. She needed to get word to Reggie, her most trusted friend and confidant. Surely he would be able to procure her some bigger dresses without attracting undue attention or gossip.

Rose closed her eyes and extended her mental powers, urgently calling out to Reggie, Gunther, and Randall. The three loyal knights were the only ones aware of her condition thus far. But after several long moments of concentration, Rose felt her mind beating against a strange psychic interference.

Frowning, she tried again with more focused intensity, imagining Reggie's caring face and their deep bond. But still, she could not make any sort of telepathic connection. It was as if her capabilities were being inexplicably blocked or dampened from extending beyond these castle walls.

Then again, she wondered if it was the distance between them. The three for whereever they were couldn't be anywhere close to the city walls and she knew that even that one had an illusion field around it.

Or could it be the lord's order she gave them? Did they tune her out now to focus squarely on the task to find Blake? Could they even do that? Surely her own knights wouldn't be able to pull off such feats, right?

Frustration began to rise in Rose as she paced the confines of her chamber agitatedly. How could she possibly get the supplies she needed if she couldn't even communicate with her allies outside the palace grounds? This was deeply vexing and concerning.

As her movements jostled the ties of her gown, Rose felt the fabric pull tight against the swell of her abdomen once more. She stopped and gazed down at her burgeoning belly, cradling it protectively as a small, sad smile tugged at her lips.

"Do not worry, little one," she murmured softly. "We will persevere together, no matter the obstacles. I promise to keep you safe and cared for."

Rose's thoughts drifted, as they so often did these days, to Blake and the precarious situation they currently found themselves in. She wondered where he could be, if he was alright and searching for them just as desperately as she longed for his return.

"We have to be strong for your father's sake," Rose continued in a gentle tone, rubbing her belly soothingly. "I am sure he misses us as much as we miss him. We will find him soon, but in the meantime, I hope he is safe wherever he is."

The words did little to fully quell the ache of separation Rose felt from Blake. But she knew she had to maintain her resolve, if not for herself then for their unborn child. Drawing a fortifying breath, Rose turned her mind back to her more immediate concerns.

First things first, she needed to find a way to get properly fitted for maternity clothes before her current wardrobe became laughably insufficient at concealing her pregnancy. But how could she manage that without going through Gladys or the rest of the unhelpful palace staff?

As if in answer, Rose's sharp eyes caught sight of a serving woman passing by in the corridor outside her open chamber door. She was a young vampire lady, one of the domestic workers whose faces had begun to blend together into an indistinguishable blur to Rose of late. But in this moment, the woman may prove useful.

Focusing her vampiric powers, Rose's eyes flashed crimson and her voice took on a resonant, commanding tone. "You there! Enter these chambers at once."

The serving woman paused mid-stride, her face going slack and vacant as she turned automatically towards Rose's powerful summons. Stepping inside with equally glowing eyes, she stood before Rose in an obedient trance-like state, awaiting further instruction.

"Excellent," Rose purred in satisfaction. "Now, you will go and locate the blacksmith, Dumphries, and bring him here directly. Do you understand?"

"Yes...my lady," the woman replied in a hollow drone. She offered a shallow bow of compliance before turning and shuffling away in a daze to carry out Rose's bidding

Rose hated that she had to go down the path of forceful coercion. It was the last thing she wanted to do as she viewed it as playing god amongst her kind.

Not to act like a saint, she acknowledged that in the past, she did things like this without a second thought. However, growing into the successful CEO she became, she had learnt that using wits and the sheer magnitude of her presence in a room commanded far more and was equally more satisfying than using her powers to force someone into doing something.

But at the moment, to hell with what was right or wrong. If it concerned her baby, she couldn't care less about turning the sky red or invading the home of the elder gods and burning it to the ground!

Minutes later, a soft knock sounded at the door. Rose straightened her back and went on to open the door, revealing the burly, sooty form of Dumphries himself standing in the hall. The poor woman who had fetched him stood slumped against the wall in a stupor, her task completed.

"You sent for me, milady?" the gruff blacksmith greeted Rose with a respectful nod, seeming unsurprised by the bizarre circumstance.

"Indeed," Rose replied, forcing warmth and casualness into her tone. "Please, come inside, good Dumphries. I have somewhat of a sensitive matter to discuss."

The man's bushy eyebrows rose with curiosity, but he compliantly entered and waited for Rose to continue. She drew a steadying breath before beginning.

"As you can see, I find myself in a rather...delicate condition," Rose said carefully, turning to indicate the swell of her midsection more clearly. "One that will require some specialized garments to properly accommodate me going forward, if you take my meaning."

Dumphries' eyes widened abruptly as he realized the implications of her words and body language. "You're...you're to have a child?" he sputtered out in shock.

Rose merely inclined her head with a wisp of a smile, carefully not confirming nor denying. The blacksmith's craggy face broke into a broad, joyful grin as he put the pieces together in his own mind.

"Why, that's wonderful news, milady!" he exclaimed heartily. "To think, you and Lord Damien starting a new family together so soon! The kingdom will be overjoyed at the prospect, I'll wager."

Rose felt her cheeks warm at his misguided yet understandable assumption regarding the identity of the father. For a fleeting instant, she was tempted to simply go along with the misconception that this was indeed Damien's child she carried. It would have been easier in many ways...

But just as quickly, she dismissed the notion as something her conscience could not abide. As awkward and complicated as this pregnancy was, Rose knew she had to own the truth of it - both for the sake of her values, and her miraculous unborn child.

"I appreciate your well-wishes and discretion on this matter, Dumphries," Rose replied carefully, effectively deflecting any talk of the father for now. "However, we must keep this knowledge strictly between us until I am prepared to make a formal announcement, if you understand my meaning."

The broad smile slipped somewhat from Dumphries' face as he picked up on her more serious tone. But he gave a solemn nod of comprehension all the same.

"O-Of course, milady. Forgive me, I did not mean to overstep or make untoward assumptions. Your condition and its details are nobody's affairs but your own."

Relief washed over Rose, and she graced the man with a grateful look. "Thank you for that. Which leads me to why I've called you here..."

She gestured to emphasize the simple gown clinging to her frame. "As you can surely tell, my current wardrobe will not suffice for much longer at concealing my...delicate state. I am in urgent need of loose-fitting garments more appropriate to my changing body."

Rose felt her cheeks warm slightly, but pushed on. "I was hoping you could procure some proper maternity dresses for me through your own discreet channels in the city. Money is no object - I simply need a trustworthy party to act on my behalf regarding this matter."

Dumphries considered her request for a beat before giving a slow nod of assent. "Consider it done, milady. I know just the seamstress in the Lower City that can outfit you with whatever you require in a discreet, untraceable manner."

"Excellent," Rose replied, feeling a weight lift from her shoulders. "I knew I could count on your capable assistance, good Dumphries. You have my deepest thanks."

The gruff man gave an awkward little bow. "Think nothing of it, milady. 'Tis the least I can do for you in your... delicate condition." He looked almost paternal with concern. "If you don't mind my asking - how are you faring otherwise? Have your needs been properly seen to in the palace?"

Rose felt her smile falter slightly at his caring inquiry. How could she explain the complicated reality of her strained situation to this well-meaning soul?