CHAPTER 8
946 Words
Pearl’s pregnancy changed the atmosphere of the palace completely.
For the first time in months, happiness returned to Azurith.
Queen Seraphine could barely stop smiling whenever she looked at her daughter, and even King Thalor seemed lighter now that the royal bloodline would continue.
Servants moved excitedly through the palace preparing gifts and celebrations while royal healers checked on Pearl almost every day.
Pearl herself had never felt happier.
She spent hours imagining what her child would look like.
Would the baby have Charles’ dark eyes?
Or her silver hair?
Sometimes she would sit quietly near the palace balcony with one hand resting gently against her stomach while soft smiles filled her face.
And every time Charles saw her like that—
Guilt nearly destroyed him.
Because instead of feeling joy…
He felt fear.
Terrible fear.
Charles knew exactly what Ella’s reaction would be once she found out.
That was why he made it his mission to hide the pregnancy from her for as long as possible.
Whenever Ella entered a room, Charles immediately changed the subject whenever Pearl’s pregnancy almost came up.
He avoided letting Ella attend royal family gatherings.
He even warned servants not to speak carelessly around her.
But secrets never stayed hidden forever inside a palace.
Especially not dangerous ones.
Days later, Charles walked quickly through one of the quieter palace corridors after leaving Pearl’s chambers.
His mind was restless.
Everything was becoming more complicated.
Pearl trusted him again.
She was carrying his child.
And somehow, the deeper he fell into this lie—
The more trapped he became.
Suddenly, Charles stopped walking.
Ella stood directly ahead.
Waiting for him.
Her expression was unreadable.
But the silence around her felt dangerous.
Charles’ stomach tightened instantly.
“Ella…”
She didn’t move.
Didn’t speak.
Only stared at him coldly.
Charles swallowed heavily.
“Wait,” he said quickly. “I can explain.”
Ella laughed softly.
A cold, humorless laugh.
“Explain what?”
Charles looked around nervously before stepping closer.
“It wasn’t planned.”
Ella’s eyes darkened immediately.
“I said earn her trust,” she whispered sharply.
Charles remained silent.
“Not get her pregnant.”
The anger in her voice echoed through the corridor like poison.
Charles lowered his voice quickly.
“Keep your voice down.”
Ella stepped toward him furiously.
“No.”
Her breathing became uneven with rage.
“You promised me.”
Charles clenched his jaw.
“Ella—”
“She’s carrying your child.”
The words sounded almost hateful leaving her mouth.
Charles looked exhausted now.
“It happened.”
Ella stared at him with disbelief before bitter laughter escaped her lips again.
“You really are pathetic.”
Charles frowned.
“This isn’t helping.”
Ella’s eyes filled with fury.
“Do you love her now?”
Charles froze.
The question hit harder than expected.
And the hesitation in his eyes was enough to make Ella’s expression shatter completely.
“Oh my God,” she whispered.
Charles quickly shook his head.
“No, that’s not—”
“You got her pregnant.”
Ella backed away slightly, looking almost disgusted.
“You touched her.”
Charles rubbed his face tiredly.
“She’s my wife.”
“And I was supposed to be the woman you loved!”
Her voice cracked loudly through the corridor.
Charles immediately grabbed her arm carefully.
“Ella, calm down.”
She yanked herself away instantly.
“Don’t touch me.”
The hatred inside her eyes frightened him now.
Because this was no longer jealousy.
It was obsession.
Dangerous obsession.
Ella’s gaze slowly hardened.
“We’ve got to kill it.”
Silence.
Charles stared at her in horror.
“What?”
Ella looked completely serious.
“The baby.”
“No.”
Charles answered instantly.
Ella moved closer toward him.
“If that child is born, everything changes.”
Charles shook his head firmly.
“I’m not hurting Pearl.”
Ella laughed bitterly.
“You already destroyed her life.”
“That’s different.”
“Is it?”
Charles remained silent.
Ella crossed her arms slowly.
“That baby will tie you to her forever.”
Charles looked away.
“And what happens to us then?” Ella whispered painfully.
The question lingered heavily between them.
For the first time since all this began—
Charles truly saw how unstable Ella had become.
But beneath all her anger, there was still pain.
Real pain.
The pain of loving someone she could never truly have.
Ella’s eyes slowly filled with tears.
“She always wins,” she whispered shakily.
Charles softened slightly.
“Ella…”
“She gets Father’s love.”
“She gets the kingdom.”
“And now she gets your child too.”
Her voice broke completely now.
“I hate her.”
Charles immediately looked toward the corridor nervously.
“Stop saying that.”
“But it’s true!”
Ella wiped her tears angrily.
“I hate her so much.”
Charles’ chest tightened heavily.
Because somewhere deep inside—
He knew this was getting out of control.
Far beyond betrayal now.
This was becoming deadly.
Meanwhile, inside her chambers, Pearl sat quietly arranging tiny pearl decorations gifted by the queen for the future child.
A soft smile rested on her lips.
For the first time in months—
She finally felt hopeful again.
She believed her marriage was healing.
She believed Charles truly regretted everything.
And she believed the child growing inside her would finally bring peace back into the family.
But outside her chambers—
Darkness was already moving toward her.
Slowly.
Silently.
And this time—
It carried death in its hands.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD