Oh My, I Messed Up the Story

Chapter 102: Now What?

Al and I had to wait another month and a half for Mariela to go into labor. We did a whole lot of nothing, not unlike when I first came to the palace for bridal lessons.

All of the nobility were going crazy at this point because she was two weeks after her due date and still hadn't given birth. I was forced to attend odious tea parties every morning with women I couldn't care less about, including my fake mother, and all they could talk about was the royal baby or how inconvenienced they were by staying in town so long.

What did they have to do back in the country that was so important? Their social connections weren't nearly as readily available back at their estates.

Besides, they drank tea and gossiped no matter where they were so I didn't see the difference it would make. These women baffled me. I didn't understand them and I hoped I never would.

I may be stuck living in this fantasyland but I refused to lose my modern sensibilities. They were an important part of me.

Al and I spent a lot of time talking about my home and things we could potentially replicate here while we were stuck under house arrest. Most things seemed impossible due to the lack of technology but it was nice to dream.

The announcement that Mariela had gone into labor came during the middle of a heated game of UNO. I had found some sturdy paper and created the cards as best I could, labeling the corners with different letters because the only color of ink I had was black. G for green, B for blue, and so on.

It was a pretty lame attempt but I had gotten so sick of traditional two-person card games that I would rather die than play another. Now that Al knew I was from another world there was no need to make the games we played feasibly seem like they were from here.

So I created UNO. Once I had more materials, I planned to make a lot more games from home to keep us entertained so we wouldn't have to go back to regular cards.

A servant came into the library where I had just hit Al with three +2 cards in a row and he was clutching his head in frustration to tell us what was happening with the second princess. Bewilderment flickered across his face for only a moment when he saw what we were doing before his composure was back.

"Your Highnesses, Princess Mariela has begun the birthing process. She wishes for Princess Catherine to attend her."

I was so shocked that my cards slipped out of my hand. I didn't realize that was a thing here; I thought only doctors and midwives were allowed to be present when noble or royal children were born.

Unable to say no, I shot Al an apologetic look and followed him out. When I arrived the chief royal physician and two assistants were the only other people present. Even Franz wasn't allowed in. So why was I?

Mariela's forehead was beaded with sweat and she gestured for me to come closer. She leaned over to whisper in my ear.

"I lied and told them having a woman who is familiar with you is a tradition in Shibatsu even though their tradition is the same as the one here. You told me before that women usually have husbands, mothers, sisters, and close friends in the birthing room in your world. They refuse to let Franz in because it is improper but I cannot do this alone."

My heart went out to her. She was in a foreign land with few friends and had been in danger her entire pregnancy. Even now she was worried about whether or not her child would result in her husband becoming the new king.

I wanted to say something to make her feel better but couldn't find the right words. All I was able to do was tell her that I was here and grip her hand but it seemed to do the trick.

By the time I arrived, Mariela was already pretty far along in the labor process. It only took another two hours for the baby to officially greet the world. As the chief physician picked it up and began examining it, he smiled at the new mother.

"You did very well, Your Highness. It is a healthy young prince."

Mariela burst into tears. She had known all along that giving birth to a son would put her child's life in danger as long as Sigmund was around. Having her worst fear confirmed while simultaneously being happy about her first child had overwhelmed her.

I sat down on the side of the bed and wrapped my arms around her, trying to offer comfort as best I could. Once the baby was clean and snugly swaddled, he was handed to his mother for the first time.

She held him close and kissed the tiny tuft of silver hair on the top of his head. "Could someone please send for my husband? He needs to meet his son."

The physicians' assistants began cleaning up the mess on the bed as best they could without disturbing mother and son so I volunteered to go. I bumped into him pacing up and down the hall in front of their chambers.

The worry on his face was undisguised and he gripped my hands. "Is she?"

"Mariela is fine and so is your son. Go see them," I encouraged gently.

Franz nearly wilted with relief hearing they were alright and barely even seemed to register that I had said he had an heir. That made him rise in my estimation; when it came down to it, he was more concerned about his family than the fact that there was a good chance he would become king now.

I gave them privacy and walked back to my quarters in a daze. Al was there waiting for me, having returned after I abandoned him mid-game.

"Well?" he demanded.

"It's a boy," I said faintly. "We're screwed."

It had already basically been decided that if the royal baby was a boy that Franz would become king because of his ability to carry on the bloodline but it still needed to be put to a vote. This time all of the princes were prohibited from voting and it was solely up to the court.

I was positive Franz would win now that the commoner representatives had arrived from the countryside. They all knew he was the reason they were even allowed to be a part of the court.

There were still plenty of nobles in Sigmund's faction but even some of them had wavered because of his lack of progeny. So what did this mean for the story?

Franz couldn't exactly kick Sigmund out of the palace because royals always let their families continue to live here. It was tradition. Which would give the man plenty of time to try and plot something terrible, I was sure.

Al already knew where I stood on the matter. He had wanted to get to the mountains as soon as possible but couldn't deny that Sigmund could be a big problem for us so he reluctantly agreed that we should stay here until it was settled if Mariela gave birth to a boy.

He opened his arms with a worried sigh and I crumbled into them. From here on out we were operating in foreign territory. The plot had been completely ruined aside from the commoners getting their representation.

Now what?