Chapter 151: Chapter 151 A Hope That Kills
Phoebe’s POV
The white wolf sat by the riverbank.
The gorgeous creature gazed at me, as though waiting. But I couldn’t understand what she expected. I was here. I was always here.
Yet her eyes held a deep yearning.
The white wolf continued watching me...
When I stirred awake, I found myself alone in bed. I glanced around the empty room, but Perry’s scent wrapped around me. He was everywhere.
I scrubbed my face roughly, then checked the time. Past afternoon. I’d slept through the entire morning and missed Perry’s departure.
I lowered my hand and traced my neck, feeling Perry’s mark on my skin. A smile tugged at my lips as I recalled every moment of our passionate night, heat flooding my cheeks.
Then I touched my flat stomach, and my thoughts drifted in an entirely different direction.
A baby.
Could I carry one this time? Our relationship had improved. We were better than before—so much better.
This time, our child would grow strong, and I wouldn’t suffer again. I would be safe.
Perry would be safe too.
No more secrets existed between us. We were building trust, moving in the right direction. I could sense it.
With that thought, I immediately climbed out of bed, cleaned myself up, and headed to see Marcela in the infirmary.
"You skipped your morning lesson, my lady." Marcela smiled sweetly, teasing me because she knew exactly why I’d missed it.
Everyone in the palace was talking about it. They’d watched the king carry me back to the palace, witnessing a tender smile on his face.
Not his usual mocking grin or threatening sneer, but a smile born from genuine joy. Something incredibly rare—or rather, something they’d never witnessed before.
Because of this, people discussed how I’d managed to melt the king’s icy heart. The palace would remain stable as long as I was there.
Marcela explained all this to me. "I think people are starting to accept you, my lady. How does that make you feel?"
I shrugged, unsure how to respond, but the deep blush on my cheeks told Marcela I was incredibly happy.
[Can you teach me to make that mixture?] I scribbled on paper, wanting to change the subject, then showed it to Marcela.
"What mixture?" Marcela raised her eyebrows questioningly.
I bit my lip, uncertain how to write what occupied my mind. Finally, I decided on a single word. It would be enough for Marcela to understand my meaning.
[Fertility.] Marcela’s heart nearly stopped when she read it. She swallowed nervously. Clearly, the king hadn’t told me anything about my condition.
Knowing this, Marcela seemed at a loss for words.
Should she be completely honest with me? The king had only forbidden Marcela from telling anyone else about my condition, but he hadn’t said anything about telling me directly.
I nudged her hand when Marcela didn’t respond, tilting my head as if asking: can you?
"Um..." Marcela appeared to lose her words. She seemed unsure how to answer.
It wasn’t that I couldn’t conceive. I could get pregnant, though it would be difficult, but the possibility remained.
However, the real issue was: if I did conceive, it would threaten both my life and the baby’s.
My body was too fragile to handle such massive changes from pregnancy.
It would kill us both.
"You’re still recovering from previous injuries. There are certain ingredients you can’t combine. You’re still taking the medicine, right? We’ll discuss it again once you’re completely healed."
[I’m fine. I think I can stop taking the medicine.] I knew the medicine I drank regularly was just a supplement, not something to treat any illness or aftereffects from my ordeal.
"No, my lady. I’ll decide when you can stop," Marcela said, having no choice but to use her authority as a healer.
Hearing this, I pressed my lips together. I wasn’t pleased, then wrote again. [When?]
Marcela thought of saying a decade, but that would be obviously false. "Two years..." she said without confidence, knowing she was lying to my face.
I widened my eyes and pursed my lips. I mouthed: Liar.
Well, I was right about that.
"I’ll monitor your condition regularly, okay, so I’ll know when you can manage without the medicine." Marcela added, "Pregnancy will put enormous strain on your body because you’ll undergo massive changes, and if your body can’t handle it, it won’t just endanger your life, but also the baby you conceive."
Marcela wasn’t skilled at lying, but this time she mixed truth into it, allowing her to speak smoothly.
Finally, I sighed deeply. I gave in. I didn’t want to put myself through such trauma again, or endanger my baby.
I nodded.
"Alright, shall we continue with our lesson now?" Marcela immediately switched topics, breathing in relief because I’d dropped the subject.
Once the king returned, she would discuss this matter with him, because they couldn’t keep deceiving me.
It was only after a month that Perry finally came back.
