Seven weeks later.
Queen Danika was in court again. There was discussion about the upcoming Fire Festival, which was a very important festival in Mombana, celebrated once every year. The discussion was going on around her, but her mind was so far away from there.
Her child was long overdue to come, but he hasn’t. It relieved and disturbed her at the same time. It relieved her because Lucien hadn’t been able to come back to Mombana again like he promised he would. Through his occasional messages from the messenger bird, he had been so busy with his kingdom and many marital procedures with the kingdom of Navia.
It took a little longer because King Valendy fell sick and had only recently recovered from his illness, but everything had been concluded because Kamara would be arriving before the Paleozoic moonlight.
The Paleozoic moonlight comes on the day after the morrow. So that means that Princess Kamara will be in the palace today or on the morrow.
That was great news because she either arrives with her lover or her lover arrives on the day after she arrives to await his punishment from the princess’s betrothed.
It will all be over, he’d informed her in his last message.
She clung to every word of his, missing him so badly. Knowing that he wanted to be there with her when she gave birth. It relieved her that she still carried the child.
But more than relief, it disturbed her a lot—worried her so much that she was long overdue, and yet she had not gone into labor: just so many pains and a few false labors.
Queen Danika was forty weeks pregnant. Ten months and one week. Her body no longer felt like her own at all. So heavy. The pains were insurmountable. And the tiredness? Whenever she worked too much, she felt like she would drop dead any second. She wanted nothing more than to birth her child and regain her body.
“Your Highness!?”
She barely stopped herself from startling by the loud voice of the minister of finance. She turned and saw all the eyes of the ministers staring at her with concern.
With the way they looked at her, they must have called her name before, but she didn’t answer. They know she spaced out. Again.
“Yes?” Her voice was firm. She refused to look guilty for being absent-minded.
The minister’s lips pursed with disapproval, but he repeated, “We were wondering if we should use the Buno market square or the Asinta market square since—”
“We will use Buno,” she replied, cutting him off.
“But Asinta is bigger and wilder than Buno,” the minister of taxation stated.
She turned to him. “We used Asinta last year. I might have been a slave in Salem at that time, but I still heard. Buno and Asinta are the biggest markets we have, so it is only right to hold this year’s in Buno. That way, those who live in the Buno town who weren’t able to attend last year’s will be able to make it this year.”
They thought about it, nodding their head meaningfully at her sensible contribution.
“You are right, your Majesty,” the minister for finance agreed with her.
While they continued the loud discussion, the queen sniffled a yawn. She was bored and tired of all these men here.
Then the minister of public affairs glanced at her, and his eyes twinkled. She knew immediately what the next topic would be.
He began. “So, your Majesty, about the third royal marital invitation. We have sent word out for—”
Queen Danika held her waist immediately and cried out. “Arrrgh!”
Her eyes went wide at them. She cried out again, her voice filled the epitome of pain.
Chaos broke out everywhere immediately. Movements filled the court as the ministers rushed up from their seats. Two ministers rushed towards her and held her, their faces filled with worry and concern.
Most of them were speaking at once.
“Guards! Come and take the queen!” Taxation.
“I think the child is coming again!” Minister of Justice.
“He might really come this time around!” Public Affairs.
“The queen is in so much pain! Guaaaaards!!!!” Minister for defense.
The queen cried out again. Longer.
The door burst open, and the guards hurried in as usual. Omna rushed closer and lifted her into his arms. As he hurried out of the royal court, he shouted, “Get the royal doctor!!!!!” The other guards followed fast behind him.
The confused and concerned ministers left in court were wishing and praying that their queen was alright.
The thoughts of the royal marriage were completely forgotten. Again.