In the Eastern Wing of the Palace – Dorothy’s Quarters
Dorothy woke up that morning feeling the first wave of pain in her stomach. Since her pregnancy becomes unstable she had spent most of her day in her courtyard. She did not dare go about to flaunt her status. She finally understood what the nanny meant the baby is her value within the royal family.
"Lady Dorothy, take a deep breath, the midwives have been notified," the nanny by her side help support Dorothy to the chamber she would give birth.
Her labor was prolong, the either palace was a bit tensed.
It was late in the evening when the first cry finally pierced the silence. Dorothy, after a long and difficult labor, gave birth to a son.
The chamber filled with the sounds of rushed footsteps, whispered prayers, and quiet relief. The midwives bowed their heads as the physician carefully swaddled the child and presented him to King Edward.
"A healthy boy, Your Majesty." The Physician said with a smile. Everyone within the royal palace knew how much the king loves Dorothy, so it was a joyous occasion.
King Edward cradled the newborn with a rare softness in his eyes. The tiny bundle in his arms—the future of the kingdom—was healthy, crying, and unmistakably his. After the long months of court tension, scandals, and rumors, the child felt like a gift from the heavens.
The rebel from the south had also been dealt with, although there were still a few murmuring voices but the king felt confident.
"Prepare for a royal celebration," he said to Walter without lifting his gaze from the child. "Let the bells ring across the capital. My heir has been born."
Walter bowed low, masking his surprise. "Yes, Your Majesty."
He knew the king did not like to be questioned.
By midday, the news spread like wildfire. The king had fathered a son, and a grand celebration would be held in three days. Orders were sent to every noble house and merchant guild. Streets were to be decorated. The cathedral bells were rung. Town criers announced the birth with gilded scrolls.
In the palace, the mood changed sharply. Laughter echoed again in the courtyards. Courtiers who had grown cautious now returned to flatter the king and curry favor with Dorothy.
Dorothy, propped up on soft pillows, felt the wave of victory washing over her. Servants flooded in with congratulatory gifts, and even the nobles who looked down on her sent gifts and their blessings.
The nanny whispered in her ear, "My lady... perhaps this is the beginning," she did not dare voice out her other thoughts.
Dorothy smiled, though her lips trembled. This—this was what she had waited for. The seer had told her that she was the chosen queen. Now that her son has been named heir at birth, it would indeed only be a matter of time before she became queen.
Anastasia had been busy building her influence and loyal servants in the pass few months. So she was notified the minute Dorothy went into labour.
Although she tried not to show it, Anastasia knew that if Dorothy gave birth to a son like the physician predicted, her position would be shaken.
Taking a deep breath she waited until she got the news sent back by Gavin that Dorothy had given birth to a son.
"Miss Magdalene, prepare a gift," Anastasia instructed.
"Your majesty, what shall I send?" Miss Magdalene asked. She understood the current situation of the palace abd was careful not to make a mistake.
Anastasia was deep in thought, when there was a knock.
The Chamberlain had come to official announce the birth of the first prince
"By his majesty’s decree, there would be a royal feast to celebrate the king’s heir..."
, Queen Anastasia merely nodded, she did not hear everything that was read but she took note of the fact that the king wanted to name the child the crown prince.
"pick a cradle of carved ebony and silver," she said once she was alone with her servants.
Miss Magdalene hesitated. "Your Majesty... they say his majesty will name the boy Crown Prince."
Anastasia smile, "This is the king’s decision. After all, he is the first son," although her gaze did not betray her Anastasia felt her heart turned cold. Time and time again the king took a decision without concerns for her.
Miss Magdalene lowered her gaze. "And yours, Your Majesty? What of your position? When has a mistress child be crown prince?" Miss Magdalene felt that the king was not acting according to rules. She also felt that the queen should not accept this.
Anastasia turned to the window, watching as fireworks were lit in the distance in premature celebration.
"Do as I say," Anastasia instructioned.
Miss Magdalene took a deep breath and left.
"Is everything ready?" Anastasia asked as soon as Miss Magdalene was gone
"Yes, your majesty," Grater standing by the side answers.
"But your majesty, is there no other way?" Grater did not plan.
"Would you rather I lose my life?" Anastasia asked
Grater swallowed the words of presudion at the tip of her tongue.
"I will notify everyone," Grater bowed before stepping out. Tʜe source of this ᴄontent ɪs NoveI-Fire.ɴet
Two days passed in a flash, the palace was busy planning for the royal celebration. The king was in a good mood and so even all the servants had smiles.
"The queen has been in the chapel for two days since the birth of the first prince," one maid whisper.
"I heard, I guess she is praying to heaven to bless her with a child," the second maid replied.
"You must be joking? I heard the king has not been to her chamber for months how can she get pregnant?" The first maid rolled her eyes. She was not looking down on the Queen but it was a open secret that the king did not favor her for long.
"Lower your voice, she is still the queen," the second maid said. They all knew that the one truly in charge of the palace affair was the queen. They were just maids and if the queen wanted to deal with them it would be as simple as just raising her hand.
The first maid look around "no one is here? But I really wonder, it was rumored that she was blessed by the heaven but why is everything so different?" The first maid said.
The second maid paused, indeed it was strange. After all, Dorothy was just a person from an unknown origin but the king still treated her like treasure. Although they were just servants, who did not know that the queen had contributed greatly to the king’s reign. She was the one who guilded the seal of authority to the king in the north. She acted as a bait to win the war against Gube.
Even after the king favoured Dorothy she still help him win the heart of many people. In the pass few months she has been hosting feast and feeding many orphans.
Many people since the praise of the queen’s kind heart but the king did not favor her.
"Maybe she is unfortunate to meet Dorothy, I heard she is the destiny queen," the first maid said. She had heard this rumor the previous day.
The second maid felt it was a pity but did not say anything else
Many people talked about the queen’s strange decisions to stay in the royal palace for two days. Some secretly mocked her, others felt pity for her but what most people cared about was the royal celebration and the king’s first son.
"I keep feeling that sometimes would go wrong," Mary said to her trusted lady as she help her get ready for the royal celebration.
"Your grace, what do you mean?" Miss Margaret asked. The king has been handling the kingdom affairs well. She did not think anything would go wrong.
"The queen, she is too calm about the incident," Mary said. She was once a queen. If Anastasia had agreed to adopt the child under her name like she had suggested she would understand but now...
"Your grace, the queen always cares about the bigger picture. She herself..." Mentioning this Miss Margaret also kept quiet. This was indeed strange, the queen’s situation was because of Dorothy. Even if she did not deliberately poison her, she still has fault. Moreover, the queen already made it clear a few months ago that she did not believe Dorothy’s innocent.
Seeing her reaction, Mary also signed, "the king is wrong in this matter. The queen is still young. Even if this son is his first, he was not born by his wife. He should not be named the crown prince so early. It would not be too late to name him later, if the queen could still not give birth," Mary said. She had no idea what her son was thinking making such rash decisions.
"Your grace, perhaps you are thinking too much," Miss Margaret said thinking of the queen’s kind heart