The baby was pressing against the nerve running down her left leg, leaving it with a burning numbness that persisted day and night, while the pain in her lower back remained as though a massive spike had been driven into it.
It was enough to make her resent the gods for burdening only women with such suffering.
At some point, Talia had begun earnestly hoping the baby would be a boy.
She never wanted to become pregnant again after this.
Although she appreciated the devoted care she received from Varkas and everyone around her, as the physical pain worsened, the joy of carrying a new life gradually faded away.
In its place came fear.
Giving birth is going to hurt terribly... isn't it?
Even accepting Varkas's body had always felt overwhelming.
Could she truly endure childbirth?
Staring at her ever-growing stomach, Talia found herself sinking deeper and deeper into anxiety.
She desperately wished to be free from pregnancy as soon as possible.
Yet at the same time, she wished that moment would never come.
"Your Highness, I've brewed some herbal tea to calm your nerves. It should help you sleep, at least a little."
After stirring a pot over the fireplace for quite some time, Marisen approached carrying a cup filled with a dark brown liquid.
Without complaint, Talia accepted it and drank.
During the early months of her pregnancy, she hadn't touched anything that might possibly harm the baby.
Now, however, she welcomed anything that could make her body feel even slightly more comfortable.
While the child in her womb remained remarkably vigorous, she herself was growing more haggard with each passing day.
Talia worried that by the time her due date arrived, she wouldn't have enough strength left to give birth.
"Would you like to take this as well? Her Majesty the Empress sent it. It's a tonic that's supposed to restore your vitality."
No sooner had she finished the tea than her nanny approached carrying a small medicine bottle.
Talia stared at it for a long moment before shaking her head.
She didn't believe her mother—who regarded the child in her womb as an important political piece—would deliberately send her something harmful.
Even so, she couldn't bring herself to trust Senevier without reservation.
"My stomach feels unsettled. I don't want to take anything else."
"At least accept it for Her Majesty's sake. She prepared such precious medicinal herbs..."
"I said no!"
Looking thoroughly irritated, Talia slapped her nanny's hand away.
The glass bottle slipped from her grasp and rolled across the floor.
For an instant, anger flashed across the nanny's round face.
Her lips twitched as though she wanted to lash out, but in the end she merely let out a heavy sigh before retrieving the bottle.
Talia felt a pang of guilt.
Yet instead of apologizing, she turned her back to her.
She was too angry with the nanny, who seemed more concerned about Senevier's gift going to waste than about Talia's own suffering.
Pulling the blanket all the way over her head, she repeatedly pressed her aching pelvis with her fingertips.
She remained there groaning for what felt like ages.
Eventually, perhaps thanks to the herbal tea, the pain gradually eased, and drowsiness overtook her.
With relief, Talia surrendered herself to sleep.
Her peace, however, did not last long.
Around sunset, a violent cramp seized her leg and tore her from a deep sleep.
Grabbing both hands around her twisting calf muscle, she screamed.
It felt as though someone had stabbed a knife straight through her leg.
Tears streamed uncontrollably down her face.
"Please endure it just a little longer, Your Highness. I'll give you some medicine."
Marisen, who had been resting by the fireplace, hurried over and held a medicine bottle to her lips.
"It's a painkiller. We've used herbs that are completely safe for the baby, so please don't worry."
Talia hesitated briefly.
But when the cramp refused to subside, she reluctantly swallowed a mouthful of the lukewarm medicine.
Meanwhile, Tiuran returned carrying a heated compress filled with hot water and carefully placed it over Talia's leg.
After some time, the pain finally began to ease.