42 A Dead Child, and Faustina

For years after the birth of Lucas, the duchess has been in constant unrest, being the center of ridicule. The rumor of her husband cheating with a lowly peasant spread like a haywire upon the empire. She was incapable of bearing a third child due to the complications of her last delivery. Servants shortly talked about how the duchess was now nothing to the duke given that she was not able to provide the duke a daughter he yearned for.

And they were right.

"Alphonsus." says the duchess after a long silence. "Why?"

The duke did not speak, emerald eyes gleaming with tears. "I'm sorry, Adalia."

The duchess' gaze drifted towards the duke, down to her belly.

"Is it because I could not give you the daughter I promised?" She says. "Is it because I could not fulfill the prophecy your father passed down to you?"

"I'm sorry."

"Is it so? Are you 'sorry'?"