Chapter 18

Max sat across from the old physician, his posture stiff with nervousness. Alex stood nearby, his arms crossed, watching them both intently. The room was quiet except for the steady sound of the crackling fireplace.

The old physician adjusted her glasses and began to speak, her voice calm and steady. “Your Majesty,” she said, addressing Max. “Let me explain this to you clearly. The male body isn’t naturally made for pregnancy. However, you have certain rare internal organs that make it possible for you to conceive and carry a child. This is why your pregnancy will be very different from what a woman experiences. Are you ready to hear about these differences?”

Max hesitated for a moment, glancing at Alex. His partner gave him a reassuring nod. Taking a deep breath, Max nodded. “I’m ready,” he said, though his voice wavered slightly.

The physician offered him a kind smile before continuing. “First of all, you’ll experience a variety of symptoms, some of which you might have already noticed. Vomiting, loss of appetite, or on the contrary, sudden cravings for certain foods. Your mood will be affected as well—irritability, sudden bursts of emotion, and perhaps moments of melancholy. These are all normal.”

Max frowned, his hand instinctively going to his stomach. “I’ve already been feeling some of that… but I didn’t think it was because of this.”

Alex stepped closer, placing a hand on Max’s shoulder. “We’ll get through this together,” he said softly.

The physician gave a small nod, her expression growing more serious. “Now, this is where it gets more unique. Unlike a woman’s pregnancy, your stomach won’t grow significantly. It will remain relatively small, but that doesn’t mean you won’t feel the weight or the pain of carrying a child. The growth will put pressure on your body, and it will be more intense due to your male physiology. This also means labor will be more challenging and painful. I won’t sugarcoat it—this will be hard, but you are strong, Your Majesty.”

Max swallowed hard, his face pale. “Painful? More challenging?” He glanced at Alex again, his voice trembling. “What if I… I’m not strong enough for this?”

“You are,” Alex said firmly, kneeling beside Max. “You’ve survived worse, Max. You can do this, and I’ll be by your side every step of the way.”

The physician allowed them a moment before she continued. “There’s another matter I must address,” she said, looking pointedly at Alex. “During this time, it’s crucial for His Majesty to have emotional support. Pregnancy can affect one’s self-image, and for someone in Max’s position, this can be even harder. He might feel insecure, frustrated, or even disconnected from his own body.”

Alex straightened, his expression serious. “I’ll do whatever it takes to support him.”

“Good,” she replied. “Be patient and attentive, especially when he struggles with these changes.”

Max shifted uncomfortably. “Changes? Like what?”

“Well,” the physician began, hesitating slightly. “It’s also common for childbearers to experience heightened libido. In other words, you might feel… more intimate desires during this time.”

Max’s eyes widened, his cheeks turning red. “Wait, what? Are you serious?”

Alex coughed awkwardly, his ears burning. “Uh… okay, that’s… something to note.”

The physician raised a hand to calm them. “This is normal, but it’s important to be cautious. For the first two months, intimacy is generally fine. However, after that, it could become dangerous for the child. Physical strain can lead to complications.”

Max buried his face in his hands, muttering, “This just keeps getting better and better…”

Alex couldn’t help but chuckle softly, despite the awkwardness. He gently pried Max’s hands away from his face. “Hey, we’ll figure it out. We’ve handled worse things.”

The physician nodded, her tone gentle but firm. “Your Majesty, this is a journey, but it’s not one you have to face alone. Take time to adjust and rest. I’ll come back soon to discuss more details and provide guidance. For now, take care of yourself.”

Max slumped back in his chair, overwhelmed but trying to process everything. Alex leaned down, pressing a kiss to his temple. “We’ll be okay,” he whispered. “We’ll figure this out together.”

Max managed a small smile, though his emotions were still all over the place. “I hope so,” he murmured.

As the physician left the room, Max and Alex sat in silence, the weight of the revelation settling between them. Despite the uncertainty, they both knew one thing: they would face this challenge hand in hand.

Max and Alex sat in the family lounge, the weight of their news pressing heavily on their shoulders. Across from them, Alex’s father and mother exchanged curious glances, their warm smiles encouraging their son to speak. Beside them, Alex’s uncle leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable, while his aunt maintained a polite smile that hinted at something colder beneath. Alex’s cousin, however, sat upright with wide eyes, her excitement impossible to contain.

Alex cleared his throat. “We’ve asked you all here because we have some big news to share.” He glanced at Max, who gave a nervous nod. “Max is pregnant.”

For a moment, silence filled the room, and then Alex’s mother let out a delighted gasp.

“Oh, my goodness! This is wonderful!” she exclaimed, rushing over to Max. “How are you feeling? Are you eating enough? Oh, this is such exciting news!”

Alex’s father chuckled, rising to shake Max’s hand. “This is truly a blessing. Congratulations to both of you.” His tone carried genuine warmth. “We’ll need to prepare. I’ll write to Ashbourne to inform them of this joyous news.”

Max blushed under their attention, murmuring, “Thank you. I’m still getting used to it myself.”

Alex’s uncle offered a stiff smile. “Congratulations, of course. This is... quite unexpected.” He gave a short laugh, but his eyes betrayed his unease.

“Unexpected, indeed,” Alex’s aunt added with a sweetness that felt sharp. “But of course, we’re very happy for you both.” Her fingers gripped the armrest of her chair a little too tightly.

“I’m so happy for you!” Alex’s cousin exclaimed, rushing to hug Max. “You’ll make wonderful parents, and I’ll be the best Aunty to the baby!”

Max couldn’t help but smile at her enthusiasm, though he noticed Alex’s aunt watching her with a slight frown.

Alex, sensing the tension, placed a protective arm around Max. “We wanted to share this news with all of you first because it’s important that we have your support.” His gaze lingered on his uncle and aunt.

“Of course,” his father said firmly. “You have nothing to worry about. We’ll handle everything. This is a time for celebration.”

Max nodded, grateful for Alex’s parents’ encouragement. However, he couldn’t shake the feeling of unease from Alex’s uncle and aunt, their forced smiles lingering in his mind as the family began discussing preparations for the future.

In Ashbourne:~♡♥︎♡

The sun streamed through the grand windows of Ashbourne's hall, casting warm light over the polished floors. Julian, seated at the head of the long oak table, looked up as a courier entered, bowing deeply and holding out a sealed letter.

“From his Majesty Alexandros’s household, my lord,” the courier announced.

Julian’s brow furrowed slightly in curiosity as he reached for the letter. The seal bore the familiar mark of Alex's house. Breaking it open, his eyes scanned the contents quickly. His usually composed demeanor melted into unrestrained joy as he stood abruptly, startling the room.

“It’s Max!” Julian exclaimed. “Max is with child!”

The room stilled for a moment before murmurs of astonishment rippled through the gathered servants. Julian wasted no time. “Summon my mother immediately,” he commanded.

The Dowager Lady of Ashbourne arrived moments later, her air of authority undiminished despite her advancing years. “Julian, what is this urgency? Has something happened?”

Julian stepped forward, the letter still clutched in his hand. “Mother, it’s Max. He is carrying a child!”

Her expression shifted from shock to profound happiness. “Our Max? With child?” she repeated, her voice trembling with emotion.

“Yes, Mother,” Julian said, his voice thick with pride. “Max and Alex have sent word to share this joyous news with us. They wanted us to know first.”

Tears glistened in her eyes as she placed a hand over her heart. “This is a blessing. A miracle. We must prepare to celebrate. Our family grows stronger with this new life.”

Julian nodded, his smile unwavering. “I will send a letter back immediately. They must know how much this means to us.”

The chamber door creaked open again, and Julian’s wife entered gracefully, her eyes scanning the room before settling on her husband. “What is all this commotion about?” she asked, her tone sweet but measured.

Julian turned to her, beaming. “It is Max. He is expecting a child!”

Her eyes widened briefly before she composed herself, a delicate smile forming on her lips. “How... extraordinary,” she said, though there was a subtle sharpness to her tone.

“Yes, extraordinary,” Julian repeated firmly. “This is a moment of great joy for our family.”

His wife inclined her head slightly, the smile still fixed in place. “Indeed, my lord. A moment of great joy.” Yet inside, her thoughts churned. How is this possible? Max, of all people? And now he carries an heir?

The Dowager Lady of Ashbourne broke the tension, her voice warm but commanding. “Julian, ensure that we send a message to Alex’s family expressing our gratitude and joy. This child will unite our houses even further.”

Julian nodded. “Of course. And we must prepare a celebration here. Max must know how deeply his family supports him.”

“Indeed,” the Dowager Lady agreed, her expression softening. “This child is a gift to us all. We must make sure Max and Alex feel that, even from afar.”

Though the room brimmed with joy, Julian’s wife stood apart, her thoughts clouded with resentment. But neither Julian nor his mother noticed. Their focus was on Max and the new life he carried—a life that promised to strengthen the bonds of their family and bring light to Ashbourne's future.

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Author's Note

Hi hi! So yeah, this is the last update for today. Can we take a moment to appreciate the fact that I uploaded three chapters? THREE. All of them are either around 1,000 or 1,500 words. Could I have just combined them into one giant 3,000-word monster? Sure. Did I? Nope. Why? Honestly, I have no idea. I thought it might feel too lengthy. But like… haven’t I done that before? Whatever. Let’s move on.

Now, let’s talk about the big news—Alex and Max are going to be parents! 👶✨ Are you excited? Are you screaming? Crying? Throwing up? (I’m all three, to be honest.) So, here’s the million-dollar question: what do you think they’re having? Boy or girl? Cast your votes in the comments because I’m curious what team you’re on.

Okay, now let’s address the ahem spicy elephant in the room. If you’re here expecting smut from this book… well, uh… that’s going to be tough. Look, I tried. Chapter 14 was my brave attempt, and let me tell you, it was a disaster. Imagine me sitting there, trying to write two majestic kings getting it on, but all I could think was: What the heck would they even say?!

Like… would they say, “Oh, I’m about to cum” or, “Call me Daddy”? (I’m wheezing as I write this 😂). And then I thought: wait, this is set ages ago. Would they even talk during intimacy? Would it be all formal and awkward like, “My liege, may I…?” Honestly, it broke my brain. So, instead of going full steam ahead, I just kept it sweet, vanilla, and, uh, historically questionable. You’re welcome.

So yeah, for those of you hoping for steamier content in the upcoming chapters: don’t hold your breath. These updates are going to be fluffy as heck. Cute? Absolutely. Sexy? Maybe a little. I can’t do fluff without a side of angst though, so apologies in advance if you catch feelings.

Now, for my smut-deprived readers, I have a solution! You know my other book, Only His, right? THAT one is going to be dark, intense, and so, so spicy. I’m already plotting all the ahem explicit scenes, and let me just say—it’s going to get wild. If you want a sneak peek or a second chapter from that, let me know!

Alright, that’s all for now. Stay hydrated, be kind to yourself, and let me know your thoughts! Byeeeee! 🥳💖