"Your Majesty, Empress!"
As I emerged from the bathroom, Sharon entered the bedroom holding a letter.
I had been reinstated as Empress immediately upon returning from the Pasha Empire.
Five months had already passed since I became the real Empress, not a proxy.
However, nothing much had changed from my previous life.
Linel and I still love each other, and we spend each night desperately craving each other's warmth.
These days, with the baby in my womb increasingly revealing its presence, it takes a lot of effort to make love to him.
"What's going on?"
"Moiya and Moni left a letter earlier."
It was Melanie's letter today.
"I guess they went to Tanya Island this time?"
I opened the envelope Melanie had sent.
I was startled as I read it.
"What's wrong, Your Majesty?"
Sharon asked curiously, observing my expression.
"They're moving to the Principality of Aklatto within the next week."
"Why?"
"I heard there was an earthquake last night while they were sleeping, and the floor of their bed split in half?"
It was news that Tanya Island had begun to sink sooner than expected.
Melanie's handwriting clearly conveyed the terror of last night.
She also worried that moving to the Principality of Aklatto would mean returning to a life of dress, which would be too suffocating.
I don't know why she always stamps her lips like a seal at the end of each letter, but I folded it, thankful that Melanie hadn't sunk to the bottom of the sea last night.
I went out to the terrace and looked at the West Palace, where the concubines had lived.
It was currently empty, except for Pecilini's quarters, who was about to give birth.
About ten days after being reinstated as Empress, Linel had deposed all three concubines from the Principality of Aklatto.
All three had returned to Aklatto, so I wondered if they would somehow reunite with Melanie, now the new ruler of Aklatto.
Then, they'll meet not as concubines, but as Queen and a deposed concubine.
The Principality of Aklatto was recently elevated to a kingdom.
Before that, Melanie had already married Hetor on Tanya Island, and now she was a proper Queen.
"Time flies."
When I returned to the Lapion Empire, I worried that the absence of concubines would be too great, but those worries were needless.
The wyverns filled the void left by the concubines.
Aside from Moiya and Moni, the wyverns, which inhabited the Valley of Death, flew freely around the Lapion Empire's palace.
The court ladies and ministers, initially timid and wary, gradually adapted after a month.
No one fainted or fainted when wyverns flew overhead.
The number of nobles visiting the palace specifically to see the wyverns had increased dramatically.
Under these circumstances, there was no room to feel empty inside.
The funny thing is, Rosie and Catherine got pregnant five months ago, so now all of the Lapion Empire's concubines, including me, have bulging bellies.
They all say their hands and feet are swollen, short of breath, and even numb legs, but I've never experienced any of those symptoms.
In fact, if I stay still, the baby in my womb kicks, forcing me to go for walks and keep moving.
"Oh, Sharon. Is today lunchtime with Pecilini?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Catherine, who married Count Ethan and left the palace, occasionally visits the palace, but Pecilini is the one I see most often these days.
We visit each other's palaces for dinner twice a week, and today was Pecilini's visit to the Empress's Palace.
I glanced at the West Palace in the distance and then lowered my head.
"Ouch. Why are you acting so tumultuously?"
The baby in my womb was unusually active today.
"Understood. Let's go for a short walk."
I said, placing both hands on my stomach.
“Sharon, Pecilini will be here soon. Wait and show her to me yourself. I need to take a short walk.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Don’t go too far. I think it would be better to just take a short walk in the garden and come back.”
Sharon said, confirming the time of my upcoming lunch appointment with Pecilini.
“Yes, I will.”
“You called, Your Majesty.”
Bellos found the office at Linel’s call.
“Have a seat.”
He nodded and offered a seat.
“I, too, have something to tell you, and was just about to request an audience.”
“Really? What brings you here?”
“Her Majesty the Empress has been restored to the throne, and the imperial family has found stability, so I think I should return to the Magic Tower.”
“Suddenly?”
“Not suddenly. It’s already been five months since I returned from the Pasha Empire.”
There wasn’t much to do back at the Magic Tower, but there was nothing to do here at the Lapion Palace either.
“Can’t you return after the Empress gives birth?”
“There’s no reason to stay, is there?”
“You’re the Empress’s friend and personal doctor, aren’t you?”
Linel’s voice grew stronger.
“Her Majesty the Empress and the unborn child are in perfect health. And the obstetrician on duty at the Empress’s palace will be better equipped to handle the birth than I.”
As I emerged from the bathroom, Sharon entered the bedroom holding a letter.
I had been reinstated as Empress immediately upon returning from the Pasha Empire.
Five months had already passed since I became the real Empress, not a proxy.
However, nothing much had changed from my previous life.
Linel and I still love each other, and we spend each night desperately craving each other's warmth.
These days, with the baby in my womb increasingly revealing its presence, it takes a lot of effort to make love to him.
"What's going on?"
"Moiya and Moni left a letter earlier."
It was Melanie's letter today.
"I guess they went to Tanya Island this time?"
I opened the envelope Melanie had sent.
I was startled as I read it.
"What's wrong, Your Majesty?"
Sharon asked curiously, observing my expression.
"They're moving to the Principality of Aklatto within the next week."
"Why?"
"I heard there was an earthquake last night while they were sleeping, and the floor of their bed split in half?"
It was news that Tanya Island had begun to sink sooner than expected.
Melanie's handwriting clearly conveyed the terror of last night.
She also worried that moving to the Principality of Aklatto would mean returning to a life of dress, which would be too suffocating.
I don't know why she always stamps her lips like a seal at the end of each letter, but I folded it, thankful that Melanie hadn't sunk to the bottom of the sea last night.
I went out to the terrace and looked at the West Palace, where the concubines had lived.
It was currently empty, except for Pecilini's quarters, who was about to give birth.
About ten days after being reinstated as Empress, Linel had deposed all three concubines from the Principality of Aklatto.
All three had returned to Aklatto, so I wondered if they would somehow reunite with Melanie, now the new ruler of Aklatto.
Then, they'll meet not as concubines, but as Queen and a deposed concubine.
The Principality of Aklatto was recently elevated to a kingdom.
Before that, Melanie had already married Hetor on Tanya Island, and now she was a proper Queen.
"Time flies."
When I returned to the Lapion Empire, I worried that the absence of concubines would be too great, but those worries were needless.
The wyverns filled the void left by the concubines.
Aside from Moiya and Moni, the wyverns, which inhabited the Valley of Death, flew freely around the Lapion Empire's palace.
The court ladies and ministers, initially timid and wary, gradually adapted after a month.
No one fainted or fainted when wyverns flew overhead.
The number of nobles visiting the palace specifically to see the wyverns had increased dramatically.
Under these circumstances, there was no room to feel empty inside.
The funny thing is, Rosie and Catherine got pregnant five months ago, so now all of the Lapion Empire's concubines, including me, have bulging bellies.
They all say their hands and feet are swollen, short of breath, and even numb legs, but I've never experienced any of those symptoms.
In fact, if I stay still, the baby in my womb kicks, forcing me to go for walks and keep moving.
"Oh, Sharon. Is today lunchtime with Pecilini?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Catherine, who married Count Ethan and left the palace, occasionally visits the palace, but Pecilini is the one I see most often these days.
We visit each other's palaces for dinner twice a week, and today was Pecilini's visit to the Empress's Palace.
I glanced at the West Palace in the distance and then lowered my head.
"Ouch. Why are you acting so tumultuously?"
The baby in my womb was unusually active today.
"Understood. Let's go for a short walk."
I said, placing both hands on my stomach.
“Sharon, Pecilini will be here soon. Wait and show her to me yourself. I need to take a short walk.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Don’t go too far. I think it would be better to just take a short walk in the garden and come back.”
Sharon said, confirming the time of my upcoming lunch appointment with Pecilini.
“Yes, I will.”
***
“You called, Your Majesty.”
Bellos found the office at Linel’s call.
“Have a seat.”
He nodded and offered a seat.
“I, too, have something to tell you, and was just about to request an audience.”
“Really? What brings you here?”
“Her Majesty the Empress has been restored to the throne, and the imperial family has found stability, so I think I should return to the Magic Tower.”
“Suddenly?”
“Not suddenly. It’s already been five months since I returned from the Pasha Empire.”
There wasn’t much to do back at the Magic Tower, but there was nothing to do here at the Lapion Palace either.
“Can’t you return after the Empress gives birth?”
“There’s no reason to stay, is there?”
“You’re the Empress’s friend and personal doctor, aren’t you?”
Linel’s voice grew stronger.
“Her Majesty the Empress and the unborn child are in perfect health. And the obstetrician on duty at the Empress’s palace will be better equipped to handle the birth than I.”
“Still, I would like you to stay at the palace at least until after the Empress gives birth.”
Bellos stared at Linel’s face in silence.
There were fewer than three months left until Zelda’s birth.
Bellos looked at Linel’s dark complexion and thought.
"Are you worried because the due date is approaching?"
But Zelda was in much better health and condition than the non-pregnant women.
"Your Majesty, is there anything you're worried about?"
Bellos asked cautiously.
Linel looked reluctant to speak, but slowly opened his mouth.
"By any chance, do you know why I keep having bad dreams?"
"...Yes? You mean nightmares?"
"Yes. They're the same ones every time."
Linel said that one word and fell silent. Suddenly, he feared that speaking would make them real.
But he couldn't ignore them.
Lately, the nightmares had become more frequent and vivid.
But when he tried to speak to Bellos, his words wouldn't come out easily.
He picked up the glass of water on the table and emptied it in one gulp.
Watching him wipe his lips with the back of his hand, Bellos spoke.
"What kind of nightmare is it?"
"It always begins with the sound of busy footsteps. I am standing outside the door, and I hear a woman's short scream and a baby's cry."
“And then... what about after that?”
“I open the door and go into the room. And in the next scene, a woman’s hand falls limply out of the bed. I always wake up to the sound of a baby’s cry.”
“Whose hand is that falling out of the bed?”
“I don’t know. I’ve had the same nightmare over ten times, but the woman’s face never appears.”
Bellos seemed to know what he was worried about.
Why does he want to keep him here?
“You have recurring dreams of a woman giving birth. Your Majesty, the Empress is in perfect health.”
Bellos forced a light smile and said.
“Yes. I know that very well.”
Despite his answer, Linel still sounded uneasy.
He didn’t recognize the woman’s face in the dream, but if his wife was pregnant, it was definitely a worrying dream.
“The location of the dream is always the same.”
Linel’s voice was laced with anxiety.
“Where is that?”
“The Empress’s bedroom.”
“...Ah.”
This time, Bellos’s expression was not good either.
“You will stay here until the Empress gives birth. Please.”
Bellos couldn't refuse his offer.
Not only the content of the dream, but the mention of the location, the Empress's Palace, lingered in his mind.
"I will, Your Majesty."
Bellos readily accepted his offer and stood.
Then, he remembered Zelda's words from yesterday's examination, mentioning that the baby's kicking had become particularly severe lately.
"Starting tomorrow, I'll have to come in for a checkup every day."
Pesilini smiled repeatedly in the carriage on the way to the Empress's Palace, stroking her belly with both hands.
"Baby, we'll meet soon."
Pesilini had a feeling the baby would arrive a little earlier than the due date.
Judging by the frequent pulling and increased weight, the birth was certain to be imminent.
Life at the Lapion Palace after returning from the Pasha Empire had been boringly peaceful.
Having returned from a long journey, returning to the Kingdom of Shattonil was out of the question.
She could have gone to the palace, but Zelda and Linel had strongly advised her against it.
After much persuasion from both of them, she decided to shamelessly give birth in the Lapion Empire.
After giving birth and recovering somewhat, she plans to head to the Kingdom of Shattonil.
She should live a simple and quiet life there.
Pesilini had nothing more to wish for as long as the baby was healthy.
Although her body was tired, her mind was at peace more than ever.
These days, Pesilini's only pleasure was meeting Zelda twice a week for meals together.
Zelda was quite full, but strangely, unlike her own slow pace, she always walked lightly through the palace.
Every time Pesilini saw Zelda, he thought, "She really was extraordinary."
The carriage carefully stopped in front of the Empress's Palace.
Arriving at the Empress's Palace, she found herself 30 minutes early for the agreed lunchtime.
"Madam, Her Majesty is out for a walk. She should be back soon, but shall we take you to the reception room with the comfortable sofa?"
Sharon, who had been waiting in the Empress's lobby, greeted Pesilini.
"No, I can just wait in the dining room. Thank you for your consideration, Sharon."
Pesilini said affectionately.
“Yes, then I’ll take you straight to the dining room.”
Sharon nodded lightly and led the way to the dining room.
“Ah.”
“Madam? What’s wrong?”
Sharon, who had been walking ahead, turned at the sound of Pecilini’s servant’s voice.
“Is something uncomfortable?”
“My stomach feels a bit tight since I’m in labor. It’ll get better soon.”
Pecilini said as if it was nothing, but cold sweat was forming on her forehead.
“Ah...!”
Pecilini lowered her gaze to the floor as she walked again.
“Madam, are you okay?”
Pecilini’s servant, next to her, wrapped her shoulder.
“I think my water broke...”
Pecilini said in a trembling voice.
“I’ll call the palace doctor right away!”
Sharon quickly ran to the lobby.
She grabbed a passing servant and told him to bring the palace doctor from the Empress’s Palace.
“Please go to the main palace and bring the Lord of the Tower! Hurry!”
Then she hurriedly ran to the guard standing at the entrance to the Empress’s Palace and shouted.
Just as Sharon turned back toward the dining room, Zelda called out to her at the lobby entrance.
“Saron?”
Zelda was returning from a nearby walk when she saw the Empress’s guards riding toward the main palace. She hurried back.
“Your Majesty!”
“What’s wrong?”
“It seems that Madame Pecilini’s water has broken.”
“What? Where is she?”
“She’s in the hallway leading to the dining room.”
Before Sharon could finish her sentence, Zelda was already heading toward the dining room.
“Your Majesty, be careful!”
Sharon practically ran after Zelda, trying to dissuade her, but it was no use.
Zelda was nearing labor herself, so she needed to be careful.
But when she saw Pecilini, collapsed on the floor in front of the dining room door, her pace quickened.
“Pecilini! Your water has broken?!”
At Zelda’s voice, Pecilini, who had been groaning on her servant’s shoulder, looked up.
“Your Majesty... I’m sorry... I need to get to the carriage... I need to go back to my quarters. The baby is about to come out. Hmm!”
“What are you talking about! Where are you going in this condition? Give birth here.”
“Huh?! That can’t be! How can I... The labor pains have just begun, so I’ll just go back to my quarters.”
Pecilini tried to stand up, leaning on her servant, but her body wouldn’t move properly, as if her legs were crushed by a large rock.
Her breathing was even more ragged than before.
“Don’t talk, you're losing energy. Lord Bolton, I need to move Pecilini.”
Zelda scolded Pecilini, then turned to her knight.
“Yes, Your Majesty. Where should I take you?”
The knight asked, carefully lifting Pecilini.
Zelda gave the order without a moment’s hesitation.
“To my bedroom. Hurry.”
Her words startled both the knight and Pecilini.
"How dare I, in Your Majesty the Empress's bedroom... This is unbelievable!"
A concubine giving birth in the Empress's palace?
In the Empress's bedroom, at that?
Moreover, the baby in her womb wasn't even of the Emperor's blood.
For Pecilini, Zelda's command was a greater shock than the merciless onset of labor.
Her vision was gradually blurring, but Zelda's face remained clear.
The Empress was genuinely concerned about her.
Zelda once again ordered her knights to carry Pecilini to the bedroom, then gave instructions to Sharon.
“Sharon, as soon as the doctor arrives, have the servants prepare the necessary things for the birth so that we can assist with the delivery.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
Sharon ran past the knights carrying Pecilini and ran up to the bedroom first.
Fortunately, experienced servants had been stationed at the Empress’s palace since last month to assist with Zelda’s delivery, and everything necessary for the birth was already prepared.
Pecilini and Sharon went up to the bedroom first, then Zelda headed for the central staircase.
As she was about to climb the stairs, she felt a pain in her stomach.
“Yes. You’re surprised too? It’s okay. It’ll be okay.”
Zelda paused, stroking her belly and trying to comfort the baby inside.
But the squeezing pain persisted.
“This is strange. This has never happened before... Ah!”
Zelda reached out and grabbed the handrail, bending down.
“Your Majesty! The Lord of the Tower has rushed to the Empress’s Palace!”
Raphael burst into the office door without knocking.
“What?”
Linel dropped the quill he was signing on the desk.
“It looks like a guard from the Empress’s Palace has brought him here.”
“For what reason?”
Ominousness washed over him.
“I don’t know the details. I’ve left his horse waiting outside.”
“Damn it!”
Linel cursed and stormed out of the office.
If he had found Bellos in the Empress’s Palace so quickly, something must have happened to Zelda.
He couldn’t remember how he got down the stairs. He couldn’t remember getting on his horse or how fast he’d ridden his horse to the Empress’s Palace. When he came to, he was on the Empress’s bedroom floor.
His breath hitched.
He exhaled raggedly as he walked down the hallway to the bedroom.
The hallway, usually filled with only Linel’s footsteps, now heard the busy footsteps of several servants.
He saw servants going in and out of the Empress's bedroom door.
"Ahhhh-!!"
At that moment, a short scream leaked out through the bedroom door.
And then came the sound of a baby crying...
Linel stopped in front of the bedroom door with a strange sense of deja vu.
"Your Majesty, the Empress!"
Sharon's voice called out to Zelda from inside the bedroom.
"Wake up!"
And even Bellos's urgent voice.
The nightmare that had been tormenting him was unfolding in reality as well.
His heart sank.
Linel threw open the bedroom door and ran in.
Bellos stared at Linel’s face in silence.
There were fewer than three months left until Zelda’s birth.
Bellos looked at Linel’s dark complexion and thought.
"Are you worried because the due date is approaching?"
But Zelda was in much better health and condition than the non-pregnant women.
"Your Majesty, is there anything you're worried about?"
Bellos asked cautiously.
Linel looked reluctant to speak, but slowly opened his mouth.
"By any chance, do you know why I keep having bad dreams?"
"...Yes? You mean nightmares?"
"Yes. They're the same ones every time."
Linel said that one word and fell silent. Suddenly, he feared that speaking would make them real.
But he couldn't ignore them.
Lately, the nightmares had become more frequent and vivid.
But when he tried to speak to Bellos, his words wouldn't come out easily.
He picked up the glass of water on the table and emptied it in one gulp.
Watching him wipe his lips with the back of his hand, Bellos spoke.
"What kind of nightmare is it?"
"It always begins with the sound of busy footsteps. I am standing outside the door, and I hear a woman's short scream and a baby's cry."
“And then... what about after that?”
“I open the door and go into the room. And in the next scene, a woman’s hand falls limply out of the bed. I always wake up to the sound of a baby’s cry.”
“Whose hand is that falling out of the bed?”
“I don’t know. I’ve had the same nightmare over ten times, but the woman’s face never appears.”
Bellos seemed to know what he was worried about.
Why does he want to keep him here?
“You have recurring dreams of a woman giving birth. Your Majesty, the Empress is in perfect health.”
Bellos forced a light smile and said.
“Yes. I know that very well.”
Despite his answer, Linel still sounded uneasy.
He didn’t recognize the woman’s face in the dream, but if his wife was pregnant, it was definitely a worrying dream.
“The location of the dream is always the same.”
Linel’s voice was laced with anxiety.
“Where is that?”
“The Empress’s bedroom.”
“...Ah.”
This time, Bellos’s expression was not good either.
“You will stay here until the Empress gives birth. Please.”
Bellos couldn't refuse his offer.
Not only the content of the dream, but the mention of the location, the Empress's Palace, lingered in his mind.
"I will, Your Majesty."
Bellos readily accepted his offer and stood.
Then, he remembered Zelda's words from yesterday's examination, mentioning that the baby's kicking had become particularly severe lately.
"Starting tomorrow, I'll have to come in for a checkup every day."
***
Pesilini smiled repeatedly in the carriage on the way to the Empress's Palace, stroking her belly with both hands.
"Baby, we'll meet soon."
Pesilini had a feeling the baby would arrive a little earlier than the due date.
Judging by the frequent pulling and increased weight, the birth was certain to be imminent.
Life at the Lapion Palace after returning from the Pasha Empire had been boringly peaceful.
Having returned from a long journey, returning to the Kingdom of Shattonil was out of the question.
She could have gone to the palace, but Zelda and Linel had strongly advised her against it.
After much persuasion from both of them, she decided to shamelessly give birth in the Lapion Empire.
After giving birth and recovering somewhat, she plans to head to the Kingdom of Shattonil.
She should live a simple and quiet life there.
Pesilini had nothing more to wish for as long as the baby was healthy.
Although her body was tired, her mind was at peace more than ever.
These days, Pesilini's only pleasure was meeting Zelda twice a week for meals together.
Zelda was quite full, but strangely, unlike her own slow pace, she always walked lightly through the palace.
Every time Pesilini saw Zelda, he thought, "She really was extraordinary."
The carriage carefully stopped in front of the Empress's Palace.
Arriving at the Empress's Palace, she found herself 30 minutes early for the agreed lunchtime.
"Madam, Her Majesty is out for a walk. She should be back soon, but shall we take you to the reception room with the comfortable sofa?"
Sharon, who had been waiting in the Empress's lobby, greeted Pesilini.
"No, I can just wait in the dining room. Thank you for your consideration, Sharon."
Pesilini said affectionately.
“Yes, then I’ll take you straight to the dining room.”
Sharon nodded lightly and led the way to the dining room.
“Ah.”
“Madam? What’s wrong?”
Sharon, who had been walking ahead, turned at the sound of Pecilini’s servant’s voice.
“Is something uncomfortable?”
“My stomach feels a bit tight since I’m in labor. It’ll get better soon.”
Pecilini said as if it was nothing, but cold sweat was forming on her forehead.
“Ah...!”
Pecilini lowered her gaze to the floor as she walked again.
“Madam, are you okay?”
Pecilini’s servant, next to her, wrapped her shoulder.
“I think my water broke...”
Pecilini said in a trembling voice.
“I’ll call the palace doctor right away!”
Sharon quickly ran to the lobby.
She grabbed a passing servant and told him to bring the palace doctor from the Empress’s Palace.
“Please go to the main palace and bring the Lord of the Tower! Hurry!”
Then she hurriedly ran to the guard standing at the entrance to the Empress’s Palace and shouted.
Just as Sharon turned back toward the dining room, Zelda called out to her at the lobby entrance.
“Saron?”
Zelda was returning from a nearby walk when she saw the Empress’s guards riding toward the main palace. She hurried back.
“Your Majesty!”
“What’s wrong?”
“It seems that Madame Pecilini’s water has broken.”
“What? Where is she?”
“She’s in the hallway leading to the dining room.”
Before Sharon could finish her sentence, Zelda was already heading toward the dining room.
“Your Majesty, be careful!”
Sharon practically ran after Zelda, trying to dissuade her, but it was no use.
Zelda was nearing labor herself, so she needed to be careful.
But when she saw Pecilini, collapsed on the floor in front of the dining room door, her pace quickened.
“Pecilini! Your water has broken?!”
At Zelda’s voice, Pecilini, who had been groaning on her servant’s shoulder, looked up.
“Your Majesty... I’m sorry... I need to get to the carriage... I need to go back to my quarters. The baby is about to come out. Hmm!”
“What are you talking about! Where are you going in this condition? Give birth here.”
“Huh?! That can’t be! How can I... The labor pains have just begun, so I’ll just go back to my quarters.”
Pecilini tried to stand up, leaning on her servant, but her body wouldn’t move properly, as if her legs were crushed by a large rock.
Her breathing was even more ragged than before.
“Don’t talk, you're losing energy. Lord Bolton, I need to move Pecilini.”
Zelda scolded Pecilini, then turned to her knight.
“Yes, Your Majesty. Where should I take you?”
The knight asked, carefully lifting Pecilini.
Zelda gave the order without a moment’s hesitation.
“To my bedroom. Hurry.”
Her words startled both the knight and Pecilini.
"How dare I, in Your Majesty the Empress's bedroom... This is unbelievable!"
A concubine giving birth in the Empress's palace?
In the Empress's bedroom, at that?
Moreover, the baby in her womb wasn't even of the Emperor's blood.
For Pecilini, Zelda's command was a greater shock than the merciless onset of labor.
Her vision was gradually blurring, but Zelda's face remained clear.
The Empress was genuinely concerned about her.
Zelda once again ordered her knights to carry Pecilini to the bedroom, then gave instructions to Sharon.
“Sharon, as soon as the doctor arrives, have the servants prepare the necessary things for the birth so that we can assist with the delivery.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
Sharon ran past the knights carrying Pecilini and ran up to the bedroom first.
Fortunately, experienced servants had been stationed at the Empress’s palace since last month to assist with Zelda’s delivery, and everything necessary for the birth was already prepared.
Pecilini and Sharon went up to the bedroom first, then Zelda headed for the central staircase.
As she was about to climb the stairs, she felt a pain in her stomach.
“Yes. You’re surprised too? It’s okay. It’ll be okay.”
Zelda paused, stroking her belly and trying to comfort the baby inside.
But the squeezing pain persisted.
“This is strange. This has never happened before... Ah!”
Zelda reached out and grabbed the handrail, bending down.
***
“Your Majesty! The Lord of the Tower has rushed to the Empress’s Palace!”
Raphael burst into the office door without knocking.
“What?”
Linel dropped the quill he was signing on the desk.
“It looks like a guard from the Empress’s Palace has brought him here.”
“For what reason?”
Ominousness washed over him.
“I don’t know the details. I’ve left his horse waiting outside.”
“Damn it!”
Linel cursed and stormed out of the office.
If he had found Bellos in the Empress’s Palace so quickly, something must have happened to Zelda.
He couldn’t remember how he got down the stairs. He couldn’t remember getting on his horse or how fast he’d ridden his horse to the Empress’s Palace. When he came to, he was on the Empress’s bedroom floor.
His breath hitched.
He exhaled raggedly as he walked down the hallway to the bedroom.
The hallway, usually filled with only Linel’s footsteps, now heard the busy footsteps of several servants.
He saw servants going in and out of the Empress's bedroom door.
"Ahhhh-!!"
At that moment, a short scream leaked out through the bedroom door.
And then came the sound of a baby crying...
Linel stopped in front of the bedroom door with a strange sense of deja vu.
"Your Majesty, the Empress!"
Sharon's voice called out to Zelda from inside the bedroom.
"Wake up!"
And even Bellos's urgent voice.
The nightmare that had been tormenting him was unfolding in reality as well.
His heart sank.
Linel threw open the bedroom door and ran in.
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