The silence in the royal chambers was deceptive—like a calm before the storm.King Alexander stood by the edge of the bed, his expression tight with frustration. Candlelight flickered across the marble walls, casting long shadows that seemed to echo the unrest brewing in the room. Queen Daniela sat on the edge of the plush mattress, her gown still wrapped modestly around her, her back turned to her husband.“Daniela,” Alexander said, trying to keep his voice calm, “it’s been weeks. I am your husband, your king. Must I always beg for something that should be ours by right?”She didn’t turn. Her voice was quiet but firm. “Being king does not entitle you to my body, Alexander. I’m not some prize to be claimed when convenient.”He took a step forward, the pressure in his chest threatening to spill into anger. “Convenient? You think this is about convenience? We are married, Daniela! You bear the title of queen, yet you shrink from your duties like a frightened maid.”“Duties?” she repeate
The palace was cloaked in silence as night swallowed the horizon. Alexander stood at the edge of the bedchamber, staring at Daniela as she slept beneath the silken sheets. Moonlight spilled through the arched window, casting a silver glow across her face, serene and untouched by the chaos that brewed inside him.He clenched the small clay vial in his hand—a second dose, hidden away in the folds of his royal robes. The first had slipped from his grasp earlier, shattering across the marbled floor. But the shrine man had prepared two, warning him: “This is not just powder. It is a betrayal of her will. Use it only when your soul can carry the burden.”Alexander’s grip tightened. Burden? The word haunted him.Was it a burden to fulfill destiny? To produce an heir for a kingdom that demanded tradition above all else?He moved closer to the bed, the vial shaking slightly in his palm. He stared at her peaceful face, remembering her words just days before—the defiance in her voice, the pain i
The evening air was cool,a soft breeze carrying the promise of winter.Gabriel sat in the living room of his house, a mug of coffee in hand, his thoughts filled on the message he had received earlier that day. Lydia had texted him a simple line:"Hey Gabriel, I was thinking of coming over to keep you company. I’ve been meaning to visit. Could you describe your house to me?"He stared at the message for a moment, the words sparking a smile that crept across his lips. He hadn’t expected her to reach out so soon, but the idea of spending time with her, just the two of them, seemed like a welcome distraction. He quickly typed a response:"That is a small thing ! My place is a beautiful mansion. When you walk in, you’ll see a large, open living room with big windows that let in tons of light. There’s a fireplace in the corner. I love it on chilly nights. The kitchen is open, with ceramic structure and lots of space, and a little island in the middle. Upstairs, I have a few bedrooms, but I
The sunlight streamed softly through the blinds, casting a gentle glow on the room as Lydia slowly stirred, the warmth of Gabriel's blanket still clinging to her. The previous night was like a dream,one of comfort, of ease, yet now it felt heavier. She wasn’t sure if it was the vulnerability she had let herself experience or the undeniable pull she felt toward Gabriel. As she opened her eyes fully, she realized the truth: this was no longer just a normal connection.She sat up slowly, taking in the room around her. The familiar scent of Gabriel’s perfume filled the air, mixing with the rich aroma of coffee that was brewing somewhere in the distance. Her body felt a little sore, but not in a bad way—more like she had been wrapped in a kind of tenderness she didn’t know she could enjoy.There he was, standing by the kitchen counter, making breakfast. His figure was calm and composed, but there was something about the way he moved,an easy grace that made her heart do a small sound in
The faint chirping of birds echoed from the distance, their songs slipping through the parted curtains of Gabriel's living room. A soft golden light painted the walls with warmth, and the scent of roasted coffee beans drifted lazily through the air. Lydia stirred on the couch, the thin blanket wrapped around her shifting slightly as she blinked into the sunlit room.For a moment, she forgot where she was. Then she heard the faint clinking of utensils from the kitchen.Gabriel.She sat up slowly, brushing her fingers through her hair and pulling the blanket closer. Her heart fluttered in a way she hadn't felt in a long time—not from fear or nervousness, but from something warmer, more intimate.She padded softly across the metallic floor, following the sound. There he was—in a plain grey shirt and joggers, sleeves pushed up, standing over the stove, pouring eggs into an attractive pan. His back was to her, but the way his shoulders moved, the way he hummed lowly to himself, made her
It began like a whisper in the wind—a vomiting feeling that stirred her from sleep just before dawn. Daniela pressed a hand to her mouth, the bile rising in her throat faster than she could process what was happening.She barely made it to the wooden basin in the corner of the room.Her knees hit the cold, cracked floor, and she doubled over, vomiting so violently that tears blurred her vision. Her stomach churned with a vengeance, as if her body had finally decided to betray the secret she'd been trying so hard to bury.When the nausea subsided, she wiped her mouth with the back of her trembling hand and sat back against the wall, panting.She knew.Every fibre of her being knew.The signs had been there—missed cycles, the sudden distaste for her favorite yam porridge, her aching breasts, and the odd fluttering sensation deep inside her. She had tried to dismiss them all. But this morning, her body screamed the truth she’d been too afraid to accept.She was pregnant.Her hands insti
The days crawled by like shadows at dusk, stretching slowly, painfully. Daniela’s world had grown quieter, heavier. Her stomach had begun to round out weeks ago, but she didn’t tell anyone not the villagers, not even herself in the mirror. Yet her body refused to keep the secret.The first time she vomited, it happened at dawn.She had barely stepped out of the hut when her stomach turned violently. She clutched a wooden pole for support, retched, and spewed the little pap she had managed to swallow the previous night onto the dry earth. She stayed bent over for minutes, gasping, weak, her knees trembling beneath her.She wiped her mouth with the edge of her wrapper, dazed.There was no hospital in the village—only a native healer and the whisper of herbs. But Daniela didn’t need a doctor to confirm it. She knew. Every slight shift in her body—the nausea, the soreness in her chest, the constant fatigue—was screaming the truth at her.She was pregnant.And the father… was Alexander.Th
The evening air was cool, filled in the softness of twilight. Streetlights blinked to life one by one like sleepy fireflies, and the city began to hum with night-time rhythms. Lydia adjusted her simple gown as she stepped out of the cab, her eyes searching for Gabriel among the small crowd gathered near the entrance of the vintage-style cinema.And there he was.Leaning casually against a pillar in a black hoodie, faded jeans, and that same scent she had grown addicted to—clean, crisp, something like sandalwood and secrets. The moment their eyes met, he straightened.“You look beautiful,” he said, his voice calm but his eyes giving him away.“You say that every time,” Lydia replied, a smile tugging at her lips.“Because it’s always true.”They walked into the cinema together, side by side, but something lingered in the air between them. Something unsaid. Something heavy yet delicate.The movie hall was mostly empty—just a handful of scattered viewers. Gabriel had deliberately chosen a
The sky above the palace bled into a melancholic gray, the sun hiding behind thick clouds as though mourning with the king. The royal garden, once Daniela’s favorite place, stood untended. Wildflowers grew in stubborn defiance through cracks in the once manicured paths. The scent of blooming hibiscus clashed with the scent of time—that old, dusty silence that lingered in places where laughter had died.King Alexander stood still on the palace balcony, arms crossed behind his back, cloaked in heavy velvet. He wasn't the same man he was two years ago. The weight of loss had carved lines into his once-youthful face. His shoulders drooped beneath invisible burdens. Power still clothed him, yes, but it no longer fitted him like pride—it clung to him like grief.His eyes scanned the horizon—the same trail Daniela had once fled down with the child. The same trail the guards had failed to watch. His jaw clenched at the memory.Every now and then, he imagined seeing her figure walking back, ch
The evening of the engagement party felt like a dream to Lydia. The grand ballroom was bathed in warm, golden light. Crystal chandeliers hung high above, their glimmering reflections dancing across the polished marble floor. The walls were adorned with intricate tapestries, depicting stories of love, fortune, and legacy. Every corner of the room was carefully designed to evoke luxury, but it was the people who made it truly come alive.Guests murmured and laughed in soft clusters, champagne glasses clinking as they raised their toasts to Gabriel and Lydia. They had all come from different walks of life—wealthy socialites, business moguls, close friends of the family. But tonight, there was one thing that united them all: the promise of the future, the joining of two lives. Gabriel stood at the center of it all, a striking figure in a tailored suit, his posture confident but warm as he greeted guests. He was the picture of a man who had everything under control. But as his eyes scanned
The soft light of the morning sun was seen through the blinds, spilling its warmth over the living room of Gabriel’s apartment. Lydia sat on the sofa, her bare feet tucked under her as she scrolled through a wedding magazine, lost in thought. The room was filled with the rich scent of freshly brewed coffee, and the faint hum of the city outside only added to the quiet peace of the moment.Gabriel had just stepped out of the shower, a towel draped low on his hips, his hair still damp. He smiled as he saw her lost in the magazine, the occasional flutter of the page drawing her attention. It was one of those simple, perfect moments that made him feel like everything he’d ever wanted was right here.“You look like you’re plotting world domination,” Gabriel teased, stepping into the kitchen, his voice a warm caress.Lydia glanced up from the pages, offering him a playful scowl. “I’m plotting the perfect wedding, thank you very much. There’s a difference.”“Ah, my mistake,” he grinned, lean
Dark clouds thickened above the palace like a warning, casting long shadows that crept along the courtyard stones. A heavy silence hung in the air, broken only by the occasional rustle of dry wind against the banana trees that lined the palace fence.Alexander stood stiffly near the throne room window, eyes fixed on the sky. When the priest finally arrived, the guards ushered him in with reverence. The old man’s steps were slow, but his presence demanded respect. His hair, thick and snowy white, spilled down to his shoulders like ancestral feathers. His robe, dyed deep maroon with sacred herbs, carried the scent of ancient incense.He bowed slightly, then looked up. His eyes—milky but sharp—settled on Alexander’s face. “You sent for me, Your Highness?”Alexander gestured toward a mat. “Sit. There is trouble in the land.”The priest slowly lowered himself, folding his legs under him. “I know,” he said softly, voice like wind brushing through dried leaves. “The spirits whispered last ni
The palace was filled with quiet murmurs—an odd silence that carried the weight of something heavy and ominous. Alexander paced the grand hallway like a lion in a cage, his brows knotted, and fists clenched tightly behind his back.But where did she actually go to?He had called for Daniela more than once since morning, yet there was no response. A low growl escaped his throat as he spun around sharply."Guards!" His voice thundered through the palace like the clash of metal on stone.Within moments, two of his loyal men rushed in, dropping to one knee with lowered heads. Their faces were stiff, trying to read their master’s mood but finding only storms in his eyes."Where is the girl and the child?" Alexander barked.One guard stammered, "My Prince... we haven’t seen her since dawn. We thought she was resting—""Thought?" Alexander snapped, his voice sharp as a whip. He took a step closer, towering over them. "You thought? You were meant to watch her every move! She just gave birth
The night was filled in an unsettling stillness, the kind that made every creak of the floorboards echo like thunder. Inside the dimly lit room, Daniela sat on the cold floor, staring blankly at the brightening lantern. The baby—her baby—lay asleep in a tattered basket nearby, his tiny chest rising and falling in innocent rhythm. He was a picture of peace, unaware of the storm filled in his mother’s heart.Her eyes were swollen from nights of silent weeping. She had not known peace since the day she discovered she was pregnant. Now, each time she looked at the child, guilt clawed at her chest. She had carried this baby inside her, nourished him with her own body—but he reminded her of everything she wanted to forget. The shame, the pain, the helplessness.She rose to her feet slowly, limbs trembling as if the air itself weighed her down. The room creaked as she moved toward the basket. Her fingers hovered above the baby’s soft body before she gently wrapped him in a large piece of ny
The first morning after giving birth arrived quietly, filled in pale sunlight that crept gently through the cracks in the wooden window. Birds chirped in the trees outside, a soft contrast to the stillness inside the hut. Daniela stirred slowly, her body aching from the night before. Every bone felt bruised, every muscle stretched too far — but there, nestled against her chest, was the reason she would endure it all again without hesitation.Her son.She hadn't even chosen a name yet. Not because she didn't care, but because nothing felt worthy enough. He was a miracle born out of pain, sorrow, and stolen freedom — yet somehow, he was her peace.The small bundle stirred in her arms, letting out a tiny yawn that melted her heart. His fingers flexed as if reaching for something unseen, and Daniela smiled, the corners of her lips trembling with emotion. She adjusted her hold and whispered to him, “You’re safe. Mama is here.”The native doctor came in shortly after, bringing her a bowl o
Lydia was in the middle of her sitting room folding her laundry when her phone buzzed with a message from Gabriel.Gabriel: Hey babe, I need your help urgently. Please come to this address. Don’t freak out, it’s nothing bad. I just really need you right now.She blinked at the message, heart leaping to her throat. Gabriel? Urgent? She didn’t hesitate. She tossed the folded shirt back into the basket, grabbed her handbag, and slipped on the first sandals she saw.The address he sent wasn’t familiar. It led her toward the outskirts of the city, a less busy area with long, quiet roads lined with trees. As her ride dropped her off, she stepped into a narrow walkway covered in overgrown ivy and trees. For a second, her instincts whispered this is strange. But then, soft music—gentle piano chords—started playing from somewhere deeper within.She followed it, each step slower than the last.As she moved further in, the surroundings transformed.The dim path opened into a dreamy garden spac
The evening air was cool, filled in the softness of twilight. Streetlights blinked to life one by one like sleepy fireflies, and the city began to hum with night-time rhythms. Lydia adjusted her simple gown as she stepped out of the cab, her eyes searching for Gabriel among the small crowd gathered near the entrance of the vintage-style cinema.And there he was.Leaning casually against a pillar in a black hoodie, faded jeans, and that same scent she had grown addicted to—clean, crisp, something like sandalwood and secrets. The moment their eyes met, he straightened.“You look beautiful,” he said, his voice calm but his eyes giving him away.“You say that every time,” Lydia replied, a smile tugging at her lips.“Because it’s always true.”They walked into the cinema together, side by side, but something lingered in the air between them. Something unsaid. Something heavy yet delicate.The movie hall was mostly empty—just a handful of scattered viewers. Gabriel had deliberately chosen a