Angelique's POV
Now that my day is nearing, I am confined to my bed chamber. I am no longer allowed to leave my room or even take a peek at my pearls. My family worries that something might happen to my pregnancy. I held onto my belly as I watched from my balcony. My balcony has a very nice view of the capital and the courtyard below. I can happily watch them from here.
It's been hours since they left for the hunt, and all I can think of right now is what my mother told me. From what I can see, it will take at least four more years to complete. Hopefully, by that time, I have at least two children. Two is enough. Having four children with Damien would be troublesome. Once I have sufficient children to keep the peace, my mother's plan of assassinating him can take place.
"What troubles you, Princess?" asked Maidservant Rose as she entered my chambers. She had a tray with snacks and tea in hand. She gestured for me to sit by the table and I did as I was told. "Your belly is so plump and full like a watermelon! Are you excited to meet your children?"
I smiled, taking a sip of my tea. "To be honest with you, I'm more scared of giving birth than excited," Angelique confessed, "I am scared, Maidservant Rose. If there is something I have feared my whole life, it would be pregnancy."
Maidservant Rose gave me an assuring smile as she patted my shoulder. "I can empathize with you, Princess Angelique. I know that it must be incredibly difficult for you since you're having twins."
"Twins?" I gasped in horror and shock. "Maidservant Rose, do you jest? No one has ever informed me that I am having twins. Not a single doctor!" I cannot believe this. Having twins is double the pain!
She scratched the back of her head, smiling sheepishly at me. "Do not worry, Princess," she says, trying to calm me down. "I was just assuming that you're having twins since your belly is bigger than anything I have seen in my life. Perhaps the baby is just incredibly fat; let's put it at that."
I don't know which is worse; having a set of twins or a gigantic baby! What the bloody hell am I going to do? That would be incredibly painful either way.
"Please calm yourself down, Princess," Maidservant Rose held my hands. "There's nothing to worry about, my dear. You will have Damien by your side by the time you give birth, alright? Please refrain from stressing yourself."
Out of the blue, my doors swung open with a breathless Alicent and a guard. The guard bowed in respect while Alicent came running to us.
"What is it?" I asked worriedly.
"Princess, we do not wish to alarm you, but we detected some intruders beyond the Capital," she announced, "We just wanted to inform you. But do not worry for we will take them down should they come here. We have plenty of soldiers thanks to your organization, the pearls."
"Goodness!" Maidservant Rose gasped, "Have we informed those who are at the Hunt?"
"Since it is still a suspicion, there is no need to inform the people of the hunt," explained the guard, "To ensure your safety, please stay here. We cannot risk."
"If you cannot risk, then I advice you to send a telegram to his highness, Prince Damien!" Maidservant Rose argued angrily and worriedly.
I understand Maidservant Rose's distress, but this is just the way of my people. With a kind nod, I dismissed the guard. I then faced the distressed duo who were seated in front of me. "Please calm down, Maidservant Rose," I say, "This isn't big at all. My guards will keep us safe. Should anything happen, I know my way around the palace."
"This doesn't scare you at all?" she asked, still horrified.
I shook my head in response. "I am the White Knight of this realm, Maidservant Rose. I used to face death in the face," I said, "I am the greatest warrior this realm has ever produced. Don't be afraid. I will protect you."
"You're pregnant, Angelique," she argued, "How could you possibly defend us while carrying a child in your womb?"
"This is White, Maidservant Rose. Women here are more than just wives who are used to creating children," I said rather coldly. "Women here can go to war pregnant. Do not underestimate me."
Alicent finally spoke up, asking, "What do you command us pearls to do?"
I was proud of her. She is a brave girl indeed. "I need you to gather all the pearls and make sure that everyone is in the throne room. Once that is done, I will summon the chief guard to relay further instruction."
"At one, Your Majesty," she bowed like a true warrior, leaving my chambers.
I then turned to Maidservant Rose to give further instructions. "I need you to gather all the household staff and other children that reside here. Take them to the throne room as well. I shall meet you there shortly."
"Very well," Maidservant Rose nodded, "Please stay safe while we gather everyone in the throne room." With that said, she left.
I then got dressed, putting on the royal armor that was created to fit my pregnant belly. I simply tied my long locks of hair in a side braid and picked up my sword that had long been idle. I have always known that this hunt would be an advantage to our enemies. I also knew someone would pull off a stunt like this. It was the perfect opportunity for them to strike me down and fracture the crown. But they've mistaken for underestimating me. I may be young, but I am smarter than that coward who dares attack a pregnant wife.
This palace is big and there are plenty of places to hide in. Unfortunately, given that there are plenty of them, it would be hard to hide here. Fortunately, the palace has secret passageways and I know my way around them. I know every secret in this fortress and where the passageways lead to. All the passageways lead to a staircase to the center beneath the palace. In that center, there is another single passageway leading further beneath the palace, and a final passageway that leads to another fortress called Diamond. There we can seek refuge.
As I finished readying myself, I went to the throne room. I sat on the throne as I waited for everyone to arrive. The chief guard was also there.
"Is everyone here?" I asked.
"Yes, your majesty," Maidwservant Rose, the chief guard, and Alicent replied.
"Then I shall begin," I said, "All of you must be wondering what you're doing here. Well, the chief of guards has informed me that they detected a threat. Since our army isn't here, we only have ourselves to rely on. This is how I want to proceed with this, so I need you all to listen carefully. The official guards of the palace will be paired up with a pearl and will work together to guard every entrance. All those who are skilled in archery will take the higher ground. Our priority is to ensure that those who are unable to fight and the children are evacuated safely."
The place was filled with gasps and whispers.
"Silence!" the chief of guards commanded. "The Princess is not finished speaking!"
I nodded her a "Thank you" and proceeded to speak. "We're all to be divided into equal groups. Each group will have a leader who will have a map of the secret passageways in the palace. Should the threat come to invade, those guarding all entrances will stall for us to evacuate. Once we are inside the passageways, I want the rest of you to follow and make sure you are not followed. We will all meet at the center beneath the palace and from there we will altogether go to Diamond Fortress."
After I had made my announcement, I went to the war room where the chief of guards was waiting for me. Together we discussed the plan as though it was all normal. I made it clear that the priority was the children and elders. Once I had made myself clear and the plan was all set, everyone proceeded with the rest of their day. I also made sure to send a telegram to the hunt as soon as we were sure that the threat coming to us was to invade.
I am what the threat wants. They want me and the baby inside of me dead. It had me thinking about whether or not I should stay behind to stall for them. I suppose I shall find out tonight. For certain, they will strike when the hour is late and all is "asleep."
I held onto my belly, feeling the kick of my child. I should be putting this baby first, but I also have a duty to my people. Together we fight for our people. This baby will be a warrior before it's even born.
I felt Alicent's hand placing itself on mine as though she was assuring me that everything was going to be alright. She put on a brave face for me, but I see the fear in her eyes.
"You're going to be just fine, Alicent," I said, holding her hand firmly. "I just want you to make sure that you stay exactly by Maidservant Rose's side, alright? Never let go of her hand when everything starts."
"They will attack, won't they?" she asked.
I nodded in response, not bothering to hide anything from her. "They wouldn't waste an opportunity like this to strike me down and fracture the crown," I explained, "I estimate them to attack when the hour is late. Do not worry for I already wrote a detailed letter to my family. It shall be sent to them by hawk should the battle begin. They will be here just in time to save us."
"What do we do after we reach Diamond Fortress?" she asked, "Would your family be here by that time?"
"Unfortunately not," I replied, "Diamond Fortress will give us refuge for the time being. By that time, I would've sent word to other allies to come to our rescue. Until then, we must stay in the fortress."
"But won't they find us?" she asked worriedly. "And how will you survive? You are pregnant."
"I am," I replied, "And I was a warrior before I became pregnant. Trust me; I got this covered. If you haven't figured it out, there's another secret passageway in Diamond Fortress. Should all else fail and they find us, we must go through that passage once again. This time, the passage leads to the dark forest. No one goes there at night in fear of the terrors of the night."
"You seem so confident in yourself, Princess," she says, "I wish I could be as fearless as you."
I smiled, ruffling her hair. "There are plenty of things I fear," I confessed, "But I don't let it get the best of me. As a leader, we must be brave for our people's sake. I say this to you because I believe you'll be a leader one day."
"I see," she nods, smiling warmly. "Thank you for the assurance, Princess. I feel much at ease now."
"Good," I said, "Now run along and follow your mother. She needs you now more than ever for she isn't used to our customs here."
"Yes, Your Royal Highness," she curtsied before returning to Maidservant Rose.
I then sat back as I watched them all carry on. Tonight will be harder than any battle I have ever partaken in. Unlike then when my objective was to finish them off, my goal right now is to get everyone here out alive. I thought hard as I held my belly. I am much slower than I used to be... And though I hate to admit it, I do fear for my child's life tonight. Will we make it out tonight, or, will we die? One death is better than watching the fall of my people...