She looked at Kiara again, trying to reconcile the woman standing before her with the news she had just received. Kiara had endured Arceus's death, returned to the Imperial Palace, argued with her mother, and continued making plans for revenge. Now, she was telling Scarlett that she was pregnant, as though it were another ordinary problem to add to her list.
Scarlett slowly stood up.
Then, without warning, she stepped forward and hugged Kiara.
"Congratulations!"
Kiara stiffened slightly at the sudden embrace. She had expected questions, suspicion, or perhaps a lecture about the timing, but Scarlett's immediate response was genuine happiness.
Scarlett pulled back just enough to look at her face, and her smile gradually faded.
"What's wrong? Why don't you look happy?"
Kiara let out a quiet sigh.
"It's complicated."
Scarlett studied her for a moment before nodding slowly, apparently reaching her own conclusion.
"I understand."
Kiara raised an eyebrow. "You do?"
