"Your body belongs to you. Decide for yourself what you want to do!"
"But cousin, I hope you'll spare a thought for your mother. Could she bear losing you, her last remaining child?"
With that, Danyla turned and left. Cao Yao of the Children of the Forest and the other scholars followed close behind. Only Maester Tigris stayed, at Danyla's signal.
Princess Rhaenys hurriedly tried to persuade him again.
"Lannal, this is your only chance to survive. Without a cesarean, the babies in your belly will drag you to your death."
"Herb, what's that strange fluctuation of magical energy coming from Lannal?"
Only after dismissing everyone else did Danyla question Herb of the Children of the Forest.
"Your Highness, he seems to have entered into a nature contract with one of the Children of the Forest, and is now suffering its backlash. The two children in his belly are actually very healthy, but they keep drawing energy from Nalan Naral."
"So his condition may be even worse than it appears. Even if the children are successfully delivered, Lannal probably won't survive."
"So that's why. No wonder the magical energy around him is fluctuating so strongly. But this nature contract is truly vicious. It nourishes Lannal's babies with magical energy, letting them grow strong, then uses them to drain his life force."
At that thought, Danyla could not help grumbling inwardly.
It seems getting rid of the mother and keeping the children isn't just popular in palace intrigue dramas!
The thought made Danyla feel as though her own lower abdomen had begun to ache.
"Wait!"
Only then did Danyla belatedly consider her own situation.
Could I have fallen victim to it too?
Remembering the strange blood-red mist released after the Red Dragon's death, Danyla instantly grew wary.
*Could it be