It was right there. Staring you square in the face. How could this happen? You were so careful? You were sure your parents would disown you. How could up you? Their precious daughter had gone and gotten herself knocked up, and by the Duke of Atreides, no less.
The test burned holes into yours eyes, they stung with tears, yet your couldn't look away. You just couldn't. Hands shaking, you rubbed your abdomen.
You finally admitted it to yourself. 'I'm... pregnant...'
Then it hit you like a train, your breathing started to become more and more rapid. Your heart pumped blood around your body three times as fast, the room started to spin and your head felt light.
How could this happen? You and Paul were so careful, you took your morning after pills and he used protection. You always made sure to pull out just before so that something like this wouldn't happen. Something like this shouldn't happen.
After all, you're only a maid, a cleaner who knew Paul since you both were in diapers, but as he lived jn luxury, you lived by the scraps of his family. You know that openly being known as Paul's girlfriend, the love of his life, would most likely horrendously damage your already broken family, and the Atreides family would surly go under.
Your situation was a bit like Romeo and Juliet, but with social standings, and the death penalty in the mix.
Tears fell from your eyes like a blizzard as you screamed in pain. There was no way that this could happen.
There was one thing to do. You slipped on your shoes and sprinted out of your small home. Your feet ran as fast as possible to find your mount, a large Gypsy called Gus. He was already saddled from a ride that you took not an hour ago to get the test, using your mother having her ninth baby as an excuse.
You kicked Gus on and he moved into a steady but fast canter as you guided him through the town and to the Palace, pregnancy test still in hand.
Nothing could be heard through the blood pumping in your ears as you hastily put Gus into a stall and threw off his tack and sprinted into the palace through the surveys access. Racing through the maintenance tunnels as though your life depended on it, which it technically did, you weaved your way through doors and gateways until you reached the East wing where the bedrooms were located.
Calming your breathing down, you pretended to be on your way to Paul's room out of a summons.
You knocked on the door, not even knowing whether Paul was in there or not.
'Yes?' The familiar voice of Paul Atreides sounded. You slowly opened the door and went inside.
His black mop of hair was over his face as he was hunched over a thick book. He was reading, as always.
'Y/n! I didn't expect to see you today.' Paul chirped as a large smile fled across his face.
'I didn't expect to come here.' Your voice was shaky as you tried to calm yourself down.
'Is there something wrong?' Paul stood up, now conceded that the love of his life seemed so unstable
You stared blankly at him. Your heart beating like crazy out of your chest.
'I'm not sure I am.' You manage to whisper. 'Neither are you.'
'What do you mean?' Paul asked, the palm of his hand lovingly cupped your cheek.
You tried to get the words out, you tried to tell him the news, but you couldn't. You reached into your pocket and grabbed the test.
'I'm so sorry, my love.' You whisper.
You then took his hand off your cheek and placed the test in it.
Paul stared blankly at first, it took him a while to realise what he held. Then his face turned into dread, then joy.
'You're... pregnant?' He said, a giddy smile spread across his pink lips.
You couldn't fathom why Paul would be smiling. This charge, mixing with people above your social class, put people like you to death. Especially if it's result is bringing on heirs that could jeopardise the richer families.
'Why are you smiling, Paul?' Your voice held obvious fear. 'There is nothing about this to smile about!'
'Yes there is, Y/n!' Paul chuckled. 'A baby is coming, our baby!'
'Paul, you're nineteen, I'm eighteen! You're an aristocrat, I'm a servant! You're rich, I'm poor! This will never work!' You shouted. Tears started to flood down your cheeks once more. Your breathing became heavier and heavier, your heart pounded faster and faster.
'Y/n, I love you with all of my heart!' Paul held you still as he gazed into your eyes. 'I will do everything in my power to help you, I promise.'
'You're willing to do anything?' You sniffled.
'Anything.'
You stared at him. You'd at least expected him to demand you keep the baby, whether it meant killing you. It would give him an heir, even at a young age.
'I don't want to keep the baby.' You said. Your tone firm
The hurt in Paul's eyes was evident. You knew he'd always wanted to be a father. But you stood your ground.
'This baby would ruin my life forever. There would be no coming back from this.' You said.
Paul sighed deeply. 'Okay. I'll find someone to help.'
Paul then turned to his desk, and placed the test far back in a drawer. He didn't look at you for a long time. He just stood there, starring blank at the wall.
You didn't know what to say. So, you walked up to him and hugged him from behind.
'I love you.' You whispered. When you didn't hear a reply, you gave him a long, warm kiss on the cheek and left the room with a heavy heart.
You had no idea that this decision would hurt Paul so badly. After all, you were both still so young, you had your whole lives ahead of you. Having the baby would crush yours and Paul's dreams, together or one at a time.
-
You didn't see Paul for the rest of the week. Though your heart ached for him, you knew better than to go rushing too him after raising his hopes, then dashing them against the rocks.
As you went about your work, cleaning, polishing, wiping and dusting along with running food around the Palace, avoiding Paul. Often you'd see him in the hallway and treat him like he was yet another servant. You wouldn't pay any mind to him; you'd pretend you were too busy to notice him.
You could tell Paul would stare at you as he walked past, but whether it was in disappointment, anger or longing was beyond you.
After a long day of hard work, you decided to take Gus to the markets for a new saddle pad. He had a funny thing about liking the ones he chose, but hating the ones you chose.
You walked to one particular stall where a shopkeeper, Ann, worked.
'Ah, I can see Gus wants a new saddle pad, does he?' Ann laughed as Gus anthropomorphically riffled through the tub of saddle pads.
'Yep, I was given just enough extra to buy him the pad he wanted today.' You smiled proudly as Gus yanked on a deep blue with yellow detailing on it.
Ann reached down and pulled it out.
'You know what, my dear?' Ann smiled her kind little-old-lady smile. 'You can have this for free. After all, Gus is my best customer.'
'No, Ann, I couldn't.' You shook your head.
'But I can. Dear, take it.' Ann handed it too you.
After reassuring you one more time that this gift was ok, you thanked her and lead Gus out of the market. He snorted happily as he pranced along the roads like a show horse.
You laughed at him as you came to a more secluded part of town, where not many people were at this time of day.
It all happened so fast. Shouts and yells of 'don't move' and 'you're under arrest' rang through your ears as your good day quickly turned sour.
Gus freaked at the sudden noice and reared tall. His rope got yanked out of your hands, causing you to scream from the sudden pain of rope burn. You felt layers of your skin rip away from you and stuck to Gus's lead as he galloped away at top speed.
You wanted to go after him, but by now, you felt something at the back of your head. Tears fell from your eyes, from the pain your hands brought you, and from the fear you felt.
'Y/n Y/l/n, you're under arrest for wrongful communication, leading to fertilisation of both parties.'
In short, you were under arrest for being pregnant.
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