King Ronan's POV
Since her recovery, Ronan watched Irna existing in every opportunity he had. Whenever he had time, he'd be watching her in awe, completely overwhelmed with the feeling of gratitude.
The woman he loved so much was healthy again, after four long years of fear that she might never recover. He had gotten another son, though in an uncommon way, and things were finally going a happier path.
— I am leaving in two weeks. — Sabna announced to the couple in their chambers. — About the people in the castle, I have put them under a spell. No one is gonna remember that your child was not born by the Queen, once I leave.
— Is… is this possible? I mean, it's been a whole year since this started. — Ronan asked, intrigued.
— I cannot manipulate details about people's memory in such a long term, but I can make them confused about a certain topic. For all of them, I'll have never existed and this period is gonna be more like a blur in their minds.
— Thank you, Sabna. — Queen Irna smiled at her. She was holding the six months old Rhovian in her arms.
— You're most welcome. — Sabna bowed. — I will take my leave for the night. Shall I take Rhovian?
— No, please. Let him be here with me tonight. It's been a while since I've held such a smiling baby. — Irna looked at him in awe. — Rhavi has always been such a sulking one.
— I see. — Sabna laughed. — It's alright. Please, do call me if she needs to feed. Then, good night.
While taking a stroll alongside his wife, a couple of days later, Ronan felt like the happiest man in the world. The weather was particularly lovely that day and he got to enjoy a free afternoon alongside her.
— Ronan, my love… — Irna called him from his day dreaming.
— Yes, my sweet queen.
— I love you, you know this, right?
— Of course I do. — He took her hand and kissed its back, smiling. — But you know I love you more.
Irna chuckled.
— I will let you believe that for now.
— I appreciate it. — Ronan laughed while helping her through the path alongside the river.
— My king… I feel weird…
— What do you mean? — He stopped to look at her.
— I mean… — She smiled in a weird way, her eyes full of tears and out of focus. Her face was becoming dull. — I feel like fainti-…
— Irna?! GUARDS! — Ronan yelled while grabbing her. — Fetch a physician! NOW!
He carried his unconscious wife and ran with all his might back to the castle.
— It seems like a stroke… — The physician examined her. — She has not regained consciousness for too long. The outcome is… unpredictable.
Ronan was shivering from head to tool. His blood felt cold as ice while watching Irna's pale face.
— I… I will… let me find… — He rose up. — Sabna. Someone call Sabna right now.
The woman got there in a heartbeat.
— I'm here. Let me take a look at her. Please, have us be alone.
— Everyone, out. Now. — Ronan spoke to the servants and the physician.
Sabna examined Irna's eyes and mouth and felt her pulse on various points, then took a deep breath and looked at Ronan with heavy eyes.
— I'm afraid that… this is beyond my capabilities, right now.
— What are you saying? You said Rhovian's blood would cure her. So why is she this way again? — Ronan felt his heart being crunched in his chest.
Sabna took another deep breath.
— He did cure her. Of the disease she had been embodying since his brother's birth. The cure his blood performed was related to her womb's illness.
— I do not… understand.
Sabna sighed, not able to look him in the eyes.
— Queen Irna's womb got ill during Prince Rhavi's birth. Her monthly periods became way too strong and she'd lose too much blood in each of them. Her whole body was being overwhelmed by her blood getting weaker with each passing month…
— Yes, I get this part… so? — Ronan could not hide his urgency.
— Her body remembers the child that made her womb weak. More precisely, it remembers his blood. So, the magic in Rhovian's cian blood, combined with the similarity between the two siblings' bloods, for having the same father, and the magic in accepting the help from her man's baby born from another womb was the cure she needed. And it worked. For this specific case. She was cured from anything related to her uterus, but…
— But?
— But what she has now is another matter. It is probably related to the same previous condition that led to her post-partum illness. It did not originate from her womb, but her own blood, which made her body weak from the start, therefore she couldn't handle the birth. And now it has made her brain sick.
Ronan tried to make sense out of all those words. His mind was too numb for it.
— You can cure her, right? With your… magic, herbs and everything.
Sabna shook her head, helplessly.
— The brain is a complicated organ. It's not easy for medicine to access it. And magic has its limitations… I can create illusions and manipulate memories, but physically healing the complex system of the brain… I cannot be sure of where the problem is nor what is causing it. If I make any mistake, the outcome may be the same, or even cause her more pain. — She sighed, looking truly anguished. — There's little I can do about it. I am… really sorry.
Ronan could not bring himself to believe that was really the end. Not after all she had gone through to be cured.
— Is… is that it? There's nothing that can be done? — He scoffed, suddenly feeling the rage building inside of him. — How can I be sure Rhovian's blood is not to blame for her falling I'll again?! What if this so-called cure was actually poison to her?!
Sabna stared at him with a look that showed her empathy, but also a warning.
— The child got her five more months to live healthily by your and her son's side. If she hadn't received his blood, she'd die anyway. Likely much sooner. And she'd be sick, her condition worsening until her last day.
'She'd die anyway'
The words echoed through his mind.
How come?
How could it be this was the end?
She would die anyway? Was that what was happening at that moment?
Irna was dying? Just like that?
— Ro-Ron… an… — Irna's faint voice sounded from the bed. Ronan jumped to her side, grabbing her hand.
— I'm here, my queen. I'm right here.
— I… please… — Her speech was difficult. Her mouth looked heavy and slightly crooked. — Rhovian. Rhavi. Bring… them.
— What?
— I'll call for the servants. — Sabna said, hurrying outside.
— Please… Take care… both of them.
— Irna… No… please, get better. Don't leave me.
— They're here. — Sabna announced, carrying Rhovian and holding Rhavi's hand. She took them to the bed where Irna was lying.
— Thank. you… — Irna kissed Rhavi's crying face and caressed Rhovian's back with her fingertips. Her arm was stuck on her tummy and she could barely lift it. — My children… Ronan… please.
The King could not answer, unsuccessfully trying all he could not to bawl his eyes out.
— Love them… both. Please. Protect… Rhovian.
Ronan nodded, incapable of saying anything.
— Take them. — She looked at Sabna, who did as told. — And… thank… you.
The woman bowed in respect and took the children outside.
— I love you… my… king. — She struggled to speak.
Ronan took deep breaths trying to collect himself to answer:
— I love you more, my Queen.
As months went by, Ronan found one only solace: watching his sons growing up.
When Irna died, he was sure he could never feel happy again and that he could never learn to love Rhovian, but it turned out the boy was incredibly captivating and smart. He was amazed by watching him grow and learn new things, being constantly reminded of how it was when Rhavi was his age, though also completely aware of how big the difference in their personalities were.
Rhavi did not remember his mother's death, which was a relief to Ronan, who did not want his son to be reminded of such a sad and tragic scene. He was the only one who had to mourn her.
Rhavi was not particularly caring and loving, but he was a good eldest brother. He was always too intelligent and wanted his brother, who was four years younger, to keep up with his pace.
— Rhavi. Rhovian is not even two years old yet. He cannot ride your wood poney.
— I'm sure he can. — Rhavi pouted, making Ronan laugh at his cute face.
— I am sure someday you both will be the best of friends and ride real horses around the Kingdom, even making me go crazy for your safety. But, for now, he is still learning how to walk properly.
Of course, that was only a half truth. Rhovian would never be able to truly play with his brother, lest expose his secret.
— Someday… you will be able to play with your brother to your heart's content…
Even if it is not Rhovian.
Rhovian's secret could never be exposed to the world… And Ronan had to make sure his son didn't attract too much attention to himself.
Even if it meant betraying his own heart and love for Irna.
— By the power bestowed upon me by God, I, King Ronan Kozhar I, declare Lady Tinae my wife and the new Queen of the Kozhar Kingdom.