There was still a long time to go before the day of childbirth... And, unfortunately for Isolde, there were some incidents...

A child of sin...

Probably, this is what the pious persons would have called the queen's child (if they had learned the secret of the origin of the child).

However, there was still a long time to go before the day of birth...

During the week after that secret, depraved night, Isolde often spent time with her younger brother Vander.

For the courtiers, this did not look suspicious, given that the queen skillfully masked her true emotions and flawlessly used metaphorical speech patterns and insinuations.

The conversations between the sister and younger brother were fully justified by Isolde's interest in the reasons for his arrival at the capital's castle.

Vander came to the castle of Segh-Teinarel because their common father with the queen (thane Marbert Glanef) entrusted him with an important matter.

Thane of «Grim Peaks», despite Vander’s objections, demanded that Vander find a bride for himself as soon as possible among the representatives of noble aristocratic houses.

In addition to verbal explanations, this purpose of the visit was proven by the text of the letter that the younger brother handed into the hands of the queen.

«Your younger brother Vander devotes too little time to useful activities. He loves to have fun and commit all sorts of unreasonable stupidity too much. It is time to make him useful to our family. I instruct you to find a bride for him from some noble family. This should strengthen our position. Make a decision wisely. And try to control the behavior of this little fool Vander - so that he does not commit any nonsense…» - reading this text, the queen blushed from embarrassment.

It seems that she herself recently provoked some action of her younger brother, which could be characterized as «unreasonable stupidity».

Her father's letter reflected a completely logical intention to direct the activity of the teenager Vander in a direction that would benefit the interests of the family.

And the phrases in the text also reflected a certain... irritation.

It seemed that Vander had managed to anger his father with his behavior.

"Why didn't you give me my father's letter right away?! You should have done it the day you arrived at the castle!" - the queen whispered indignantly.

"Uh... Icy, I'm just tired after a long journey... I needed to relax a little before starting on burdensome matters... And you yourself really... really "distracted" me... That night was amazing, Icy..." - the face of this frivolous teenager shows a satisfied smile.

"Speak more quietly, idiot! They might be eavesdropping on us!" - Isolde barely refrained from giving her younger brother a slap on the back of the head.

"Don't worry... Everything is fine, sister... You will find a bride for me and I will get married. This will not prevent us from meeting sometimes and continuing our "pleasant communication"... Hee... Hee..." - Vander's tone of voice reflects self-satisfaction.

He is probably now remembering how he fucked his sister.

She herself came to his bedroom that night.

His dreams of many years came true on that depraved night.

It seems that what happened gave rise to exaggerated ideas about his own masculinity and sexual prowess in his soul.

"We must be more careful... From now on, we must not meet so often... So that the courtiers do not notice anything..." - the queen's voice trembles due to anxious premonitions.

So, now Isolde, on behalf of her father, must find a bride (from some aristocratic family) for this teenager Vander.

Returning to her luxurious chambers and walking along the corridors of the castle, the queen is deep in thought.

Now she is not only responsible for the fate of her unborn child.

Now she is responsible for the fate of her younger brother Vander.

After all, this irresponsible teenager can easily harm himself because of some stupid vagary.

"It's a pity that father didn't send Natemir here with that idiot teen..." the queen thinks regretfully.

Natemir Glanef is the queen's second brother. He is only one year younger than her. And he is a much more reasonable person than the youngest brother Vander.

Alas, father probably found another task for him...

Besides, Isolde recalls a recent conversation with the king's trusted advisor...

Now this conversation raises even more concerns...

The problem is that Alaric was not just an ordinary court dignitary...

Alaric Branevar is one of the king's current trusted advisors, who is a major vassal owning lands in the northwest of the kingdom. Alaric holds the title of thane of "Hoary Crag". He spends most of his time in the capital at the royal court, entrusting the management of the lands of his family domain to his numerous relatives (he has four sons and three daughters, as well as many other kins).

Alaric has enjoyed the king's special trust in recent years and has taken on more and more authority, taking advantage of the laziness and weakness of the old king Eadric.

Alaric Branevar has a specific reputation...

Too loyal, too diligent, too accommodating to the whims of the old king...

It is possible that this imaginary modesty and devotion are just a "screen" for the thirst for power.

And, judging by a recent confidential conversation with the queen, this aristocrat clearly suspects something about the "queen's pregnancy".

"There are rumors... Some even whisper that the baby cannot be from King Eadric..." - Alaric's words appear in the queen's memory, increasing her fear due to the uncertainty of the future.

The queen spent the rest of the day pondering the difficult situation.

However, the next morning one of the ladies-in-waiting informed the queen of an unexpected incident: "Your Majesty... Your brother Vander... He has disappeared from the castle - his retinue does not know where he went..."