That morning, the sky was clear.
Little birds sang from the rose garden.
A gentle breeze carried the scent of violet, which had once become a symbol of Sheena's curse—now transformed into a sign of new hope for her forthcoming life, reflecting her journey from despair to renewal.
From the high balcony, Sheena stood gazing at the royal garden.
The maple leaves were beginning to turn red, a sign of a new season.
Her hand rested on her belly.
Still flat. No physical changes.
But her heart knew. There was life within.
Not just an illusion. Not a forced desire.
A small pulse flowing with her blood.
The night before, while bathing in the private pool, Sheena sensed something different.
What usually flowed steadily within her body now felt strange.
There was a gentle thrum.
Like a whisper only a mother could hear.
Quietly, she called Madam Ilareth, the old royal healer who had served the Elyndra family for four generations.
In secret. Without anyone's knowledge.
Outside, Fitran, Sheena's husband, stood beneath a large tree, looking toward the balcony.
"Sheena," he called softly, filled with longing, "Will you join me in the garden? We can enjoy the sunlight together."
Madam Ilareth began to chant natural spells.
A soft green light enveloped Sheena.
Then, with a trembling voice:
"Your Highness... You are pregnant."
Sheena froze.
"...Me?"
"The pregnancy is only one month along. But it is clear. A new will has been bound in your blood."
Meanwhile, outside, Fitran felt an unspoken presence—a peace mingled with anxiety, like two sides of a coin. "Sheena, if there's anything you want to talk about, I'm here," he said, his voice softening in the wind that brushed through the leaves, hinting at their unbreakable bond.
Sheena held her breath, her heart trembling at the gentle call of her husband. She wanted to run but felt trapped between the news of peace and an inescapable confusion. "Why does my life have to be filled with these secrets?" she thought.
Returning her focus to the room, she struggled to calm herself before answering Fitran's call. "Madam Ilareth," she whispered, "swear to keep this to yourself."
Madam Ilareth bowed respectfully.
"Certainly, Your Highness. I will keep it in my heart, as one cherishes a precious seed."
A new will.
Not a curse.
Not a burden from Osiris.
But a meaning chosen for oneself.
Sheena lowered her gaze, her eyes glistening with unshed tears as she recalled the moment she first met Fitran; his vibrant gaze seemed to read her soul, a poignant moment that left a lasting imprint in her heart and fueled a deep, complicated love. Deep down, she wondered if she would receive this news with joy or hesitation, feeling the weight of both expectations and desires.
"Madam Ilareth," he whispered, "swear not to tell anyone about this."
Madam Ilareth bowed respectfully.
"But... Your Highness, isn't this good news?"
Outside the building, under the moonlight, Fitran stood in the garden, observing the shimmering flowers that gently swayed in the night breeze, their beauty contrasting sharply with the turmoil in his heart. His heart raced as he thought of Sheena and the love that continued to grow within him, a mixture of anticipation and dread, wanting to protect her while aware that fate could dramatically alter their lives.
"Fitran is preparing for the termination of abacomancy.
"If he knew I was pregnant... he would stop everything to protect me and this child, even if it meant allowing the curse of Avalon to remain. He would sacrifice for our happiness."
His eyes hardened.
"I don't want my child to be born under the shadow of a curse."
"I want them to be born into a world that is free. A world that we choose."
With a determined expression, Fitran raised his gaze to the sky. He was the guardian of this secret, though his heart was torn between love and responsibility, grappling with the fears of losing everything. "Sheena," he whispered softly, "I will not allow the shadows of the past to block our future. We will face everything together." In the depths of the night, he cast a protective spell, sending a gentle light toward Sheena, as if conveying his unwavering hope and steadfast commitment to her and their future.
Madam Ilareth knelt down.
"I will keep this secret, Queen Elysvarre."
In the following days, Sheena carried out her duties as usual.
She smiled while standing next to Fitran in a magical meeting, feeling the warmth of his proximity. "There is so much for us to do together, isn't there?" she said, gazing at Fitran with hope.
She laughed as she welcomed noble guests, adorning her face with a genuine smile, even though her thoughts constantly shifted between responsibility and the secret gnawing at her heart.
She participated in the early ritual of the pactum severance.
But in her moments alone...
She often held her belly.
Sometimes whispering to the tiny life within:
''You are my hope, bound not only to my life but also to the future we dream together.''
"You are a new will that will not bow to Osiris."
"And I will protect you, even from your own father... until the time comes."
In another corner of the palace, Fitran stood by the window, gazing at the moon that illuminated the night, its paleness echoing his own uncertainty. "Sheena, I can feel there's something you want to tell me," he thought, his heart trembling in confusion between intuition and curiosity, torn between love for her and the secrets she kept.
Fitran observed intently.
He was not just a sorcerer; he was a husband who knew every breath of his wife. "I will always be here for you, you know that, right?" he whispered, though Sheena couldn't hear him, hoping that the stars would carry the message.
Sheena began to refuse certain foods.
She easily became fatigued during magic rituals.
Her face grew pale in the mornings.
Each time Fitran looked at her, he sensed that something was wrong. Sadness enveloped him like a morning fog that was reluctant to dissipate.
One night, as the crescent moon hung in the sky, Fitran embraced her from behind.
"Sheena, behind your smile, I can feel the weight you carry. What is really happening?" he asked softly, his voice full of concern.
"Sheena..." he whispered.
"Are you hiding something from me?"
Sheena grasped Fitran's hands around her waist.
"No. Just tired."
However, in her heart, she felt a wave of guilt. She desperately wanted to tell him everything, but feared Fitran's reaction.
Fitran kissed the back of her head.
"I know you are strong. But you don't have to bear it all alone."
"Sheena, we can face this together. I will be with you every step of the way," he added with a reassuring confidence.
Sheena felt like she might collapse.
But she held back her tears.
"If I tell you now... you will choose to protect me and let Osiris win."
As her words were spoken, the shadows of the grass outside seemed to quiver, as if responding to her uncertainty. Their guardian angel seemed to feel it too.
She turned and offered a faint smile.
"I'm fine, Fitran. I promise."
Yet, deep down, that promise felt fragile—held together by the warmth of Fitran's embrace.
That night, as Fitran slept, Sheena stood on the balcony.
The dark night sky loomed overhead, stars glittering like watchful eyes.
In the distance, a purple lightning flickered above the northern forest—where the ritual of pemutusan pactum would soon take place.
Sheena gazed at the stars, feeling a fleeting tranquility flowing through the night breeze, as if all her repressed hopes were ready to be born.
Echoing softly, Fitran's voice lingered in her memory, "We'll get through this, won't we?" She closed her eyes briefly, envisioning a possible smile on Fitran's face, "Yes, I would do anything for you."
"If I have to choose between honesty and my child's freedom..."
'I choose freedom—freedom for my child, even if it means bearing the weight of this dark and lonely night alone until dawn reveals its truth.'
"I'm sorry, Fitran."
In her belly, the tiny will pulsed gently, as if understanding her.
Sheena felt a subtle tremor, and at that moment, she spoke softly, "When the time comes, I hope you will understand why I have to make this choice."
"I will protect you."
"Until this world is ready to accept your new will."
Suddenly, the sound of the wind reminded her of the possibilities, "Fitran, perhaps we can create a new world together—a world where love and responsibility are not at odds, where dreams take root and flourish." This thought touched her heart, stirring feelings of unease and lingering hope as she imagined a life filled with both.
In a dimension visible only to those who understand the pactum, Kaseo Vallaricus observed from a secret observation circle.
He squinted, watching the hidden magical interaction from the world's gaze.
'Our little Queen has brought forth a new hope, not just for herself, but for the future of the next generation,' he thought with conviction, recognizing the resilience of life and the potential that lay within her womb.
"If that child is born... they will become a variable that even Osiris cannot account for."
"But all wills, sooner or later... can be negotiated."
He smiled faintly, then vanished into the shadows.
Waiting for the right moment to act, when aspirations and hope intertwine.