"Really? How is that possible?"
"Velithra is on an island, where it’s the coldest and the skies are dark but filled with stars. So days when we’re blessed with light in the sky, green and soft unfurl across it."
I gasped, coming to a halt.
"Is everything okay?" she asked, worried.
"T-There was a ti when I had dreams. It always felt so real. I saw snowy cliffs and the light in the sky."
"I see..." She smiled brightly. "Your soul is tethered to your ho. It may have happened when the snow in your blood was slowly awakening. It called to you and you answered."
I was amazed. All this ti, I have wondered why I dreamt of a place I have never seen before. But it turned out that, subconsciously, I was yearning for ho, and inevitably I found myself there.
"Eloise?"
I sobbed, using the back of my hand to dry my tears. "I grew up thinking Beloria was the only ho I could ever have. It was the worst Grandmother and..."
"Hush now, one at a ti." She held close.
I nodded as I continued. "Then I ca to Valkanor and understood what a ho ant, and now I know there is a place out there." I smiled. "My mother’s ho. My ho."
Her eyes trembled at my words, and she caressed my cheek, using her thumb to dry her tears.
"Ho isn’t a place, my dear. I’m sure you know that by now."
I nodded, smiling.
She tapped a finger on my chest. "Ho lies where the heart is. When you know that, then you know no matter what, it will always be with you."
"Thank you, Grandmother."
"Oh, child. I don’t deserve to be called that. I’ll gladly allow it when I have earned the right to have a place in your life."
I opened my mouth to speak, but she didn’t let .
"I know you’re eting with to observe if I could be a threat to your empire."
I shut my mouth, guilt washing over .
"It’s alright, if there is one thing you took heavily from , it’s my way of thinking. I was always known to outsmart everyone."
My lips curled in a smile.
"I want you to know this, Eloise. I have no intention of becoming a threat. You may keep here as long as you want or send back, either way I do any with an ease of mind knowing that I have t my dearest Lysandra legacy and that her daughter..." She placed a finger on the locket I wore, a sad smile stressing her lips. "...Is the most excellent queen I have ever t."
I wrapped my arms around her, the tears falling more before I could stop them.
She hushed , patting my head gently. "Enough crying now, you shouldn’t strain yourself. Don’t worry, I’ll stay if you’d like. I do not care nestling in an empire as a lone snowblood or hated and given nasty glares. I don’t care as long as I’m with you. It’s more than I could ever give you."
I have always wondered what it ant to have a mother. It was one mystery I had in life. But today, I finally understood what it ant to have one.
It gave a glimpse of what kind of mother I wanted to be for my son.
Thank you, Grandmother.
~•~
I humd a tune as I combed my hair. I felt nothing but love for the colorful ss. All because Drevon loved it first. Now it was the best part of , for whenever I looked at it, it no longer reminded of the scorn, but the sight of Drevon sniffing my hair and feeling the soft curls between his fingers.
I made a ntal note to always care for my hair now.
"Your Majesty, forgive the intrusion."
"What is it, Osha?" I asked, peering through the mirror.
"The Dowager is here to see you. She said it’s urgent."
"Urgent?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. The monarch has ordered us not to let anyone in so that you can have a fulfilling rest. Shall I turn her away?"
I wonder what the Dowager wants to talk about. I hope it’s nothing too serious.
"Let her in," I said, dropping the comb on the dresser.
I used the table as support to stand and faced the door when it opened, and the Dowager stepped in with an all too familiar foul look.
"Afternoon, Mother. Is there anything I can help you with?"
"You claim you wanted to observe Valestra Winter," she began in a distasteful tone. "But I didn’t imagine you would get so close."
I frowned at her words.
"You shouldn’t let your guard down. You are rely observing her, but if you get so emotional, she might use that against you. In your condition, it’s quite easy to slip into your head. It is not wise to keep this up."
"Have you been watching ?"
"Don’t speak as if I have done sothing wrong. I was only looking out for you. My son is awfully relaxed about this, and I don’t like it. She could be a danger to the heir."
"You had no right! I asked you to give a chance, and now you have done this, it ans you never believed in ," I scoffed at my own words. "Did I actually believe you would?"
"The snowbloods took my husband from , and I lost ti with my son because of that. I made decisions I now regret. You cannot expect to open my heart for them. What you plan to do is an impossible dream, one I know just how it ends."
"All of this was caused by a war our ancestors were silly enough to create. They were selfish, and that selfishness was passed down like a curse!"
"We’re made to hate them!"
"Enough with what is made and not made!" I stepped closer, pointing to the ground. "We shouldn’t be slaves to what our ancestors created. Grandmother has lost just as much as you have, yet she doesn’t wish to keep this line of hatred; you shouldn’t either!"
"Grandmother?" She scorned. "Spent rely a few weeks with her and now you think of her that way? What nonsense has she spat into your head?"
"Nonsense?"
"Do not be fooled."
"Ugh!" I growled, turning away.
"The Snowbloods must have an agenda! They must be after our heir!"
"Enough—"
"Eloise?" Panic filled her gaze. "What is—"
My eyes rolled at the back of my head, and I dropped.
~•~
I felt strange. It was as if I were drowning, and every intake of breath was too slow for . My body felt way too heavy, too.
I tried to open my eyes, but I couldn’t. There were voices around , but I couldn’t tell which was which. I groaned in distress, trying to collect myself.
Suddenly, I felt a big hand cover mine. The feeling of warmth and the fresh scent of spice pulled forward.
"Thank the Goddess! She’s awake!" I heard the Dowager from across the room.
"Eloise," Drevon said to , holding my hand tightly.
I focused only on him, and the worry in his eyes was far too great.
I smiled at him, hoping to ease him, but his eyebrows only furrowed more. He stretched his hand to stroke my cheek.
"You’re so cold, my love."
"What happened?" I found my voice. "I don’t rember."
I looked to Celia as she applied oil to my exposed bump.
"Is he okay?" I asked.
Celia smiled. "Both you and the baby are healthy. I’m checking for your due date, Your Majesty. Given what happened, you must be very close."
"I’m only 28 weeks."
"Rember, I ntioned we might expect the royal baby sooner than later."
I sighed.
"The Dowager ca to after you passed out," Drevon said. "Do you rember anything else?"
I narrowed my eyes, and slowly it all ca back to .
"We were talking," The Dowager replied in my stead. "And suddenly she collapsed. I caught her before she hit the ground and sent her handmaid to co get you."
"Eloise?" Drevon asked. "Is that what happened?"
Drevon could sense there was more to it, and I had no intention of hiding anything.
"Our conversation was heated," I said. "She ca about Valestra."
"It was—’"
"Mother," Drevon interjected. "Why would you stir a heated conversation?"
"I—"
"Eloise is close to birth. You are wise enough to know not to stir up sothing like that," Drevon reprimanded. "You of all people should know that."
"I did not intend to strain her. In fact, it was a matter of great importance."
"That great importance should have been brought to and not my wife."
"Valestra."
"Enough," he growled. "This is not the ti nor place for this. We’ll talk about this later."
"My liege," Celia grabbed our attention after she finished.
The fearful expression she had on her face made worry.
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