Chapter 350: A Husband’s Devotion
Edmund, seeing the pain on her face, immediately pulled her into his arms. His hand cupped the back of her head, holding her as if she might shatter.
Then his gaze hardened as he turned to Dr. Celdric, his voice low and rough with desperation. "If that’s the case ... then take the baby out before it kills her."
Primrose felt as if a blade had pierced straight through her heart. The pain of hearing those words from Edmund’s lips was almost unbearable.
She understood, of course. It was the most logical choice to protect her life. Even if she insisted on carrying the baby, there was no guarantee the child would survive long enough to be born.
But deep down, guilt consumed her at the thought of choosing that path. She didn’t want to let her baby die like that.
The child inside her was already trying so hard to protect her. So why couldn’t she do the same?
Her lips trembled as she whispered, "Isn’t there ... isn’t there any other way?"
Edmund turned to her, his expression serious, his eyes clouded with worry. "Primrose, I don’t think—"
Before he could finish, Dr. Celdric raised a hand, his calm voice cutting through the storm between them. "There may be another way."
Both Primrose and Edmund looked at him at once, hope flickering in her eyes while suspicion hardened in his.
Dr. Celdric adjusted his glasses. "If the fetus is already aware enough to restrain itself, then it means the bond between mother and child is stronger than most. With careful monitoring, and if we can provide you with a strong source of energy from outside your body, it may be possible for both of you to survive."
Primrose’s eyes widened. "Truly? There’s still a chance?"
Edmund held his breath for a moment. "And what kind of ’outside source’ are you suggesting, Doctor?"
Dr. Celdric answered firmly. "The child requires energy—life force—to sustain itself. If we can supply that energy from another source, it will ease the burden on Her Majesty’s body."
He paused, then added, "Potions and rare herbs may help, but the strongest source would be your magic, Your Majesty." Dr. Celdric’s gaze shifted to Edmund. "I know you have the ability to replenish someone’s strength through your saliva. If you were to share your flow of magic and your saliva with your wife constantly, it would be enough to sustain both her and the child."
"At least five times a day would be necessary. More than that would be even better," Dr. Celdric said. "But during the night, you must continue giving her a steady flow of your magic to soothe her body. That is when the baby unconsciously draws the most energy from its mother."
Primrose swallowed hard, her throat suddenly dry. "But ... wouldn’t that put too much of a burden on my husband?"
In other words, Edmund likely wouldn’t be able to rest properly until the day their baby was born.
Before Dr. Celdric could respond, Edmund had already spoken, his voice firm and unwavering. "I can do that." He squeezed Primrose’s hand, his eyes burning with determination. "I will do that."
[You are already bearing a life within your body,] Edmund spoke to her through his mind. [The least I can do is make sure that you and our child survive.]
[My wife, on the day I took my wedding vow, I swore I would protect you with my whole life, and that promise holds true now more than ever.]
His gaze softened as his words flowed silently into her heart. [I will protect you and our child, no matter what it takes.]
[If you fall, then I will fall with you, but I will make sure you never hit the ground first.]
Primrose’s eyes shimmered with tears as she looked up at him. She had known all along that the vow Edmund once made to her was never just empty words, but still ... how could someone love her so deeply?
It felt almost unreal, as if such devotion couldn’t possibly exist in the world. For a fleeting moment, she wondered if she had been dreaming all this time, dreaming of a love so warm, so gentle, it felt like it belonged in another life.
But as he wrapped his arms around her and she listened to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath her ear, she knew it was real.
Her husband was real, and so was his love for her.
"It may be a burden for His Majesty, yes," Dr. Celdric finally spoke, clearing his throat carefully as though afraid to intrude on their tender moment. "But with His Majesty’s rapid healing ability, I believe he will endure just fine."
He paused, his tone softening as he added, "Besides, His Majesty will not need to do this for the entire nine months."
Both Primrose and Edmund looked at him in surprise. Dr. Celdric’s brows drew together slightly as if he were still puzzling something out. "While I examined Her Majesty, I discovered something unusual. There is a strange, powerful energy inside her body ... but it seems to be sealed away."
Primrose blinked, stunned. "Sealed ... energy?"
Just like her, Edmund also looked shocked when he heard Dr. Celdric’s words. "What do you mean by that?"
"I don’t have a clear answer yet," Dr. Celdric admitted. "but I believe Her Majesty’s body is not as fragile as it appears."
The words struck something deep inside Primrose. They were almost the same as what Salem had told her, and perhaps ... what Lorelle had hinted at as well. Maybe what Lorelle meant wasn’t her baby after all, but Primrose herself.
If three different people had already said the same thing, then maybe it wasn’t just a coincidence.
"Then ... can you break the seal?" Primrose asked softly.
As she expected, Dr. Celdric shook his head. "Unfortunately, the seal seems to have a complicated key, and it likely cannot be undone by just anyone. Perhaps it was your own family who placed it on you."
Her family? She wasn’t sure her father was the one who placed the seal, since just like her, he didn’t have strong magic energy.
Her breath caught as her eyes widened slightly. Then ... could it have been her mother?