A few people tilted their heads, clearly confused. "What do you mean?" Lila asked, frowning slightly.
Aelin folded her arms lightly. "If that were enough, then you would already be pregnant by now."
Lila froze in place and the others exchanged glances, some nodding as if that made sense.
"For a woman to conceive, her body needs to be in the right condition," Aelin continued calmly. "And that doesn't only mean physical health."
She tapped her temple lightly. "It also depends on your mind."
Lila blinked. "My… mind?"
"Yes," Aelin said. "If you're constantly under stress, afraid, or living in discomfort, your body won't respond the way it should."
Everyone fell into silence. Some lowered their heads, as if those words hit closer than they expected.
"You were all bound by the oath for years," Aelin went on. "You lived in fear, unsure of what would happen to you next. Even if you didn't realize it, your body did."
