How To Tame An Empress (BOOK I)

Chapter 20 - The Birth of an Heir

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Days passed by into weeks, and weeks eventually turned to months, and in what felt like the blink of an eye, Ria's stomach began to protrude as the child in her began to grow.

She didn't need me fawning over her as she was doing that enough herself, being extremely careful with her pregnancy. She would talk to the child at whatever chance she had, telling him stories and singing them lullabies, I had to wonder what she thought would make her a bad mother when she was already spoiling the child before it had even been born.

Right now, we were taking a slow evening walk through the palace gardens as we did every day. Leaning against my arms, she spoke quietly about the smallest of things while checking up on the birds she cared for as they lay in their pretty cages.

"I am certain the physician told you to remain in bed. These last few weeks of pregnancy are important, and I do not wish to take any risks, Ria." I eventually spoke.

"I am spending as much time as I can in bed, any more and I am sure to lose my mind. Besides, our child is already very healthy, I can feel them kicking constantly, so whether they come out now or in a few weeks then it should not matter." She defended as I gave in with a sigh.

These last few months have not been easy. As excited as we were to meet this child, it was no lie to see what it has put her through; When one symptom fades away, another one appears like a constant curse. First it was her morning sickness, and then she was riddled with insomnia and constant mood swings, and recently, she's endured swelling.

The birth of this child will mean that Ria will be bound to me tighter than before, and while that pleases me beyond words, I cannot say that I am happy to see what she is going through these last few months.

And it seems that this child will not be our only one. She has already announced that she wishes to have a large family with at least a handful of children, and what Ria wants, I will give.

"All right, you win as usual. But it is getting late, we should head inside now if not to bed." Thankfully, she did not disagree, and holding her hand in mine, we retreated to the palace, heading up to our chambers where we washed up together.

And now, she was currently reclined on the long couch, barefoot and visibly tired with a faint flush to her warm cheeks. I sat beside her, one hand lazily trailing over the swell of her stomach as my other hand held a book which I read over. She, on the other hand, was threading a small white sock with a needle.

"Look at me, making clothes for a person we have yet to name." She chuckled.

"I thought we had agreed on Nero? He can grow up to be a strong and stern man." I thought it was a good name, but judging by the glare on her face, I knew to believe otherwise.

"What?" I innocently asked, confused by her dislike.

"No, I do not like it." She shook her head, adamant. "It sounds like a name better suited for a marble statue than my baby."

Is it supposed to be this difficult to name a child? I do not think that my father gave a second thought before he named me Anastasius, it meant something along the lines of resurrection, if I recall correctly.

"All right, what about Octavia?" That would be a nice name if we are to have a girl, I thought.

"I already know an Octavia. And I do not like her." Scratch that then.

"Then how about you pick something?" I urged. She paused with her threading to think about it for a moment, brows furrowing as she was lost in thought, before a small smile graced her features and she gave me an answer.