This was the first real trial in Thomas and Rosalind''s marriage.


    The sweet days were suddenly mixed with bitter medicine.


    Such a matter required Thomas to make a decision. When he received the news,


    he hurried home without dy. He didn''t even stop to greet his mother and went


    straight to Rosalind''s room.


    He came back cold from the snow, with kes resting on his shoulders. After


    shivering for a moment outside, he warmed his hands by the fire before daring to


    hold her.


    His voice broke as he said, "Why didn''t you tell me you were ill? You must never


    do that again. If you feel unwell, you must tell me at once."


    With his return, Rosalind felt steadier and more at ease.


    But when Thomas saw how thin she had grown, tears filled his eyes. "I''ve let you


    suffer. It''s my fault. I have not taken good care of you."


    As sheid her head against his chest and listened to his strong heartbeat, the


    worries and sadness of recent days slowly began to fade.


    "I''m the one who has troubled you. You are so busy, yet I made youe home,"


    she said.


    "No matter how busy I am, someone else can take my ce in the army. But no


    one can take my ce by your side." Thomas gently stroked her back. "I


    understand everything now. Let me speak with the physician again, and then we


    will decide. Is that alright?"


    She nodded. "I''ll follow your lead."


    They held each other for a while before reluctantly letting go.


    Looking at her pale, thin face, Thomas felt nothing but deep sorrow. He didn''t rush


    to see Sebastian right away but stayed with her a while longer before heading to


    Arcane Sanctum. There, Sebastian repeated what he had said before.


    In short, falling ill had left Rosalind very weak. Terminating the pregnancy now


    would harm her health and might make it hard to conceive again. If they kept the


    child, she would need attentive care, but the baby might not survive. If the


    pregnancy was terminatedter, that could harm her too. As for whether the child


    would have defects, Sebastian said it was possible but not very likely.


    After some thought, Thomas said, "If terminating the pregnancy now means she


    cannot have childrenter, that''s alright. But I want to ask—if she takes the


    medicine to end the pregnancy, will she be safe?"


    "The medicine to end a pregnancy is


    very strong. She is so weak that it is


    surely dangerous. One dose might


    work, but often, it doesn''t fully end it,


    and then stronger medicine is


    needed. I fear her body cannot bear


    it," Sebastian exined.


    Troubled by the danger, Thomas asked, "If the pregnancy was further along but


    still couldn''t be saved, would that harm her more than ending it now?"


    "Before three months would be somewhat better. After three months, the fetus is


    more formed, so the harm is greater," Sebastian answered.


    Seeing Thomas so troubled and unable to decide, Sebastian added, "You should


    go and discuss it with your family. If you decide to keep the baby, I will do my best


    to help."


    After Thomas left, he invited members from the royal chancellor''s household. Both


    families met to make the decision together. They all found it difficult and sighed.


    The baby hade at an unfortunate time.


    "The worry now is that if we manage to keep the child safe until six or seven


    months, yet still lose it then, it would be all the more dreadful," Trevor said, clearly


    concerned.


    His worry was shared by all.


    At this point in the story, Elise couldn''t help but ask, "Was the baby ric?"


    Rosalind gave no direct answer but


    slowly said, "When I first learned I


    was with child, I felt nothing at first.


    But I began to ept it. Knowing


    there was life in me, I decided I must


    try to keep it. Whether it survived or


    not, at least I would have done my


    best and would have no regrets."


    No one could decide, but she made her choice—not to give up lightly, and to take


    care of herself and the child.


    Thomas immediately took leave from court and stayed at home to care for her.


    The pregnancy was difficult, as


    Rosalind''s body was too weak. No


    sooner had she decided to keep the


    child than she began to bleed. She


    couldn''t keep down any food,


    vomiting even the medicines meant


    to strengthen her. Some days, she


    could only manage a few sips of


    broth.


    It was painful to watch, and everyone was deeply worried. Alice even sent for


    Sebastian, asking if the child might be lost naturally if they stopped trying to keep


    it. It was unbearable to see Rosalind suffer so.


    Sebastian said he couldn''t guarantee that. The best they could do was to continue


    to care for Rosalind whenever there was bleeding and to give her medicine


    whenever she could take it.