W/N: Not beta-read, straight from the drafts. Forgive the errors, life is short to correct all miniscule mistakes in life. Char!
That night, Max remained in the bedroom after the female physician left, pondering on the same negative thoughts for the past half an hour.
She was afraid of messing things up again. Her previous pregnancy, though unknown to anyone, left deep scars in her and possibly worse to Riftan. The fact that she lost a child at an early stage of her pregnancy gave her so much fear – her anxiety devouring her peace of mind.
What if the same thing happened again? The painful cries of the banshees reverberated in her thoughts as the recollection began haunting her again.
What if she isn't fit to become a mother? And how is it to be a mother? How can she express something she has never felt? What if she fails? All sorts of negative thoughts plague her mind but the...
Worst.
What if her child is like her – a useless daughter. Neglected and abused by her own father because she is a daughter and not a son – hidden from the world because she was defective and unworthy to be called a successor. She feared that her child might suffer the same demise as she did.
But... but Riftan is not like my father.
There's no way he'll do the same thing to their child. But still, she remained fearful of what and how it will be.
"You should be resting..."
A soft baritone voice halted her train of thoughts, footsteps nearing her. Riftan, who just returned from escorting the physician to the gates of the castle, stood behind her while his arms instinctively wrapping around her protectively, as if it can drive all danger around her. His long fingers swept the strands of her hair to the side, exposing the crook of her neck, a place where his lips would always lodge, savoring her bewitching scent.
"R-Riftan..." She mumbled, almost sobbing but trying to keep herself together. Riftan instantly sensed her weary tone, lifted his face and turned her to face him.
"Are you feeling unwell?" Riftan held her face, checking if she has a fever or any sort of discomfort in her body. His heart sunk as Max started crying. Tears won't stop from oozing from her gray orbs no matter how much she wipes them with her sleeves.
"I-I'm s-scared..." That was it. She bawled, burying her face with her small palms. Her painful cries were like fine needles harshly digging into Riftan's flesh. He hated to see her like this.
"W-What if... we lose t-t-this b-baby again?" He muffled.
Riftan hushed her, pulling his beloved closer as he stroked her back to console her. "I am afraid, too." He knows why Max is troubled, it was still clear in his memory. But he couldn't care less about an unborn child that time; it was his wife's life that he greatly feared of losing. It was Max whom he loves so much that he couldn't bear to see her in that gory state again – opting to not having an heir at all. He doesn't want it anymore if it meant putting her in danger again.
But that is not the case now.
"Maxi..." He tenderly pulled her away from his chest, making her to look at him in the eyes as he replaced his worried face to a more relaxed and reassuring expression, a smile almost hopeful that history won't repeat itself this time.
Please, no. Let us be happy. Let her be safe.
He'll give anything for her. "Maxi... I am here. Don't cry, everything will be all right. I promise. I won't let anything happen to you and to our child."
