The next day the news of Esther spending a night with the king reached the previous Queen Theodora. She was delighted hearing it and looked at Lady Tyra who told this to her.
"My son cares for her. That shows his love for her is still the same."
"I believe so as well, Your ladyship," Lady Tyra agreed.
The previous queen could understand why her son must have asked her to spend the night in his bedchamber. Though he might say it's his duty as a king to protect the honour of the Queen of this kingdom, it was simply out of love for her. It won't be long before he will forgive her and be with her like before.
The entire palace was aware of it and they could not help but praise how much their king loved their queen that the day she returned to the palace, he could not stay away from her.
The month passed by normally when King Theron was busy taking care of the kingdom which still needed his attention. Some of the natural disasters caused by the curse were the serious issues to be solved- like crops were destroyed and there was still a shortage of food, the economy of the kingdom was still a mess like so many businesses shut down, people died and families lost their bread earners as they depended on the help from the royal treasury that was helping people to some extent. When the King was handling the outside matters across the kingdom, Esther was busy handling the internal affairs of the palace.
Soon the news came which was the occasion of joy for the entire kingdom but for two people it was something that would only create the distance between them.
"Your Majesty, you are expecting a child," the royal physician declared happily after he checked the queen who was not feeling well for the past few days.
Hearing it, the Queen's servants standing around could not help but feel joy while Esther, old lady Theodora and lady Tyra were calm.
"Congratulations, your majesty," the servants wished her wholeheartedly.
"You all can go out. Let her Majesty rest," Lady Tyra sent them all out.
The previous Queen rewarded the Royal Physician before he left the Queen's Chamber.
Once everyone left, the older lady went to her daughter-in-law. She sat at the edge of the bed where Esther was lying, not knowing how she should react though it was nothing unexpected.
The older lady held her hand, "Esther, this was meant to happen and you should accept it."
Esther closed her moist eyes, "I know mother. I am just worried about how he will react when he…."
"He is ready for it. He knows it will happen, isn't it why he asked you to stay in his chamber a month back?" she asked.
Esther didn't reply and heard her again, "You should stop worrying about him and look forward to the arrival of this child. Innocent children should not suffer between us elders."
Esther knew it as well. Whatever happened, the child inside her was her own and she had to give him everything the child needed the most from his mother- the love and care.
Like a wildfire, the news spread throughout the entire palace. All believed the King and the Queen were blessed by the gods as they helped this kingdom get rid of the curse and saved so many lives. It was the result of their good deeds.
King Theron received the news as well when he was busy taking care of the important matters. Everyone expected the king to go to his Queen after this news. As a king and her husband, king Theron decided to go to her. After all, he faked spending the night with her just so no one would say anything about her. As he acted at that time to protect her honour then it was the time to take that act till the end.
King Theron went to see his Queen. The servant announced his arrival to the Queen who was resting but her mind was filled with so many chaotic thoughts.
She stepped out of the bed and stood up as King Theron entered her chamber. The servant already left as they believed the king and the Queen would like to be alone on such a happy occasion.
As the servant closed the door after leaving, king Theron looked at the woman standing in front of him. After that night Esther left his chamber, they hardly came across each other. No one bothered with the lack of affection between the King and the Queen as they knew these two were busy taking care of the kingdom. She looked pale compared to how bright her complexion looked all the time.
'Is it due to her being busy taking care of her duties or because she is…..?' he couldn't come up to think further.
"Congratulations," King Theron said. His voice was devoid of any emotions. If they had not gone through what they had faced in the past months, he would have probably been overjoyed with this news and had hugged her with joy and showered her with his love but….
Esther just looked at him and could not come up to thank him. Her husband was congratulating her to have someone else's child inside her. How could she accept it when it must have hurt him.
Her pregnancy reminded him that she could never conceive his child but someone else's. It made him realize that he was a weak human who was not capable of giving her this happiness. She could always be a mother but not of his child. It made him realize the difference between their status in this nature. She was someone powerful who needed no one and was capable of protecting everyone while he was not even worth giving her such happiness that she waited for long.
King Theron could understand her silence and spoke after getting out of his chaotic thoughts. "You don't need to feel sad towards me. Just like how you congratulated me for having a child with some other woman, I am doing the same. Just like you are a mother to my child, I will be a father to your child."
She felt heavy in her chest feeling emotional. Though he talked to her, it was an emotionless talk as if they were talking about some kind of trading.
"You shall rest," he turned to leave.
"Theron…." she finally called for him.
He stopped but didn't turn to look at her.
"I know you won't forgive me….."
"Forgive you for what?" he asked calmly and turned to look at her, "You have saved this kingdom by sacrificing yourself. You are a great Queen and we all should be grateful to you. What shall I forgive you for? I have always owed you my own life and now I owe you for saving this entire kingdom." Though his voice was calm, his words were painful for both of them.
Tears rolled down her eyes, "Don't forgive me. But I could not bear to lose you and I had to do it. It's all because of me..."
"Didn't you lose me anyway?" he interrupted her.
"But you are alive and that is enough for me," she said in her choked voice.
Her tears, the pain on her face, her crying voice, all this still affected him. he still could not bear to see her like this but stopped himself from going to her.
"If I had gone, you would have only good memories of me to remember, but now….?" he stopped, "I am the husband and a king who sacrificed his wife to protect himself and his kingdom. There is no meaning to such living. I never asked for it but…you can't and won't understand it."
"No Theron...."
"This is the truth," he interrupted her, "The pain I am feeling now, is nothing compared to the pain I would have felt bearing that curse. That would have pained my body, but this is hurting me here," he placed his hand on his heart. "This pain here is just unbearable to me."
Esther could say no more as only tears rolled down her eyes. She knew where she was wrong. She didn't let him fulfil his responsibility of protecting his kingdom and his own family, his wife his child....
"What happened has happened. You should take care of yourself," King Theron said and turned to leave."
He could not forget that she was with a child and couldn't stop himself from showing care towards her. Though he knew she was stronger to get affected by anything and that child would be born safely as one day he was meant to rule this kingdom. His father, the previous king had given his words to the Devil and whether he wanted it or not, he had to respect those words.
Esther could only look at him, leaving her chamber.
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