Chapter 239 - 238
The days passed quietly.
Too quietly.
The Citadel felt suspended in a heavy silence, like the stillness before a sudden downpour. Lin Wan had begun to notice that everyone around her was watching her every move with sharp, careful eyes.
Sister Yun watched how long she stood by the wooden window frame.
Mira watched how much rice and soup she ate at every meal.
The guards standing at the hallway corners watched every single step she took along the stone corridors.
Even Physician Alaric had started appearing twice a day, his dark leather bag of medical tools clutched in his hand.
Lin Wan finally lost her patience one warm afternoon as sunlight streamed weakly through the shutters.
"Alaric."
The elderly physician looked up from his carved medicine box, his wrinkled hands pausing over small paper packets of dried herbs.
"Yes, My Lady?"
"Am I sick?"
"No."
"Then why does everyone keep watching me like I am about to break?"
Alaric smiled, the small lines around his eyes deepening.
"Because you’re approaching the end of your pregnancy."
Lin Wan frowned, pulling her robe a bit tighter around herself.
"You’ve said that for days."
"And every day brings you closer."
She released a long sigh that made her shoulders drop.
"I know."
Alaric stepped closer, placing two fingers on her wrist to check her pulse before gently placing his palm above the curve of her stomach. The faint, floral scent of dried chamomile and ointment drifted from his sleeves.
The babies moved beneath his warm palm, pressing against her skin.
His solemn expression immediately softened into something gentle.
"They’re healthy."
"All three?"
"All three."
Lin Wan released a long, relieved breath, her shoulders relaxing just a little.
"Then why does everyone look so worried? Even the guards look like they are preparing for battle."
Alaric packed away his glass jars and rolled up his cloth wraps.
"Because healthy babies can still arrive unexpectedly."
Lin Wan’s eyes widened.
"You mean..."
"Not today."
"Probably not tomorrow."
"But you should be prepared."
She stared at him, her hands instinctively cupping her heavy belly.
"Prepared for what?"
"Childbirth."
Lin Wan swallowed hard, her throat suddenly dry.
She had known this day would come ever since she first felt those tiny kicks months ago. But knowing something was coming eventually was very different from hearing that it could happen at any moment.
Sister Yun, standing near the doorway with a tray of warm tea, noticed the sudden change in her face. She set the tray down on a nearby wooden table and stepped closer.
"My Lady?"
"I’m fine."
Lin Wan offered a small, weak smile, though her fingers trembled slightly against her robes.
"I’m just..."
She placed both hands firmly over her stomach, feeling the steady warmth inside her.
"Nervous."
Alaric gave her an understanding nod.
"That’s completely normal."
"Don’t let anyone frighten you with grand stories."
"Your body knows what to do."
Lin Wan gave him a skeptical look, her eyebrows pulling together.
"That’s what everyone says."
"And?"
"I don’t believe my body has received those instructions yet."
Mira, who was organizing folded linen sheets near the closet, quickly covered her mouth with her sleeve to hide her sudden giggle.
Even Alaric chuckled, shaking his head as he fastened his bag shut.
"You’ll be fine."
After the old physician gathered his things and left, Lin Wan remained quiet. The room fell into a heavy hush, broken only by the soft rustle of Sister Yun’s skirts as she sat down on the wooden bench beside her.
"Are you afraid?"
Lin Wan stayed silent for a moment before giving a slow, honest nod.
"Very."
"Not because of the pain."
"Because of them."
She looked down at her lap, her voice dropping to a low whisper.
"I’ve lost so much already in this life."
"I don’t want to lose them too."
Sister Yun’s firm expression softened with deep warmth.
"You won’t."
"You don’t know that for sure."
"No."
The older woman reached out and gently held Lin Wan’s cold hand, squeezing it with firm reassurance.
"But you don’t have to be afraid alone."
Lin Wan looked up, meeting her steady gaze.
"You’ll stay?"
"Of course. All through the night and day if needed."
"Mira?"
The younger maid immediately turned around from the cabinet, stepping forward with bright, determined eyes.
"I won’t leave your side, My Lady. Not for a second."
Lin Wan felt a small splash of warmth return to her chest and smiled.
"Thank you."
A quiet, rhythmic knock at the outer door interrupted them.
Captain Ronan entered, his heavy boots making a faint sound against the floor. He paused near the entryway, hand resting casually on the hilt of his sword.
"My Lady.
She looked up, bracing herself.
"What happened?"
"His Majesty would like to speak with you."
Lin Wan let out a soft sigh, rolling her eyes just a bit.
"Another serious conversation?"
Ronan smiled faintly, a brief flick of humor in his eyes.
"I don’t know."
"He only asked me to bring you."
Lin Wan slowly stood up, supporting her back with one hand as Sister Yun quickly helped balance her.
"Fine. Let’s get it over with."
Cassian was waiting inside the western study.
The room was quiet, smelling of old parchment, black ink, and burning sandalwood incense.
Several heavy scrolls and strategy documents lay scattered across his dark wooden desk.
But the moment Lin Wan stepped across the threshold, he pushed the papers aside without a second thought.
"You should sit."
She looked suspiciously at the low armchair in front of the desk.
"Why does everyone keep telling me to sit the moment I open a door?"
"Because you’re carrying three children."
"I haven’t forgotten."
Cassian smiled faintly, a rare softening in his tone."Good."
She moved across the room and carefully sat down, leaning back into the soft cushions.
"What did you want to discuss?"
Cassian leaned forward, resting his hands on the wooden desk. His expression became serious once more.
"The birth."
Lin Wan stared at him, tilting her head.
"You too?"
"I need to prepare."
"For what?"
"Everything."
He stood up from his chair and walked toward a large wooden cabinet resting against the stone wall.
"I’ve ordered the physicians to prepare a separate birthing chamber."
Lin Wan’s eyes widened.
"Already?"
"Yes."
"Where?"
"The eastern wing."
"Why there? My current room is perfectly fine."
"Because it’s the most protected section of the Citadel. The stone walls are thicker, and there are only two entryways to guard."
Lin Wan frowned, her instincts telling her there was more to it.
"Protected from what?"
Cassian turned back to look at her, his voice quiet but cold as steel.
"Anything."
She understood his meaning immediately. The quiet peace outside was fragile.
"You think something might happen."
"I think it’s my responsibility to prepare for every possibility, no matter how small."
Lin Wan lowered her eyes, staring at her hands folded over her lap.
"And Wang?"
Cassian didn’t pretend not to understand who she was talking about.
"He hasn’t moved."
"His army?"
"Still outside the agreed boundary. Camping in the valley."
She released a small, careful breath.
"Good."
Cassian studied her face, noticing the slight tension in her jaw.
"You still worry about him."
"I worry about everyone. I worry about what a single mistake could cost us."
"I know."
He walked over and sat down in the wooden chair directly across from her.
"That’s why I wanted you to know something before the day comes."
"What?"
"If the birth begins..."
He paused, making sure she was listening to every word.
"Nothing will stop the physicians from reaching you."
"No matter what happens outside these walls."
Lin Wan looked directly into his eyes.
"You expect something to happen, don’t you?"
"No."
"Then why say it?"
"Because when people are afraid..."
He leaned in slightly, his dark eyes fixed on hers.
"They make mistakes."
His gaze remained completely steady.
"I don’t want fear to make anyone careless when it matters most."
Lin Wan slowly nodded, processing his words.
"I understand."
Cassian leaned back into his seat, resting his arms on the sides.
"The children will be born safely."
He spoke with such absolute, unwavering certainty that Lin Wan almost believed him without a single doubt.
Almost.
Then, a strange, prickling feeling passed through her—a sudden breeze that seemed to chill the air inside the closed room.
She frowned, rubbing her arms.
"Do you ever feel like something is about to happen?"
Cassian’s expression changed slightly, his sharp eyes narrowing.
"Why?"
"I don’t know."
She rubbed her cold arms through the fabric of her sleeves.
"I’ve just felt strange lately. Like a shadow is passing over us."
"Strange how?
"Like everything is too quiet. Like the quiet right before a storm breaks."
Cassian stared at her for a long second before reaching over to adjust the small oil lamp on his desk.
"Perhaps you’re simply tired from carrying so much weight."
"Maybe."
But as their eyes met across the wooden desk, neither of them truly believed that.