Chapter Fifty-two

Months later

[Malia’s POV]

The sound of the baby’s cry hit my ears, and even through the overpowering pain I felt after being in labour for thirty-six hours, a great smile found its way to my lips. It was as though my intestines had been ripped apart and I had never felt as weak as I felt presently, but I was fulfilled.

It was worth it. All the pain I had endured had been worth it eventually.

The Moon Goddess didn’t fail me. She had looked down on me with a smile, and although there had been times when I had wanted to give up and just heed to the call of death, I was happy I had persevered. My baby was worth it all.

“Can… can I see him?” I asked weakly, as I tried my best to keep my eyes open… just to have a glimpse of my baby, just to behold its magnificence.

“‘Her’, your majesty. You delivered a bouncing baby girl,” the midwife said.

“What?” I asked, filled with shock, and the sleep that had been deeply rooted in my eyes disappeared almost immediately. “I… I had a daughter, not a s