Chapter 4

“My lady, the people outside are going too far.”

At dawn, my maid comes in carrying a wash basin, her eyes rimmed red.

I wipe my face.

“What are they saying out there?”

She presses her lips together and finally forces the words out.

“They say you rushed to have a baby in the Queen’s place.”

“They say you’re from a nobody family and have never known favor.”

“They say last night you knelt and begged His Majesty to stay.”

She gets angrier the more she speaks, and turns to storm out.

“Let me go argue with them!”

“Come back,” I put down my handkerchief. “Don’t go.”

The maid stamps her foot.

“My lady, they’re practically calling you a—”

She doesn’t dare finish.

I finish it for her.

“A shameless bed-climber chasing the King’s favor?”

“Let them talk. I’m not upset, so why are you?”

Half-awake last night, that little baby voice kept fussing by my ear.

【Sweet mommy, don’t worry. Lucky Baby is coming right up.】

【Eat more, sleep more, and don’t wear yourself out.】

【The bigger that idiot talks now, the harder she’ll fall later.】

Since Elara wants to pin me to this target, I might as well let her pin me there harder.

By afternoon, the rumors have spread through the whole palace.

Even the young servant bringing in charcoal keeps sneaking looks at me.

I keep my head down and embroider my handkerchief, acting like I don’t see.

By evening, the Queen Mother’s attendant arrives with tonics, her face grim.

“My lady, you’ve been wronged.”

I quickly stand and bow. “You’re too kind.”

She glances at me, then lowers her voice.

“The Queen has been sending the story outside the palace.”

“When the court officials’ families came in to pay respects, they were still gossiping in the side hall.”

“They say the Queen cares about the whole kingdom and refuses to be trapped by pregnancy.”

“They say you…” she pauses, “…only care about rising because of a baby.”

I touch my stomach. “They aren’t wrong.”

“If I’m truly blessed enough, of course I want to carry His Majesty’s heir.”

The older woman freezes for a moment. The way she looks at me changes.

Within half an hour of her leaving, two boxes of rare pregnancy tonics are sent from the Queen Mother’s hall.

Elara can’t stand it anymore.

She has the abortion potion carried straight to Kaelen’s private hall.

When the Queen Mother summons me, Kaelen is already seated at the head of the long table, his face dark.

Elara stands in the middle of the room, a young servant beside her holding a black bowl.

She lifts a hand and lightly taps the rim.

“Your Majesty, I don’t want to wait anymore.”

Kaelen rubs the space between his brows. “What are you trying to do now?”

Elara smiles, calm as ever.

“In three days, the court officials’ families will come to the palace banquet.”

“If you haven’t agreed to my conditions by then, I will drink this bowl in front of all of them.”

The Queen Mother clutches her chest. Her attendant rushes to hold her up.

Kaelen’s eyes go dark.

“Elara. Do you really think I won’t remove you?”

Elara strokes her belly. “Of course you can.”

“But can you bear it?”

She takes a step forward.

“This is the only child you’ve had after all these heirless years.”

She turns her head to look at me and gives a scornful little smile.

“Don’t tell me you’re counting on Lydia to get pregnant overnight and save you.”

I lower my head and quietly stare at the tips of my shoes.

Elara grows even more smug. “State affairs. The next Dragon King.”

“Miss even one, and I won’t give birth.”

The whole room goes tense.

The Queen Mother falls sick that same night. Kaelen smashes three desk ornaments.

Only I am woken in the dead of night by that little voice.

【Sweet mommy, eat more.】

【In one month, I promise you, that stupid woman is going to embarrass herself in front of the whole court!】