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“She must provide a boy-child.”
I took a deep breath. Of course this would be the case, for a girl could not take the throne of Silverhelm. What if she provided a girl child first? It was a question I did not wish to consider just yet.
“What if Hadley does not wish to continue in such a role once a son is born?”
“She will have many options,” Sunniva assured me. “Since she will have given birth to the future king, she will be in very high demand as a wife.”
This news, I thought, was the most welcome. Hadley had feared for her own future, and at least in this matter, she would be more secure.
“What if I become with child?” I asked.
“Before or after Hadley?”
My throat felt tight, and I had to swallow before I could speak again.
“Either way,” I said.
“If you bear a male child before Hadley, her duty would no longer be needed. She would stay here and would be treated with great respect because of her willingness to serve in such a way. If she bears a male child first, and you second, your child would have the line of succession. Her child would have to be recognized separately or not at all—it would be up to Branford to decide.”
“What would become of Hadley and her child if he refused them?”
“I do not think he would,” Sunniva said with a shake of her head. “But if he did, he would have to decide if they were to stay here or not. It would be unusual not to allow them to live with their station intact for the service she provided in the kingdom’s time of need even if it was ultimately unnecessary.”
For many moments I sat with my head on my queen’s shoulder, my thoughts jumbled inside of my head. I tried to s
ort through the information Sunniva had provided, and I was at least certain that Hadley would be cared for regardless of what happened.
I did not want her to suffer when all she was doing was trying to help us.
I shivered as a cool breeze came from the top of the castle walls, and Sunniva told me we should find a warm fire inside. I stood on shaky legs, but she assisted me, stopping me briefly before we entered and turning me to face her.
“When I first met you, I knew you were noble in your heart,” Sunniva said. “Now I know inside of your breast beats the heart that is truly royal.”
“Thank you,” I replied as I bowed my head. “May I ask you one more question?”
“Certainly.”
“What will happen if Hadley does not become with child by summer?”
Sunniva’s face paled.
“Let us just pray it does not come to that.”
*****
“I do not see how I can do this,” Branford said quietly. “How I will even be able to…”
His voice trailed off, and he huffed a breath through his nose.
We sat on the edge of our bed as the winter winds began to whistle and moan against the windows. Hadley had returned to Silverhelm earlier in the day and was now waiting for him in the room Sunniva had prepared for her. Though I offered to help, Sunniva insisted on doing it herself.
“You will have to close your eyes and think of me,” I whispered back. I looked away, trying to maintain whatever dignity I had left on this night.
“I am not sure even that will work,” he said. “The very thought is…”
He closed his eyes tightly and scowled.
“I should not burden you with this,” he said.
