A Friend's Good News

Miayna skipped down the marble steps of Queen Amaya's palace, her green sundress swishing around her knees. The golden spires of Lux Aurea gleamed in the afternoon sun as she hurried toward the fountain square where her best friend waited.

"Sera!" she called out, waving.

Sera turned, her face glowing with excitement. She placed both hands on her rounded belly and smiled wide. "Miayna, I have the most amazing news!"

Miayna's brown eyes sparkled with curiosity as she rushed closer. "What is it?"

"The palace healer confirmed it today," Sera whispered, barely containing her joy. "I'm having twins!"

Miayna gasped, her long dark eyelashes fluttering in surprise. "Twins? Really?"

Sera nodded, practically bouncing on her toes. "Two babies! Can you imagine? They'll be born in the spring, right when the royal gardens bloom."

Miayna stared at her friend's happy face, then down at her belly. Something stirred inside her chest - a strange, wanting feeling she'd never experienced before.

The Shopkeeper's Offer

Miayna walked slowly back toward the palace, her mind spinning with thoughts of Sera's twins. The afternoon breeze rustled her green sundress as she passed the royal gardens.

"Two babies," she whispered to herself, touching her own flat stomach. "How wonderful that would be."

She turned down a narrow cobblestone street she'd never explored before. A small shop caught her eye - its wooden sign read "Healer's Haven" in faded gold letters. Through the dusty window, she could see shelves lined with colorful bottles and jars.

A woman with short, graying hair appeared in the doorway. She wore a simple brown apron over her dress and had kind green eyes. "Hello, dear. You look troubled. I'm Clara, the shopkeeper here."

"I'm Miayna," she said, stepping closer. "My friend is having twins, and I... I wish I could have babies too."

Clara's eyebrows rose with interest. "Twins, you say? Well, that's quite special." She glanced around, then leaned closer. "Come inside. I might have something that could help."

Miayna hesitated for just a moment, then followed Clara through the doorway into the dim, herb-scented shop.