The Empress's Revenge

Chapter 31

I stared deep into Barvoscha's pitch black eyes.

"No I'm not."

He blushed slightly and hugged me, when I started to laugh.

"M-my ex said I was infertile..." I laughed, wiping tears from my eyes. Dankish watched me curiously, a look of sadness over his face.

I continued to giggle until the sun dissapeared completly behind the mountains, and I was wheezing.

Dankish had taken a seat on the bed while I chortled behind my hand.

But my emotions changed very quickly.

"T-tasheyo divorced me and said I was infertile which was a solid claim for a divorce, causing a chain reaction with Harlow, causing my remarriage, which then brewed jealousy with Fedyor which caused the murder and rhen I had to compensate for the reaction by coming here, when Tashsyo was...wrong?"

I squeaked out the last word, biting my lip to stop it from trembling as I turned my back to Dankish who was watching me, pity in his eyes.

"Love, I'm sorry-"

But I stared out the window at the mountains bordering the valley.

I was pregnant.

Where was the proof? Did I want proof? Why hadn't I noticed. It was my body. When had it started? The doctor discovered this, so what was Barvoscha's reaction? Was he guilty of doing this to me?

"Love."

I flinched when Dankish's voice came closer, sounding right behind me.

"This could've all been prevented." I laughed.

Strong arms wrapped around my waist, mindful of my stomach, and he pulled me close to him.

"Love, its going to be fine."

I shook my head angrily amd I pushed him away.

"But its not!" I said to him, backing up against the wall, tears openly flowing down my cheeks.

"A war is taking place because of me. Our child will be raised in a hell because of me. I caused the conflict with Harlow, I caused the conflict with Tasheyo and Periclene! What if he kills us like he killed them-?"

I choked on my own words and I buried my face in my hands.

Yes.

I was insecure.

Because I had just found out that a huge part of my title was a lie.

I was not infertile.

And I didn't know whether to laugh or scream.

But Dankish reached out anyway and took me in his arms and let me sob into his chest.

What had this world become?

__________

"Mommy!"

She looked down at me from the sparkly chair she sat in.

"What is it, darling?"

I lifted a picture I had sketched with my small child hands and I showed the queen my drawing.

"Look! Its you and me!"

My mothers warm expression suddenly vanished as she took the paper from me and held it up close to her face.

"Your father is not dead, Renata Hesoli. If you continue thinking like that, he will be.

Do you want your father dead?"