Chapter 38
Inside Celestina’s bedroom, she allowed herself to linger in the quiet comfort of her surroundings. She glanced at the clock on the bedside table—7:30 a.m. It was early, but she felt restless.
She stretched slowly, her movements deliberate as she sat up. Her long hair fell over her shoulders, and she pushed it back with a sigh. Lila, her trusted maid, knocked softly on the door before entering with a tray of tea and fresh fruit.
“Good morning, my lady,” Lila said, placing the tray on the small table by the window.
“Good morning,” Celestina replied, her voice soft but warm. She slipped on a silk robe and made her way to the table, her hands resting briefly on the back of the chair as she sat down.
“Did you sleep well?” Lila asked, pouring her tea.
“As well as I could,” Celestina admitted, taking the cup and cradling it in her hands. “The baby has been active lately. It’s comforting, though.”
Lila smiled, her eyes bright. “You’ll be an incredible mother, my lady. I can already see it.”
Celestina gave a small, grateful smile, but before she could respond, a sharp pain suddenly shot through her abdomen. Her grip on the teacup faltered, and it clattered onto the saucer, spilling some of the tea.
“Lady Celestina!” Lila exclaimed, rushing to her side.
Celestina doubled over, her breathing ragged as the pain intensified. “Something’s wrong,” she managed to say, her voice trembling.
Lila’s face paled, and she quickly helped Celestina back to the bed. “Stay here. I’ll get the doctor,” she said, her voice panicked.
“Hurry,” Celestina whispered, clutching her stomach as tears welled in her eyes.
As Lila ran from the room, Celestina lay on the bed, her heart pounding. The sharp cramps became unbearable, and a wave of dread washed over her.
“No,” she whispered to herself, her hands trembling as she pressed them against her abdomen. “Please, no.”
Within minutes, the palace doctor arrived, followed by Lila and two guards who hovered near the door. Dr. Alim was calm but urgent as he knelt beside the bed, his medical bag already open.
“Celestina, I need you to tell me everything you’re feeling,” he said gently.
“Pain,” she gasped, her voice choked with tears. “It’s sharp, and… I feel like I’m losing something.”
Dr. Alim’s expression grew grim as he examined her. After a few moments, he turned to Lila. “Fetch warm towels and some water. Quickly.”
Lila nodded, rushing out of the room. The doctor’s face softened as he placed a hand on Celestina’s arm. “Stay with me, Celestina. I need you to breathe, slowly and steadily.”
Celestina nodded, though her breaths were labored. “The baby,” she whispered. “Is the baby…?”
Dr. Alim hesitated, his silence more telling than any words.
Hours later, the room was silent except for the sound of Celestina’s soft sobs. The curtains had been drawn, plunging the space into a dim, muted light. She lay in bed, her body weak and trembling, her face pale and streaked with tears.
Dr. Alim stood by the bedside, his hands clasped in front of him. “Lady Celestina,” he said gently, his voice tinged with sorrow. “I’m so sorry. The pregnancy… it couldn’t be saved.”
Celestina turned her face away, her heart shattering at the confirmation of her worst fear.
Lila, standing at the foot of the bed, wiped her own tears as she approached. “My lady,” she said softly, her voice breaking. “I’m so sorry.”
Celestina didn’t respond, her grief too consuming.
The days that followed were a blur for Celestina. She barely left her room, spending most of her time staring out the window or lying in bed, her once-bright spirit dulled by the weight of her loss.
Lila and the palace staff tiptoed around her, their concern growing with each passing day. Even President Alvada, typically stoic and commanding, seemed at a loss for how to comfort his daughter.
One evening, as the sun set behind the palace walls, Kael entered her room. He paused at the doorway, his expression a mixture of sorrow and hesitation. “Celestina,” he said softly.
She didn’t turn to face him. “What do you want, Kael?”
“I came to see how you’re doing,” he replied, stepping closer.
“I’m fine,” she said flatly, though her tone betrayed her.
Kael sighed, pulling a chair closer to her bedside. “You don’t have to pretend with me.”
Celestina finally looked at him, her eyes hollow. “What do you expect me to say? That I’m devastated? That I feel like I’ve lost a piece of myself? Because I have, Kael. And there’s nothing you or anyone else can do to change that.”
Kael’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t look away. “You’re right. I can’t change it. But you’re not alone, Celestina. You have people who care about you. Who want to help you through this.”
Her lips trembled, and for the first time in days, her facade cracked. “I don’t know how to move forward,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
Kael reached out, his hand hovering uncertainly before resting on hers. “One step at a time,” he said.
