Coldsnap: The Billionaire Alpha's Fated Pregnant Princess (GL)
Chapter 55 - Glass Barriers & Cheap Maps

Chapter 55: Chapter 55 - Glass Barriers & Cheap Maps

Below the inexplicably completed task appeared a new entry in my sight. One that proved that, while it might not exactly talk back - it is definitely listening.

| TASK: Seek Medical Verification |

My hand instinctively went to my abdomen again. I knew that the meaning could be only one thing.

The System wanted me to confirm what I’d been both assuming - and doubting - since I arrived in this body. I needed to verify whether this pregnancy was real.

If its seeming manipulations I expect are real, tricks... or simply something I don’t understand.

I closed my eyes, trying to sense anything different about my body. Any sign of life supposedly growing inside me.

The way of shifting I was taught avoids affecting that area - the ’uterus’ it is called here - as much as possible in the first place. The times I’ve done it in this body, this fact was no different from my world... as far as I can tell.

So there was nothing tangible or certain I could say.

And while I do know of some ’pagan’ magics that maybe could be used for confirmation... this world sees such things as fiction. Werewolves are real, but sympathetic magic is not?

"The rules here are so vague. More things to test..."

Vrika stirred in my mindscape, so I appear to see what it’s up to. Padding closer to my fox form, its gaze is fixed firmly on my lower half.

> Where exactly are you looking? Huh? <

It growls when I ask - and my tail bristles. The spirit apparently can’t take a joke when it is feeling protective!

"Okay. Shower first. I can deal with everything else later."

⧖ ☾ ❄ ☽ ⧖

After getting dressed, I reopened the book. While I can’t tell anything from the perspective of a beast, there is also still the human side of this body.

Flipping through until I found what I was looking for, I began to read it aloud.

"Early pregnancy symptoms usually do not begin for many weeks, but may include: nausea, fatigue, breast tenderness, increased urination..."

Nausea? I just threw up, but I kind of made myself do that. Right?

Tiredness? Certainly, but that could be attributed to... everything happening.

Tenderness? I don’t have such precise sensations in memory, only Helene’s thought assessments when it comes to ’feelings’.

So I couldn’t exactly tell if what I felt as I squeeze and poke all along them is... normal for this body or not. Feels normal?

> Disappointingly, not that enjoyable either. I guess mood is important. And another person... <

I quickly shake my head and banish white hair and orange eyes from my thoughts! As for going to the bathroom more frequently - I don’t think that has increased yet?

"This is useless. The system is right, I need actual medical confirmation, not layman guesswork."

I considered my options. A hospital would likely require ID at a minimum and something known as ’insurance’.

Both things I didn’t have. And going in without them would possiblydraw scrutiny I did not need.

What would be ideal was something discrete and simple, that wouldn’t ask much of me. Especially questions I was unwilling to answer.

"Does a place like that even exist?"

Wearing a dark top and navy cardigan along with the wool pants - because it does feel a little chilly here today - I grab up everything in my bags.

Keeping it all on hand is kind of a hassle. But the alternative is to risk some of it being stolen wherever I hide it.

Which might not be such a big deal for anything I can repurchase... but no, I can’t think like that. The white card goes in one pants pocket while the dead phone goes in the other.

Slightly dirty aluminum railing greets me as I open the door. From this second story I can glance and see the SUV still parked.

> Nope, no time to think about that. <

At the motel lobby, I found it as empty as it had been yesterday morning. Save for a familiar middle-aged man behind the thick glass window.

My first meeting with him had been late at night, but also... relatively well dressed and clean. So unlike many of the people I’ve interacted with more than once in this city, he has not seen me ’at my worst’.

Sitting at a desk in that little box of a room, reading a newspaper with what seems more habit than any obvious interest. Just like yesterday, he glanced up as I approached.

"Checking out again?"

"Yes. For now."

I placed the room key on the counter and pushed it toward the small metal tray of an opening at the bottom of the barrier. The entire setup seems made so that it is harder for those on either side to interact physically.

A deterrent for ’easy’ violence. But not for communication.

"I also had a... question. If you don’t mind."

"Shoot."

My first thought had been to ask where the nearest place to obtain cheap smartphone accessories would be. But my mouth had a mind of its own.

"Is there a place nearby where someone could get medical tests done? Without needing much... documentation of the visit?"

"Hm? What kind of tests?"

He looked at me strangely, but I held his gaze steadily. Surprisingly unashamed.

While this is essentially my body now, it’s not like I’m the one that went out and ’got it pregnant’. But even if I did-

"The kind women sometimes need when they are uncertain about something they need to be certain about... before they tell their boyfriends."

"Ah."

His expression cleared with understanding as I implied more existing relations with Jace than I ever wanted to do. But it’s... useful if he thinks there may be someone who cares about my well being.

> Stop it, why would you even think I’d want to use your Alpha as the one who cares? Even taking that it... is the case, she is a very public figure. <

Scandals took down famous merchants in my kingdom all the time. The last thing I want is to ruin someone’s image who has only been kind to me.

We’ll see how I feel... after she stops.

"Yeah, there’s a women’s clinic about... fifteen blocks from here. Down on 12th and Pine."

He paused, before narrowing his eyes at me. Seeming to consider how much to say.

"As far as I know, they don’t ask too many questions. Cash or credit. Some free slots too, if you wait."

"Thank you."

I nodded at him, rather relieved at the straightforward answer. I was honestly dreading how long it might take me to learn the answer on my own.

The guide book only mentioned the major hospitals in the city... and I’ve now been saved from approaching such a place just to ask where a place that is not expensive might be.

"Could you please point me in the right direction?"

He grabbed an old looking tourist map from under the counter before marking it with a pen and handing it over through the slot.

"Right here. Silverton Women’s Health Center. Old red brick building with new looking frosted glass windows."

As I took the illustration and opened the system’s map, the red marker appeared in rough confirmation to what he showed to me. Still, I pretend to study it for a while before handing it back.

"Thank you, I think I can find it now."

With an eyebrow raised at my returning the cheap printed map, he turns and glances at the clock on the wall. An analog piece, polished metal with neon tubing around it... that is thankfully off at this time of day.

It looked interesting and eye-catching at first, but already I have grown tired of the hum and glow they produce at night when active.

"They open at nine. Sure you wanna check out already?"

"No, that’s perfect. Thank you for your help."

He nodded without arguing. Clearly used to when not to continue pestering his customers.

Though as he picked up his paper again and I turned away, he did part with a final phrase.

"Good luck, miss."

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