HPDBC Chapter 103 Father Is Mothering
Chapter 103 Father Is Mothering
— [New Notification]
— [Quest: Connect With Kian]
— [Description: Form an emotional connection with Kian in order to unlock the full potential of your abilities and deepen your bond]
— [New Relationship Interface Unlocked!]
....
[Loading...]
[Installing...]
Ding!
— [New Familial Status: Kian Quenvale]
— [Connection ▪︎ 0]
— [Trust ▪︎ 0]
— [Understanding ▪︎ 0]
— [Emotion▪︎ 100]
....
Nonsense!
This little boy... is mine?
The thought was enough to make her feel a deep guilt in her stomach. How could she not have known? How many children, her children, was she completely unaware of?
She couldn't even begin to count the number of moments she'd missed, the birthdays, the first words, and the tiny milestones.
The guilt piled on, heavy and suffocating, but she couldn't focus on it for long.
She looked up at Elira Quenvale, the woman who had been scolding Kian just moments ago.
Elira, with her long, flowing slightly darker blonde hair and calm, steady demeanor, was an apothecary that Argider had met back in the Downward District, a place far away from the grandeur of the palace that suffocated Argider daily.
At the time, Argider had snuck away from the palace, desperate to escape the confines of royal duties and the weight of expectations.
Elira raised an eyebrow, looking a little surprised at the sudden shift in Argider's demeanor. The surprise quickly melted into a soft, knowing smile. "Is that so?" she asked, her tone light and warm, yet there was an underlying question in her eyes.
Was Argider really alright? Was she pretending to be okay?
Before Argider could respond, a sudden wave of dizziness washed over her. Her stomach twisted in discomfort, and the familiar feeling of nausea rose quickly.
She gritted her teeth, trying to push it down, but it only grew worse. Her face paled as her hands instinctively went to her stomach.
"Ugh..." she muttered, a hand clutching her head as the world around her seemed to spin.
"Your Imperial Majesty?" She stepped closer, her expression shifting from casual curiosity to genuine worry. "Are you alright? You don't look well."
"It's fine," she said, but her voice lacked the usual strength. "Just... a little dizzy. I'm fine."
Elira didn't buy it. Without a word, she gently guided Argider's arm over her shoulder and wrapped her other arm around her waist, supporting her as Argider stumbled. "Come on," she said softly, her voice no longer playful, but full of care. "You're not fine. Let me take you to my chambers. You need to rest."
Argider didn't have the energy to protest. She leaned into Elira's support, feeling both grateful and embarrassed.
With Elira guiding her carefully through the hallways of the palace, Argider couldn't help but wonder what kind of future lay ahead for her now, for her child, and for the relationships she'd yet to build.
Maybe, just maybe, she could make it right.
The journey to Elira's chambers was short, but it felt like an eternity to Argider.
As they arrived at the door to Elira's private quarters, Elira gently pushed it open with her free hand, leading Argider inside.
Soft, warm light filtered in from the window, casting gentle shadows on the walls lined with shelves of herbs and tinctures. The air was fragrant with the calming scent of lavender and chamomile, and the bed in the corner was draped with soft, inviting blankets.
Elira guided Argider to the bed, helping her sit down carefully, her expression still full of concern.
But then, as her gaze lingered on Argider's form, something caught Elira's eye. A detail she hadn't noticed before.
Her brows furrowed as she took in the way Argider's abdomen seemed to curve slightly, the faintest bump barely visible under the loose fabric of her clothes.
"Wait..." She gently placed a hand on Argider's stomach, as if confirming what her instincts had already told her. "Are you... pregnant?"
Argider became still, her face flushing as her mind scrambled to find an answer that wouldn't make her seem utterly foolish.
The truth was too complicated, too messy to explain in just a few words.
"Wait... did you... do it with a man?"
Argider's face turned even redder. She shot up, flustered and panicking. "It's really not what you think! It's complicated!"