Chapter 266

“Well, I thought that she had a miscarriage because of her all of the blood she lost. Fortunately, her baby is fine. However, since both the baby and the mother were exhausted, she needs special care until she gives birth.”

“I see. Good job.”

I breathed a sigh of relief at the doctor’s reassurances. I knew it was selfish thinking, but I felt much lighter when I thought that the scenes of the past, which had been repeated in front of my eyes, would not turn out the same way. Of course, I felt relaxed to know that Beatrice, who already had lots of painful memories, would not be hurt again.

“By the way, Lady Monique?”

“What’s up?”

“You look very pale. If you don’t mind, can I check your condition?”

I felt embarrassed, but I shook my head slowly to the female doctor who approached me and waited for an answer. I couldn’t tell her that I didn’t look good because of my past memories, so what’s the point of her examining my condition?

“No, thanks. I was surprised for a moment, so, I don’t want to bother you.”

“Really?”

“Just let her examine you on this occasion. You seem to be very surprised. I think you had better have a brief medical checkup.”

When I looked back in surprise, I saw him leaning against the window and looking at me with his arms folded. I opened my eyes wide at his warm words because he kept a distance from me all through the morning, but he soon went back to his old self and his face lost all expression.

“… Yes, Your Majesty. I will. ”

When I slowly nodded, the woman politely asked for my understanding and began to examine me. I thought she would be done quickly, but she checked my body here and there, slightly frowning her eyes.

Why was it taking so long? Is there something wrong with me?

When I licked my dry lips nervously, the woman asked me after examining my body all over,

“Excuse me, do you have a period, Lady Monique?”

“… Not really. ”

“Have you ever had a period before?”

“Yes, I did before I had an unfortunate incident. But why do you keep asking me? ”

I blushed because she kept asking me about it in the presence of the emperor and others. Although I asked her, squinting at him at the window, she said calmly as if she didn’t want to reply, “Lady Monique, I’m sorry to say this, but can I have some bloodwork done on you?”

“… Sure.”

“Thank you. Then, excuse me for a moment. ”

After bowing to me slightly, she took out a small silver needle from the bag. She pierced the tip of my finger and dropped an unknown reagent on it, then looked at it for a while.

“Um…”

As the doctor agonized about the test results, I got more and more nervous, but I tried to stay calm and silently watched what she was doing. I couldn’t show my anxiety in the presence of the emperor and Jiun.

How much time passed? Suddenly, the woman who stood up shouted with an excited voice.

“Oh my God! Rejoice, Your Majesty! Lady Monique can…!”

“Wait a moment.”

The emperor raised his right hand to stop the woman, then looked back at Jiun.

“Lady Jena, you may go out now.”

“… Your Majesty.”

“Thanks for your good job. I’ll reward you for your efforts today.”

Her eyes trembled when he ordered her to leave. She looked at him silently for a moment, then she slowly left the room after showing due manners.

Even after she disappeared, he remained silent for a moment before asking the middle-aged woman, “Go ahead. So, what were you going to say about Lady Monique?”

“In fact, I had a question about her for long. I heard that she was attacked by two types of poison, namely the poison that dries up her womb slowly and the poison that greatly amplifies the poison itself. So, I was wondering why she didn’t lose her life despite such severe poisoning.”

‘Isn’t that because of the High Priest’s blessings?’

I was a little puzzled, but I listened silently to the woman’s explanation.

“Well, I think her period at the time of the incident was not normal. It was probably that the blood that flowed from her womb was because of the poison that continued to build up inside it. And she probably survived because some of the poison was discharged with the blood.”

“Hmm, so what?”

“When I examined her blood sample, it seems that her womb was not completely dried up. If my diagnosis is correct, she will probably start to have a period again within a couple of months. In other words, she can have a baby. Congratulations, Your Majesty! Isn’t this the great blessings of the empire?”

What?

My head was messed up. I was out of my mind with her bombshell announcement.

‘So, I… I may not be infertile?’

I can have a baby? Then, all the wild imagination about me as an infertile woman up to now was nothing but a horrible dream?

“Oh my…”

My heart was pounding like crazy, and I was consumed by some intense feelings beyond description. I felt like I would cry at any moment.

However, his trembling eyes made my excitement subdued in a moment. I noticed him turning around and looking out the window.

My pounding heart suddenly became cold.

I raised my cold hand and put it on my chest as my heart ached. I felt very empty somehow.

‘You are really funny, Aristia.’

I bit my lips. I pushed him out even though he begged you to stay with me. How could I feel upset towards him because he was standing, with his back to me? I said confidently I could suffer more hardship than this, but how could I be upset with his cold attitude?

After taking my eyes off his back, I forced a smile that I had practiced for a long time. If I was hesitant here, it was clear that the royal doctor would think of me wierd.

“Thanks… ”

The moment I tried to say something, I heard him speaking to the royal doctor with a calm voice, “Both of you doctors, keep this secret for the time being. It’s my order as the emperor.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Got it, Your Majesty.”

“Then, you can go out for a minute. Let me call you back a little later. ”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

In fact, there would be nothing good if this were leaked. It was obvious that the pro-emperor faction would install me as the empress again, while the noble faction would put up the utmost resistance as they couldn’t sit on their hands.

“…”

I thought he would also give me directions, but even after the two doctors went out, he was still looking out the window silently. It looked as if he was setting up a barrier against me.

As I couldn’t stand it anymore, I opened my mouth, clearing my subdued throat, “Your Majesty, please allow me to leave. I’ve been away for a long time, so I think I should go back now. ”

“… Sure, go ahead.”

Looking back at him who was still cold to me, I slowly closed the door.

Standing with back to the tightly closed door, I put my hand on my chest as if I felt jammed up inside. Although I knew I had to go back, I could not move despite the royal knights’ intense gaze on me.

‘Come to your senses, Aristia.’

In the end, I took my eyes off the door, looked back, then went back to the banquet hall slowly.

Somehow, my legs felt very heavy.

“Good job, see you tomorrow. ”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

It was already after the banquet was over when I came to my senses, taking care of all the big and small stuff at the banquet.

He turned after thanking me out of courtesy. After showing due manners to him, I headed for the palace with heavy strides where I would be staying during the festival days.

Was it because of the tight corset? I put my hand on my heart because I felt jammed up on the inside very much today. When I was taking a big breath, I saw a familiar and welcome man coming toward me.

With his silver hair shimmering faintly under the moonlight covered by clouds, he was my father. “Tia, you’re back now.”

“Yes, Daddy. But you still haven’t called it a day? I thought you would be working until evening today…”

“How can I sleep comfortably as my only daughter is working late at night?”

“But you must be very tired…”

“I’m fine. Let’s go home now. Go home and take a rest. ”

“Pardon? Going home?”