Cloak and Scalpel

ABERLEEN ARC: Vulnerable

"'ow do we ever repay you?"

Diana looked up from the baby she held to the woman's breast, her hazel eyes wide with surprise. Adelie, it turned out, knew very little about being a mother—their home was much too far from the Azure city for her to make regular trips to see a healer. That, and the woman had said, the journey could be perilous at times.

"Repay me?" Diana asked, blinking with bemusement.

"For 'elping me deliver the baby," Adelie clarified. She looked down at the tiny bundle, a gentle smile on her face. "I don't think I could 'ave managed it on my own! Lancelot looked as though 'e would faint!"

Aforementioned swordsman was standing near the threshold with Odette. He visibly flinched, an awkward smile on his face. "It wasn't the blood I feared," Lancelot said, clearing his throat. "Traditionally, childbirth was something women were better acquainted with."

"Uuuh, so what's Aamon? An old maid?" Gusion asked with a snicker. He and Aamon were seated at the little table of the cottage.

The duke glared at him, arctic eyes narrowed into little slits.

"Aamon did quite well," Diana said, rolling her eyes at Gusion. She was helping Adelie hold the baby to her breast. The little one was smacking her lips. "See the way she opens and closes her mouth, Adelie? It means she still wants to nurse. So you should—"

"Wait," Adelie said, looking up at Diana with startled eyes. Even Luc, who was stoking the fire, seemed to freeze, his eyes drifting towards Aamon and Gusion. "Your names are Aamon and Gusion?"

"Oh, we haven't really introduced ourselves!" Odette exclaimed, blinking in surprise. "I've just realized."

Diana looked just as bewildered, her grip on the baby gentle and firm. "Well, there goes my bedside manner," she muttered, shaking her head. Seeing the surprised look on Adelie's face, Diana frowned. "I'm sorry we weren't able to introduce ourselves—"

"No, no!" Adelie said quickly. She made a move to stand from the bed, but Diana gently pressed her back down. Adelie let herself be pushed down, but her eyes roved Aamon from head to foot, taking in the silver hair, and the glacial eyes. "You...you are Duke Aamon Paxley?"

"Guilty," Gusion said, pretending to sweep an arm dramatically in front of Aamon. "The one and only revered, terrifying Duke of Castle Aber—"

He was cut short when Diana sent a towel flying his way. It smacked him clean in the face. "Hey!"

"Oh, dear gods above, if I 'ad only known! I would 'ave offered you something!" Adelie exclaimed. "Luc, quick, bring out the venison for our guests!"

"If that's making you panic, you should take a look at her," Lesley spoke up from her place the near window. She grinned then jerked a thumb towards Odette, who shook her head vigorously at Lesley.

Lesley did not see her. "That right there is Princess Odette of Swan Castle."

Adelie and Luc looked as though they would faint.

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It took nearly an hour to reassure Adelie and Luc that they hadn't breeched any rules of decorum. Besdies, Aamon and Odette were supposed to be incognito. Both had taken it upon themselves to insist that Adelie drop whatever royal treatment she had planned. After all—she had literally just given birth.