‘Your majesty, congratulations.’ A Shafran male opened the door.

  ‘Thanks, Oren. I hope this child can be the future of the kingdom.' Adrian lay back in his chair.

  ‘My grandchild will be, but I didn’t come here just to congratulate Your Majesty and see my daughter; I’ve heard that your health is not great.’ Oren sat on a chair across from Adrian.

  ‘I’m glad for your concern; I’m just a little weak, the idea of a new religion appearing among the people in these trying times. I don’t like it.’ The archduke massaged his hands.

  ‘I think you are blowing this thing out of proportion; rumors are that this goddess appears to be a Chatzi. What a joke.’ The marquess had a smug expression.

  Adrian took a deep breath and looked at Oren with disdain in his eyes, but he couldn’t do anything because he was the leader of the noble faction that ?hated the Chatzi, and they were the majority; the other part didn’t love them either; they just didn’t care, viewing them the same as the rest of the commoners.

  ‘Ah, I’m sorry, Your Majesty. As a token of my respect for your daughter, I will now give you space and visit the Archduchess.’ He got up and walked to the door.

  Adrian saw Oren’s back and thought he was there to provoke him. It had been long since he had written to his daughter, and he was regretful, but he had no choice. The nobles needed him to cut communications with his daughter to help with Velvent. He also wanted Judith, his now-wife, to feel loved.

  ‘I’m so tired, but I wonder what Ariadne is doing now; she even cares for the monsters on her duchy.’ Adrian grinned.

  In the castle, a Shafran woman was sitting on a chair on the balcony, looking at the sky, trying to relax with one hand on her belly. A smile was stamped on her face. Finally freed from her father, she was the happiest woman.

  ‘Humm... you saw happy; that is good.’ Oren steps onto the balcony, looking at his daughter.

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  ‘F-Father, let…’ She was interrupted by Oren’s hand.

  ‘There is no need, Archduchess. You need to rest and relax. You have the future inside you, and everything you need will be granted.’ He smiled at her and looked into her eyes.

  ‘Ah, thanks; I will do my best.’ She looked at her belly.

  ‘Honestly, I was surprised at how quickly you seduced the archduke. That was commendable. Maybe a task only you could have done, but the future is uncertain. Just keep that in mind.’ He patted her shoulder.

  She found his behavior strange. At home, he would ignore or frown at her shy demeanor, but now he behaves like a loving father, the same way he did with my brothers and sisters. Something inside her prevented her from falling into his grace.

  ‘He is kind and cherishes his daughter. I saw her many times but never dared to talk to her myself; everyone talked behind her back, and I didn’t want you to have a poor reputation because of me.’ She took a deep breath.

  ‘Even back them, thinking about me, I truly had a diamond in the rough; I apologize, daughter.’ He bowed to her.

  That took her back. She didn’t know what to say. It was like a completely different person was talking to her. Maybe that was her time shining in his eyes, but something prevented her from opening up again.

  ‘No problem, Father; you had your ways of educating me; we can start again from now. Could you help me prepare the funeral of the duchess? Adrian said she had only five months left.’ A tear dropped from the side of her cheek.

  ‘Of course, I’m surprised at how her territory was holding on; maybe those Chatzi have something to offer after all, surrounded by all those monsters, and they are still there and growing in numbers if her numbers can be trusted, of course.’ He gave a small laugh.

  ‘Maybe giving her name to the duchy after she passes would be a good present for his majesty, a gift from the nobles.’ She smiled at her father.

  ‘I don’t think it will be needed, but nobody knows.’ Again, he patted her shoulder before turning around and walking away.

  She looked at him going out of the room, leaving her alone; something didn’t feel right, but her thoughts were redirected to her belly as he passed her hand on top of it; for now, she would just focus on her unborn child.

  At the halfway point, Oran was humming, and the sound calmed him as he walked. Nobody was in sight, and his thoughts were empty, a foreign sensation. Because of this, a hint of intrigue filled his mind.

  ‘Everything is going as it should; I wonder if we could use the Chatzi because if they are resisting like they are now. With our support, it would be a magnificent wall against Velvent.’ He smirked.

  He stopped beside a window, put his right hand against it, and looked outside. He saw some Chatzi gardening in the courtyard and smirked again. He let go of the window and scratched his cheek.

  ‘Look at me, even thinking about those abominations. Maybe even they had their place in this world. Let’s see it when I’m in control of the country.’ Oren smiled and continued to walk while humming.

  Adrian was on his bed. It had been some time since he had felt weak; his age was showing more; in his mind, he thought that having a child with his newfound love triggered the clock of death in his heart as he could finally let go. Still, he needed to endure for some more years. As his thoughts faded, his eyes closed, and he felt peace as he remembered Ariadne’s face for a moment.