That way month after month went by. Her pregnancy was more and more noticeable. In the mornings, he caught glimpses of her body as it evolved. While he didn't witness her entirely unclothed, her dress hinted at the undeniable shifts: her breasts, now swollen, and the initial swell of her belly beneath her clothing. He noticed how she moved differently down the hallway and how ascending the stairs had become a more laborious task for her. He couldn't help but smile when he saw her doze off in the comfortable armchairs.
One evening, Darian went to visit her in bed. Darian stepped into the room. "Mom?"
Nymira settled onto the bed, her hands gently cradling her belly.
He looked into her deep cleavage, blonde tresses resting gently on her breasts, now more voluptuous than ever. Her breasts swayed with each breath and movement. "I wish I could touch and taste them."
"I can feel the child moving within me," she said. "I'd almost forgotten how comforting it is. It's so strange; I once nursed both of you with these very breasts, and now I carry your child within me. I must be quite an unusual mother, wouldn't you say?"
"You gave me your milk as a child, and now, I've given you mine," It ran through his mind and then he said. "There's nothing wrong or unusual about it," he said softly as he carefully lowered himself to sit next to her, getting a better view of her cleavage, and looking into her eyes." But, Mother, when do you plan to reveal who the father is?"
She met his gaze, her fingers tracing patterns on her stomach. "I fear that by revealing the truth, I may break one of your hearts."
"Delaying the inevitable will only make matters worse. Better now than later."
"Maybe you are right, "Nymira turned to look out of the window." Then, I suppose, I'll gather the courage to reveal everything tomorrow."
-
The morning started with some bad news. Tartuf was sick and receiving constant care from the healers. Despite this, Nymira remained determined to reveal the child's father.
"I'm confident she'll tell the truth. But maybe the truth is not that I expect," Darian stood at the door to the council chamber, waiting for the meeting; he watched Nome standing at the door.
"What a twist of fate, isn't it?" said Nome," We're standing here, waiting to find out which one of us knocked up the mother. You and I have been through so much together, would you believe it?"
"Yeah, that's weird," they both chuckled, the first time since Nome's return. "You know, I cannot be remembered as the Two-Week King."
"Then you should have had faith in me, little brother," Nome responded. "You should have trusted in my return, refrained from claiming the throne, and not killed our father."
"I didn't kill him."
"It doesn't matter anymore. You can still walk away, leave this castle life behind, and forge a new path in life. Just don't become my enemy."
In that tense moment, the door swung open, breaking the silence. "Please, come in," Lokir beckoned them into the room.
Nymira settled into a chair at the head of the table. "Oh, how I tire of this ever-swelling belly." Nome and Darian took their seats.
"Jason can stay. He's supposed to know," Lokir took his seat. "We have gathered here today to address a matter of great importance. Today, we shall ascertain the identity of this child's father. Queen, are you sure you agree to report who Father is now, within these hallowed walls?"
With unflinching resolve, Queen Nymira responded "I harbor neither shame nor secrets. I embrace my choices without remorse."
"Lokir, busy jotting down notes, chimed in, 'I'll record this for history's sake.' After a brief pause, he asked, 'So, Queen Nymira, who is the father of your unborn child?'"
A tense silence hung in the room until a response came, "The father is Nome."
Darian leaned back in his chair, barely realizing what was happening. Barely believing what he has heard.
"Very well, it's settled then. This child belongs to Nome!" Lokir turned to Jason. "Put that surprised face away, Jason, as if you didn't know anything about Nymira and her sons."
"I did, Counselor. And yet."
Everyone glanced at Nome, who was staring blankly at Darian. Clearly, the revelation had not taken him by surprise.
Darian had lost. This was the end of this story. All his efforts and endeavors had led him here just for Nymira to favor him over someone who looked like her husband.
And could he blame her for that? "So now I am Darian Two-Week King."
"Prepare the ceremony of my initiation as king, Lokir. And no word yet on my mother's pregnancy." Nome rose and kissing Nymira walked out.
The world spun beneath his feet when he stood up, and he nearly stumbled. Jason steadied him and offered assistance. He couldn't bring himself to look at Nymira.
=
The bloody dawn illuminated the castle, and Darian threw a book at the wall as it had caught his eye--the same book that had allowed all of this to happen. "About the Serpent-Slayers and the Kingdom of Incuria."
His Mother had betrayed him, not once, but twice.
And yet he had given her all of himself. A soft, tentative knock echoed through the room, drawing his attention. He knew who it was, so he immediately stepped back to the window, not wanting to meet her gaze.
He only heard her slowly enter the room.
"Why are you like that, Darian?" She approached him from behind, her arms enveloping his body. Her large breasts softly touched his back. "I told you I didn't want to break the heart of one of you. Shouldn't you be happy that this child isn't the product of our... familial relationship?"
He continued to maintain his silence.
She rested her cheek on his back. "You are warm, my little son, you were always so passionate in bed. I'll never forget our first time, when you came at night, so intense; I remember the way you looked at me with so much desire. I couldn't resist it. Your father was never like that, there was no passion with Inglud, just the primal urge to satisfy his base desires. But with you, it was different. It was so good when you loved me," she moved her mouth closer to his ear and whispered. "And when you wanted to breed me, your own mother."
"What's the point of all this talk, Mom? You made your decision, you lied to everyone."
"I'm just trying to say you shouldn't be angry with me. Your brother is the rightful heir. I wanted to protect you from him. And I didn't lie," she clung even tighter. "Just help me through this pregnancy, and then I promise to make sure you won't regret it."
