51.

Alex strolled down the long corridor toward his chambers, his mind still buzzing with the day's events. His kingdom’s affairs were slowly stabilizing after the latest skirmishes, and his cousin Arin’s recent return had been a bittersweet reunion. He knew she was struggling with something, but Arin had always been prideful, never revealing her weaknesses outright. Alex sighed, running his hand through his tousled hair. The weight of responsibility was always present, but today, his mind was elsewhere—on Aeryn.

It had been strange, this connection with her. She was human, so unlike anyone else from his world, but he couldn’t help but be drawn to her. There was something captivating about her stubborn spirit, her defiance, and her vulnerability, all wrapped up in one. He found himself wondering how she was adjusting to life here, in his kingdom, among his people.

As he approached the door to his chamber, it slid open silently. He stepped inside, and the sight before him made him pause.

Aeryn sat cross-legged on a plush chair by the window, bathed in the soft, ethereal light from the cosmos beyond. Her brow was furrowed in concentration as she hunched over a large, ancient-looking tome, the symbols of his universe’s language filling the page in front of her. Her fingers absentmindedly twirled a strand of her hair, her lips moving as she tried to sound out the foreign words.

Alex couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight.

“You know,” he said, leaning against the doorframe, “if you keep reading it upside down, you might be learning the wrong way to say everything.”

Aeryn jerked her head up, startled by his voice. Her cheeks flushed a deep shade of red as she quickly flipped the book right-side up, looking thoroughly embarrassed. “I—uh—was just trying to...figure it out,” she stammered, clearly flustered by his teasing.

Alex crossed the room and stood by her side, peering down at the page she had been reading. The characters were ancient, an intricate and complex script unique to his people, but seeing her try to make sense of it filled him with a strange warmth.

“You’re brave for attempting this,” he said with a smirk. “Most wouldn’t even bother. It takes years of practice to understand our language.”

Aeryn huffed, pushing the book aside. “I thought I’d give it a try,” she muttered. “It’s not like I have much else to do while I’m... stuck here.”

Her tone was pointed, and Alex knew she still resented being in his kingdom, despite his attempts to make her feel welcome. He didn’t blame her for her resistance—being forced into an alien world would unsettle anyone.

But there was something different about her today. He noticed it in the way she shifted uncomfortably in her seat, her posture tense, her face pinched with discomfort. Her usual defiance was still there, but it seemed clouded by something else.

“What is it?” he asked, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied her. “You seem... off.”

Aeryn avoided his gaze, biting her lower lip. She fidgeted with the hem of her dress, her discomfort growing more apparent by the second. “It’s nothing,” she said quickly, though her face betrayed her.

Alex crossed his arms, his expression softening with concern. “Aeryn,” he said in a gentler tone, “you’re clearly uncomfortable. Tell me what’s wrong.”

She hesitated, her cheeks flushing again. “It’s... it’s just that...” She struggled to find the words, her voice trailing off. Finally, with a frustrated sigh, she blurted out, “I think I’m getting my period.”

Alex blinked, momentarily caught off guard by her admission. “Your period?”

“Yes, my period,” she repeated, crossing her arms over her chest defensively. “It’s a human thing. Happens once a month. You know... menstruation?”

Alex nodded slowly, recalling vague mentions of such things from his studies of human biology. Though it wasn’t a concept that existed in his species, he understood enough to realize that it was a natural part of human physiology. But the look of distress on Aeryn’s face told him this wasn’t just a minor inconvenience.

“And you don’t have... what you need for it,” he said, piecing it together.

Aeryn nodded, biting her lip again. “Back on Earth, I’d have pads or tampons, but... I didn’t exactly pack for this when I was, you know, kidnapped.”

Alex frowned, immediately understanding her dilemma. He could see how deeply this small, personal discomfort was affecting her—feeling out of place in a foreign world and now lacking even basic necessities. Aeryn was always strong and resilient, but right now, she looked vulnerable, and it stirred something protective in him.

“Wait here,” he said softly, turning on his heel and walking out of the room.

Aeryn stared after him, confused and slightly embarrassed by the whole situation. She wasn’t sure what to expect—there was no way someone like Alex, an alien prince, could understand what she was going through.

But after a few minutes, Alex returned, holding a sleek metallic box in his hands. He placed it on the table beside her, and when he opened it, Aeryn’s eyes widened.

Inside the box were a series of soft, absorbent materials, neatly packed in a way that looked far more advanced than anything she’d ever seen on Earth.

“What... what is this?” she asked, her curiosity piqued as she picked up one of the items. It looked like a pad, but it was more sophisticated, with a smooth, breathable texture that seemed to adjust to her touch.

“We call them personal absorbers,” Alex explained. “Our people don’t menstruate like humans do, but we have beings in this galaxy with similar cycles, so we created these for them. They’ll adapt to your body’s needs and provide you with the comfort and protection you require.”

Aeryn blinked, momentarily speechless. “You have these?” she asked, her voice tinged with disbelief. “How do you have these?”

Alex gave her a half-smile. “Let’s just say we’ve learned to accommodate all types of species here. You’re not the first being with unique needs, and I made sure we had everything ready for your... human requirements.”

Aeryn’s cheeks flushed again, but this time, it was from a mix of gratitude and relief. She had been dreading this moment, afraid of how she’d cope without the basic supplies she needed. But Alex had thought of everything. Even when she didn’t expect him to, he had taken care of her.

“Thank you,” she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Alex’s expression softened as he met her eyes. “You don’t need to thank me, Aeryn. You’re part of this world now, whether you like it or not. And I’ll make sure you have everything you need.”

For a moment, the tension between them seemed to dissolve. Aeryn looked up at Alex, her defenses lowered, her vulnerability on full display. And in that moment, Alex saw her not as the rebellious human who had defied him at every turn, but as someone who needed his help, someone who was trying to navigate this strange, new world the best she could.

“Let me know if you need anything else,” Alex said quietly, standing up. “I’ll be here.”

Aeryn nodded, watching him go. For the first time since arriving in this alien world, she didn’t feel entirely alone.