A parting gift from an elven noble… How will this help? After all, the result of the queen's actions is a half-elf bastard...

Inside the envelope was a small, elegant amulet made of some very light metal of a light greenish hue. This amulet looked very similar to thin intertwined vines, dotted with small flowers with beautiful petals. In the center of each flower was inlaid a very small precious stone, shimmering with a barely noticeable dark greenish light.

And also...

Inside the envelope was a small note, in which only a couple of phrases were written in calligraphically impeccable elven handwriting: "A gift for the child. This will ease his lot a little."

Isolde could barely make out the meaning of these words - her knowledge of elven writing was modest.

However, compared to most ordinary humans, she received a good noble education.

"Why couldn't you explain it more clearly?! Slyvunias wants the amulet to be placed on the child's neck? Why? What will this lead to? The amulet is clearly magical... But what is the essence of this magic? " - the queen's thoughts were permeated with concern for the fate of her child.

And in these thoughts there was also resentment towards the elven nobleman: "Why?! Why didn't Slyvunias want to stay by my side?! I would have done anything to find him a place at the royal court... "

The memory of the night of love became an integral part of the young woman's consciousness...

The pleasure experienced then...

Forbidden secret pleasure in the arms of an elf lover...

Pleasure after several years of coldness and neglect on the part of her husband-king...

This pleasure permeated the memories of Isolde and gave them a "flavor" of bitterness, sad regrets and an unrealizable passion for the return of lost happiness. However, the queen's mind still realized that the elven nobleman acted rationally: of course, first of all, he was guided by his non-human logic - but, in addition, his constant presence at court would really increase the risks of exposing the adultery that had occurred.

And when the exposure of the fact of adultery occurs not in the family of a poor swineherd, but in the family of a king ... - in this case, the consequences can be the most terrible.

Isolde tried to mentally calm the storm of her emotions: "The child ... My child ... I must think about the child and act for the good of the child ..."

In the following weeks, the queen tries as carefully as possible to obtain information about the magical properties of the amulet-gift.

It was not easy ...

To find out the essence and not give grounds for suspicion.

However, as a result, little was learned. The local experts in enchantment magic and the traders of magical artifacts were not so well versed in the complex elven magic to fully understand the essence of this thing.

They managed to learn only some generalized abstract features: the amulet was imbued with complex complementary charms that combined elements of the magic of the school of abjuration and the magic of the school of illusion.

"Well... This thing will probably be useful for the child..." - this is the conclusion the queen comes to.

Time passes...

Month after month passes...

The signs of the queen's pregnancy are becoming more and more obvious...

The alarming news of the bloody border battles fade into the background due to the festive celebrations in the capital of the kingdom.

"The gods have granted an heir to the throne!" - the commoners and court dignitaries are overwhelmed with joy.

King Eadric is filled with self-satisfaction from the realization that his old body is still capable of such "bed feats".

Only Queen Isolde is overwhelmed with anxious premonitions...

And, it soon turns out that her worries were not in vain...

When the child is born, it becomes completely obvious that he is a half-elven bastard.

It is not possible to hide this from the many midwifes, physicians and courtiers.

After all, the procedure of taking delivery of the queen is an event in which many people participate.

After the birth, Queen Isolde only managed to put an elven amulet on the screaming baby's neck.

What happened next was amazing - the queen could hardly believe her own eyes.

The magical artifact seemed to merge with the baby's skin and became almost invisible to outside observers.

But no magic could eliminate the consequences of the fact that many people had already seen the child...

When the baby is born it is very obvious he is a half elf bastard. As the months passed, whispers spread across the kingdom about Isolde's child. Some whispered that he bore the mark of his father, the Elf noble. Others spoke in hushed tones of the king's fury and the nobles' outrage. But for the most part, the common folk remained oblivious to the scandal that had ensnared their queen and the future of their kingdom.

The birth of the child had been difficult, but ultimately successful. The midwife had whispered to Isolde that her son was strong and healthy, despite the odds stacked against him. As she cradled him in her arms, she knew that she would do everything in her power to ensure his safety and happiness.

But the king's fury did not subside. He called for an emergency meeting of the royal council, demanding answers and solutions to this unforeseen problem. The nobles gathered, each with their own opinions and agendas. Some advocated for the child's execution, while others proposed sending him away to be raised by a distant relative, far from the kingdom's prying eyes.

In the midst of it all, Isolde remained steadfast. She would not abandon her child, nor would she allow him to be harmed. She pleaded with the council, her voice trembling with emotion. "This child is innocent," she said. "He did not ask to be born into this situation. To harm him would be to condemn him for the sins of his parents. I will not stand for it."

The council was split, but in the end, they agreed. The child would be kept hidden from the public eye, raised in a remote part of the kingdom by a loyal servant of the queen. It was a compromise, and one that left a bitter taste in the king's mouth. But he knew that he could not fight against Isolde's determination.

And so, the years passed. Isolde continued to rule as queen, her heart heavy with the burden she carried. Her son grew strong and healthy, unaware of his true lineage. And though the king remained displeased, he could not deny the love and devotion his wife had for her child.

In the end, the raw, primal connection that Isolde and the Elf noble had shared had resulted in the birth of a boy who would grow up to challenge the status quo and change the course of the kingdom's history. For in the shadows, unbeknownst to all, the half-elf bastard was waiting, biding his time…