جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 250

Time moved fast after the celebration. Nolan often found himself surprised by how quickly the days blended into weeks, and weeks into months, each one carrying with it a peace he never thought he'd live long enough to witness.His body felt strong now, stronger than it had in years. For a while, in the early days after his recovery, some part of him kept waiting for a relapse, some sign that the curse hadn't fully released its grip on him. He'd wake some mornings and check his own reflection carefully, searching for any lingering paleness, any hint of the darkness that had once crept into his eyes. But after two full months without a single symptom, he finally let himself believe it. He was truly free.Gianna was eight months pregnant now, her belly rounded and heavy, and Nolan had become almost unbearable in how carefully he watched over her. He wouldn't let her lift so much as a cup without rushing to take it from her hands. He hovered near her constantly, insisting she rest more, e

The day of Elmund and Selene's wedding arrived bright and warm, and Gianna woke early, already buzzing with excitement despite her advanced pregnancy. Nolan watched her from across the room as she moved about, trying to dress herself despite her bump making the task increasingly difficult."Please," he said, coming to help her with the laces she couldn't quite reach, "just stay calm today. You're almost due, Gianna. I'm asking you to take it easy.""I'll be fine," she said, waving off his concern. "It's a wedding, Nolan. Not a battle."He sighed, clearly unconvinced, but knew better than to argue further. He'd learned by now that trying to slow her down rarely worked, especially when something excited her this much.Her dress was a soft, flowing lavender gown, beautiful despite the way it clung to her rounded belly, making her condition impossible to hide. She didn't mind at all. If anything, she wore it proudly, one hand resting instinctively against the curve of her stomach as they

Twenty-four hours passed before Gianna finally opened her eyes again, the world slowly coming into focus around her, blurry shapes gradually sharpening into familiar faces. Nolan sat closest to the bed, his eyes red-rimmed with exhaustion, though the moment she stirred, he leaned forward instantly, his hand finding hers.Beyond him, she could make out Elmund and Selene standing near the wall, both of them watching her with visible relief. Her father sat in a chair nearby, his own face pale and drawn, and the doctor stood at the foot of the bed, adjusting something on his medical tray.Everyone in the room seemed to be watching her like hawks, waiting for the slightest sign of movement, and when her eyes finally opened fully, a collective breath of relief seemed to pass through them all at once.The first thing Gianna did, before even acknowledging any of them, was look down at her own stomach.Flat.The realization hit her all at once, memory rushing back in fragments, the pain, the p

That evening, once the visitors had finally taken their leave and the palace had settled into a quieter rhythm, Gianna found herself unable to remain still any longer. She had rested for most of the day, drifting in and out of sleep between feedings, but as the sun began sinking toward the horizon, a restless energy stirred within her, a longing for air, for space, for something beyond the four walls that had held her for the past day and night."I want to go outside," she said, already carefully shifting herself upright in bed, cradling little Luna against her chest with practiced care despite how new this responsibility still felt.Nolan looked up from where he'd been quietly reading through some council correspondence, his expression immediately shifting into concern. "Gianna, you only gave birth yesterday. Perhaps you should rest a little longer.""I've rested enough," she said, though gently, appreciating the worry behind his words even as she waved it aside. "I want to see the m

A messenger arrived at the palace on a quiet Tuesday morning, dust still clinging to his boots from a long journey. He said he had traveled from a kingdom far to the east, one Gianna had never even heard of before, and he carried a request from his king."My king wishes to meet with King Nolan and his Luna," the messenger said, bowing low before Nolan's throne. "He has heard much about the changes happening here. He wishes to discuss trade between our two kingdoms."Nolan studied the man carefully before answering. "Trade," he repeated. "Why would a kingdom so far from here suddenly take interest in trading with us now?""My king has always kept a close eye on the world beyond his borders," the messenger said smoothly. "He simply felt now was the right time to reach out."Elmund stood near the wall, arms crossed, watching the exchange with narrowed eyes. Something about the messenger's tone didn't sit right with him. He said nothing yet, but Nolan caught the tension in his old friend'