The Cursed Tyrant and His Reluctant Queen - Chapter 170

I guess it’s time, even though it’s early.

A shout escapes my throat as I watch the maids run to me but stop a few metres afar. They observe the thick magic barrier surrounding Adelphium and me, and they start panicking.

Is it the Priest causing it? Of course not. It’s this little thing inside me. He’s using my body as a catalyst to launch spells. I can feel it, but I can’t stop anything. It’s too painful, and I can’t keep focus long enough to interrupt the stream of power.

«Towels… And water… And… I don’t know,» Adelphium says, running in circles to talk with the maids. Then, he comes back to me and helps me lie down.

«It’s time, your Majesty. The heir to the throne is being born!»

«That’s what you were expecting, you cheater!» I spit out. «You knew it would happen! That’s why you didn’t want to leave me alone!»

«Exactly. I wanted to be of help.»

«Why?»

«Because no one can come close, except for me apparently.»

«Hmm,» I whine, noticing how the maids have everything ready yet can’t walk closer. Why is Adelphium allowed?

Why is this biased little thing so ready to send jolts to Ignis but doesn’t care as much to hurt the High Priest?

If he ever calls Adelphium daddy by mistake, it will cause a civil war.

«You just wait to get out of here, and you’ll hear me,» I say to my stomach.

It’s getting worse and worse, as much as to make me yell in pain so often.

«Call the King,» I say, and Tobin stops a maid and instructs her in my stead. Even if he can’t come to me, he won’t leave his post until it’s over. He will keep watch, his eyes widely open till the end.

«I’ve never done this!» Adelphium says, in a principle of panic.

He’s even more nervous than me, good gracious.

«Just follow your instinct, and everything will be all right,» I reply.

«Really?»

«I don’t know! I’m the one who needs reassurance here! Please, just… Make it quick,» I sob.

He offers his hand to me, and I grab it with all my strength. Ignis was supposed to be here, but he won’t be able to cross this barrier even if he comes. Maybe, it’s better if he stays far away… Let’s hope that he doesn’t come, even if I have just sent someone to call for him.

«It won’t last long,» Adelphium says.

«How do you know?»

«The First Prophet told me I was needed here. And he also added that I would be back before evening with good news.»

«Before evening,» I sigh, lifting my eyes to observe the sun high in the sky.

This will last forever.

No more heirs to the throne. To either throne. This one shall do for both.

«Veronica,» I hear and, for a moment, every pain disappears.

«Ignis?» I murmur, turning my head. He’s on the verge of the barrier, careful not to lose an arm. He can see me, but he can’t walk forward.

«Veronica,» he repeats, his eyes wide. He falls on his knees and reaches out to me. When his finger starts burning, he can’t do anything but retreat.

«Your Majesty,» Tobin says, offering his hand to help him up. «Her Majesty will be fine. It’s a matter of a few hours.»

Hours? How do women survive this?

«No,» I moan, turning my head to the other side and sobbing in peace.

I don’t want to feel like this for hours. Nor to keep the barrier up for so long. I won’t be able to move from bed after this… This child is draining me of my energies, both human and magical.

It hurts, and my lower body seems to care about one only thing: expelling this baby from me.

«I don’t know how to do healing magic,» Adelphium complains. «What could I be doing here at all?»

I don’t know either. He’s just holding my hands and sweating in fear next to me. But I’m glad I’m not alone.

«Water,» I say. This kid will need to be cleaned once it’s born. And, also, to be covered with clothes.

Oh, I’ll finally see whether he’ll be like Ignis!

A faint smile on my face seems to hearten Adelphium.

«I will be right back,» he says. «Just a moment.»

He runs to the edge of the barrier, and the energy just lets him pass. I knew it. This child either is very smart or very biased.

When he starts walking back to me, familiar and soothing energy reaches me. Aida is here.

I can feel her, a few steps from me. Yet, with the High Priest nearby, she can’t risk coming closer. One thing is that my child has powers. Another is my handmaid. It would be not just suspicious if both this kid, I, and my handmaid are Mages.

I can find a way out if it’s only me, but not if there seems to be a bigger group. The Church wouldn’t let go of the matter, and they would investigate until discovering my mother. In that case, even Ignis wouldn’t be able to protect me.

«Stay there,» I whisper, conscious that she’ll hear. Just like always, she will understand me.

Her help is making the pain fade away a little, and she’s good enough to keep me relaxed even when Adelphium comes back with the towels.

His fingers are trembling, his face blank. He wouldn’t notice if I were to blow fire in front of him. He’s so nervous and afraid that it’s cute.

«I think you should take a look,» I say. «Because someone ought to help this child come to life.»

«I don’t know…»

«Just follow the instructions. Someone will tell you how to proceed.»

We’re not that far from the others, just a few steps. And the barrier stopped making any sound. Now it’s just glowing a little, but the crackling and buzzing from before is completely gone.

«Please, Adelphium. Help me,» I say, trying to call him back to the hearth. «You have to do all the things the maids tell you. It will be fine. It’s not the first baby born in unusual conditions, is it?»

He nods, clenching my hands back.

«I will do my best!»

Saying, however, is different from doing. It takes him long enough to move the skirt just enough to take a look and make sure everything is all right.

Oh, he won’t even know if something goes wrong.

For the first time in my life, I wish to pray. But I’m not fit to ask the Gods for anything. I haven’t prayed ever before, and I’ve never offered anything in a Temple. I ran away from their presence because of what the Church did to my people and, as a result, I don’t know which language to use to talk to them.

I see Adelphium whispering words while opening the towels and placing them under me. They’ll avoid the mud being in the way once the baby is born, and it’s also nice to have my butt on something clean.

«I was told it will be good news,» he reminds me. Or, maybe, he says it out loud for himself to hear it better. «It will be all right.»

«Of course,» I say. Even with Aida’s magic, the pain returns to hit me. It’s the worst I’ve ever felt. Not even breaking a bone is close to this.

Why was I waiting for this moment with so much haste? If only I knew it earlier… Oh, Ignis…

«You’re not having any more heirs!» I exclaim, turning to him.

He seems so happy to hear my voice, content that I remembered him.

«You will do with one. No more kids! You heard me!»

«No, no,» he agrees. «One is enough.»

He’s clenching his fists, appearing so calm yet boiling inside. He would like to run here even if it means being burnt by the barrier. But, luckily, Tobin is careful to stop him in time.

«We can adopt another one day,» he adds. «That should do the trick.»

Oh, jeez. Why can’t I be angry with him even in this situation?

Tears flow from my eyes while the weight inside me shifts down.

«I can… I can see the head!» Adelphium exclaims. «Now? Now?»

«Now, you shall check whether the umbilical cord is wrapped around the baby’s neck,» Aida explains, calm and cold.

«What is that?» Adelphium replies, sweating as I’ve never seen him before.

«If you see it, you will know. If not, don’t worry,» Aida says, sighing helplessly. «Then, once the baby is born, you have to cut it. Done that, the new Crown Prince will be among us.»

She then turns to me, wondering whether it really is the case to let my son’s life be in a Priest’s hands.

«Just let it be,» I shape with my lips. It’s too late now.

I push with my muscles when the last painful wave hits me. I push with all I’ve got and, finally, feel the weight slip away.

I lie back on the grass, tired and a little too relieved that this is finally over. A loud cry is the sign of my child’s first breath.

I can’t help but start laughing. Oh, finally done. Now, I can rest.

It wasn’t supposed to happen now, but things don’t always go as planned.

«My son,» I say while raising my arms up.

Adelphium kneels on the ground next to me, ready to make me finally see this little meatball that made me sweat so much.. The other servants finally approach, and my maids hurry to help me sit up.