(Lady Elira’s Room)
Elira sat quietly on the chair, her thoughts still tangled in the events that had happened earlier in the palace hallway.
Slowly, she lifted her hand. Her palm was red and swollen, the skin slightly raised where it had struck Countess Mariya’s cheek.
Her fingers curled into a tight fist.
"I'm such a fool…" she whispered bitterly. "Why did I let my anger control me like that…?"
The memory flashed again— Eyan standing in front of everyone. His proud head lowered. Apologizing.
Tears filled her eyes again.
"Because of my mistake… Eyan had to bow his head…" she murmured, her voice shaking. "He must be so disappointed in me…"
Her shoulders trembled slightly. "I always end up creating trouble for him…"
Silence settled in the room.
Then—
Elira quickly wiped her tears and stood up. She walked to the door and opened it. Alex stood outside. Her expression softened immediately.
"Leo, where did you go this morning?" she asked gently. "I was looking everywhere for you."
Alex stepped inside and quietly closed the door behind him.
"I apologize, mother," he said calmly. "I needed to buy something."
Elira tilted her head. "What did you buy?"
Alex reached into his coat and pulled out a small glass bottle filled with clear liquid. "I bought this."
Elira looked at it curiously. "What is it?"
Alex placed the bottle in her hand. "Mother… please drink it."
Elira frowned slightly. "Drink it? But what is it, Leo?"
Alex gave her a calm smile. "It’s good for your health."
Elira trusted him completely. Without asking another question, she opened the bottle and drank the entire liquid in one go.
Alex watched her closely.
His gaze dropped to her stomach.
Elira lowered the empty bottle and smacked her lips lightly. "Leo… that was actually very tasty."
Alex smiled faintly. "I'm glad."
He observed her face carefully. Then he asked,
"Mother… do you feel anything in your belly?"
Elira gently rubbed her stomach. "No… I don't feel anything. Why?"
Leo’s brows creased slightly.
Elira looked at him curiously. "Leo, was I supposed to feel something strange?"
Alex quickly shook his head. "No, mother. I was just asking."
"Oh."
Alex straightened slightly. "Mother, let's go outside. A walk in the garden might make you feel better."
Elira nodded. "Alright."
She walked toward the door and opened it.
But the moment she stepped forward— Her body suddenly froze.
A sharp, stabbing pain exploded inside her abdomen.
"A—ah!"
Her hand instantly flew to her stomach. The pain twisted violently inside her belly, like something clawing and tightening deep within her womb.
Her breath hitched. "Ah—!"
Her knees buckled. She collapsed to the floor, clutching her stomach desperately.
"Mother!"
Alex rushed forward and caught her shoulders.
Elira’s face turned pale instantly. Her breathing became uneven as another wave of pain tore through her stomach. It felt as if her insides were being squeezed and torn apart at the same time.
"L-Leo…!" she gasped, gripping her belly tightly. "It— it hurts…!"
Her fingers dug into the fabric of her dress as the pain intensified. Her body curled forward instinctively, trying to protect her stomach.
A violent spasm surged through her abdomen.
"Ahh—!"
A strangled cry escaped her lips. Sweat immediately formed on her forehead.
Alex knelt beside her, supporting her back. "Mother… please endure it for a little while."
His voice sounded concerned.
But his eyes remained steady.
Another painful contraction ripped through Elira’s belly. Her body trembled. Her fingers pressed desperately against her stomach as if trying to stop the pain.
"L-Leo… it hurts so much…!"
Alex gently held her shoulders, helping her stay upright. "Just a little longer, mother. Please endure it."
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If this works, Mother’s life will no longer be in danger.
Just then—
A maid walking down the hallway glanced toward the open door. Her eyes widened in horror when she saw Elira collapsed on the floor, clutching her stomach in agony.
"My lady!"
She rushed toward them in panic.
"My lady, what happened?!"
Elira could barely answer, her breathing shaky as another sharp pain shot through her abdomen.
"I'll bring the royal physician immediately!"
The maid turned and ran down the hallway as fast as she could.
Meanwhile—
Alex remained beside his mother, supporting her trembling body. His small hand rested gently on her back.
__________________________________
(Royal Palace — Hallway)
The maid ran through the long marble corridor as fast as her legs could carry her.
Her breath came out in ragged gasps, her heart pounding wildly in her chest.
“My lady…!”
She kept running, her skirt gathered in her hands so she wouldn’t trip.
“I need to get the physician…!”
Suddenly—
Thud!
She crashed straight into someone. The force of the impact made her stumble back in shock.
“Ah—! Forgive me—!”
The maid instantly dropped to her knees without even looking up.
“I’m terribly sorry—!”
A deep voice spoke above her. “Where are you running in such a hurry?”
The maid froze. She slowly lifted her head—
—and her face drained of color.
Standing before her was Eyan, dressed in his imperial attire. Hans stood quietly behind him.
“Y–Your Majesty!” the maid stammered, bowing deeply until her forehead nearly touched the floor.
Eyan frowned slightly at her panicked state.
“You haven’t answered my question,” he said calmly. “Why are you running through the palace like this?”
The maid’s lips trembled. “Y–Your Majesty… it’s Lady Elira!”
The moment the name left her mouth—
Eyan’s entire expression changed.
“What about Lady Elira?”
His voice sharpened instantly.
The maid swallowed nervously. “Sh–she suddenly collapsed in her room, Your Majesty…!”
Eyan’s heart skipped violently. “Collapsed?”
“She’s clutching her stomach and crying in pain,” the maid continued hurriedly. “I was on my way to call the royal physician—”
Before she could finish— Eyan had already moved. He rushed past her with sudden urgency, his cloak whipping behind him.
“Your Majesty—!” Hans called out in surprise before quickly following after him.
Eyan’s steps echoed loudly through the palace hallway. His heart pounded violently. A cold fear gripped his chest.
He reached Elira’s chamber and pushed the door open without hesitation.
__________________________________
(Lady Elira’s Chamber)
The door burst open with a loud crash. Eyan rushed inside, his breath uneven from running through the palace halls.
His eyes immediately locked onto the bed.
Elira was lying there, her body twisted slightly as she clutched her belly with both hands, her fingers digging into the fabric of her dress as if trying to hold the pain inside.
Leo stood beside the bed, silent and still.
He rushed forward and dropped to his knees beside the bed, grabbing her trembling hand. Her skin was warm and damp with sweat.
“Eva, what’s wrong? What happened?”
Elira’s fingers tightened around his hand suddenly—Another wave of pain struck her.
“A—ah—!”
A sharp cry escaped her lips before she could stop it. Her back arched slightly as if something inside her was twisting and tightening painfully.
“E—Eyan—” Her voice trembled.
Her breathing came in short, broken gasps. The pain rolled through her belly again, stronger this time, making her curl inward instinctively, one hand gripping his arm while the other pressed against her stomach.
“It—hurts—”
Her words came out broken.
Eyan’s heart clenched painfully seeing her like this.
“Eva… hey… look at me,” he said urgently, trying to calm her. “Breathe slowly. Just breathe.”
But another surge of pain suddenly tore through her.
“Ah—!”
Her nails dug into his hand, almost painfully, as she squeezed him.
Eyan’s panic only grew. His eyes darted toward Leo, who was still standing beside the bed, watching quietly.
“Leo!” His voice rose sharply. “What are you doing standing there? Do something! Your mother is in pain!”
Leo looked at him calmly, almost too calmly. “Father… mother will be alright.”
Eyan stared at him in disbelief. “What do you mean ‘alright’? Can’t you see—”
Before he could finish—
Elira suddenly gripped his hand even harder. Her fingers trembled violently.
“Eyan—!”
Another painful wave surged through her belly, forcing a broken gasp from her throat.
“D—do somethi—”
Her sentence never finished. Her body suddenly went limp. Her eyes rolled back slightly as the strength drained from her. She collapsed weakly against the pillow.
“Eva!”
Eyan’s heart skipped in terror. He quickly cupped her face, tapping her cheek urgently.
“Eva! Open your eyes!” His voice trembled with fear. “Eva—!”
Leo stepped closer to the bed and looked down at her unconscious face.
Then he spoke calmly. “Father.”
Eyan looked up sharply. Leo met his gaze.
“Mother only fainted....She’s fine now.”
But Eyan’s grip on Eva’s hand only tightened, fear still gripping his chest as he looked at her pale, unconscious face.
__________________________________
After some time, the chaos in the room finally settled.
Eyan carefully pulled a blanket over Elira’s body, tucking it gently around her shoulders. Her breathing had evened out, slow and steady now, and the painful strain that had twisted her face earlier had disappeared. A faint color had returned to her pale cheeks.
For a moment, Eyan simply watched her. Relief washed over him when he saw her chest rise and fall peacefully.
Only then did he turn toward Leo. His expression hardened slightly.
“Leo,” Eyan said quietly, though the tension in his voice was impossible to hide. “Can you explain what just happened?”
Leo stood beside the bed, silent.
Eyan continued, worry creeping back into his tone. “Why was your mother in so much pain? Is there… something wrong with the child?”
Leo shook his head. “No, Father. The child is healthy.”
Eyan frowned. “Then why did your mother suddenly feel such pain?”
Leo hesitated. His fingers tightened slightly at his sides before he finally spoke.
“…It is because I made her drink a potion.”
Eyan’s brows furrowed. “A potion? What kind of potion?”
Leo took a breath.
“The child… is growing too quickly,” he explained slowly. “Far faster than i expected......So I searched for a potion,” Leo continued, “one that could slow the child’s growth and stabilize it.”
He glanced briefly at Elira sleeping on the bed. “The pain Mother felt… is proof that the potion is working.”
Eyan stared at him for a moment. Then he slowly walked toward Leo. Instead of scolding him, Eyan sat down in front of him and placed both hands gently on Leo’s shoulders.
“Is that why you looked so worried that day?”
Leo blinked. “What day?”
“Ten days ago,” Eyan replied. “When you examined your mother.”
“You told her everything was fine…” Eyan said softly, studying his son’s face carefully. “But your expression was telling a completely different story.”
Leo looked slightly surprised. “…So you noticed.”
Eyan nodded. “I did.” He sighed quietly. “To be honest… I was also worried when I realized how much the child had grown in just ten days.”
His eyes darkened with concern. “That kind of growth… it can’t be good for your mother, can it?”
Leo nodded slowly. “Yes… it isn’t good for her.”
Eyan’s expression immediately grew tense. “It’s not life-threatening, is it?”
His eyes searched Leo’s face anxiously, trying to read the truth behind his words.
Leo hesitated. For a brief moment, silence filled the room.
Eyan leaned slightly forward, his voice growing more urgent. “Leo… tell me. It’s not—”
“No,” Leo interrupted gently.
He forced a calm expression onto his face.
“It will not harm Mother’s life. But the child’s rapid growth could weaken her body. That is why I was worried… and why I made her drink the potion.”
Eyan released a long breath of relief. “Thank goodness…”
The tension in his shoulders finally eased. For a few moments, neither of them spoke. Then Leo suddenly asked,
“Father… if you had to choose between Mother and me… who would you choose?”
The question came so abruptly that Eyan blinked in confusion.
“What?” His brows furrowed. “Why would I have to choose something like that? Why are you asking me this?”
Leo remained calm.
“I’m just asking,” he said quietly. “If you could only save one… who would you choose?”
Eyan stared at him for a moment. Then he shook his head.
“I refuse that question.”
Leo tilted his head slightly. “Father—”
“I will choose both,” Eyan said firmly. His voice carried absolute certainty. “I’m not making that kind of choice.”
He placed a hand on Leo’s head gently. “You and your mother… both of you are equally important to me.”
Leo’s gaze lowered slightly.
Leo suddenly smiled. Then, in a lighter playful tone he said, “Good answer, Father. I was just testing you.”
Eyan raised an eyebrow.
“I wanted to see if you would choose Mother over me,” Leo added with a small grin.
Eyan chuckled softly and pulled Leo into a warm embrace.
“You foolish child.” His voice softened. “I love you both equally.”
He tightened the hug slightly.
“You and your mother are more precious to me than my own life.”
Leo hugged him back. “I know, Father.”
But as he held the embrace, Leo’s eyes slowly darkened with quiet thought.
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