"Has the priestess confirmed the gender of the baby?" The king asked, a dark look casted on his face.
Knowing the kind of response her husband anticipated, Queen Aria hesitated before replying, "The priestess said the gods haven't revealed the gender of the baby."
King Romanus heaved a deep sigh, revealing how frustrated he already was. "Just pray the baby in your womb is a boy. If you give me another female child, I will kill the child then banish you and your daughters from this kingdom," he warned coldly.
"But my king, the gender—"
King Romanus cut her off, an angry look cast on his face. "Enough with that bluffing of yours! You said the same thing thrice! Isn't it high time that god of yours you believe so much gives you a male child?" Without waiting for Queen Aria, who was already trembling, to talk, he continued. "If you can't give me a male child, then it is of no use being my queen. You don't deserve that title."
Queen Aria felt a pang of pain linger inside her. She didn't expect her husband to be so cold to her.
She remembered when they got married ten years ago, he promised to love and cherish her and their children regardless of their gender.
"Your majesty, I know you desperately need—"
"I do not need a girl child. What I want is a male child! I want an heir to my throne!" He growled, interrupting her.
He did not bother to listen to what Queen Aria had to say since his mind was already made up. He just turned and took his leave.
His mistress is also carrying his child. If his wife, the queen, can't give him the heir to his throne, he will be left with no choice but to turn his back on her regardless of his love for her.
SEVEN MONTHS LATER
Deeply lost in her thoughts, the sharp pain she felt in her stomach made a yelp tear out of her lips.
She bit her lip, holding back the urge to burst into tears. The pain was unbearable, her body was trembling, and her heavy tummy was making it worse for her to move.
She examined herself to confirm if it was time for childbirth.
Confirming it was already time, she called out for her personal maid who was already dozing off.
"Your highness, are you sure you can endure the pain until we get out of the castle?" Her maid asked worriedly.
Even though she knew it would only require sheer luck for her to get out of the castle without losing all her strength, which might make her lose her life and her baby's, she couldn't afford to watch her baby get killed in front of her.
She prayed constantly, fasted for almost five months, but the gods didn't answer her prayer. They gave her a daughter again.
"I don't care about making it out of the castle alive. I just don't want the king to find out this baby is a girl," Queen Aria cried. "My three daughters' lives depend on this decision."
Without hesitating, Adeline arranged the needed items into a sack bag before sneaking out of the queen's room, alongside Queen Aria, who was feeling unbearable pain with her body temperature rising.
It was stressful, but they made it out of the castle.
"Are you sure no one will find out about this place?" She asked calmly.
"Your highness, there is no one using this path. Everyone believes this path is haunted by ghosts," Adeline revealed.
Queen Aria's eyes widened, her hands covering her tummy in a protective manner. "Is that true?" She asked anxiously, her skin slicked with sweat beads.
"I have used this path many times, but I didn't get haunted. Maybe the ghosts don't haunt people during the daytime," Adeline lied in order to calm her down.
This is the only place they could execute their plan without getting caught.
"Argh..." Queen Aria groaned, unable to hold back the pain, which sent an electric wave across her body, making her tremble.
This isn't her first childbirth, but she felt hopeless. She felt like she was going to die during childbirth—or maybe that is what she wants.
Her position as the queen of the Heart Kingdom is already being questioned. She can't let her girls live in shame and pain all because she can't bring herself to sacrifice just a child to save them.
"My queen, I think the head of the baby is coming. Try to push. Push harder," Adeline snapped her out of her thoughts.
She groaned loudly, the sound escaping her mouth even though she tied her mouth to avoid attracting attention. She kept pushing until she felt the baby finally coming out, slowly.
Adeline assisted with the childbirth, finally bringing the child to the earth's surface.
"Adeline, let me have the baby. I will kill her, throw her into the river, and also kill myself. That way, no one will know I gave birth to a baby girl," she muttered weakly, tears streaming down her cheeks after confirming the gender of the baby.
It was as the priestess confirmed.