Earning the Love of a Princess-Chapter 244: Violet: One Last Blow

23 June, 1349. Magdaline Castle, Islia.

"Push now! Push hard, for the love of Heaven!" the old midwife shouted in Violet’s face, showering her with spittle. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Violet flinched in horror but did as she was told, pushing as hard as she could even though her lower body felt like it was being torn to pieces by iron jaws.

The midwives’ grim faces surrounded her as they peered down at her body sprawled on the bed. Their slack, wrinkled skin and gaptoothed mouths made them look like a cluster of demons. Coupled with the sweat stinging Violet’s eyes and the stifling heat in the bedchamber, it was like a vision of Hell.

Maybe this is Hell, Violet thought wearily. Maybe I’ve already died and I’ve been sent to Hell to suffer eternally for all my sins.

She had to admit, a lot of sins had indeed been committed for her to end up where she was now - in the luxurious bedchamber of the Crown Prince of Islia, trying for hours to birth the first grandchild of the Devon royal line.

Her husband would likely be outside in the corridor, pacing impatiently and grumbling about how long it was all taking. Leo had no patience for anything, as a result of his upbringing. When did the king’s eldest son ever have to wait for anything? Everything he wanted had always been handed to him at the snap of his fingers.

Violet screamed as the burning sensation started tearing between her legs again. She felt hands pressing against her belly and a chorus of voices urging her to push.

Then, finally, the thin, reedy cry of a baby filled the room. Violet fell back against the sweat soaked sheets and shuddered in relief. She’d done it, against all odds. After all the trials and troubles of the past several months, not only had she managed to marry the heir to the throne, but she’d also now given those snobby royals a-

"It’s a girl!" one of the crones called out.

Violet’s body recoiled as if she’d been struck. A girl? A girl? That couldn’t be right! After the the losses and grief she’d been forced to endure over the past year, the least - the very least! - the fates could do was grant her a son!

She shook her head feebly, trying to deny the truth. The next moment, a midwife placed the wailing infant on her chest. Violet blinked back tears of disappointment as she looked at the little pink face, the scanty fair hair stuck to the baby’s waxy scalp.

How could it not be a boy? She felt like she’d already had to lose a piece of her soul to reach where she had. It hardly seemed worth all the sacrifices she’d made, only to end up with a useless girl.

- - -

The bedchamber door was opened to Leo a while later, once the midwives had bathed the baby and wiped Violet clean of the sweat and blood. They’d changed her into a clean linen shift and some special padded undergarments, which were packed with herbs to staunch her bleeding.

"Smile!" one of the crones hissed in annoyance to her as the old women arranged Violet into a sitting position and tucked pillows behind her back. "Show your husband you faced your ordeal bravely. A man wants to see a merry wife, not one with a long face."

"Oh yes, quite merry after hours of pain and being shouted at." Violet muttered under her breath. Nevertheless, she managed to find a shallow smile as her husband entered the room.

Leo walked over towards the bed, his smile not quite reaching his eyes. He bent down to kiss Violet on the forehead, murmuring that they were sure to make a boy the next time.

The next time, thought Violet? Her body felt like she’d been beaten repeatedly. She could still feel blood oozing between her legs. The last thing she wanted to think about was going through such a nightmare ordeal again.

She handed her husband the warmly swaddled infant in her arms. Leo carefully cradled their daughter and a genuine grin brightened his face as he peered at her little features.

"Ah, she’ll be a pretty one." he said with satisfaction. "Don’t you think, wife?"

Violet nodded in relief, glad that he wasn’t berating her. In fact, Leo actually looked rather content as he walked around the room, gently rocking the baby and crooning to her. In all these months, Violet had never stopped to wonder what kind of father he’d be.

Perhaps he’d be a good one. A better father than husband, at least. Even in confinement, whispers had reached her ears of Leo’s dalliances with other women.

Violet knew they’d be short entanglements and that they didn’t mean anything in the long run. Everyone said a woman couldn’t expect a husband to remain faithful when she was too heavy with child to lie with him.

It still hurt though.

"What name should we give her?" Violet asked. She figured she wouldn’t be given the privilege of naming her own child. No doubt the king and queen would have strong opinions on the matter. Even for a girl.

"Celia." Leo replied promptly, still gazing at the baby.

Violet bit her lip to stop herself from protesting. What was the point? Whether she complained or not, her daughter was going to be named after her mother-in-marriage. Never mind that the relationship between the two women could best be described as strained.

Never mind that Her Majesty was about as interesting as a pile of boulders.

Leo looked over at her and Violet smiled in return as if his suggestion delighted her. She knew some arguments weren’t worth having.

There was another name they could’ve used of course, to honour a lady who’d played an important role in their lives.

But they didn’t. Neither Violet nor Leo ever mentioned the name but it was an unspoken agreement between the two of them.

Their baby could never be named Ilse.