I was sat before my dresser, combing my untamed brown locks when i heard the door open and one of the guards announced my mother.
"Let her in" i replied as i pulled my hair away from my face and stood up, straightening my sheer nightgown an placed my hands in front of me, on top of one another.
My mother strode in, her hands in a similar position as mine, only more poised and regal. I noticed that she had a look on her face that i had not seen before. She stared at me with a grimace, before i opened my mouth to speak.
"To what do i owe this pleasure, Mother?" I asked politely.
"I wanted to see how my daughter was doing after the...timely death of her dear brother in law" she replied as she glared deeper into my eyes.
I felt a sudden pang of nerves.
"What do you mean, 'timely', mother?" I asked, fear knotting in my stomach.
A smile so sinister crept on to her face.
"I may have poisoned Francis a while back-" she began and continued, disregarding the horror that made it's way onto my face.
"- and when that seemed to fail, i indeed organized a coup against him. Surely you should have noticed that he was the only one severely harmed?" She asked with a malicious look on her face.
I felt an uncomfortable movement in my stomach, paired with sharp pains. I tried to ignore them and rather focus on the malevolent being in front of me.
"How could you do such a thing? You are a monster!" I exclaimed.
"I shall have you condemned and executed for treason" i continued, feeling my body tense up by the second.
"No, you will not. Unless you want your people to find out of your... escapades" she explained with a grin on her face.
"What are you implying?" I asked, nerves tingling up and down my spine.
"Infidelity is not amusing within royalty, Delara. It results in abdication or possibly, since we're on foreign land, execution by hanging. So, i will say this once. Keep your ratty little mouth shut and do as i say. You and Charles will become King and Queen of France, but since you are too young to rule on your own i will be named regent and i will be in power." My mother explained.
"Why are you even doing this? What do you gain" i asked, tears streaming down my face.
"Oh darling, i need a military! What else am i going to invade the rest of Europe with?" She exclaimed.
I felt another sharp pain in my abdomen and let out a scream as i fell to the ground, clutching the side of the table, then my mother came to my side.
"No, leave. I don't want you here. I loathe you with every inch of my being." I spat.
She got up, wordless, knowing that what she said had infiltrated my mind and left, still smiling.
A short while later, guards rushed in and helped me to my feet, followed by Lady Naya, who aided me to my bed, as I realized blood had began trickling down my thigh and leg. This could not be happening. I lay there for hours, deep in desolation, with Charles by my bedside.
"I've lost my child, before i even knew i was carrying it! How could this be? Where has this wretched torment come from and what have i done to deserve it?" I exclaimed, tears flowing freely out of my eyes.
"My love, i fear because of your- infidelity- we are doomed to be barren. But strain yourself no longer, i believe the answer is prayer. We shall pray, and then shortly conceive a child. I have every faith." Charles said, holding my hand in his.
"I hope so too, my love." I replied.
I lost a child and i was doomed to be barren for the rest of our marriage, all because i could not control my foolish impulses. This was all my fault.
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