Page 57 of What Makes an Alien a Dad?

“Very active. Lately especially—” I cut myself short, realizing that Kear remained quiet on the baby’s condition.

Maybe there were some concerns he didn’t want to talk about? Or maybe he didn’t want to share the details with Egus? Either way, I decided it was best to keep my mouth shut, too.

“Are you giving a speech, too, tonight, Professor Egus?” I asked instead.

“Me? No.” He shook his head with a somewhat exaggerated laugh. “Ever since you came along, dear Madam Maya, no one cares about what I have to say. This assembly only has eyes and ears for Thormus now. As does the press.”

There was a bitter note in his voice, despite the friendly smile lingering on his face.

“We should sit down,” Kear said, pointing at the two seats in the first row.

“You can sit with me, Madam Maya,” Egus offered.

“She has a perfectly good seat right here,” Kear barked, slapping a hand on the seat next to his.

“But she’ll end up sitting alone when you go on stage.”

“She’ll come with me.”

I tilted my head at him. “I will?”

That was news to me.

“Of course you will.” He met my eyes. “All these people will tear me apart if I don’t present you to them. Just look at the crowd.” He swept with his gaze along the rows around the stage. Every single face of those present was turned to us. “Trust me, I wouldn’t get this much attention if I were here without you.”

“Well.” Professor Egus bowed his head to me. “We’ll catch up after dinner then, Maya. Maybe luck will smile upon me tonight and you’ll agree to dance with me.”

“The best I can offer is some swaying and shuffling, in my condition.” I grinned, gesturing at my belly. “If you don’t mind that, I’ll be happy to dance with you.”

He flashed me a smile while Kear growled like a dog with a bone.

“You dislike Egus, don’t you?” I lowered my voice as we took our seats. “Why? Did he do something to you in the past?”

He shrugged, then admitted reluctantly. “No. Nothing to hold a grudge over. It’s just a feeling. I don’t trust him.”

“Sounds like an unexplained animosity. Due to your grumpy nature, maybe? If so, you should simply remember your manners and behave. Egus seems nice.”

He scowled. “Too nice.” But then conceded, “He’s alright, I guess. Better than that scoundrel Hezer.”

I had no time to ask who Hezer was and what made him a “scoundrel” because a voice announced, “Let’s welcome our Governor Ashir Kaeya Drustan with Madam Governor.”

As per Voranian custom, a married woman not only took her husband’s name but also attached his title to her honorifics. Like I’d be Madam Professor Thormus if I married Kear—

What a random thought that was. Completely uncalled for and out of place. I shook my head, hoping to rid my brain of any notion like that.

A couple entered. The man was all smiles. He waved at the crowd and winked at Kear as if they were buddies. Which, judging by Kear’s reaction, they were not. Respectful but distant, the professor grunted uneasily and bowed his head.

Madam Governor was a tall woman, who appeared to be in the middle of her own pregnancy. A burgundy dress with gold embroidery flowed over the slight swell of her belly. She smiled at Kear and me, taking a seat next to her husband across the stage from us.

“Is she one of your patients?” I asked Kear.

“No. Not this pregnancy of hers. I had to decline looking after her this time.”

“Why?”

“I had no time for another patient,” he replied simply. “And there is no reason to expect any complications with her pregnancy. It progresses well. Another doctor is taking care of her. She doesn’t need me.”

I knew he was incredibly busy. Looking after me had taken most of his working time, leaving hardly anything left for his regular patients. Yet I also knew that he had other patients, like the sister of that man we’d ran into in the shopping mall. That woman was a far less glamorous patient than the wife of the country’s governor, but she really needed his skills and expertise, so he’d taken her on, despite being busy.

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