477: The threat

The threat

A baby.0

That was the last thing Alicia expected to hear. 

A baby was growing inside of her. 

It was still difficult to wrap her head around it. But time was not waiting for her. She could feel that her time was limited. 

A baby growing in this body meant the baby was growing in Amber's body. Which in turn meant that the whole idea of that potion was a sham. 

She was heartbroken. For herself. For Harold. For everyone. But most importantly, for Amber. 

She didn't want to cry. But she could not help it. Turning her eyes to him, she called him slowly, but he stood up at once, saying a firm no. 

Whatever she had to say, he didn't want to listen to it. 

"We... need to talk." She said it faintly, too weak to even speak. 

"You need to rest." He spoke in a dismissive tone and turned to leave, but then Alicia spoke up. 

"There is no time to rest, Harold. It's... the Blood Moon tonight." She informed him, and at once, he stopped and turned to look out the window, his eyes wide with realization.

"No." He said it in a determined tone, shaking his head. 

"No. No... I will not allow it again."

"Harold..."

"I WILL NOT ALLOW IT!" He yelled, startling her. 

Prince Harold's outburst shocked Alicia, and tears streamed down her cheeks as she gazed at him, hurt and heartbroken. She had never seen him like this, and his anger only intensified her own pain. She understood the weight of his fears and the responsibility he felt, but she didn't have any choice. None of them did. They both didn't know what might happen tonight, and the unknown was scary. 

Taking a deep breath, Alicia tried to steady her voice, though it trembled with emotion. "Harold, I know your heart is torn, and I understand your fears. But... it's the same for me." Tears clouded her vision as she spoke weakly. 

"I do not know what is going to happen tonight, but I know that I... can no longer survive this. I can feel it."

He shook his head, not willing to listen to this. 

"I know what your choice is, but I cannot live with the burden of ending our child's life. It would... haunt me even in death. I may not have chosen this path, but it is one I must face with courage—"

Her words seemed to fuel Harold's anger even more, and he clenched his fists, facing her with dark eyes. "Courage? Is this what you call courage?" he retorted bitterly. "You're willing to throw everything away, even your own life, for a child you haven't even met. This is not bravery; it is foolishness, and I will not allow it!"

He sounded different. 

Commanding. Possessive. Wild. 

There was no hint of gentleness in either his tone or eyes. He seemed different.

Alicia took a deep breath, trying to find the strength to make him understand. "Harold, our child is a part of us, and I... cannot abandon them," she pleaded, her voice shaking. "If fate has chosen this path for me, I must accept it, no matter how... painful."

Her words only seemed to infuriate Harold further. "And what about us? What about me?" he demanded, his voice still filled with anger and pain. "You would choose a child over me?"

"It's not about choosing one over the other," Alicia sobbed. "But if I have to make this sacrifice for our child's chance at life, I will do it. I don't... have a chance."

"You are going to live! I will make you live for a long time. And anything that is going to be a hindrance to that, I am going to get rid of it!" He said in a serious tone, the colours of his eyes flickering between red and blue. 

"Harold!" She cried out in frustration and fear. "We did not choose this part!" She reminded him, her voice filled with both fear, pain, and sadness.

"I was brought here against my will. Against our will. And I cannot stay against my will—"

"YOU SHALL STAY!" He commanded harshly. 

With an intense look on her face, he spoke in a quiet tone that gave her goosebumps. 

"You must have forgotten that I am not who you've pictured in your head that I am. You have to do your best to stay alive with me. Many lives are in your hands. Be a good lady until the end and keep saving lives. Since that is what you are so good at."

"What... are you talking about?" She asked, her voice laced with fear. 

He gently reached to touch her face, and looking her deeply in the eyes, he told her, "Everyone will die."

His gaze softened for a moment, and he pulled her into a gentle hug as he continued speaking quietly: "If you leave me, every single person you tried to save who put you in this condition will die. Everyone you protected with your life as the cost. I will burn down this entire kingdom and wipe out the families of every single physician in this kingdom who cannot save your life. That is... the person I am." He threatened darkly.

Alicia's breathing hitched up in fear, and she slowly pushed him away from the hug to look at his face, noting how his entire eye colour was a dark shade of red. 

"I do not care how much you hate the patriarchy, my love. But the decision about what happens to you lies with me here. And that is final."

He said this before he stood up and stormed out of the room, leaving her alone with Paulina, who was crying silently in her corner. 

Alicia was still stunned by Harold's reaction. She was shaken too. He sounded like he meant it. Like he was indeed going to do that. 

Alicia turned to Paulina with sad, teary eyes for emotional support. 

With the chances she has currently, did she have any other choice? 

What did they expect her to do? 

Why was fate unfair to them? 

"Paulina..." Alicia cried tiredly. "I... I need your support." She closed her eyes weakly, finding the strength to speak, but Paulina, too, shook her head in tears.

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