I'm Pregnant…
Everyone in the Great Hall was left in complete shock.
The king's decree echoed repeatedly in their minds.
No more male children.
Where had such a decree come from?
The king's wives looked at one another in disbelief. None of them could understand what Arthur meant. Did he mean there would be no more sons born into the royal family?
What about the sons he already had?
King Arthur was the father of four princes and three princesses.
Was he planning to banish his sons…
Or worse…
Have them killed?
Queen Bianca suddenly fell to her knees.
Tears welled in her eyes as she stared at the king in complete disbelief. Her lips trembled, but no words came out.
One of the tribal lords abruptly rose to his feet.
"My King!" he exclaimed. "What do you mean by such a decree? Do you understand the weight of the words you have just spoken?"
The man belonged to the Tribe of Suhria, Queen Bianca's homeland.
He looked both furious and terrified.
"My King," he continued, "without male heirs, who will inherit the throne? Who will command your armies? Who will continue your legacy after you are gone? Such a decree places the future of this kingdom in danger."
He lowered his head respectfully.
"I humbly beg Your Majesty… please revoke this decision."
"I AM THE KING!"
King Arthur's furious roar shook the entire Great Hall.
The sound echoed like thunder.
Outside the palace, lightning flashed across the darkening sky.
Many of the queens gasped in fear.
Some covered their mouths.
Others quietly wept.
"What I declare is law!" Arthur continued, his voice filled with rage. "No one has the authority to question my decisions."
"I am Arthur…"
"King of Austro."
"And I shall not be disobeyed."
Another clap of thunder echoed through the palace as if the heavens themselves had answered his anger.
The atmosphere inside the hall became unbearably tense.
Members of the royal family began whispering among themselves.
The women tried calming their husbands and sons before anyone else challenged the king.
"Silence!"
Arthur's command instantly quieted the hall.
"My King…"
A woman slowly stood from the section reserved for the Twelve Seers.
Unlike the nobles and royal family, the Seers sat separately from everyone else. They were women gifted in prophecy and ancient sorcery, feared and respected throughout the Seven Kingdoms.
It was from this sacred tribe that Arthur's late mother had come.
The woman stepped forward and bowed deeply.
"My King," she said calmly, "I ask only for your permission to speak."
"Please…"
"Allow your anger to rest for a moment."
Arthur remained silent.
After several long seconds, he slowly sat back upon his throne.
His eyes drifted toward his queens.
Most of them were crying.
Others held their children tightly.
Some could barely contain their fear.
The sight briefly softened his expression.
Only then did the elders slowly return to their seats.
Some wore expressions of worry.
Others looked confused.
A few were visibly angry.
Elizabeth remained seated quietly beside the king.
Suddenly…
She felt a sharp pain in her lower abdomen.
She instinctively pressed a hand against her stomach.
Her breathing became uneven.
She looked around.
Several of the queens were doing the exact same thing.
Some clutched their stomachs protectively.
Others cried silently as though mourning something precious.
Without realizing it, tears rolled down Elizabeth's cheeks.
She gently rested both hands over her stomach.
An overwhelming sadness filled her heart.
The hall gradually fell silent once more, allowing the Seer to speak.
Meanwhile, Queen Bianca was gently escorted out of the Great Hall by her personal maid and two palace guards after becoming too overwhelmed to remain inside.
The Seer inhaled deeply before raising her head.
"My King…"
"Before I say anything else, I wish to ask one question."
Her fiery eyes met Arthur's.
"Why were we not informed of this decree beforehand?"
She paused briefly.
"Lately, Your Majesty has refused to visit the Seers' Sanctuary."
"We have waited for you."
"But you never came."
Her gaze sharpened.
"If you sought answers concerning your dreams…"
"…then tell us."
"Who did you consult?"
She narrowed her eyes.
"Or…"
"Is there another seer unknown to us?"
The Great Hall became silent once again.
Everyone waited for Arthur's answer.
Instead…
His face darkened.
"I shall not be questioned."
His voice was low.
Dangerously low.
"Not by any man."
"Nor by any woman."
"I am the King."
"I am your god."
"I am immortal."
"To question me…"
"…is to question your own life."
His words sent chills throughout the hall.
Not even the elders dared to respond.
Without another word, King Arthur rose from his throne.
His royal guards immediately followed.
His personal guard fell in step behind him.
Together, they left the Great Hall, leaving behind a gathering filled with fear, confusion, and unanswered questions.
Elizabeth stood immediately.
"My King!"
She hurried after him.
Her heavy royal gown made it difficult to run.
By the time she reached the palace corridor…
Arthur was already gone.
She could no longer see him or his guards.
Elizabeth stopped.
She leaned against one of the marble pillars, breathing heavily.
Tears slowly rolled down her face.
How could he make such a decree?
How could he condemn innocent children before they were even born?
"Elizabeth!"
A familiar voice called from behind her.
She turned.
Her mother was rushing toward her with worry written all over her face.
"Mother…"
The moment Elizabeth saw her, the tears she had been holding back finally broke free.
She ran into her mother's arms.
Mrs. Williams immediately embraced her tightly.
Elizabeth buried her face against her mother's shoulder.
Her entire body trembled.
Finally, in a broken voice, she whispered…
"Mother…"
"I'm pregnant."
Mrs. Williams looked at her daughter in complete shock.
For a brief moment, she couldn't find the words to speak.
Then, without hesitation, she pulled Elizabeth into a tight embrace.
"Shhh…" she whispered gently, stroking Elizabeth's hair. "Calm down, my dear. I'm here now."
"Everything will be alright."
"You should be happy."
"Why are you crying?"
Elizabeth shook her head repeatedly, tears streaming down her face.
"No, Mother… you don't understand."
Her voice trembled as she spoke.
"I only found out yesterday."
"I was so frightened."
"I didn't know what to do."
"I've never been a mother before. I wasn't ready… I didn't even know how to tell anyone."
Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks.
"I was terrified."
Mrs. Williams gently wiped away her daughter's tears but remained silent, allowing Elizabeth to continue.
"But then…"
Elizabeth placed both hands over her stomach.
"I started accepting it."
A faint smile appeared on her tear-stained face before disappearing just as quickly.
"I became happy."
"I thought…"
"I thought I could do it."
"I thought I could become a mother."
Her voice suddenly broke.
"But then the king made that decree."
She looked helplessly into her mother's eyes.
"What am I supposed to do now?"
"What if my baby is a boy?"
Her breathing became uneven.
"My child is in danger."
"Why now?"
"Why did this have to happen now?"
Elizabeth broke down completely.
"No…"
She cried.
"I can't lose this child."
"Mother…"
"Please…"
"I can't."
Mrs. Williams immediately wrapped both arms around her daughter once again, gently patting her back as she tried to calm her trembling body.
"My sweet child…"
"It's alright."
"We'll find a way."
Elizabeth buried her face against her mother's shoulder.
"Mother…"
"It was as though I could feel it."
She slowly closed her eyes.
"The pain…"
"The pain of losing a child."
She tightened her grip around her mother.
"When the king made that decree…"
"…my heart hurt."
"I looked at the other queens."
"Some were crying."
"Some were holding their stomachs…"
"They looked so frightened."
"I felt their pain."
Elizabeth began sobbing again.
"I don't think I can survive something like that."
"I won't…"
Just then, hurried footsteps echoed through the corridor.
"My Queen!"
Kira finally appeared after searching frantically throughout the palace.
The moment she spotted Elizabeth crying in another woman's arms, she hurried toward them.
"My Queen," she said softly, trying to remain composed.
"You shouldn't stay here."
"If anyone sees you crying in the hallway, it will cause unnecessary rumors."
Mrs. Williams looked toward Kira.
"Please."
"Take us to her chamber."
"Yes, Madam."
Before anyone could move, another figure approached from the opposite direction.
Cristal.
He immediately bowed.
"My Queen."
Seeing Elizabeth struggling to stand, he carefully moved beside her, offering his arm for support.
Mrs. Williams looked at him curiously.
"And who might you be?"
Cristal bowed respectfully.
"I am Queen Elizabeth's personal guard, Madam."
"The Great Hall is being evacuated."
"It would be safer if we returned Her Majesty to her chambers immediately."
Mrs. Williams nodded.
"Very well."
Supported by Cristal on one side and Kira on the other, Elizabeth slowly made her way back to her chamber.
Once inside, Kira helped Elizabeth change into more comfortable clothing before quietly leaving the room to prepare warm tea.
Cristal remained outside the chamber doors, standing guard.
Not long afterward, Mr. Williams was informed that his wife was with the queen, allowing the couple some privacy.
For several hours, Mrs. Williams stayed beside her daughter.
Elizabeth told her everything.
From the strange events at the Magic Pool…
To Bianca's cruel attempt to frighten her with the snake…
To Natasha's mysterious appearance the previous night.
She hid nothing.
Mrs. Williams listened carefully to every word.
The more she listened…
The more troubled she became.
She had expected palace life to be difficult.
But never…
Like this.
Many strange things happened inside the royal palace.
Politics.
Jealousy.
Power struggles.
But this…
This was something entirely different.
When evening finally approached, Mrs. Williams gently kissed Elizabeth's forehead before taking her leave.
"Rest for now," she said softly.
"We'll think of a solution together."
Elizabeth nodded weakly as she watched her mother leave.
The room suddenly felt empty again.
A little while later, Kira returned to check on the queen.
She found Elizabeth sitting quietly beside the large window overlooking the palace gates.
Beyond them stretched the road leading toward the villages and the distant mountains. Elizabeth stared silently into the distance.
Lost in thought.
"My Queen…"
Kira called gently.
"Is there anything you need?"
There was no reply. Elizabeth continued staring outside. The silence lingered.
Thinking the queen wished to be alone, Kira quietly turned toward the door.
She had barely taken a few steps when Elizabeth finally spoke.
"Take me to the Seer."
Kira froze.
She slowly turned around.
"My Queen…?"
Elizabeth finally looked away from the window.
There was fear in her eyes. But there was also determination. "If there's anyone who can tell me the truth…"
"…it's the Seer."
She slowly placed a hand over her stomach.
"I have to protect my child. No matter what it takes."
Kira lowered her head.
She knew that once Queen Elizabeth had made up her mind…
There was no changing it.
"Very well, Your Majesty. I'll make the arrangements."
Elizabeth turned back toward the window, gently rubbing her stomach. No matter what dangers awaited her… She had already made her decision.