They had just completed a practice drill, so when the real moment came, the people in the delivery room were not excessively nervous. They habitually engaged in their assigned duties.
Only Colin began to grow anxious.
âAh!!!â
Hearing the screams of Isa emitting from the delivery room, and seeing maids going in and out with various items, Colin stood dumbstruck at the entrance to the Palace, finding the whole thing surreal.
But this time, it was indeed real.
The magnificent spectacle in the night sky had disappeared, but the phantasm of the Phoenix continued to linger in Colinâs mind, making him feel vaguely uneasy.
It was too much of a coincidence.
The Phoenix illusory image briefly appeared and disappeared over the Royal Palace, and then Isa started going into labor.
Although temporal sequence did not necessarily imply causality, it was hard for Colin to believe that there was no connection between the two events.
Could this be the Rebel forcesâ real secret weapon?
But Colin found himself completely unable to understand the enemyâs tactics.
What was that Phoenix illusory image?
What effect did it have on Isa and the child in her womb?
Without comprehending these things, Colin had no idea how to respond and could only pray that his worries were unfounded and that Isa would have a smooth delivery.
However, as time passed, Colinâs heart sank further and further.
The dawnâs faint light tore through the dark veil of night, casting the first rays of sunlight upon the Half-Elf Palace. The fighting within the City had not ceased, but according to the reports from Knight Logh, the Blood Knight Army was gradually gaining an advantage and it was believed that the rebellious Silver Moon Guards would soon be entirely suppressed under their might.
But Colin couldnât bring himself to rejoice yet because the child had still not been successfully delivered, and Isaâs voice was becoming increasingly weak.
Finally, unable to bear it any longer, Colin strode into the delivery room.
Technically, an âoutsiderâ like Colin should not be allowed into Queen Isaâs delivery room, but given current circumstances, nobody dared to voice any objections.
Besides, everyone was well aware of the actual relationship between Colin and Isa.
âWhatâs going on?â Looking at Queen Isa lying on the bed, her face pale and soaked in sweat, Colinâs heart ached.
âCount, the Queen⦠the Queen has no strength leftâ¦â the female doctor said cautiously, looking at Colinâs gloomy face.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Colinâs eyes widened in alarm, he hurriedly asked, âWhat do you mean by no strength? Havenât you used the Energy potion?â
âWe did, the Queen has already consumed three bottles of the Energy potion, butâ¦â
Colin furrowed his brows, realizing that something was decidedly not right.
By rights, Isa, being a knight, should have a better constitution than normal expectant mothers, so how could she not have the strength to give birth?
Moreover, after consuming so many potions, how could Isaâs energy and strength be so depleted? There was clearly something amiss.
âColinâ¦â Queen Isa called out weakly.
Colin hurriedly sat by the bed, took Isaâs hand, and comforted her in a gentle voice, âDonât worry, nothing will happen to you.â
Isa, however, slowly shook her head and said, âNo, Iâm afraid I wonât be able to deliver this childâ¦â
âDonât talk nonsense!â
âListen to me⦠I can feel⦠the aura of this child is too strongâ¦â
âWhat do you mean?â
âDo you remember the Phoenix illusion we saw last night?â
âYes, what was that?â
âThatâs the totem of the High Elvesâ¦â
Colin knew something about this. It was said that the bodies of the High Elves contained the legendary bloodline of the Phoenix. Hence, their King was referred to as the âPhoenix Kingâ, and their Palace built in Dragon City was also named the âPhoenix Palaceâ.
However, he didnât understand what the Phoenix illusion appearing over Silver Moon City meant or how it was related to Isaâs delivery.
Before he could pose his questions, he heard Queen Isa continue, âThe Phoenix bloodline is a symbol of the High Elf Royal Family, and Iâm afraid that the child in my womb⦠is of the Phoenix bloodlineâ¦
I donât know how I, a Half-Elf, could possibly bear a child of the Phoenix bloodline, which even the High Elf Royal Family treasures greatly⦠But the power of such a strong bloodline has surpassed my capacity to bear. Itâs continuously drawing on my strength, and I have no ability to deliver itâ¦â
Hearing this, Colin was able to confirm that the Phoenix illusory image was indeed the work of the rebels!
They had used some mysterious technique to forcefully upgrade the bloodline of the child in Isaâs womb.
Ordinarily, bearing a child of the Phoenix bloodline would be a joyous event, but the issue was, Isa was a Half-Elf; her âinferiorâ bloodline â as the High Elves saw it, was insufficient to naturally bear a child of Phoenix bloodline. Hence, for her, the child in her womb became a huge burden.
If things continued this way, the child would drain all of Isaâs life force, and even her being a Bloodline might not save her from this plight!
So this was the real secret weapon of the rebels!
Thinking of this, Colin immediately made up his mind and declared firmly, âSince it canât be delivered normally, then weâll perform a Cesarean section!â
Of course, Isa understood what Colin meant. She was aware of the Cesarean section procedure that Colin had prepared. At first, she thought it was unnecessary, but who would have thought that it would turn out to be indispensable.
âNo, donât!â However, Isa did not agree, shaking her head and begging, âIf you do that, our child will dieâ¦â
âStop talking nonsense, if you die, how can the child live?â
âWe can wait a little longer. I can feel that its aura is stabilizing. Maybe, I can hold on a bit longerâ¦â
âBut Isa, why should we take such a risk?â Colin softly kissed Isaâs smooth forehead, âAs long as youâre alive, we can always have another child.â
âBut the children we may have in the future wonât be able to claim to be the late Kingâs posthumous child, their identityâ¦â
âSo what?â Colin declared confidently, âEven if they are illegitimate children, I will ensure they ascend the throne of the Half-Elves!â
âBut⦠butâ¦â It was not that Isa did not trust Colin, but as a mother, she was ultimately unwilling to surrender her child.
But Colin knew that at a time like this, he needed to make a hard decision on Isaâs behalf.
Looking at the tear-streaked face of Isa, he gritted his teeth and said, âDonât worry, Isa, we will avenge this!â
Having said that, he turned to command the three doctors standing terrified at the foot of the bed, âGet on with it, perform the procedure!â
âCou⦠Countâ¦â The female doctors were trembling in fear.
âHurry up!â
âBut, but Count⦠none of the experiments has been successfulâ¦â
Ching!
Colin pulled out his sword, pointing it at the doctor, and bellowed, âDo as I say, or the next ones to die will be you!â
The doctors, looking at Colinâs ferocious face and the sword tip nearly touching their throats, gritted their teeth, took out the prepared âsurgical knifeâ.
They whispered a prayer, and then, under Colinâs urging, they made an incision into Isaâs abdomen with trembling hands.