Marriage Alliance With The Lycan Monarch-Chapter 240: The Royal Baby Is Born

"The heir is the Alpha. The Alpha of Alphas, with blood stronger than any we have ever seen. He has magic running through his veins, and that alone will enhance the moonblood," the Dowager stated proudly.

Grandmother laughed before it dialed down to chuckles. "You still underestimate the power of ice over fire."

"Fire melts ice."

"And ice quenches it."

I chuckled nervously, far too loud, and grabbed their attention. "Just look at us, already getting along."

The Dowager rolled her eyes and sipped her tea. "Hmm... this is the perfect flavor."

"Indeed," Grandmother replied after sipping hers.

I’m beginning to regret this brunch.

"Eloise, you did such a wonderful job with this display. I love it."

"Thank you, Grandmother."

"Eloise has always been creative, that is one thing I love about her," the Dowager uttered.

I grimace.

"However, that creativity sometimes needs to be checked. Like, for one, this alliance I hear whispers about."

The whispers carried strongly indeed. The Dowager already knows.

"Yes, the alliance is still in the discussion stage. However, we won’t go further until we have the masses along with it."

She scoffed. "The masses? Your granddaughter Orianna may have escaped a death sentence, but you’re really naive to think the people of Valkanor will welcome snowbloods with open arms."

"Believe me, I only expect the negative."

"Grandmother," I said in a sad tone.

"But that is part of what makes this more interesting."

The Dowager fixed her with a pointed glare. "What do you mean?"

"A chance to prove that we can be better than we were in the past. I’m more than happy to do so."

I smiled.

"Why are you going so far with this? Forget the fact that Eloise is your blood; that is not enough reason," she said sternly. "Here you sit in a mirage that you’re a guest, but in truth you’re actually held here against your will. Why take in such disrespect?"

Grandmother’s eyes turned wistful. "Are you not tired, Arwen?"

That was a simple question, but it had a great impact on the Dowager. Her eyes turned soft, and her eyebrows furrowed.

"Because I am."

Her eyes turned glassy, and I assumed she was going to cry, but she blinked it away and fixed her stern expression back.

In silence, she pushed to her feet and walked away.

"Grandmother... that question."

"She is tired." Grandmother said with a faint smile on her lips. "She has the same look as me. Hopefully she’ll admit it soon."

"I cannot believe that affected her so much."

"I understand her feelings more than anything, my dear Eloise. We both lost a husband, a mate, and that rage is unlike anything you could imagine. It’s like a part of you is ripped out. That stays with you forever."

I gulped at her words, suddenly having an uneasy feeling coil inside me.

"H-How did you do it? How did you keep living?"

"For me, it was the legacy I left behind. That way, my husband isn’t truly dead, for I see him in all our grandchildren, and I say to myself. Look, my dear, look at what we made."

I wonder if that is how the Dowager feels whenever she sees Drevon and Diana. Damon too.

She was a tough wall to crack, but I believe beneath that icy exterior lies a woman who couldn’t be herself for the sake of the empire.

~•~

I’m now heavily pregnant, and walking has become too much for me. I couldn’t visit Grandmother for a stroll in the gardens, so she came to me.

While Drevon was attending to matters, she was always by my side.

"This is the first time. A snowblood always gives birth at 30 weeks, but look at you, you’ve already passed that."

I smiled nervously, stroking my bump. I was already 33 weeks.

Later today, Celia will come to check for my due date. I still couldn’t believe I’d see my son soon.

"Eloise worries too much, Countess, maybe your words will give her a little ease," Diana said at a corner, reading a book.

Grandmother chuckled and took my hand. "Nothing to worry about, my dear."

I hope so too. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that something could go wrong. I know the baby and I are healthy, and my ailment wasn’t as strong before, but there was this deep fear of something could go wrong.

"Oh, right, Orianna’s trial will be over soon, but she’s expected to stay within the castle grounds for the meantime," Diana said.

"I see... I trust she is in good spirits?"

Diana smirked. "Making her life a living hell is just the kind of torture I need."

"Oh my!"

"Grandmother, don’t mind her, what she means is... Orianna’s trial was serving the empire, in other words, the royal family. Diana to be exact."

"Oh... the public will see this as an act of atonement for her sins. No one would imagine a snowblood serving a lycan. That’s quite thought out. So how does the public react to this?"

"A little bit of negativity, but the positive response rivals it. We have good results from Orianna’s trial; her dedication to atone for her sins has gotten good reviews," I said.

"Excellent! Then we’re off to a good start."

Diana gave me a look, and I had no choice but to explain before she got more confused.

"Grandmother wants Orianna to be set straight for her actions. She does not condone it, which is why she gives her blessings."

"Is that so? Then I would have made it ten times harder."

"Diana!"

Grandmother laughed, and I smiled at her carefree spirit.

Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain in my stomach.

"Eloise, what is wrong?"

"I just felt this pain."

"Maybe you should go lie down," Diana hurried to my side to help me up.

"I feel..." I couldn’t finish as another pain came forward, and I growled.

"Oh my gods!" Grandmother exclaimed.

And Diana had a look of horror on her face. I turned to see that the entire area I sat on was drenched in blood.

I drew sharply on my breath as panic filled my lungs.

Feeling a sudden shift, a feeling took over me, and I knew.

~•~

• DREVON •

I pushed open the door. Handmaids were running around holding bloody towels.

Eloise was in great distress, and I hurried to her side, taking her hand.

"Why wasn’t I called sooner!" I snapped, trying to calm my rage.

When Eloise tightened her grip on mine and looked at me weakly, I was on my knees, leaning down to her.

"My love."

"Drevon..."

I could barely hear her.

"I’m here." I glanced at Celia, who was already in white, and the blood stains made me worry.

"She is yet to push my liege, and she’s already losing so much blood."

"She must push now, before it’s too late." Valestra stepped, covered in white, too. "Bring more towels!" she barked at the handmaid."

"D-Drevon, is something wrong?"

"No, my love. Everything will be fine, I promise. I’m here now."

She nodded slowly before her eyes rolled to the back of her head.

"She’s too weak. Any time now, warlock!" Mother yelled.

Corvin was at the far corner mixing some brew. "It’ll be ready soon."

"Diana, we need hot water!"

"She needs strength!"

"More towels."

"Be quick!"

"Time is not on our side!"

I couldn’t follow up on everything. The room was in a state of chaos, and all I concentrated on was Eloise; she was slipping between consciousness and unconsciousness. I have lost count of the many times she fainted.

"Please, you must leave. Dowager, and the rest of you. We need order!"

"I won’t leave," I said without bothering to look at them.

I grabbed the brew, attempting to give it to her, but she was already screaming.

"She’s pushing already!"

Her nails dig into my skin until I was bleeding, but I didn’t care about that.

Her screams made my insides crack, and it shook the walls of the room. Suddenly, it got too cold, and I hissed when her ice emerged and slipped through my skin.

Celia backed away as her body ran pale, her hands cold and numb.

Valestra took over; the ice didn’t affect her, so she urged Eloise to keep pushing.

I was growing lightheaded. Her ice was far stronger, and it infested my blood faster, but I had no intention of leaving her side.

When Eloise released a painful scream, the lights in the room flickered dangerously.

"More towels!"

There was blood everywhere, and I was already panicking. I had seen blood, guts spilled, and headless figures my entire life. I was born into war, but this affected me greatly, and my heart was twisting in my chest to see her in such distress.

I murmured to her, telling her she could do this. Eloise was already giving up, crying in great pain.

It was the longest, most excruciating moment of my life. But those moments were gone when the sound of baby cries echoed.