Witch's Daughter And The Devil's Son

Seren and Drayce had gone to attend Arlan and Oriana's wedding and were away for a week. (For more details, refer to Drayce and Seren's visit to Griven for Arlan's wedding in the third book- The Devil's Betrothed.)

After a week, when they returned, Seren couldn't wait to go see Edith. The day of Edith's delivery was near, and Seren wanted to be with her.

"Dray, can I go meet Edith?" Seren asked, settling into a chair after changing into fresh clothes and enjoying a nice meal.

"You can, but we just returned, and it's already evening. You're tired, and it wouldn't be appropriate to disturb them at this hour. How about you go tomorrow morning?"

"Hmm, you're right. She might be sleeping already."

Drayce nodded and approached her, offering his hand. "You should rest so by morning all the tiredness from teleportation will be gone."

Seren agreed and climbed into bed immediately.

Late in the night, Seren felt restless in her sleep. Drayce, who was holding her, stirred. Seeing her so uneasy, he became worried.

"Seren," he called softly.

At his call, Seren opened her eyes, gasping lightly.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

She sat up in bed, her hand rubbing her wildly beating heart. Drayce sat up as well.

"Was it a nightmare?" he asked.

She shook her head. "No. But I don't feel good." She breathed heavily, "It feels like something bad is going to happen. I can feel it clearly, but I'm not sure what it is."

"Who comes to your mind? Who are you worried about these days?" he asked.

"No one?" she said, more like a question to herself.
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"Then it must be because you are tired from teleportation. Your body is still dealing with the ordeal."

She shook her head anxiously. "No, Dray, there's something. And I'm not wrong about it."

"Oriana is alright now…."

"Edith," Seren exclaimed instantly. "It's about Edith. We need to go to her."

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"Yes, she is not doing well. I can somehow feel it," Seren insisted.

"Alright," Drayce said, stepping out of bed. "I will take you there." He went to grab a warm coat for her.

As long as he could make her feel at peace, he would do anything. Moreover, Edith was family, his brother's wife. If she was not well, as family, they should be with her.

Seren stepped out of bed and allowed Drayce to help her put on the coat. Once ready, Drayce and Seren disappeared from their chamber and reappeared in the front yard of Keiren's residence. The knight standing outside recognized their presence.

"Who's there?" the knight shouted, alerting others.

When they saw Seren, who had been visiting for a while now, they calmed down. But seeing the red-eyed man next to her, they were shocked. There was only one red-eyed man they knew in existence.

Just then, Keiren's guardian knight arrived. Seeing Drayce and Seren, he bowed. "Your Majesty…"

Drayce interrupted him by raising his hand. "We do not have time for this. Seren needs to see the lady of this home."

The knight nodded and guided them inside the drawing room, where the atmosphere was tense. "I will inform His Highness…"

But then they already heard Edith's loud cries. The knight informed them, "Lady Edith is about to give birth."

Seren now realized why she had been feeling restless.

She looked at Drayce. "It's too soon. She hasn't completed her nine months yet."

Seren had been reading books about pregnancy since she met Edith and knew a thing or two now.

"I need to go to her," she declared, running towards Edith's room while Drayce followed her.

As they were family, the knight didn't stop them.

Following Edith's painful cries, Seren reached her room and saw Keiren restlessly pacing outside. He spotted Seren, who entered the room directly. Keiren didn't stop her. Just then, he spotted Drayce and was shocked, but at that moment, he was more worried about his wife.

Drayce walked to him. "How is my sister-in-law?"

Keiren anxiously shook his head. "I'm not sure. It's been so long since I've only heard her cries." He looked helpless and scared.

It was the first time Drayce had seen Keiren like this. He could understand. If it were Seren, he would have gone crazy already. He decided to stay and silently support his brother, who didn't mind his presence.

Inside the chamber, Seren was taken aback by Edith's weak condition. Her heart ached to see Edith in pain while trying to give birth, with a midwife doing her best to instruct her. Besides Cara, a midwife and one more servant were present.

"Use a little more strength, my lady," the servant holding Edith's hand said anxiously.

Edith looked like she was losing all her strength, her entire body drenched in sweat as she tightly held onto her servant's hand. Her cries slowly weakened as she grew exhausted.

"You can't give up, Lady Edith," a midwife encouraged. "Just hold on a little longer."

Seren, shocked, scared, and worried, felt a whirlwind of emotions and stood frozen in place. She could see how Edith's body was slowly losing its energy.

Seren hurried to the bed and sat on the other side. She held Edith's hand. "Edith, don't give up, alright?"

A servant who stepped outside to get more warm water was met by Keiren. "How…is she…"

"My Lord," the servant hesitated.

"Speak," Keiren's voice rose.

"Lady Edith doesn't look to be in good condition," she replied.

Keiren lost the last shred of his patience and barged into the room. All he knew was that he needed to be with his wife, to somehow relieve her of this pain. He wanted to be by her side in her most difficult time.

Cara stepped aside, and Keiren sat at the edge of the bed, holding Edith's hand. His gaze was tender as he looked at her. "Edith…" His voice caught in his throat, his eyes glistening with moisture, mirroring her pain.

Edith looked at him, her eyes slowly closing. "Ren…" Her voice was weak, and her grip on his hand was loosening.

"Edith…" Keiren called loudly, fear gripping his heart. He looked at the midwife. "What… what is happening to her?"

"My Lord…" the midwife hesitated. "I am afraid Lady Edith has lost all her strength and…"

"And?"

"She can't push the baby anymore, and I fear we are losing them both."

"You are a midwife! You know what to do. Why aren't you doing anything?"

"Apologies, my Lord…" she bowed her head, mumbling helplessly, "only if I could give her all my life's strength."

Keiren turned back to Edith, shaking her gently. "Edith… Edith, wake up. You can't give up. I don't care about the baby, but I can't lose you. Edith, wake up…" Tears rolled down his cheeks.

Seren, shocked and helpless as she held Edith's frail hand, felt her pulse growing weaker. She heard the midwife's last words.

"I can help," Seren spoke immediately.