Chapter 236: Safe In Your Arms
Rosalind froze the moment she saw the blood trickling down her thighs, and her heart lurched violently inside her chest.
The only thought that came to her mind was that something was wrong with her baby.
Her breathing turned uneven as panic settled over her, and before she even realized it, her voice broke through the silence.
"Is anyone there?" she called almost immediately, her eyes wide with shock as her hands trembled.
Both Kira and Freya rushed into the bathing room the instant they heard her voice, and as soon as their eyes followed hers to the blood staining her hand and running down her thighs, they stopped in horror.
"Your Majesty..." Freya whispered, her own face paling while Kira looked as though every drop of blood had drained from her body.
"Go... call the physician... Quickly" Rosalind managed to say, and almost immediately a sharp cramp twisted through her stomach, making her clutch it tightly as her face contorted in pain.
The two maids did not wait to be told twice.
"Kira, stay here with Her Majesty. I’ll fetch the physician," Freya said hurriedly.
Kira nodded with trembling hands before rushing to Rosalind’s side.
Freya disappeared almost at once while Kira quickly grabbed a cloth to cover Rosalind’s body as she slowly crouched to the floor, no longer able to remain standing.
"You’ll be alright... everything will be alright," Kira whispered, although even she could hear the uncertainty in her own voice.
Kira also did not know what was happening, and the sight before her had frightened her just as much.
Even so, she forced herself to stay calm for Rosalind’s sake although her own hands refused to stop shaking.
Rosalind continued clutching her stomach as another wave of pain coursed through her body, and her breathing grew heavier with every passing second. She had no idea what was happening, but deep inside she could already feel fear tightening around her heart.
She could only pray silently that nothing would happen to the baby growing inside her.
"The physician will be here soon... please hold on, Your Majesty," Kira kept saying, trying desperately to comfort her although she herself was close to tears.
After what felt like an eternity, hurried footsteps echoed outside before Freya returned with the physician close behind her.
"Your Majesty," the physician called gently as she immediately knelt beside Rosalind.
Rosalind lifted tear-filled eyes toward her, no longer able to hold herself together.
"Something is wrong..." she whispered brokenly. "Please tell me... is my child alright?"
The physician did not answer immediately. Instead, she carefully examined Rosalind before turning toward the two maids.
"Close the doors and make sure no one disturbs us."
Both Freya and Kira nodded immediately before shutting the doors firmly behind them while remaining nearby in case they were needed.
The physician worked carefully, speaking only when necessary as she examined Rosalind, and although every passing moment felt unbearably long, she remained calm throughout it all. Little by little the pain began to lessen, Rosalind’s breathing gradually steadied, and the bleeding finally began to ease until her body was no longer trembling as violently as before.
By then, word had already reached Rowan that something had happened to Rosalind.
The moment he heard she was in distress, he abandoned everything he had been doing without another thought and hurried through the palace as fast as he could.
When he pushed open the chamber doors, panic was written plainly across his face, and the maids immediately stepped aside after bowing hurriedly. His eyes searched the room until they found Rosalind resting against the bed, her face pale from fright, and the moment she saw him, fresh tears filled her eyes.
He crossed the room in only a few strides before staying beside her. "It’s alright... I’m here," he murmured softly as he pulled her carefully into his arms.
The instant she felt his embrace, every ounce of fear she had been trying to suppress came pouring out, and she broke down against his chest. "I’m sorry I wasn’t here," Rowan whispered quietly while gently stroking her hair.
"I’m sorry, Rosalind." His voice remained calm although guilt weighed heavily on every word.
He continued holding her until her sobs slowly became quieter, and only when she had calmed a little did he gently lift her face to look at him. "What happened?" he asked quietly.
"I was about to take a bath when I noticed I was bleeding," Rosalind answered softly, her voice trembling. "Then the pain started... and I thought..." Her lips quivered again. "I thought something had happened to..."
Before she could continue, he pulled her back into his embrace. "Nothing is going to happen," he whispered firmly. "You’re safe, and our child is safe"
Rosalind closed her eyes against him, allowing his warmth to wrap around her while the terror that had gripped her heart slowly loosened its hold.
Only then did the physician clear her throat gently. "Your Majesty..."
Rowan turned toward her.
"The bleeding has stopped, and Her Majesty is stable for now," the physician explained carefully. "However, this happened because her body was placed under severe emotional stress. From this moment onward she must avoid anything that may upset or exhaust her. She needs complete rest for both her own sake and the baby’s."
She paused briefly before continuing more seriously. "Fortunately, nothing worse happened today, but if such strain continues, I cannot guarantee the outcome next time."
The room fell silent.
Rowan slowly nodded. "I understand," he answered quietly. "Thank you."
The physician bowed respectfully before gathering her things. "I shall prepare medicine for Her Majesty and return later."
After giving one final bow, she quietly left the chamber.
Realizing their work there was also finished, Freya and Kira exchanged a glance before silently bowing as well. They slipped out of the room without making a sound, leaving the king and queen alone.
Silence settled over the chamber once more.
After a while, Rosalind sniffled quietly against his chest. "I overheard what they were saying in the hall today," she confessed in a trembling voice, and Rowan immediately stilled.
"How can they say such things?" she asked softly, the hurt in her voice far greater than the tears she had shed.
He gently stroked her back, his movements slow and comforting as though he wished he could soothe away every painful word she had heard. "I’m sorry you had to hear any of that," he said quietly.
"But I want you to know that none of those words are true. They are nothing more than lies spread by vicious people" He carefully held her by the shoulders until she lifted her eyes to meet his, and his own gaze remained steady and unwavering.
"There’s nothing they’ll say that will ever change how I see you, and nothing will ever make me believe those lies about you or our child."
Rosalind swallowed hard as she searched his face, and seeing nothing but sincerity in his eyes eased the heaviness weighing on her heart.
"Please forget that it ever happened, alright?" he murmured gently, and although she knew those cruel words would not disappear from her mind so easily, she slowly nodded.
Rowan gave her a faint smile, and he lowered his head to press a gentle kiss against her forehead.
She wrapped her arms around his waist, drawing comfort from the warmth of his embrace before looking up at him. "Aren’t you going back to work?" she asked softly.
"I’m staying here with you," he answered without hesitation.
Rosalind looked at him for a brief moment before asking again, "For the rest of the day?"
"Yes," he replied just as quietly, never taking his eyes off her, and hearing that filled her heart with so much warmth. A small smile finally found its way onto her lips.
Rosalind remained in his arms, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, and that familiar sound soothed the fear that still lingered inside her.
Only moments ago she had believed she was losing their child, and even though the physician had assured her that it had only been a warning brought on by overwhelming stress rather than a miscarriage, the terror of those moments still clung tightly to her heart.
She closed her eyes and held onto Rowan a little more firmly, silently thanking fate that the worst had not happened while praying she would never have to experience such fear again.
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