Rachel was lying down an exhausted look on her face as the royal physician was checking her pulse. She was only three months pregnant, wait she was this weak, something had to be wrong.
Alexander was off to the side looking weak to as he was preparing himself for the worst, she had some self-blame in his eyes. His parents the former King and Queen where also not to far away where also worried.
"Nothing is wrong, it just seems that the child is taken a lot more nutrients then usual" He said and then started putting away he items.
Rachel looked at Alexander "You see, it nothing bad, the child just wont be good-looking. Compared to my oh, so, husband."
The King and Queen snorted and was about to go on laughing.
"How, can you make jokes, when you look like a ghost" Alexander said not lighting up with the joke.
"Isn't it because I look like this that I can say that" She responded back "Well, at least I can think about some embarrassing nicknames that I can call this child growing up. You know that type of nickname's they hate us for."
Just then the King and Queen started laughing as they couldn't help themselves. Rachel turned to the royal physician who was still here after checking her, the old bald-head man was a little red as he tried to hold in his laughter. She frowned as the light from the window bounced off his head and into her face making her irritated "What are you still doing here, can't you see your baldness Is blinding me"
The physician suddenly went red as he quickly ran out the room, while the King and Queen started to become hysterical with laughter. Even Alexander couldn't help but snicker this time.
"So as I was saying help me come up with some names while you are still here."
"Ah, yes" Alexander pulled himself closer and the two talked until the King and Queen left the room once they gotten their opinions in on the child's nicknames.
"My brother is a lost cause it seems, my sister-in-law, came not to long ago. She was sobbing, he left his duties and responsibilities in favor of the holy maiden."
Alexander fiddled with his hands "I thought it would take a few years, but things are unraveling way to quickly. It's unexpected, thought the other counties have yet to step in Arisen is falling apart at the seams and a civil war is about looks like it is about to break out. Yet, it has only taken four months since sending the 'Holy Maiden' there." He looked up at Rachel "It was the right call to send her away immediately"
"I must say it, I did not expect my older brother to get involved. He's wasn't supposed to be in Arisen but had to cross the country for business reasons. Just one meeting was enough to make him turn to her. Such a shame I thought he was making progress since the passing of our parents but now, we should send a proper tutor to my niece at this point shill have to be raised as heir."
"Not a male descent from the branch families"
"Goodness, no, do you wish for another person like my father." Rachel frowned and struggled with the imagination. "My Niece is a decent child and my sister-in-law isn't muddleheaded. With proper guides things will be fine. Perhaps maybe better, if we can make female officials. Then we can expand the range of talents from the populace."
"I was also planning on that, the result from the Commoners Schools showed women to be more talented than men." Alexander stood up and had taken off his coat only to lay on the bed next to her, he was most likely tired with worry. "The nobles don't give me as much trouble and things seem to be easily finished. I can't tell weather it was your tyrannical ways or idea's that made the country this stable."
"All nobles are easy to deal with when your give them money and fear. As for Commoners it is money and happiness. The Church is the easiest solution to most problems, since religion is one way to empower all people with faith and a reason to live. We should also count ourselves lucky that they are not corrupt and understand the boundary and lines they shouldn't cross. Otherwise, things would have been harder to control."
Alexander pulled her closer to him in silence as he listened to his wife's word. He quickly got comfortable with her in his arms.
"The one and only thing the people share is their beliefs...I'm tired" Rachel sighed as Alexander began to softly pat her hand, making her doze off into sleep.