/On this bed all descendants were conceived/. It ran through his head for some reason.
As Darian entered the queen’s quarters without permission, he knew he was taking a risk. Queen Nymira was known for her temper and dislike of unexpected visitors. But he couldn’t help but be drawn to her peaceful slumber, dressed in a white satin nightgown that accentuated her delicate features.
He approached the bed with caution, trying not to wake her. Despite her exhaustion and weariness, there was a certain grace and beauty to her form that caught his eye. As he looked upon her, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind, one that he couldn’t ignore.
/Still, the mother is gorgeous./
Darian marveled at how stunning his mother looked, even after giving birth multiple times. He couldn’t help but wonder how she managed to maintain such beauty and elegance.
“Who’s there?” Nymira rubbed her tired eyes with her left hand and yawned with a small, cute mouth. “Inglud, is that you?”
“It’s me”
“Oh. Darian…What are you doing here? Are you watching me sleep?” She said it with a little irritation and got up from the bed. Her left breast nearly fell out of nighty as Darian made an effort to look away.
She shook back her wet braids and walked gracefully over to a table near the fireplace, which he now noticed was equipped with a small bed for the newborn child.
“I just wanted to visit you, mother.” Darian walked around the bed and approached her from behind, peering over her shoulder. Unsure of what to say, he asked hesitantly. “Was the birth difficult?”
“It’s kind of you to worry about me,” she said, a hint of amusement in her voice as she brushed a damp strand of hair from her face. “But childbirth is not something that concerns me. I am a strong, capable, and beautiful woman, after all. That’s why your father is not afraid to conceive new heirs with me.”
Darian tried to hide his discomfort at his mother’s words and shifted his weight from one foot to another.
“I’m glad to hear that everything went well,” he said, trying to sound neutral. He couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy at the mention of his father. Nymira always had a way of making her beauty and fertility known to everyone around her. He cleared his throat and gestured towards the sleeping baby.
“And how is the little one?”
Nymira’s face softened as she looked down at the newborn.
“He’s doing well and he’s name is Tartuff. A strong and healthy boy, just like his siblings.”
Darian nodded, relieved to hear that his new brother was healthy. He wondered if he would ever get used to the constant stream of new siblings that seemed to appear every year. But for now, he was content to watch his mother dote on the newborn and bask in the warmth of the queen’s chambers.
As she stood there, slightly shorter than him, Darian’s eyes flickered down to the table below. He could see what was happening beneath it, and more besides. He couldn’t help but glance at the plunging neckline of her nightgown, the curve of her neck, the smooth expanse of her skin. But he quickly averted his gaze, afraid of being caught.
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