A few months ago, days after the incident with Reni and Guillaume. Odette travelled to Marne Vaux, a Dyaxis' largest city, and home to the La Croix family's last slave distribution and auction centers. Once a global super power in the international slave trade, the La Croix family began to lose a lot of its customer base since The Ruined Light incident and the declaration of the new millennium. When it was discovered that the 12 creatures that nearly destroyed the world were once children of slaves. The world began to follow the country of Galos' example and begin to slowly phase out slavery altogether and begin to setup policies and institutions to help into society. It was a distinctively Galian philosophy, that had seem to have spread to the other continents on Zara at a rapid pace and marked the La Croix family empire and legacy for an inevitable death if nothing was done about it.
Which was why Odette was here. The lioness knew what was at stake and would spend every last coin she had to give herself a fighting chance against the everchanging world. From seducing and bribing officials, and to having their political opponents killed. There was nothing too low for her. After all, her lavish life style was on the line. However, the morning she arrived to Marne Vaux, she noticed an unusual case of vomiting. A case that had seemed to get worse the following day to the point where she had to delay her meeting with the city council woman and make an emergency trip to the nearby hospital.
"This is fucking ridiculous." Odette thought to herself as she waited in the doctors office. It had been a full hour since she was checked in and brought to the room with no doctor in sight and no one able to tell her when she'll get one. Just as she stood up to leave the room and head back to her hotel, door knob slid into the open position as the doctor frantically walked in with paperwork in tow.
"Sorry about the wait ma'am. We had an emergency earlier today that shifted our schedules be about an hour." The doctor said sincerely.
"Great. A man doctor" Odette mumbled under her breath as she eyed the Red ruffed lemur.
"My name is Doctor Aritz Iker, and I will be your doctor for today. It says here that you seem to be suffering from nausea and vomiting is that correct?" The doctor asked kindly. It wasn't his first time dealing with a rude client as he had built up a good amount of thick fur over the years being a graduate of Maddocks School of Medicine in Galos. Though Galos was a fairly progressive country. The staff and professors knew the rest of the world was a different story.
"Yeah, Is there something you can give me that will just get me through today? I have an important meeting that I need to get to and I cant just reschedule it." Odette said frustratingly.
"I can't prescribe you anything till I ask some questions and assess you first." He said to Odette's annoyance.
"Now, do you have any allergies?" The doctor asked.
"No" Odette responded.
"Have you eaten anything you are unfamiliar with in the last week?" The doctor asked curious if that could be the issue.
"No." Odette responded a with a bit of disdain in her voice.
"Have you had sexual intercourse within the last month?" He said thinking he may have found the issue.
"No... wait, yes." Odette answered.
"I see..." The doctor went into one of his cabinets and pulled out a small cup and a strip of paper. Odette knew what he was about to ask her to do. And she was disgusted.
"I'm going to need you to take this cup and go down the hall to the restroom and feel it up to this line with a urine sample. Were going to see if your pregnant." He explained.
"I doubt it but sure, whatever." she said as she took the cup with her to the restroom.
"There's no possible way he could have... could he?" She asked herself knowing that if the answer was yes. And if people made the connection. She would be possibly in for the worse scandal of her life. Worse, she could have the Dynese government breathing down her neck. After all, one of the countries most wealthiest families found guilty of of violating the Isaure Act, by breeding directly with one of their most prized slaves. A loss of her title would be the least of her worries.
Odette walked back to the doctors room with the filled cup in toe and handed it to the doctor. And as the doctor placed the strip of paper in the cup , she couldn't help but notice her worse nightmare become reality.
"Congratulations!" was the last thing she heard before she slammed the door in a fit of rage while stomping out the hospital.
"She's late." The city council woman said to herself as she waited for Odette in her office. City counsel women Caroline Patricia was more than accustomed to the time consuming task of preparing for a "off the books" meeting, but when it seemed that such efforts were not respected by the other individual, it irritated the esteemed dingo immensely.
"Apologies for my tardiness city council women. I had a bit of a medical emergency." Odette said as she walked into the office closing the door behind her.
"Better to be tardy than absent I suppose. What can I do for you Odette?" Caroline asked the lioness.
Odette sat down in a nearby chair and made herself comfortable.
"Well ma'am, I did have business that I wanted to discuss but that can wait for now..." she trailed off.
"..." Caroline stared at her in silence with contempt.
"It's been awhile since we've seen each other. How has everything been? I heard-" Odette begin to say before being interrupted.
"I'm married Odette. So what ever arrangement you think we have, I will make perfectly clear for you to understand that we don't." Caroline stated firmly.
"Wait, when? To who?" Odette asked perplexed.
"Two months ago in Ruti, to Mylene." Caroline said proudly as she showed off her ring.
"The fucking secretary? Really?" Odette exclaimed in disbelief that someone of such a high status would lower themselves to a mere commoner.
"Don't act so surprised Odette. You were clearly invited, but I figured that it was beneath you to even show up given that Mylene has been with me since I started my political career." She stated aggressively.
"I must have missed the invitation." Odette said softly to herself.
"So if your not here to chastise me and my wife. Then let's get to the real reason why your here shall we?" Caroline asked directly.
"I need a tax exception." Odette asked plainly.
"For what? Your slave's!?! I don't know if you can see the writting on the wall or not, but globally slavery is done. You and your family's business are just going to be a dark footnote in history, unless YOU find a way to turn things around yourself. And not with government handouts." Caroline exclaimed.
Odette enraged, slammed her hands on the Council Woman's desk.
"What the fuck do you think I've been trying to do for the last 5 damn years!?!" Odette yelled.
"Raping them." Caroline said coldly.
The tension in the the room only seem to grow more and more as Odette's heart began to slow.
"What? What are you talking about?" Odette asked timidly.
"Don't you fucking play dumb with me. I knew even when we were dating you were doing that sick fucking shit behind my back. I just didn't know why everyone was so dead set on fucking protecting you and that shitty family of yours." Caroline retorted.
"I... I don't... do that." She said nervously.
"Oh bullshit. Everyone knows about that sick fucking Alpha and Omega shit your into. I bet your even did that shit to Reni. That poor sweet boy doesn't deserve a life like that. None of them do. And the worst fucking part about all of this, is that I knew about it and I didn't fucking do anything to stop it!" Caroline cried with remorse.
"You know what? I don't need this shit anymore." Odette said as she headed out the building. Everyone knew. Those two words ruminated in her mind over and over as she stormed to her hotel room. If anyone found out about her pregnancy and took one look at the baby, she was done for.
If she couldn't find a way to keep the family business from operating at a loss, she could kiss her lifestyle as she knew it goodbye. It seemed like this day couldn't get any worse for her. That is until it suddenly went black.
Doctor Mireille Ines was an experienced physician who had seen it all in the thirty years she's worked in the medical field. So it didn't surprise her one bit that the expecting patient that was assigned to her refused to listen to reason.
"I'm fine." Odette told the disapproving Aardvark.
Mireille knew she was going to be difficult. Which was why she had already contacted her patient's emergency contacts and explained to them the situation. They assured her for the next four moths her patient was to be watched over twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week till the child was safely delivered. All she needed to do was keep her occupied till they arrived which was surprisingly now. She thought to herself as the large gentleman was escorted in the room by one of her nurses.
"Here you are sir!" The nurse said as she let the lion into the room.
"Thank you very much for your help Miss Melodie!" He said kindly to the young mink.
"Father!?!" Odette exclaimed.
"Mr. la Croix. It's nice to finally put a face to the telegram message." She said as she shook the lion's hand.
"Likewise, Doctor Ines. I'd like to apologize for whatever stubborn daughter may have done to inconvenient you and your staff." He said humbly.
"Oh it's no worry at all sir. Its all apart of the job!" Mireille assured him.
"What's going on? Why are you here, your supposed to be with mother in Agusta Magus." Odette said confused.
Alban looked at his daughter with great sorrow.
"Your right. I should be with my wife in our retirement home enjoying a pitcher of lemonade on the beach and with tiny little sandwiches. But for some reason, and I don't quite know why , my daughter. Pregnant daughter mind you. Thought it would be a good idea to ignore her doctor and storm off in the summer heat and endanger not just her self but her unborn child by passing out in the middle of the street. What were you thinking?!" Alban exclaimed.
"I had everything under control!" Odette cried.
"Clearly you didn't." Her father retorted.
"I'd hate to interrupt but everything has been taken care of and your daughter has been discharged from the hospital. So you two are free to head home." The doctor stated eager to get the two out of the building before things got out of hand.
"Ahh yes. Thank you ma'am." Alban said as he helped his daughter up from her bed. The two made their way to the front of the building where Alban provided his ticket to the valet and they waited for their carriage to arrive.
"Father I-" Odette began to speak before she was swiftly interrupted by her father.
"No Odette. We will continue this conversation on the way back to the estate in Filito Mont. And when we arrive there, I will personally make sure that you are going to be confined to your estate till you deliver the baby." Alban said with a hint of authority in his voice.
"What gives you the right to tell me how to live my life !?!" Odette asked angrily.
"Those words were not from me child. The were from you mother." Alban replied coldly. Putting a swift end to Odette's tantrum. If there was one person she feared in this world, it would be her.
A few moments later, their carriage arrived to their waiting spot, and the two of them made their way on board, ready to make their journey to Filito Mont.
During their journey home, the two sat in silence. Odette, lost in thought, of how she was going to deal with her pending situation and Alban, trying to understand why his daughter would put the family in such jeopardy.
"Odette." Alban spoke. Breaking the detaining silence.
"Yes, father?" Odette responded.
"I am going to ask you a question. And I need you to be completely honest and truthful with me. Do you think you can do that dear?" He asked softly.
"Yes." She replied.
"Who exactly is the father of that child?" He asked, trying not to put too much pressure on her.
"..." She remained silent.
"Please tell me it's another noble." He asked her softly.
"No sir, it was someone at the estate." She responded vaguely, hoping that response alone would be enough for him to drop the topic.
"Was it any of the hired help?" He asked softly.
"Not. Exactly." She mumbled.
"Please Odette. Please don't tell me you didn't." He pleaded with his daughter with worry in his voice.
"I'm sorry father. It... this was never supposed to happen." She cried softly.
"Oh my god." Alban began to break down. All of those years, he and his wife worked to change the family's image. Gone.
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