NOVPUBClaude's eyes were bloodshot as tendrils of darkness surged around him, his demonic aura thickening like a storm cloud.
The oppressive energy forced every doctor and medical attendant in the room to their knees, their bodies trembling in terror, their faces pale with dread.
"Y-Yes, Your Majesty! We will heal her!" the lead doctor stammered, feeling as though his soul was being ripped from his body.
The rest of the staff echoed in unison, "YES, YOUR MAJESTY!"
They scrambled in a frenzy back to Dalia, leaving only Sun, Vulture, and William behind with the king.
Claude's breath was ragged, his chest rising and falling as if he were trying to suppress a volcano from erupting inside him.
"Your Majesty, she will be alright," William said gently.
"But you need to calm down. Your aura is overwhelming them. It'll be difficult for them to focus if this continues."
Claude ran a hand through his disheveled dark hair, his expression a storm of fury and fear.
He paced like a caged beast in front of the room where Dalia risking her life, unable to stand still.
William's voice barely registered—his thoughts were spiraling.
'What if Mother dies? What if I lose her?' The mere idea made his vision blur.
Could he even go on if she didn't make it?
His heart pounded in his ears, every beat like a drum of dread. Time warped; each passing minute stretched into an eternity.
He had been forbidden to enter the chamber—his chaotic emotions, his violent aura, could endanger Dalia more than the childbirth itself.
Just then, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed from the corridor. A group of knights approached, each bearing the rose emblem of House Xalvach upon their chest.
Lilac arrived with them, radiant even in her late pregnancy. Her elegant violet gown shimmered under the light, adorned with delicate rose accessories.
Her stomach had grown noticeably—though her due date was still months away.
"Your Majesty! Congratulations on the birth of your heirs!" Lilac said warmly, offering a lush bouquet of roses.
Claude took it absentmindedly, his mind elsewhere. He nodded once but didn't say a word. He hadn't even asked about Layla or seen her. Dalia was the only one on his mind.
"I can't believe I'm going to be a grandpa!"
Lloyd choked up with emotion, his voice thick as he wiped his eyes.
"I'm going to meet my grandchild now, if that's alright with you, Your Majesty?"
Claude simply nodded again, his gaze fixed on the door.
With joyful laughter and excitement, Lloyd and his brothers headed toward Layla's chamber, leaving Lilac and Claude behind.
Lilac tilted her head, watching him closely. "Your Majesty? Is something wrong with Dalia?"
Claude remained silent, still staring at the door as if willing to open with good news.
William stepped forward and answered on his behalf. "Lady Dalia is experiencing complications. Her stamina is dangerously low, and she's at risk of losing too much blood."
Lilac's brows knit together in concern. "I see," she said softly.
She walked to Claude's side and gently wrapped her arm around his, resting her head against his shoulder.
"Your Majesty," she said with confidence, "Dalia is strong. She's endured so much to be by your side. She will survive this too."
Claude exhaled, tension still etched across his face. His voice was low, barely a whisper.
"Yeah… I hope so too."
***
Inside the chamber, the air was thick with the scent of blood. Dalia lay on the bed drenched in sweat, her body trembling as pain tore through her in relentless waves.
Her face was pale, lips cracked and trembling as her hands gripped the sheets with what little strength she had left.
"Ah… ngh—Claude…" she whispered, her voice thin, barely audible above the flurry of voices around her. "Claude…"
The doctors hovered around her, hands glowing with faint mana as they attempted spell after spell to mend the tearing flesh.
But no matter how much they poured their power into her, the blood didn't stop. It soaked through cloth after cloth, pooling beneath her legs in deep crimson.
"She's losing too much!" one of the midwives cried out. "She won't last if this keeps up!"
"Keep trying!'
"Her veins are too damaged! She's tearing from the inside!" another shouted back, her voice shaking as she pressed her glowing hands against Dalia's side.
"Doctor, I think the baby wanted to go out by themselves... They tore her inside to get out..." the nurse said as she couldn't stop trembling.
Her mana was already thinner and her stamina also drained. She couldn't imagine how Lady Dalia must feel.
The lead doctor gritted his teeth, sweat trailing down his temple. "This is beyond us… even with healing magic, her body is too weak to respond—her soul is drifting."
Yet even in this state, Dalia kept whispering the same name, like a prayer—like it alone could anchor her to life. 𝓷ℴ𝓿𝓹𝓾𝒷.𝓬𝓸𝓂
"…Claude…"
Her hand reached out weakly toward the air, grasping at something that wasn't there.
The doctor hesitated. For a moment, he thought of the King's wrath. His fury had almost consumed them earlier. But now…
"…Summon His Majesty," the doctor finally said, glancing at the others.
"If he can control his aura, we must let him in. It's the only thing keeping her fighting."
One of the nurses bolted from the room, pushing open the heavy doors and rushing out into the hall.
"Your Majesty!" she cried. "We need you!"
Claude turned instantly, his heart dropping. "What's happening?!" his darkness coming out again, making the nurse kneel on the ground.
"Sh-she's hanging on," the nurse replied. "But barely. She keeps calling your name. The blood won't stop. We've done everything we can…"
Claude didn't wait for more. He strode toward the door, but just as he reached for the handle, William grabbed his arm.
"Control yourself," he said, firm but pleading. "You'll only make things worse if your aura flares up again."
Claude clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white. He drew in a sharp breath, forcing the darkness coiling around him to retreat inward.
The tendrils writhed, reluctant, but obeyed. The thick, choking pressure in the air eased slightly.
"I can control it," he growled. "Let me in."
The nurse gave a hurried nod and opened the chamber doors.
Inside, Claude's breath caught in his throat.
Dalia looked so small—so fragile. Her hands were limp, her skin ghostly pale, and the sheets around her soaked in blood.
But her eyes fluttered open at his presence. And even as tears gathered in the corners of her eyes, a faint smile tugged at her lips.
"Claude…" she breathed.
He rushed to her side and fell to his knees, taking her cold, trembling hand into both of his.
"I'm here, Mother. I'm here," he said hoarsely.
His voice cracked as he leaned over, pressing his forehead against hers. "Hold on. Please, don't leave me."
"I… I'm sorry… I tried…" she whispered, barely hanging on. "It hurts so much… I'm so tired…"
"No Mother, you can't give up, I won't let you give up," Claude murmured, tightening his grip. "You're not going to die, do you hear me? You're not allowed to leave me."
The doctors glanced between each other, unsure if this would help—or only make her weaker.
"My baby..." Dalia whispered as she leaned her temple against Claude's.
Her breath was shallow, but her eyes gleamed. "I'll try… I'll try a bit more," she nodded, clinging to hope like a lifeline.
She didn't want to die—not like this. Not when her child was so close to being born. Not when Claude was still by her side.
Claude's smile was tight, almost painful, but he nodded. "You will. I know you will."
Then his gaze snapped toward the doctors and nurses. The weight of his glare fell upon them like a blade.
"You heard her," he growled. "She's not giving up, so neither will you."
A nurse stepped forward, bowing slightly, voice trembling. "Your Majesty, Lady Dalia's condition is worsening. The baby… it crawled its way out with mana. It's tearing her from the inside…"
Claude's eyes darkened. "This damned child…"
Without hesitation, he placed his palm gently on Dalia's bloodied stomach.
Dark energy swirled from his hand, slithering into her womb as he absorbed the wild mana the child had released.
He didn't care how dangerous it was—anything to still the chaos inside her.
The aura around the baby calmed, and soon, Claude sensed its movement stop entirely.
"They've stopped moving," he said coldly. "Now do your job."
"Yes, Your Majesty!" the doctors and nurses scrambled back into position.
"Lady Dalia, please—take a deep breath and push," the doctor urged.
Dalia nodded weakly, every muscle trembling. She pushed again, her scream raw and filled with agony as more blood spilled from her.
Claude reached out instinctively, dark mana flaring to heal her, but a nurse raised her arm to stop him.
"Your Majesty, if you pour mana into her now, the baby may absorb it and start moving again!"
Claude's jaw clenched, his fists shaking in frustration. "Tch…"
Helpless, he wiped the sweat from Dalia's temple and whispered gently, "Just a little more. You're doing so well. Just a little more, Mother…"
"Aaahhh!!! Hurts!!!"
Dalia screamed again, her voice hoarse and full of desperation. Her body arched as she gave it everything she had left.
"Good! We see the head! Just one more big push, Lady Dalia!" the doctor cried.
With a final cry that echoed through the chamber, Dalia pushed with all her remaining strength.
And then—silence.
