I didn't think that our relationship could actually improve, but my Queen started feeling way more conscious about my presence.

She would sometimes stop her work when I walked into a room and take some time to smile at me.

She would also stroll to me to peck my cheek. In public, she would just acknowledge my presence with her body turned a few degrees in my direction, and her hand would sometimes reach mine.

It didn't happen overnight, actually, but I hadn't realised it until some point.

The light blushing that covered her face when I smiled at her showed me how fast she could move her thoughts from ruling matters to me. It made me realise how much power I held in her heart.

As for me, I shifted my reading interest towards forbidden lands, as my Queen called them.

I've used much time to learn stuff I had no use of, so I started exploring the royal libraries in search of more interesting books. I wanted to make my Queen happier, more pleased and satisfied.

She deserved it, for her hard-working aptitude and competent decisions, if nothing else.

Luckily, the royal library didn't betray me. I found enough books about the female body worth months of reading.

The difference was soon noted. My research revealed so many sensitive spots on her body, and I also learnt a few techniques I couldn't have invented on my own. The best friend of a man is indeed a good book.

All that sex turned out to be fruitful way earlier than I expected.

It was spring, and Theodora was wearing a light nightgown even though the weather was still chilly. She rubbed her arms while observing the lights of the city in the night, so much that I approached her with a blanket. I covered her shoulders and pecked her cheek from behind, finally encircling her with my arms.

«What is my Queen thinking about?» I asked.

«I have something to tell you,» she said. Only that.

Her tone was neutral, and her face hid her emotions. It seemed that I had to wait to hear the words before understanding what kind of matter was at stake.

«I won't accept it if you're planning to bring in a concubine,» I joked. «I don't want to share my Queen.»

«Ah, good to know,» she replied, still looking at the city. The sky was full of stars, and the breeze brought the scent of the sea.

«Should I worry?»

«No,» she chuckled. «You don't have anything to worry about.»

«Then, what is the matter?»

«I'm with child.»

Just like that, my brain stopped working for a second. My arms were still holding my wife, but everything else lost any capability to react to the world.

Me, a father?

«We'll have a child,» I whispered. Amazed, a smile lingered on my lips until I pecked my Queen's neck. «If it is a daughter, I hope she resembles you.»

She finally relaxed and leaned on me. She placed her head on my shoulder and turned to look at my expression.

«There will soon be a little prince or princess running in the palace,» she said. «Can you believe it?»

«Indeed,» I nodded. «There will be more of them, little princes and princesses. You won't leave our child alone in the world, right?»

She turned and surrounded me with her arms.

«Thank you,» she whispered. «This is the best gift you could give me.»

Only after a few other minutes of joy, I realised that it meant that I had to stay apart from my wife for a few months.

«When will it be born?» I inquired, trying to sound the least suspicious I could.

«I don't know.»

And how long would I have to wait after the delivery?

There still was much time before it. My duty was to take care of my wife during those months. First of all, a pregnant woman shouldn't sleep a little and work till late.

Her royal tasks had to wait since she was busy with a priority task: producing an heir for the kingdom.

«You can't skip meals anymore,» I pointed out. «And you have to sleep at night, not work.»

«Sleep?» she mumbled. «I wanted to stay with my dearest, at night.»

«No. You have to take care of yourself, Theodora. It's not just your health at stake anymore.»

«Call me Thea.»

What?

«Pardon?»

«We're a family, Alexander. And we'll soon have a baby together. There's no need to be so formal. You can call me Thea. If you want, of course.»

Thea? A nickname?

Were queens even allowed to have something so informal as a nickname?

«All right,» I replied. «You can call me Xander.»

It was a brief memory from my past. My stepmother called me like that when I was a child. It was the only nickname I ever had.

Martia called me brother and the rest of the world Lord Kyre. Until I renounced the title, at least. Not many people had called me in any way after that.

«Xander,» she repeated while her cheeks blushed in the night. It was just a whisper, but it resounded in the empty, silent room.

«Correct,» I said.

We passed the rest of the night planning how to call our child, what to do with him. How many to have after.

My plan to take care of my wife's sleeping schedule failed at the first attempt, but I would have been stricter from the following day on.

I would personally visit the royal office to make sure my Queen had regular meals and frequent breaks. I also instructed the kitchens to avoid fish after the second time she vomited just at the sight.

It was weird, but she couldn't stand the smell of her favourite food. In the end, fish and sea products were banned from the palace for months.

Her stomach began growing after a few weeks, and it became round.

She started allowing me to touch it, and she let me talk with my baby before sleeping. Sometimes, our child would move, and her belly would tremble in the motion.

«Our child will be very lively,» she commented, caressing the round belly. «They can't stay still for a moment. It will be tiring to take care of them.»

«We need a nanny,» I realised.

«My nanny will take care of my child as well,» she said. Her nanny, who was it again? That elder that often reprimanded Katerina?

Were those two related, by any chance?

«I will too,» I decided. «I will take care of our child.»

«Really?» she asked. More than incredulous, her tone was surprised. «You would do that?»

«Of course. You're busy ruling a kingdom, but I have all the free time in this world.»

«How lucky of me to have you as my consort,» she exclaimed.

Sleeping had become a bit of an issue. Thea couldn't find a comfortable position for hours, and I was too afraid to unintentionally hurt her to move.

Still, we didn't sleep in separate beds till the very end. I added pillows for my Queen, but it didn't help much.

I felt so useless. I couldn't do anything for her, as she was carrying that burden all on her own. While working for the whole day, at that.

«I have to finish this by today. I might be unable to work after the delivery, so I can't leave Polis in the middle of trouble,» she said every time I went looking for her.

Her stubborn intentions were annoying, but I didn't know what to do. I wasn't allowed to just grab her and carry her away.

First of all, because she was in a delicate state.

«I won't sleep with you ever again if you don't come to have dinner immediately,» I stated. «You'll have to look for another husband if you'll want other children.»

She pouted, considering my words thoroughly.

It was a delicious sight. Her strong will was challenged by my words. Yet, every minute more she took to decide was a blow for my self-esteem.

«It means I'll have to cope with a single child,» she shrugged, sad.

At least, she wouldn't be looking for other men just because I wasn't willing to... Ah, that was not the point, was it?

«If that is what you desire,» I said, tilting my head in half a nod. «A cold bed and a single born.»

«Oh, you!» she spat out. Her teeth gritted, and she glared at me for almost half a minute.

Then, she got up and held my hand. She followed in silence with her pout still in place.

It was written in so many books: any ruler can be bought if you know what to offer. Money, power, and sex were the three magic currencies of this world.

Luckily, my Queen wasn't greedy or it would have been tougher for me to find enough money or power for her.

All I could offer was myself, and it seemed as if it was quite enough.

«You cruel husband,» she complained along the way. «You'd leave your wife alone and in need just because you're stubborn and want things to go your way. You can't manipulate people like this. It's unfair!»

«Don't talk with me about unfairness, you over-working wife. You've been neglecting me lately. When was the last time we had dinner together?»

«Not many days ago,» she replied, but her shoulders dropped and she agreed to share some time with me.