----
(Outside the Queen's Chamber —)
The corridor outside Eva's chamber was thick with silence, the kind that made even the faintest sound seem too loud. The flames of the wall torches swayed restlessly, their light trembling against the marble walls.
Luca stood with Aranel and little Leo, surrounded by the court ministers and guards. All eyes were on the heavy doors that separated them from the Queen.
Eyan paced in front of them, his boots striking the floor with sharp, echoing steps. His face was pale, his eyes restless, and his fingers twitched as though searching for something to hold onto.
"What's taking them so long?" he muttered, voice trembling with impatience. "It's been thirty minutes."
Luca stepped forward, trying to sound calm though even he felt the weight in his chest.
"Eyan, calm down. Nothing's going to happen to her. She'll be fine."
Eyan turned sharply, eyes burning.
"How can I calm down when she collapsed right in front of me?"
He hit his fist against the door, the thud ringing through the hall.
"What's taking so long in there?! Open the door and tell me what's happening to her!"
No one answered.
"I said open the damn door!" Eyan roared again, slamming his palm once more.
Luca grabbed his arm.
"Eyan! I know you're worried, but you need to hold yourself together."
Eyan jerked his hand free, chest heaving. He pressed his forehead against the wooden surface, voice cracking.
"Please… open the door. Let me see her."
---
Fifteen minutes later, the door creaked open.
The physician stepped out, his assistant following close behind, both bowing deeply.
Eyan was already in front of them before they could speak.
"How is she?"
The physician hesitated before answering.
"Your Majesty, the Queen is fine. There is nothing to worry about."
Eyan exhaled, his shoulders relaxing slightly.
"Then why did she faint all of a sudden? Did you find out the reason?"
The physician and his assistant exchanged uneasy glances.
Eyan's tone hardened.
"Why aren't you answering?"
Finally, the physician lowered his head.
"Your Majesty… the Queen is with a child."
For a long moment, Eyan didn't move. The words didn't sink in.
Luca's face broke into a wide smile.
"What? That's wonderful news! Eyan— you're going to be a father!"
Aranel clasped her hands with joy, whispering, "The Goddess has blessed them."
But Eyan… didn't move. His eyes were distant, unfocused, as though his mind couldn't grasp the words.
Luca frowned, noticing the physician's pale face.
"What is it? Why do you look so grim? This is supposed to be joyous news."
The physician's voice came out faint and strained.
"Master Luca… the child in Her Majesty's womb appears to be approximately one month old."
A heavy silence fell.
Luca blinked.
"And? What's the problem?"
One of the ministers stepped forward, his tone sharp and cold.
"Master Luca, His Majesty's wedding took place only fourteen days ago."
The man looked directly at Eyan.
"So how can the child be a month old?"
Every sound in the corridor vanished. Even the torches seemed to stop flickering.
Luca's mouth went dry.
"Are you certain?" he asked the physician quietly.
"I ran the tests five, perhaps six times," the man answered quickly. "Each time, the results were the same. The child is one month old."
A low murmur spread among the ministers like a dark wave.
"Then the child cannot be His Majesty's."
"Could it be the Queen's first husband?" another voice suggested coldly. "She divorced him before marrying His Majesty."
Luca shook his head, confusion deepening.
But before he could speak, an older minister stepped forward, his eyes narrowing.
"You've all forgotten something His Majesty himself declared before the wedding."
---
(Flashback — One Day Before the Wedding)
The council hall had been heavy with disapproval.
"Your Majesty," one minister said firmly, "how can you marry a woman who was already wed? The people will question the crown's honor."
Another added, "A married woman cannot become Queen. It would taint your reign."
Eyan stood tall before them, voice cold and certain.
"She divorced her husband. There is no dishonor in that."
One minister scoffed.
"Divorce doesn't make her pure again. She has already shared her body with another man. How can someone like her stand beside a King who has never touched a woman in his life?"
Eyan's reply cut through the air like ice.
"She's pure."
The room went silent.
"What?"
"Even though she was married," Eyan continued, "she and her husband never had their wedding night."
The ministers exchanged startled glances.
"Are you certain, Your Majesty?"
"Yes," Eyan replied without hesitation. "I'm certain."
The hall fell quiet.
"Then… there is no problem at all." The ministers said.
---
(Back to the Present)
The same words now hung in the air like ghosts.
"You heard His Majesty that day," one minister said grimly. "He confirmed that the Queen and her first husband never had their wedding night. So the child cannot be his."
Another minister stepped forward, his voice quiet but heavy with accusation.
"Then who is the child's father?"
The silence after the accusation was suffocating. No one dared to breathe too loudly, the air itself heavy with disbelief.
Luca's eyes slowly turned toward Eyan, his mind spinning.
"If they never had their wedding night," he thought, "then how can the child be one month old?"
Before he could speak, a minister broke the silence.
"I think… the Queen must have been having an affair behind her first husband's back."
The words cut through the hall like a blade.
Another minister whispered, "That could be possible…"
Behind them, Leo's small fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. His eyes, burning with fury, locked on the man who dared to insult his mother.
"Yo—"
"That child is mine." Eyan's voice sliced through the chaos.
The entire hall fell silent.
Luca turned sharply to Eyan. Every gaze in the corridor froze on the King.
A minister hesitated, voice trembling.
"B-but, Your Majesty, how can that be possible? Your wedding was only—"
Eyan stepped forward, his tone steady, his expression unreadable.
"I was the one she was having an affair with… behind her husband's back."
Gasps filled the hall.
"When I found out she was carrying my child," he continued, his gaze hard and unwavering, "I decided to marry her. I knew about the child from the very start."
A few ministers exchanged horrified looks. The air grew colder as Eyan's words sank in.
He took another step forward, his voice lowering to a dangerous calm.
"You've all have already said enough."
His eyes swept across them, sharp as steel.
"If anyone dares to speak of my wife's honor again…"
He paused, his tone turning into a threat that made every man's blood run cold.
"…I'll cut out their tongue myself."
"Understood?"
The ministers flinched and immediately bowed low.
"Forgive us, Your Majesty. We didn't know…"
"Now you know," Eyan said coldly. "Get out of my sight."
The ministers didn't need to be told twice. They bowed once more and hurried away, their footsteps fading into silence.
When they were gone, Eyan's posture faltered. His legs felt weak, and he leaned back against the wall, his hands trembling at his sides.
Luca took a cautious step toward him, his eyes soft with confusion and worry.
"Eyan… why did you lie to them?" he thought. "You didn't know about the child."
Before he could speak, a small hand grabbed his sleeve.
Luca looked down — Leo stood beside him, his face set, his eyes full of something older than his age.
"We need to talk," Leo said quietly.
Luca looked into his eyes, nodded once, and walked away with him down the hall.
Aranel remained, her heart pounding. She turned to the physician.
"Is Her Grace still unconscious?"
The physician bowed.
"Yes, my lady. But she should awaken any moment now."
"Then may I see her?"
"You may."
Aranel nodded gratefully and entered the Queen's chamber, the heavy door closing softly behind her.
The physician bowed to Eyan.
"Your Majesty, I shall take my leave."
Eyan barely nodded, his gaze fixed on nothing.
As the physician and his assistant departed, the hall fell silent once more.
Eyan stood motionless, leaning against the cold marble wall, his breath uneven. His hands trembled slightly at his sides. The weight of his own words — his lie — pressed heavily against his chest.
And in the emptiness of the corridor, where whispers of doubt still lingered, the King of Velmoria stood utterly alone.
---