Claimed By The Tyrant King

If that happened...

What would become of the relationship they had slowly built? Would she still be able to stand beside him and pretend nothing had changed, or would she lose even the little place she had in his life?

Rebecca couldn’t help thinking that perhaps she needed to keep her distance from Cedric for a while, at least until these feelings faded away.

It had been such a long time since she had felt anything like this that she couldn’t help wondering if it was simply because she had been caring for him day after day.

Perhaps her emotions had become tangled with concern and gratitude. Perhaps she only cared for Cedric because she had spent so much time looking after him, and once he recovered, those feelings would disappear on their own.

"Did you see that?" Julian called out, slightly out of breath after another round of practice.

Cedric turned his attention back to the boy and gave him a small round of applause.

"You did well," he praised. As Julian hurried over to them with excitement written all over his face, Cedric continued, "Your swordsmanship has improved, and your balance is much steadier than before. I think you’re ready to take the next step."

Julian’s eyes lit up instantly.

"Did you hear that, Mother?" he asked eagerly as he turned towards Rebecca. "I’m going to have a real sword soon."

Rebecca looked at him with disbelief before shaking her head. "You’re going to hurt yourself, Julian," she said firmly. "You’re far too young to be using a real sword."

The boy’s shoulders immediately slumped as he turned back to Cedric with an exaggerated pout.

Cedric couldn’t help the faint smile that tugged at his lips. "I think it’s better to listen to your mother," he agreed.

Julian’s disappointment was obvious, but Cedric leaned down slightly and whispered something into his ear.

"Don’t worry," he murmured quietly. "We’ll think of something."

Julian’s face immediately brightened, and he nodded enthusiastically before letting out a quiet giggle.

Rebecca narrowed her eyes suspiciously as she watched the two of them. "What did you just tell him?"

"Nothing," Cedric answered with surprising composure.

Julian nodded just as innocently. "Nothing at all."

Rebecca wasn’t convinced in the slightest, but seeing the matching expressions on their faces, she knew neither of them intended to tell her. She could only let out a helpless sigh as Julian hurried back into the garden, happily swinging his wooden sword once more while weaving between the flowers as though he had already become a great knight.

Rebecca and Cedric remained where they were, quietly watching him.

The peaceful silence between them somehow felt comfortable now, and Rebecca silently made up her mind.

Whether these feelings disappeared or not, she wouldn’t allow them to interfere with what mattered most. Until Cedric had fully recovered, she would continue doing exactly what she had been doing all this time.

The days passed by one after another.

With each passing day, Cedric’s condition steadily improved. He walked farther without needing as much support, his strength gradually returned, and he could spend much longer talking with others without growing exhausted. Even the physician, who had initially been so strict about keeping him confined to bed, could no longer hide his satisfaction. "You’ve recovered remarkably well," he remarked after another examination.

His gaze then shifted towards Rebecca.

"And you’ve done an excellent job looking after him. Had you not been so attentive these past weeks, his recovery might not have gone this smoothly."

Rebecca lowered her head modestly at the praise while Cedric glanced towards her. Although he didn’t say anything, there was quiet gratitude in his eyes.

It became clear to everyone that it would only be a matter of time before Lord Cedric regained his full strength and returned to his duties once again.

Meanwhile as another night settled over the palace.

Rosalind lay asleep beside Rowan when a sudden, sharp pain tore through her lower abdomen.

Her eyes flew open at once.

The discomfort she had experienced over the past several weeks was nothing new. Pregnancy had made restful sleep almost impossible, and there had been many nights when Rowan had stayed awake beside her, soothing her through aching muscles and restless discomfort. However, this pain was completely different.

It was stronger and sharper.

Rosalind tossed her head from side to side as beads of sweat gathered across her forehead. One trembling hand instinctively clutched her stomach.

"Rosalind?" Rowan’s eyes opened immediately.

The moment he saw the expression on her face, every trace of sleep vanished.

"Ahhh..." she gritted her teeth.

Rowan hurried upright as he moved closer to support her. "What’s wrong?" He asked, searching her face.

"Talk to me, Rosalind." His voice was steady, but panic had already begun creeping into it.

"I... I don’t know..." Rosalind gasped. "It just..."

He carefully helped her sit upright, but she remained doubled over, clutching her stomach as another wave of pain swept through her.

Rowan asked, his own heart pounding. "Rosalind... please... don’t scare me like this..."

"The pain..." she cried, tears beginning to gather in her eyes. "It’s too much..."

Another contraction struck before she could finish speaking, forcing a cry from her lips.

Rowan immediately stood. "I’ll have the physician brought here at once."

He rushed to the chamber doors and threw them open. "Someone fetch the physician!" he ordered the servants waiting outside. "Immediately!"

The attendants scattered without hesitation.

Rowan returned to Rosalind’s side just as another painful groan escaped her. The commotion quickly spread through the palace, and before long, lights began appearing throughout the corridors as servants hurried from one place to another.

The quiet of the night disappeared almost instantly.

Rowan crouched before his wife and gently took both of her hands into his. "We’ll get through this... The physician will be here soon " he said quickly.

Not knowing how to help her was far worse than facing any battlefield.

If he couldn’t even ease her pain, then what was he supposed to do?

Rosalind looked at him through tear-filled eyes as another wave of pain washed over her. Then, all at once, realization dawned across her face. "I..." she breathed in shock before clutching his hand even tighter. "I think... the baby is coming."

Rowan stared at her, his mind going completely blank.

Then reality struck him all at once.

He hurried back to the doorway. "Tell the physician to hurry!" he shouted. "I want her here this instant!"

The entire palace was thrown into motion as servants rushed through the halls, each person moving with urgency.

Rosalind leaned forward, breathing unevenly as another contraction overtook her. "I’m in trouble..." she whispered between painful breaths. "Ah..."

"No, you’re not," Rowan answered immediately as he returned to her side and knelt before her once more. He took her trembling hand into both of his, gently stroking the back of it with his thumb in an attempt to comfort her. "You’re going to be alright. I’m right here with you... Just stay with me, she’ll be here soon"

Even as he said the words, his heart was racing just as wildly as hers. He could only pray they weren’t too late.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!