Birth of Eliza’s Child

"Eliza!" You call for Eliza while you catch up to her. Eliza turns around, her hands on her belly. She looks about ready to pop any day now. "Eliza." You stand right in front of her. "What is it? What does King Franz Karl have on you?"

Eliza angrily flared her nostrils before shaking her head and looking anyway, "I don't know. What does he have on you?" She demands. "If you can't tell me, I see no reason why I shouldn't tell you."

"A test of mutual trust then?"

"It's a test if you make it be." She counters. "I got a good offer from King Franz Karl. I couldn't refuse. Not really"

"Why? Did he threaten you? Did he threaten our child?"

"Indirectly. What he has on me could spell danger for me and our child and the best part of it for him is that he doesn't have to lift a finger. Toscana is not free of ambitious nobles looking for their chance to usurp power from me. If what he knows gets out, it's the end for me and my family!"

"I could protect you." You try.

"I know you would. It makes me so glad to hear that you care. But I don't want to risk getting you in trouble. Mathilde might already be dragged into my fate. I don't like this anymore than you do! I absolutely loathe the fact that that man has this power of me. But King Franz Karl's grip and control over the Italian states that are part of the Confederation is vice-like! The Dukes, Counts and Earls will follow his orders and will not hesitate to kill if it meant gaining his favor! You know this. He has a dozen swords over my head and he doesn't even need to lift a finger! My vassal lords will come at me and not only will they get me but all my loyal servants! Once I am out of the way, Toscana will be plunged into civil war to see who gets to seat where I used to. My family's hardwork will be undone and my people will get caught in the crossfire! I can't have that! I cannot have any of that!"

"What does he have over you?" You almost beg. Worry and concern coat your tone just as your eyes make it plain to see.

"I'll tell if you will." After ten seconds of silence, Eliza sighs, "I thought as much." Eliza takes your hands and places them over her distended, heavy belly. "Feel that. That's our child stirring in there."

"It seemed so long ago you and I just met." You mention.

"Indeed. We bedded and soon my belly was growing with your child." She caresses your face, "Any day now, my love." It surprises you to hear her call you that. "I want to meet our child and hold him or her in my arms. I want to hear them cry even if it depraves me of sleep. Franz Karl," she growls saying his name, "has promised to make him or her a prince or princess once his plans succeed."

"I understand. I don't like this, any of this."

"We're nobles and monarchs. We don't like being **** to do what we don't like. Just as much as our peasants don't like being dragged into our petty disputes. We don't have to like it." She takes your hand and you can feel her longing for comfort. "Be with me, my love. Stay with me until the birth. I want our child to see its parents the moment it enters the world."

"You'll have me." You answer. She leans close and you respond. You kiss tenderly and wrap each other in both your arms.

When you disengage, she takes your hands again and places them back on her belly.

You later find yourself naked with Eliza on her bed. You lean on the headboard of the bed and Eliza sits up next to you. You draw circles on Eliza's arms with your finger. It was more than just sex this time. It was love-making and Eliza needed to feel your love. She has a peaceful smile on her face.

You cup her breasts. You silently humor yourself with the thought of them having grown bigger and heavier with the milk for your soon-to-be born child. Your hands move to her round stomach. "My King." She says without looking back at you.

"Yes?"

"I..." She stops herself and shakes her head, "No, it's nothing."

Now comes the awaited day. The birth of another child. You kept Eliza company from then to now. You hold her hand as she struggles to bring your shared child to the world. Her thighs wide open with the midwife at the ready for the coming child.

"I can see the head!" Shouts the midwife.

"You're doing fine, my dear." You wipe the sweat off her brow. Eliza lets out the loud grunt in her life and pushes one last time. Eliza feels her womb emptying and her baby sliding out her vagina. She falls back to the bed as the cries of a newborn baby fills the room.

"It's a boy!" declares the midwife. She sets the wailing newborn on Eliza's shrunken belly as she cuts the umbilical cord. Another servants wraps the child in a bundle and hands the child to the new mother.

Eliza has tears forming in her eyes. "He's perfect." She says after seeing the baby's face.

The baby had his mother's brown eyes but it was still too early to tell whose hair did he inherit. You and Eliza agree to call the child Simone. You'll have the papers written up legitimizing your son as a member of his mother's House.

You and Eliza share a kiss. "I wish I could say this is my first son but there are other women out there who have given birth to my children."

"You really can't keep it in your pants, can you?" Eliza tiredly smirks,

"Of course I can." You says sounding almost insulted. "I just like taking it out once in a while and sticking it inside a woman's flower."

"Once in a while?" Eliza looks at you with accusing eyes.

"Eliza, I am not having this conversation." You brush a lock of hair off Eliza's face. She opens her small clothes and nurses your child.

"Thank you, Eliza. Thank you for this child you've born for me."

"For us, my King." Eliza smiles at you and you both kiss again. Little Simon just keeps nursing on his mother's teat enjoying his first meal in his new life.