𝚂𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚌𝚑𝚎𝚍 ✔

𝓟𝓻𝓸𝓵𝓸𝓰𝓾𝓮

-For those of you who need to hear it,

You are enough.

~~~~~~~

*Only the prologue is written in third person, the rest of the book is in first, please don't run away lol.*

Twenty-one years prior.

He had been pacing outside the door, that led into the queen's chambers, for hours. Listening as her screams carried through the palace and battling with his heart that had been overflowing with fear.

"Please, God, let it be a girl." He begged on his knees, pressing the jeweled cross that hung around his neck to his lips, "I beg of you, do not let it be a boy."

King Alwyn already had a son, that was the age of two, from the previous queen. Of course, two sons would have been ideal in case the first were to die, but he knew nothing good would come from having two sons with different mothers.

He already had a little girl, who was quite the blessing as she was the last gift his previous, and first, wife had given him. Corinna was only one year old and already had captured his heart, so he could not see the harm in having another.

The heart-wrenching screams had suddenly come to a stop, sent a wave of dread over him as he slowly got to his feet. The sound of the infantile cries which bled underneath the door, that stood between him and his laboring wife, made him pray even harder than he had before.

Not long after, the door slowly creaked open to reveal a very small maid who had a large smile on her face.

"Your Majesty, you'll be happy to know that both the queen and baby are healthy." Her voice shook with age as she maintained her down-turned gaze, not daring to look him in the eye.

"Wonderful." He smiled at the news, though something did not sit right with him.

After a moment's pause, she added, "Her Majesty would like you to come meet the new prince as soon as possible."

The ill news nearly killed him where he stood, as his worst fears had come true. He tried so hard to conceal his disappointment behind a fake smile.

"Of course." He replied as he hesitantly started towards the door. "I would love to meet him."

"Perhaps I am deserving of my prayers going unheard," he thought to himself. After all, he condemned the old Gods that he had worshiped all his life. Leaving them behind without any hesitation, agreeing to worship hers instead in order to appease his new wife.

Inside, were several maids, as well as the royal physician, who had done everything in their power to deliver the baby as safely as possible. No one wanted to be responsible for another queen's death, not when the previous one had been lost nearly a year prior. Nor did they want to lose another baby, especially a son.

All their bodies were relaxed until King Alwyn stepped into view. But once they noticed him, they all went rigid like they always did.

He looked at them with a forced approving smile. "Thank you all for your hard, diligent work. I am grateful that you safely delivered my new son into this world and helped the queen make it through the birth without any complications."

"Of course, Your Majesty." They bowed while they called out in unison. Relief washed across all of their faces, easing the tension that had built in the room.

"Leave us." The exhausted queen snapped. "All of you, get out."

"But, Your Majesty, we cannot leave you. You have just freshly given birth, we need to-"