Under a Dimmed Sun [UNCENSORED]

SII: Chapter XLI: Birthing Shadows

Six months passed since Sir Richaud's return from the capital, he was satisfied with the joyful news. Alice, in gratitude, received a couple of exquisite jewels as a reward for her pregnancy. Life settled into a new routine for Alice.

As spring unfolded its tranquility, Alice's handwriting improved while assisting Albert in the library. However, the peaceful day took an unexpected turn when, as she stood up, her water leaked, catching Albert by surprise. The atmosphere shifted from calm to frantic as the realization of impending childbirth set in.

Albert rushed Alice to her chamber in his arms, calling for the midwife and maids. Panic filled the air as preparations for the impending birth were hastily made. Albert, while anxious, tried to maintain composure, his concern evident in his eyes as he watched over Alice.

Albert: "Quickly, we need the midwife! Get everything ready."

Alice, with a reassuring smile: "Don't worry, sir. It's a natural process."

Albert, pacing nervously: "Oh God, you are going to die!" As he became more panicked.

Midwife, entering the room: "Fear not, we'll take good care of her. Sir Albert, it's best if you wait outside. These matters are better handled by the women."

Madam Mohn, rushing with smile on her face: "Thank lord, Is it time? Get out, Albert. Let the women do their work."

Albert, with concern in his eyes, reluctantly leaves the room anxiously.

Maid: "The baby is coming too early."

Midwife: "Yes, it can be early sometimes."

Madam Mohn: "I hope it is a boy." As she makes a praying gesture.

Alice, fully aware that it is not actually an early delivery, it is a full term. She lies on the bed with her eyes closed, silently absorbing the sounds of the room. She slowly fell asleep while listening to the conversations among the maids, Madam Mohn, and the midwives.

As the sun set, casting warm hues across the room, Alice was roused from her slumber by a sudden, sharp pain in her abdomen. Grasping the bedsheets, she clenched her teeth, determined not to let out a cry that might disturb the serenity of the chamber. The maids and midwives, ever watchful, swiftly gathered around her, their faces marked with a mix of concern and anticipation.

The rhythm of pain persisted, every five minutes, like a relentless carriage rolling over Alice's abdomen repeatedly. The extreme discomfort left her torn between the agony of lying down and the excruciating pain that standing brought. Every movement felt like a battle against waves of torment that threatened to consume her.

Madam Mohn, her face etched with concern, took her seat and began to pray fervently, clutching her rosary tightly. The atmosphere in the room became laden with both tension and hope, the rhythmic chants offering a sense of solace amid the throes of childbirth.

The experienced aging midwives, advised Alice to rest and nourish herself with a light meal. They reassured her that, being her first childbirth, it might be a lengthy process, urging her to gather strength for the journey ahead.

Midwife: "You need your energy, my lady. It's a journey, and you must be prepared for it."
Alice, in pain, nods in agreement, trying to manage a faint smile.

Madam Mohn, still praying, looks up briefly: "Dear lord, let it be a healthy boy."

Alice, unable to eat or find comfort in sleep, succumbs to the unbearable pain. In a moment of agony, she unleashes a scream that reverberates through the room, a manifestation of the intensity of her suffering.

She once more lets out a piercing scream. The room echoes with her cries as the maids rush to her side, trying to comfort and support her through the agonizing moments of labor.