Witch's Daughter And The Devil's Son

King Theron never cared about the Devil's child. In his head, that child was a fuzzy concept that symbolized the price his wife had paid for the kingdom. He hated what it represented.

However, actually hearing it cry touched his heart. That it was a miracle of a new life, a blessing that was worth rejoicing, a tiny being that was everything pure and innocent in this world.

He felt the same as when Kieren was born, and he found the feeling incompatible with the thoughts he had in his head. Could he truly accept Esther's son as his own? Could he truly treat him as a son in his heart or just for the sake of him being Esther's child?

When he entered the Queen's chamber, they had already placed Esther on a clean bed and the baby had turned calm, covered in a bundle of cloth in the arms of Lady Tyra.

Esther looked completely exhausted, appearing as if she had fallen asleep, but when King Theron approached her, her eyes opened as if she was waiting for someone and that the one she was waiting for had arrived.

"Theron…" she called out with a small smile.

With slow steps, he walked towards her, his gaze not moving away from her even for a moment. Her face was pale and her body limp, looking like she had no strength left in her body. He held her hand as he sat at the edge of the bed.

As they didn't talk much since that incident, even now he felt short for words. He didn't know how to express his care for her, other than squeezing her hand. If that incident had not happened and that child was born out of their love, he would probably be the happiest man in the world.

There was a pain and regret as well as love for her in his heart which were all tangled up together, not letting him say anything.

Esther simply looked at him with a tired gaze and answered his unspoken question, "I am fine."

She could somehow understand his situation. The fact that he came to her was more than enough for her. All she wanted was to see him after these long painfully exhausting hours. Seeing him made her feel like the suffering she experienced was worth it.

Her husband nodded lightly and continued holding her hand while caressing it gently.

Lady Tyra and the previous queen were initially busy paying attention to the little prince who was having a nap after being calm when they noticed the sweet moment between Theron and Esther. Witnessing the pair of husband and wife, the two older women were relieved, as they had been worried about how the King would treat Esther given the circumstances. The other irrelevant people retreated from the Queen's chamber at the gesture of the Great Lady.

Great Lady Theodora carried the baby towards her son, hoping that upon seeing this newborn, his heart would also soften enough to make him feel that he was the father though this child didn't carry his blood.

"Theron, won't you see the little prince?" the older lady asked.

King Theron flinched at the voice of his mother, feeling conflicted inside, but Esther squeezed his hand as if to urge him. He nodded with a hesitant look and the older lady handed over the baby to King Theron.

'Warm.'

That was the first thing he noticed about the small body wrapped up in cloth. The baby in his arms was peacefully asleep, his face a reflection of everything innocent and fragile in the world.

Such a tiny life, how could he even hate it?

This infant was the son of the woman he loved and found him as precious as his mother, but at the same time, it was the truth that this child would always remind him of his failure as a king and a husband.

"I hope he grows up kind like his mother," King Theron commented.

"And wonderful like his father," Great Lady Theodora said, implying that he would be the father of this child.

King Theron raised his head due to his mother's words, but the Great Lady met his gaze as if to say she said nothing wrong. When he turned, he found his wife also staring at him with a gaze that made him somehow uncomfortable.

Esther wanted to smile, seeing how his husband was reacting. All her worries melted the moment she saw him hold the baby with a soft expression on his face. No matter what the circumstances were, these two people in front of her were the most precious people in her life. Seeing them together was such a beautiful sight, it brought tears to her eyes. It was part relief to know he was looking at the baby with care and affection, and part happiness because she knew that the future seemed hopeful for their family.

"We should let Esther rest," the older lady suggested.

Though King Theron was worried and wished to stay by her side to make sure she was fine, he agreed to what his mother said.

He handed over the little prince back to Lady Tyra and stood up. "Rest well," was all he said to her and left.

The news of the Queen giving birth to a prince quickly spread within the royal palace, and even beyond the palace walls. The people were joyful hearing the birth of another prince, everyone but one person.

Lady Clarisa, the First Concubine.

She was aware that the newborn prince was not King Theron's son, but she could not say it to anyone. Her husband was ready to accept that child as his own, and she had to keep her mouth shut for the sake of her own son.

Call it a mother's instinct, but Lady Clarisa could not help but worry…worry that the son of the Queen would be an obstruction to the beautiful future of her Little Keiran.