Published at 29th of October 2020 06:32:54 PM
Chapter 7
Chapter 07: That day
Although by custom, the timing of the pregnancy and the birth of the Queen's child was kept secret from the public, the approaching day was the calm before the storm in the palace .
There was no one in the service of the royal court who was unaware of Berta Kasha's pregnancy .
The Second Queen hardly was seen in public since her belly became conspicuous, but her absence was conspicuous in its own .
"One expects a prince or princess of direct lineage to be born at last . "
Those who detest the bloodline of the frontier folk, thinks it's ruining the royal family purity .
Reactions within the same factions are divided, only the moon was full that night .
"Will His Majesty not come out of the rear palace?"
The first thing that the people in the royal palace noticed was something unusual in the behavior of King Harold .
Their king is a hard-working, excellent and beloved monarch .
No matter how much of a notoriety he may have gained in some parts of the world for 'his color preference', he never neglected his work .
As soon as they realized that this was unusual, someone said .
"I believe Princess Kasha is in childbirth . . . "
"No way . Isn't it too early for that?"
"Is His Majesty accompanying her? To the birth?"
"Look at the state of the palace! Can't you see the maids of the Second Queen running from here to there?"
It's no wonder that the public was buzzing, as Harold never gave clear sign about his posture about the Queen Kasha and her baby .
It is mainly because the King, himself, could not take a stance that would encourage factionalism .
In the increasingly fractious royal palace, anything he does will have consequences, thus he preferred to make the nobility at ease, making them think that he doesn't see this child as a possible heir, at least until the baby is born .
'For the king, who is the head of the royal bloodline at this moment, a half-Petranian child doesn't count as one . '
'He comes from that 'Second Queen' only of name, he's like a bastard . '
The King let those rumors flow freely, it would be safer that way, and when the child were finally born, he would be enthroned into the family register .
For those who firmly believed that, Harold's current behavior, of waiting at the Second Queen quarters' door nervous, is just unheard of .
"The Prince! A prince is born! He is a boy!"
After a day and a night, the first news was sent from the rear palace to the royal palace .
The baby was born in good health, and the royal family announced the birth of the prince formally to the public, just a day after the birth, which was unusually quick .
The ringing of the congratulatory bells rang through the streets of the royal capital for several days .
This was a long-awaited celebration for the king, who never saw one of his children breath . Any child of his first queen or of the lovers she offered to him .
The reason for the interest of the people and the rest of the world was increasing for each announcement .
"Don't tell me . . . They're celebrating like it's the birth of an heir!!"
Pressured by the unprecedented celebratory mood, the conservative aristocrats were greatly delayed in their initial response .
A clean, purified, dust-free room .
Berta gave birth in an environment where a doctor, not the royal one, but her personal doctor since her childhood, who was sent by the Kasha's clan .
Her family didn't spare resources, they did the unimaginable to ensure Berta and her child safety .
On several occasions when she was in her family's home, she had been present at the births of her younger siblings .
Thus, she was prepared to suffer like hell, but she had never imagined that it would be as hard as this .
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The attitude of the doctors, full of grief and determination, as if they were sending a wounded Berta to the battlefield .
Berta almost laughed, she was feeling so out of place, but she did her best to endure it .
If she laughed there, Queen Kasha would be rumored to be out of her mind .
Besides, it really wasn't a laughing matter .
That's what it means that the life of the king's own child is at stake .
Losing the war won't destroy the country, but without an heir, it could easily be destroyed by the inner forces interests .
It is inevitable that the doctors have such a sense of urgency that if an unborn child dies again, the current royal family will be finished .
"Congratulations, Your Highness . "
"It's great to see such an easy birth for a firstborn . "
Easy? Do you know how much I've suffered?!
Berta was too tired to say something, until a wild cry sounded in the room, then maidservants held her child wrapped in cloth, and Berta, supported by other maidservants she received him on her arms .
Immediately, the memories of the harsh previous day and night were blown away .
The child in her arms was wrinkled and his skin, a reddish-black color covered in dry blood, didn't seem very human .
A funny shaped half-open mouth and eyelids that looked like drawn by a single line . . .
However, for his mother .
" . . . cute . "
(I could hear his cries, an overly energetic baby, but . . . But I, I didn't really feel that he made it through the birth until I held him in my arms . )
She could see the palace doctor and the old ladies in tears of emotion .
Only Berta's maidservants were all smiling proudly .
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"He's such a sweet cute baby"
"Of course he's cute . "
"He is your child . "
Berta was looking at her son happily, mother and child first time spending a peaceful time in that place full of discord .
There were some buzzing sounds from outside her quarters' door .
"His Majesty is outside your room . May I let he in?"
Berta cringes when the maid asks her .
"His Majesty? How long have he been here? What, in the birthing room?!!"
Normally, men, no matter how much of a father they are, do not enter the birthplace, nor came close to it .
Berta looked at the faces of the castle's maids trying to discover if this was a custom of the Royal Palace, but they looked at her with the same expression of wonder .
What was the King Harold intending to do?
Besides, he came too early for having heard the news .
"His Majesty has been in this palace ever since the childbirth started . . . after he came to visit the Second Queen yesterday . "
Did he come yesterday?
I only remember to have informed my maids that it was time, later the contractions . . . I think I hear someone's voice near me, but I couldn't know who it was because of the pain, also in the middle of the doctors rushing to here and there, it's impossible to recognize a voice separated of others
Also why? A man without medical knowledge is useless on this battlefield, even if he's His Majesty .
"Well . . . "
"Yes, it's fine . "
Even if we make him wait longer, we can't avoid him from entering .
With that in mind, Berta agreed to see Harold in his post-natal getup with the Prince still in her arms .
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He walked into the room very quietly and looked around fearfully .
It didn't take long for his gaze to stop at one point .
His large blue eyes stared into Bertha's arms .
A baby that didn't even open his eyes yet .
What color would this child's eyes be? Will he inherit the same traits as his father?
"Would you like to carry him?"
Berta asked that with care, but Harold was instantly alarmed .
"No . . . I'm afraid I don't know how . . . it can be dangerous . "
At Harold's words, which he said in the utmost seriousness, the castle's maid, who helped in the childbirth, let out a frankly smile .
"Your Majesty, how about stroking his head then?"
"Gently, gently . Don't put too much pressure on it . "
Harold, who was so nervous that he didn't seem to have time to notice it while being teased by the old maids, gently reached out a finger and touched the baby's cheek as if he were poking it with cotton .
"Queen Kasha . . . "
"Yes, sir . "
Berta had seen that same look before . It was exactly the same look Berta's mother had given her brother when she gave birth to him .
"Thank you"
She felt like that words came from the deep deep of his soul, one of his suffering ceased .