GLIMMER AND DECAY [COMPLETED]

CHAPTER 6

ANOTHER BANQUET WAS HELD in celebration of the queen's pregnancy. Although this time, it was only the citizens of Corona that were invited. Queen Arianna held her husband's hand as they joined the celebration.

The citizens applauded and cheered, blessing the royal couple and their unborn child a prosperous life.

"Are you happy, my love?" Frederic asked as he held his wife closely.

They had left the banquet earlier, after thanking everyone who had attended. Queen Arianna embraced her husband as they lay on their bed, sharing each other's warmth.

"I am, indeed. I truly wish for this happiness to go on until the end of time," Arianna whispered, but she knew that it wouldn't be as peaceful as she wanted.

Arianna was a hundred percent sure that her sister had something to do with the guild masters' deaths.

Everyone took extra care of the queen's health. It was said that the well-being of a pregnant woman was much more sensitive during the first few months of her pregnancy. Lord Allison requested the queen to be on a very strict diet and she was required to lessen her meat ingestion.

Meat in those years were believed to be a threat to the baby's health because of its grease that might cause some infection.

"Greens and fruits are your best friend, Your Majesty," Lady Mary Flemming, the queen's chief lady-in-waiting, chirped.

She prepared the necessary food on her diet list and served it to the queen. The queen wasn't a picky eater, but because she had been eating the same thing since her diet started, she was starting to get fed up with this type of menu.

Despite the distracting food intake that she had to follow, Arianna involved herself in the center of artistry. She had started embroidering and painting again as a part of her new hobby. She was also reading books while having tea by herself.

She did all those things just so she could completely forget her sister's crude words.

Arianna did her very best not to be affected by the anxiety brewing in her mind. She knew that it would affect the baby and as much as she could, she needed to stay healthy.

Months passed and Queen Arianna appeared to be finally settling perfectly into the pregnant life of a woman. Her baby bump was slowly growing with each passing month, and the most envying thing was that the baby in her stomach wasn't giving her any problems.

No morning sickness during her early months. No food cravings that were bizarre or out of reach. Well, maybe except for the scent of soap and candles that she usually just smells or stares at.

Everything was going smoothly for the last seven months to the point that Arianna was starting to worry.

"Arianna," King Frederic cupped her cheeks, catching her attention. The queen was in the midst of embroidering a handkerchief in the garden when her husband visited her.