Chapter 12:a royal suprise
Many months had passed since the tumultuous events that had shaken the palace. Concubine Odessa, once on the brink of disaster, had finally found stability in her pregnancy. However, her path to tranquility was punctuated by frequent visits to the physician's clinic, where she would receive treatment for the complications that seemed to plague her at every turn.
The king's concern for her well-being was palpable, and the entire palace was abuzz with worry. Yet, amidst all this concern, one person knew the truth - Queen Mara. She was acutely aware that her own actions had contributed to Concubine Odessa's complications, but she didn't bat an eyelid. Her focus was elsewhere, her mind fixated on her own burgeoning pregnancy.
The confirmation of her pregnancy had brought about a seismic shift in the king's behavior towards her. The doubts that had once clouded his judgment seemed to have dissipated, replaced by a renewed affection and attention that Queen Mara lapped up like a starving woman. The king's love and care were lavished upon her, and she reveled in the attention, her heart swelling with a mix of emotions.
As the days turned into weeks, and the weeks into months, life in the palace began to settle into a smooth routine. The king's affections for Queen Mara continued to grow, and she found herself basking in the warmth of his love. Concubine Odessa, despite her ongoing health issues, seemed to be on the mend, and the palace was filled with a sense of hope and renewal.
But beneath the surface, Queen Mara's mind was working overtime. She knew that her pregnancy had brought her a step closer to securing her position in the palace, and she was determined to leverage this to her advantage. The king's love and attention were hers to command.
Queen Mara's pregnancy had brought about a transformation in her demeanor. Her mood swings were intense and unpredictable, leaving the palace staff walking on eggshells around her. Servants would scurry away at the slightest provocation, fearful of incurring her wrath.
One unfortunate servant, who had accidentally poured water on her, had borne the brunt of her anger. Queen Mara's reaction had been violent, and the servant had narrowly escaped serious harm. After that incident, the servants made it a point to keep their distance, often feigning unavailability when she summoned them.
Even the king was cautious around her, trying not to provoke her into a rage. He had instructed the staff to tread carefully, warning them not to do anything that might set her off. However, one person in the palace remained unimpressed by Queen Mara's condition - the queen mother.
she certainly wasn't pleased about the way she was manipulating the king. The queen mother's disapproval was palpable, and it was clear that she wouldn't hesitate to speak her mind if given the opportunity.
The queen mother had always harbored a deep-seated dislike for Queen Mara, and the feeling was mutual. Queen Mara didn't bother to hide her disdain for the queen mother, and she certainly didn't lose any sleep over it. In her mind, the queen mother wasn't even worth considering a problem.
Meanwhile, Queen Mara's remembered the witch doctor's word,that he son would be born blind,so she decided that now was the time to seek solutions.
Under the guise of taking a stroll for the baby's health, Queen Mara would go out of the palace in a carriage, visiting various prophetesses and witch doctors in the city. She would confide in them about her supposed condition, and they would perform their spells and incantations, only to confirm the child in her was truly blind"There's nothing we can do," they would say, shaking their heads in sympathy.
But Queen Mara refused to accept this fate. She was convinced that there must be a way to change the child's destiny. As the visits to the prophetesses and doctors yielded no solutions, Queen Mara's frustration grew. She began to plot and scheme, her mind racing with evil intentions.
*************************
The hot afternoon sun beat down on the palace courtyard, casting a golden glow over the tranquil surroundings. Queen Mara, lounging on a plush couch, was enjoying a leisurely afternoon, her legs and hands being massaged by skilled servants. Suddenly, without warning, she felt a sharp pang, and her body began to tense up. The servants noticed the change in her and quickly realized that she was going into labor.
Pandemonium broke out as the servants rushed to alert the physician. The news spread like wildfire, and soon the king himself arrived at the scene, looking shocked and worried.
As Queen Mara was rushed to the physician's clinic,the palace erupted into a flurry of activity. Servants scurried about, fetching water, towels, and other necessities. The king paced anxiously outside the physician's chambers, his mind racing with thoughts of fatherhood.
The surprise was palpable, given that Concubine Odessa had been pregnant before Queen Mara. The sudden turn of events had everyone wondering how this could have happened. Some servants whispered among themselves, speculating that perhaps Queen Mara had been pregnant before Concubine Odessa, but had managed to keep it a secret.
As the physician tended to Queen Mara, the king's anxiety grew. He was about to become a father, and the circumstances were certainly unexpected. The queen mother, meanwhile, seethed with anger and resentment, her predictions and warnings having fallen on deaf ears. Now, it seemed that Queen Mara's child would arrive first, potentially altering the course of palace politics forever..