Her Graceful War Song

This was the first real trial in Thomas and Rosalind's marriage.

The sweet days were suddenly mixed with bitter medicine.

Such a matter required Thomas to make a decision. When he received the news,

he hurried home without delay. He didn't even stop to greet his mother and went

straight to Rosalind's room.

He came back cold from the snow, with flakes resting on his shoulders. After

shivering for a moment outside, he warmed his hands by the fire before daring to

hold her.noveldrama

His voice broke as he said, "Why didn't you tell me you were ill? You must never

do that again. If you feel unwell, you must tell me at once."

With his return, Rosalind felt steadier and more at ease.

But when Thomas saw how thin she had grown, tears filled his eyes. "I've let you

suffer. It's my fault. I have not taken good care of you."

As she laid her head against his chest and listened to his strong heartbeat, the

worries and sadness of recent days slowly began to fade.

"I'm the one who has troubled you. You are so busy, yet I made you come home,"

she said.

"No matter how busy I am, someone else can take my place in the army. But no

one can take my place by your side." Thomas gently stroked her back. "I

understand everything now. Let me speak with the physician again, and then we

will decide. Is that alright?"

She nodded. "I'll follow your lead."

They held each other for a while before reluctantly letting go.

Looking at her pale, thin face, Thomas felt nothing but deep sorrow. He didn't rush

to see Sebastian right away but stayed with her a while longer before heading to

Arcane Sanctum. There, Sebastian repeated what he had said before.

In short, falling ill had left Rosalind very weak. Terminating the pregnancy now

would harm her health and might make it hard to conceive again. If they kept the

child, she would need attentive care, but the baby might not survive. If the

pregnancy was terminated later, that could harm her too. As for whether the child

would have defects, Sebastian said it was possible but not very likely.

After some thought, Thomas said, "If terminating the pregnancy now means she

cannot have children later, that's alright. But I want to ask—if she takes the

medicine to end the pregnancy, will she be safe?"

"The medicine to end a pregnancy is

very strong. She is so weak that it is

surely dangerous. One dose might

work, but often, it doesn't fully end it,

and then stronger medicine is

needed. I fear her body cannot bear

it," Sebastian explained.

Troubled by the danger, Thomas asked, "If the pregnancy was further along but

still couldn't be saved, would that harm her more than ending it now?"

"Before three months would be somewhat better. After three months, the fetus is

more formed, so the harm is greater," Sebastian answered.

Seeing Thomas so troubled and unable to decide, Sebastian added, "You should

go and discuss it with your family. If you decide to keep the baby, I will do my best

to help."

After Thomas left, he invited members from the royal chancellor's household. Both

families met to make the decision together. They all found it difficult and sighed.

The baby had come at an unfortunate time.

"The worry now is that if we manage to keep the child safe until six or seven

months, yet still lose it then, it would be all the more dreadful," Trevor said, clearly

concerned.

His worry was shared by all.

At this point in the story, Elise couldn't help but ask, "Was the baby Alaric?"

Rosalind gave no direct answer but

slowly said, "When I first learned I

was with child, I felt nothing at first.

But I began to accept it. Knowing

there was life in me, I decided I must

try to keep it. Whether it survived or

not, at least I would have done my

best and would have no regrets."

No one could decide, but she made her choice—not to give up lightly, and to take

care of herself and the child.

Thomas immediately took leave from court and stayed at home to care for her.

The pregnancy was difficult, as

Rosalind's body was too weak. No

sooner had she decided to keep the

child than she began to bleed. She

couldn't keep down any food,

vomiting even the medicines meant

to strengthen her. Some days, she

could only manage a few sips of

broth.

It was painful to watch, and everyone was deeply worried. Alice even sent for

Sebastian, asking if the child might be lost naturally if they stopped trying to keep

it. It was unbearable to see Rosalind suffer so.

Sebastian said he couldn't guarantee that. The best they could do was to continue

to care for Rosalind whenever there was bleeding and to give her medicine

whenever she could take it.