Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
Alice
The day we returned to Hilphia, Cedric called a meeting. Every elder, every noble—they all came.
I stood in the Queen's place, scanning the crowd below. Heads bowed. Unease rippled through them. A few stole glances at me when they thought I wasn't looking.
"While I was away, certain rats got bold." Cedric's voice echoed through the hall—cold, hard, absolute. "Bold enough to conspire with witches. Bold enough to plot treason."
He read off a list of names. Each one made the crowd gasp. Victoria's family was on it. My adoptive parents.
The whole room held its breath, terrified they'd be next.
"Effective immediately, these families are stripped of all titles and lands. Anyone who participated in the conspiracy will be executed. The rest—exiled from Hilphia. Forever."
"Your Majesty!" The nobles dropped to their knees, sobbing. "I'm sorry! Please, have mercy! We were fooled—the witches deceived us!"
"Fooled?" Cedric's laugh was ice. His Alpha pressure slammed down on them. "You conspired with witches to kill the Queen. You wanted to sacrifice her for power. And now you claim you were just foolish?"
He rose. Every word dripped with killing intent. "Get them out. Now. I don't want to hear another word."
Their faces went ashen. Guards clamped hands over their mouths and dragged them away.
"One more thing." Cedric's tone softened.
He looked at Melvina, kneeling nearby. "The Black Witches have been falsely accused by the White Witches for years.
They've carried blame they never deserved.
From today, Hilphia officially welcomes them.
We'll set aside land in the North for them to settle. "
Melvina and her people knelt, eyes glistening. "Thank you for your mercy, Your Majesty."
"Stand." Warmth crept into his voice. "You helped me rescue the Queen. You've earned this."
After the meeting, I went to him. He immediately took my hand, fingers interlacing. The ruthless king from moments ago now had eyes only for me.
"You handled that well," I said, relief washing through me.
"Yeah." He kissed my forehead. "Finally cleared out that mess. Now..."
His gaze dropped to my still-flat belly, eyes full of anticipation. "I'm going to take care of you both."
Fifth month. My appetite went haywire.
"I want something sour." I lay in bed, exhausted. The morning sickness was killing me.
"Right away." He jumped up like he was heading into battle.
Thirty minutes later, he came back with pickled fruit, setting it before me, watching anxiously. "Alice, try it."
I took a bite and immediately grimaced. The nausea hit hard. "No. Too sour."
"I'll have them remake it." He reached for the plate.
"No more sour." I pushed it away. "I want something sweet."
Cedric blinked, then nodded. "I'll get it."
Soon, he returned with pastries, sweat on his forehead, tension in his eyes.
I picked one up, sniffed it, and shook my head. Tears came. That inexplicable frustration choked my voice. "Too sweet. I want sour again."
I looked at him through my tears. "Am I being weird? Am I too much trouble?"
He pulled me into his arms immediately, voice gentle, patient. "How could you be trouble? I'll have the kitchen make more, okay? Don't cry."
"Forget it." I suddenly didn't want anything. I pushed him away and flopped onto the bed. "I'm tired. I want to sleep."
"Then sleep." He tucked the blanket around me gently. "I'll stay with you."
"No!" Irritation flared from nowhere. "Get out! I want to sleep alone! I can't sleep with you here!"
Cedric's hand froze mid-air. He looked like he'd been punched.
"Okay." He swallowed hard, each word careful. "I'll be...right outside. Call if you need me."
He walked out quietly and closed the door.
When I woke, it was dark. Emptiness gnawed at my chest—like someone had hollowed me out. I couldn't sit still. I needed him. His presence. His arms.
I threw open the door to find Cedric still there, sitting in a chair with sour fruit and sweets beside him, ready at a moment's notice.
"Why didn't you come back in?" Guilt pricked at me, but the moment I saw him, that emptiness vanished.
"You told me to get out." His voice was cautious, like a dog who'd been locked outside. "I didn't want to wake you. Didn't want you mad."
My nose stung. Tears came instantly. Damn pregnancy hormones.
"I'm sorry. I was awful earlier."
"It's fine." He jumped up and wrapped me in his arms. "The healer said pregnant women get emotional. It's normal. You can lose your temper all you want. I'll listen."
"But I keep torturing you..."
"That's not torture." He kissed my forehead over and over. "That's happiness. You know what? I never dared imagine this—taking care of you like this, having our child...This is the happiest I've ever been."
Damn it. That made me cry harder.
Sixth month. My belly was obvious now.
"I look awful." I stared at my reflection, dejected. Round belly, puffy face, even my ankles were swollen.
"What are you talking about?" Cedric wrapped his arms around me from behind, chin on my shoulder. "You're more beautiful than ever, baby."
"Don't lie." I rolled my eyes, feeling miserable. "My waist is thick, my face is round, my breasts are huge, my ass is—mmph!"
His hands started wandering.
"Your waist is soft," he murmured in my ear, voice dangerously sexy. "Your face is adorable. Your breasts...yeah, I really like those. And here..." His hand slid to my rear. "This is incredible."
"Cedric!" My face burned. "Stop it!"
"I'm not stopping." He turned me to face him, cupping my face. "Alice, do you know how happy it makes me to see you carrying our child? That's our baby. The product of our love. You're pregnant with my child, suffering for me—how could I possibly think you're anything but beautiful?"
His hand rested on my belly. "No matter what you look like, you'll always be the most beautiful woman in the world to me. You're my Queen, my mate, the mother of my child...You're everything."
My eyes filled again.
"When did you get so good at this?"
"Because I want you to know," he said seriously, golden eyes full of devotion, "how much I love you. If you like hearing it, I'll say it every day. Every moment."
"Did something happen today?"
"No!" Panic flashed across his face. Even his ears turned red. "Nothing happened!"
"Then why all the sweet talk?"
"Because...because I wanted to," he mumbled. "Is that not okay?"
I couldn't help but laugh. I stood on my toes and kissed him.
"It's okay. Definitely."
It was late one night in my eighth month of pregnancy when a sudden, excruciating pain tore through me.
"Cedric!" I grabbed his hand. Cold sweat soaked through my nightgown. "It hurts...it hurts so bad..."
He woke instantly, bolting upright, face white as snow.
"Is it time?" His voice shook.
"I...I don't know...ah—" Another wave of pain ripped through me, splitting me in two.
"Doctor!" He roared, voice full of panic. "Get the doctor! Get every damn doctor here now!"
His hand gripped mine, trembling.
"Don't be scared, don't be scared," he said frantically—not sure if he was reassuring me or himself. "The doctor's coming. Everything will be fine. I'll stay with you."
The fearless warrior king was falling apart.
The physicians and midwives rushed in.
"Your Majesty, the Queen is in labor," the physician said after examining me. "We need to move her to the birthing room immediately."
"Yes, yes!" Cedric scooped me up and bolted from the room.
"Cedric," I said through gritted teeth, "calm down."
"I am calm!" he yelled, his expression saying otherwise. "I'm completely fucking calm!"
He carried me to the birthing room, laid me down carefully, then stood there uselessly, wringing his hands.
"Your Majesty, you need to leave," the physician said.
"No!" Cedric and I said simultaneously.
I grabbed his hand. "Don't you dare leave!"
"I'm not leaving!" he said immediately. "I'm staying for the birth!"
The physician couldn't defy him. "Very well. But don't interfere."
Contractions came faster, each one tearing through me.
"Ahh—" I screamed.
Cedric went paler. Sweat poured down his face.
"Can't you do something? Pain killer! Anything!" His voice cracked. His hand shook in mine.
"Your Majesty, childbirth requires—"
"You're telling me she has to suffer like this?" He roared. "Find a way!"
"Cedric..." I said weakly.
He looked at me instantly. "I'm here, I'm right here..."
"Stop freaking out. I'm the one giving birth, not you!" I said through clenched teeth. "Don't distract the doctor!"
"I...I'm just worried..." Tears streamed down his face, dripping onto my hand. "Watching you in pain and not being able to do anything—damn it, why can't I be the one giving birth?"
I laughed despite everything.
"Push!" the physician shouted. "One more time!"
I gathered every ounce of strength and screamed—
"Wahhh—"
A clear, sharp cry. My heart trembled. My baby. He was finally here.
"It's a boy!" the physician announced joyfully. "Congratulations, Your Majesties!"
Cedric stared at the tiny, wrinkled baby in the physician's arms. Tears fell.
"Alice, that's our baby." His voice broke.
"Yes." I smiled weakly, completely drained. "That's our baby."
The physician cleaned him, wrapped him in a blanket, and carefully handed him to Cedric.
He reached out stiffly, like he was handling glass. "Will I...hurt him..."
"You won't," the physician smiled. "Just hold him steady."
Cedric took the baby carefully, hands trembling.
So small. Eyes closed. Little fists clenched. Tiny face flushed pink.
"He's...he's so small..." Cedric's voice shook. Tears streamed down. "So small, so soft..."
He looked down at the baby. Tears dripped onto the blanket.
"Baby, I'm your father." His voice choked. "From now on, I'll protect you, love you, give you everything..."
The baby seemed to hear. His little hand moved, grabbing Cedric's finger.
"He...he grabbed me." Cedric looked up, eyes shining with joy. "Alice, look! He's holding my finger!"
"I see." I smiled, tears in my eyes. This was the child I'd waited two lifetimes for. I'd give him everything. He'd grow up in a happy family.
Cedric carefully brought the baby to me. "Alice, touch him."
I reached out and gently touched his tiny hand.
Soft. Warm. Full of new life.
"Let's give him a name," I said.
"Ethan. Let's call him Ethan." Cedric said without hesitation. "I hope he has the courage and strength to face anything life throws at him."
"Ethan..." I repeated. In our language, it meant strength. I loved it. I smiled at them both. "Perfect."
Cedric looked at the baby tenderly and kissed his forehead. "Hello, Ethan. Welcome to the world."