Tied to the Throne

chapter fifty five

The morning sun peeked through the curtains of our bedroom, casting warm, golden light over the room. It should have been a peaceful start to the day, but as I sat up in bed, a wave of nausea hit me like a tidal wave. I pressed my hand to my stomach, hoping it would pass, but it didn't. I barely made it to the edge of the bed before my body revolted, and I doubled over in the effort to stop myself from throwing up.

I wasn't sure what was happening—maybe it was something I ate, or the stress of the past few weeks finally catching up with me—but whatever it was, it felt different. Worse. More persistent. And my mind couldn't shake the nagging thought that had been swirling around for the last few days.

When the vomiting subsided, I leaned back against the bed, breathing deeply, trying to calm the dizzying sensation spinning through me. I didn't want to worry Nikolai. I didn't want him to see me like this.

But it felt like the universe had other plans. As if on cue, the door to our chambers opened, and Nikolai stepped inside, his green eyes immediately focusing on me as his expression shifted from neutral to concerned.

"Bell?" His voice was soft, but the concern was unmistakable. "Are you alright?"

"I... I think so," I replied shakily, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand. "I've just been feeling off lately. Nausea, mostly."

He stepped forward, kneeling by my side, his hand gently brushing the hair from my face. "We need to get you checked out. Now."

I opened my mouth to protest, but his gaze was determined, and I could see the worry etched into his features. There was no point in arguing. I would have to see the medic.

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The walk to the castle's medical wing felt endless, each step heavier than the last. Nikolai walked beside me, his arm around my shoulders, guiding me with the kind of care that always made my heart swell. His protective nature had only grown stronger over the years, and in moments like these, I was reminded of how lucky I was to have him by my side.

When we arrived, the medic, a calm and efficient woman named Lena, ushered us into one of the quiet examination rooms. Her gentle eyes softened when she saw me, noting the paleness in my face and the way I was still clutching my stomach.

"Take a seat, Your Majesty," Lena said, her voice kind and soothing. "Let's see what's going on."

I sat on the examination table, trying to steady my breath as Nikolai stood beside me, his hand resting lightly on my back. Lena moved around the room with practiced ease, gathering a few tools before turning to me. "Alright, Bella, I'm going to ask you a few questions. How long have you been feeling unwell?"

I shrugged slightly, unsure of the timeline. "Maybe a few weeks. Some days are better than others, but I've been throwing up more recently. And I've had some dizziness, fatigue. I'm not sure what's going on."

Lena nodded, her face thoughtful as she examined me carefully. "I'll take some blood to run a few tests. It could be something simple, but let's make sure."

I nodded, trying to steady my racing heart. I was nervous, but also, in the back of my mind, there was that nagging thought—that whisper I'd tried to ignore.

What if?

The blood test didn't take long, and as Lena prepared the results, I felt the silence stretch between us, tense and thick. Nikolai was standing next to me, his hand on my shoulder, but his eyes were fixed on the door as if waiting for the worst news.

"Bella, I don't want you to worry," Lena said softly, breaking the silence. She walked over to us, holding a small piece of paper in her hand. She met my gaze, her eyes steady. "You're pregnant."

The word hung in the air like a dream I couldn't quite grasp, my breath catching in my throat as the truth settled in. I could feel Nikolai's body go still beside me, and I dared to look up at him.

"Pregnant?" I whispered, barely able to form the words. The thought seemed so surreal, so impossible. After everything we had been through—losing our first baby, the grief that had consumed us—I had never truly allowed myself to believe this was even a possibility.

Nikolai's grip on my shoulder tightened, and when I looked at him, his face was filled with a mixture of shock and joy. "Are you sure?" His voice was thick, but there was a softness to it that made my heart flutter.

Lena smiled warmly, nodding. "I'm certain. The tests are clear. You're definitely pregnant."

Well that didn't take long.

A rush of emotions flooded through me—shock, disbelief, excitement, fear—all of it crashing over me in waves. I looked at Nikolai again, his eyes wide with surprise, but there was something else there now. Something I hadn't expected to see so soon after our loss. Hope.

"I—I can't believe this," I said, my voice trembling as I reached for his hand.

"Neither can I," he whispered, his voice rough with emotion. He kissed my forehead softly, then pulled back to look at me, his eyes intense.

Tears welled in my eyes, and I couldn't help but smile, despite the overwhelming flood of emotions. We had wanted this. After the heartache, after the months of mourning, we had both wanted a family. A child. And now, it felt like that dream was coming true, though it was hard to fully comprehend in that moment.

That evening, after a quiet dinner with the staff, I found myself standing in the garden, my hand resting lightly on my abdomen as I tried to absorb the enormity of it all. The air was cool, but the evening sky was clear, a thousand stars twinkling above us. Nikolai joined me soon after, slipping his arm around my waist as we stood together, taking in the peaceful quiet of the night.

"Do you think Camille will be excited?" I asked, my voice soft in the stillness of the evening.

"I think she'll be thrilled," Nikolai replied, his lips brushing my ear as he spoke. "And I know Ben and Matteo will want to be the first to spoil the little one."

I smiled at the thought. The idea of our friends and family being part of this journey felt right. It felt like everything was finally falling into place.

Nikolai's hand found mine, squeezing gently. "I'm so glad we did it."

"I am too," I murmured, my heart full as I leaned into him. "I never thought I could be this happy again."

"We'll be even happier when we can tell everyone," he said, his voice filled with excitement.

"I can't wait," I whispered.

It was then that the weight of the news finally settled in, and the anticipation of the future began to take root in my heart. I didn't know what the next few months would bring, but I knew one thing for sure: we were starting a new chapter of our lives.

I rested my head against Nikolai's shoulder, allowing myself to savor the moment. Tomorrow, we would tell our friends. But tonight, it was just us—dreaming of the future, of the family we were about to become.

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