Chapter 211: The Decision
"I don’t need to," I replied.
"What do you mean?"
"Anyone can tell you’re carrying a child now."
"Does this mean the baby has a heartbeat now?" she asked, hopeful.
I palmed her belly. "Not yet, my love. But it’s now obvious you’re carrying another life inside you."
"Oh, that’s good news! I’ve been scared, but because of you, Drevon, I think we can make this work. I need you to promise me something."
"Anything, my love."
"Promise me that when the baby comes, our love will be enough, no matter what."
I already knew which Eloise would choose, and as much as it ate me from the inside out, I knew what I had to do now.
"I promise."
~•~
"My liege?" Celia said with trembled eyes. "What did you say?"
"I shall give you a vial of Eloise’s blood; you shall use it to study her lingering ailment."
She gulped. "But—"
"Your main priority is to develop a cure. This shall be a covert assignment. Do you understand me?"
Celia released a sharp exhale. "Understood greatly, my liege. I’m ashamed to admit I didn’t think this far. You’re prioritizing both the queen and the empire. It warms my heart."
I don’t give a fuck about the empire when it matters my wife’s life, I’m only doing this for Eloise’s sake. She’s already becoming attached as she should be and I cannot make the decision to rip that away from her.
"Your search for a cure must be swift."
"I’m not confident enough that I can find a cure on time before she gives birth, but if it’s possible to reduce the effects of her ailment, I can guarantee that I’ll find a solution. My earlier thoughts about choosing the royal baby was what anyone in my position would have done. However, truly I do care about the queen, too."
"You must find a cure." That was the only thing I could say and which mattered to me most.
"I-I’ll do my best. She’s still in the early stages, so we shouldn’t have to worry much about her health, as long as she doesn’t strain herself."
"I shall see to that, and you must work as much as you can. Weekly reports of your progress shall be welcomed."
She curtsied. "Yes, my liege."
"You may leave."
The doors opened at that moment, and Ravyn walked in. They both exchanged a curt nod.
"I see you’re back from your little trip," I said the moment the doors slammed shut.
"Yes, Beloria has become quite the growth. You should see for yourself what these humans are capable of when you set them out into the world."
I sent Lucan as a spy, but I sent Ravyn as an ambassador to oversee matters in my stead. It was just an upfront to kill any suspicion. She acted as my eyes and ears in official meetings, while Lucan acted as my shadow lurking in the darkness.
"I trust there are great reports."
She smirked, sitting and crossing her legs. "Many great reports. The archduke was trash, but he really outdid himself in the past year, or maybe it’s the human’s resilient nature to survive. I’m ashamed to admit that in a few years, they might become just as great as Valkanor. Enough to rival us, in terms of resources that is."
"That is interesting news."
"Unless you want to seize Beloria as yours completely, or are you still waiting to find that one worthy human leader?"
"Sometimes I don’t look at the present. I was taught by my father to always keep my eyes on the future. He said the present is only a stepping stone toward the future."
The recollection of my father’s words was deeply nostalgic. He was a wise man.
Ravyn chuckled. "He was right. So tell me, Alpha, what do you see in the future?"
"In the near future, the human country will be established as an independent nation, but that progress will depend on me. Their fate lies in my hands."
"So, which would it be then, become the ruler of both humans and beasts? I assure you, you will become the greatest leader ever known, that not even your forefathers could achieve."
I pushed to my feet. "That is one thing about you, Ravyn. You always found a way to see inside my head."
"I bet you’re regretting not making me your Beta. Well, I wouldn’t have agreed."
"The position was meant to be yours from the start."
"I do prefer being your wife’s Beta; she’s far more worthy of serving."
"Brash speaking," I sneered. "I’ll rule the humans... that was the plan from the start."
"I’ve forgotten how terrifying you can be."
"Beloria shouldn’t have existed; the only reason they do and will continue is because of Eloise. If she wants the country wipe out from the map, then her wish is my command."
"Understandable. I cannot question that. Your rule is inevitable, but first, you must remove the weeds. I spoke with Lucan discreetly, and it seems like the small council is making their moves already. Though details have not been known, they are a sneaky bunch."
"I’m already aware."
"You think they have made contact with the last of the snowbloods? We still do not know the number of survivors from the last war."
"Yes... They are a persistent bunch like we are, but we cannot be sure they are trying to show their faces now. We caused great damage to them, and recovering will be hard for them."
~•~
Servants walked past me carrying heavy boxes, saying a word of greeting when they saw me.
It seems preparation for the Legacy Ball was ongoing quite well. I shouldn’t be here because I had other matters to attend to, but I wanted to check on Eloise and hope she wasn’t stressing herself.
The grand hall was filled with busy activities. I spotted the Dowager walking back and forth, barking orders on what to do.
Then I set my gaze on Eloise; thankfully, she wasn’t walking around; she was seated on the imperial staircase, stroking Snow, who lay on her lap. The sight wasn’t queenly, but when has my Eloise ever done anything relating to the norm?
She was the change Valkanor needed, but sadly, the empire was still selfish. I hope to change that soon so that her future and that of my unborn child will not be the home I grew up in.
I’ll do everything I can until my last breath.