8 months, 3 weeks, 1 day pregnant.

“Just how long do you intend to step in the way of Livia's duties?” Lynette hisses out angrily the moment she steps foot into her husband's office.

“Hello to you too, wife,” Luvien states without glancing up. He stamps a paper, flips through a stack, reads slowly, and then stamps another.

“Luvien!” Lynette snaps after a minute of being ignored. She stalks forward to slam her hands down on his desk, “Did you not hear what I just said?”

“I heard you,” Luvien responds, lowly. How could he not? She was practically screaming.

“You must end this nonsense,” Lynette demands instantly, “Livia cannot remain on the outskirts a day longer. There are certain traditions and ways we must adhere to if we wish to continue to properly host the Fall Courtship. Call her back. Have that girl, Vivian,” She spits out the name, “removed from Livia’s room.”

“And have our daughter reside next to the Princess Adanna?” Luvien asks coldly, finally looking up.

Lynette scoffs, “Our,” she mutters, “What nonsense.”

Louder, she says, “Then have that spoiled girl moved along with her friend.”

Her rose-pink eyes sharpen, “And on that note, what exactly do you intend to do with that girl? She had dared to insult us not once, but twice. I say princess or no, a one day confinement for her actions as punishment is too little. To think that spoiled thing had the nerve to continuously demand an apology when she was so clearly in the wrong! His highness, as always is too lenient on his children!”

“Livia will not be moved again,” He states baldly. He crosses his fingers together and resting them on top of the half-finished parchment on his desk, “I have already ordered that the north wing be properly prepared for the delivery.”

“Deli-” Lynette stops and stares at him as if he had grown two heads. Then her lips curls, “What utter madness,” She hisses, “How dare you do such a thing without speaking to me first! Such matters aren’t for you to decide.”

“I would have been more than willing to let you take care of such things but it seems as of late other matters that have been occupying your attention. I felt it was best to leave you, your mother, and your sister alone,” Luvien eyes his wife before him coolly, “Especially as you had seen to orchestrate all of this without telling me until the last minute.”

Lynette smiles meanly, leaning forward, “Apologies husband, it seems I have been neglecting my duties. But, then again, I would have happily informed you of my plans. If only you had deigned to reply to any of my letters in the past, maybe then I would not have thought you have been of little interest.”

“It seems a mutual misunderstanding has taken place,” Luvien states flatly, his voice cold.

“Indeed, it has,” Lynette says icily, her smile widening.

They stare at each other, daring the other to look away first.

Silence.

Lynette rolls her eyes upwards and removes her hands from the desk so she could straighten and cross them under her ample breast and huffs.

“Well, now that is out of the way,” She starts, ignoring Luvien's faint look of triumph, “We must discuss the upcoming event of the Fall Courtship. Or, more importantly, the lack of events.”

Luvien removes the papers he had been working on, setting them to the side to resume at a later time, and gives his wife his full attention.

“The events have been organized by you and your mother,” He wonders why he must point out the obvious, his face devoid of emotion, “From what I can tell, all pre-plan has been executed with needlepoint perfection. The only incident we have had has already been taken care of.”

Lynette was already shaking her head, a scowl on her face, “It seems you are forgetting someone of great importance once more, husband.”

Luvien raises a dark eyebrow.

Lynette's mouth draws back further, “Our daughter!?” She snaps.

“You know, the third and finale crown princess candidate?” She continues on when her husband only stares back at her.

“I had turned a blind eye when she had been excused for the dinner party, but as the day's passed, she continued to remain absent from all the events! She did not show up for the picnic, the ball, or the tea party! Our guest has begun to ask certain questions that I cannot answer! How foolish do you think they are? Did you think they wouldn’t notice one of the three candidates missing?” Lynette throws up her hands and glares.

Luvien remains silent. There was no point in talking when his wife got like this. It was best to wait and let her spout off until she was done.

Sure enough, Lynette continues on.

“The preliminary events are over and done with,” Lynette states stalking forward again, “All introductions have been made and the crown princess candidates have made themselves known. All of them except for Livia. With that out of the way, the Fall Courtship can begin in earnest.”

Lynette slams her hands on the desk once more, “Only, that is not the case because tradition dictates that all candidates must first complete the three mandatory outings under supervision with the crown prince before the Fall Courtship can commence.”

Rose eye turn into slits, “Husband, I know you are aware of the details, but, if your memory has to turn into fog at your age, I am more than happy to go in fetch the copy of the charter so you can see the rules with your own eyes.”

Luvien reframes from lowering himself and rolling his eyes like an unruly adolescent, but it is a near thing.

“I am aware of traditions of Wisteria, wife,” He states.

Lynette means smile was back, “Well, that is good to hear husband. Then there was no reason for me to visit you at all it seems,” She straightens and pats off her dress as if it was dirty.

“Inform your guards and the royal ones that I am allowed to see my daughter. I have already had dresses made for the event, but it has been some time since I last saw her. Lord forbid that she had gotten bigger in that short amount, but you know Livia. Always so defiant even in the smallest things,” she says placidly and simpers.

“I am also aware,” Luvien continues lowly, as Lynette begins to turn away, “That Livia, under no circumstances, will ever become the Crown Princess of Wisteria.”

The duchess stills. Slowly, she turns back to him, her expression going from surprise to anger, and settling on thunderous.

“What nonsense are you spouting now?” Lynette asks coldly, her rose-pink eyes frigid.

Luvien flat-line of a mouth lift. In a rare instance, he smirks, almost in bemusement.

“Truly, it is almost amazing,” He says calmly, “To think you genuinely thought that your schemes would actually bear fruit astounds me.”

“My-” Lynette cuts of the words forcefully, “Dear,” she tries again, gentling her voice, “All I have done is acted in the best interest of this family.”

Luvien leans back into his chair, his gaze unreadable even as his mouth becomes mocking, “Have you now?”

“Of course, I have!” Lynette snaps back angrily, “From the moment I married you, it is all I have ever sought!”

“And for the sake of this household, my legacy, it was in all of our best interest to throw our newly returned and pregnant daughter to the very man who ruined her beyond repair?” Luvien asks solemnly.

Lynette's mouth opens, her face overcome by righteous anger, but as his look, she closes it once more.

A pause.

“He is the crown prince,” She says, eventually, “And he is still young. He made a mistake-”

Lynette flinches when Luvien slams his fist on the desks, startling her. She stares at him in shock because he has never been one to show his emotion so outwardly much less react in such a way. She falls silent once more.

“A mistake?” His snarls lowly, “You think his actions can be summoned up as easily as a mistake?” He shakes his head, a dark chuckle falling out of his mouth as he massages his temples.

“Why did I expect more from you?” He asks, clearly disappointed.

“Even after all this time, you still act like a child. You make rash, split seconds decisions that never take into account the future or the long-term consequences it would have.”

“Dear,” Lynette's voice is weak.

“No,” Luvien lips curl, “You have spoken enough. Now it is time you listened.”

Lynette's rose eyes were shallowly meek. She remained silent. For now.

“Livia will never be chosen,” Luvien states bluntly, “She has been soiled and impregnated with a bastard. Regardless of how it has happened, the fact of the matter is that it did. No amount of empathy can change this. The people do not want her. The Silvan’s do not want her. At the very least, not as their future queen.” He looks up, “Do you understand this?”

Lynette does not.

Luvien can see it as clear as day even as she nodded as if she did.

Or more accurately, she refused to let go of her lofty dreams of royal prestige, and therefore refused to give up hope that Livia could one day be married into the royal family of Wisteria.

Fine.

So, be it.

He had always known that she would be of no assistance to him in regards to this. That is why he had no qualms putting things in the works while keeping her completely in the dark.

It was better this way.

He did not need her greed getting in the way of his plans for Livia.

Unlike his wife, Luvien was not quick to throw all of his gold into one basket. He did not take risks he could not win. He always took a step back, took a moment to actually think, and then he planned his next course of action. During the two months he had been away, he did exactly that and he has finally come to a decision.

It was just a minor inconvenience that his plans were in direct conflict with his wife's.

“But even so, Livia is still a crown princess candidate,” Lynette says almost meekly, her eyes lowered “It would not do to insult the Royal House of Silvan by neglecting this fact, husband. You cannot keep her locked away until Crown Prince Rodale makes his decision.”

Her eyes lift, a feline smile on her lips, “If you are so confident about our daughter’s supposed fate, then it should be trouble at all to let her resume her duties. Regardless of the outcome, the esteemed Valentine House  would be seen as a laughing stock if we continue to act so cowardly.”

It was endlessly aggravating that Luvien could not dismiss her point.

She was right.

However...

“Are you so eager to have Livia released into the public eye again?” Luvien asks silky, “Or have you forgotten the last time our daughter had encountered the princes? No matter how much time pass it will not remove the scar on your reputation, wife.”

Lynette triumph looks collapses, but she still tries to hold her head up high, “It was is a risk I am willing to take.”

“And is Livia being seen in the state that she currently is also something you can endure?” Luvien questions blandly, “Surely you have not forgotten how close she is to give birth to a bastard. The Fall Courtship will only aggravate her delicate state. Would it not best to sit and wait until after?”

“No,” Lynette says instantly, “The princes are here now. The Fall Courtship is under my direct control. This opportunity will not come again.”

Luvien narrows his eyes. He did not miss the plural term.

Greed was truly blinding.

“As for Livia passed outbursts,” Lynette smiles prettily, like a predatory that was sure it would eat well for the day, and says, “Well, I won’t be foolish enough to make the same mistake twice. Especially if I am granted my full rights over my daughter now that my dear husband has returned.”

Luvien stares at her for a long minute, his face emotionless.

Then he sighs and leans back into his chair, “Fine. So be it.” He states, echoing his previous thoughts.

“Wonderful!” Lynette claps her hands, her eyes bright, “I will see to it personally that Livia is prepared to entertain his highness. I think the first meeting should take place out in the garden! A dinner! Yes, that would make a lovely setting-”

“The meetings are to be no longer than one hour,” Luvien states.

Lynette's eyebrow twitches in irritation, “Fine. I can work with that. I’ll just have to cut out the appetizers-”

“I will be the one to supervise them,” The duke cuts in again, he stare unblinking.

“What?” Lynette snaps, her smile dropping.

“And as stated on the parental documents, you are to not go anywhere near Livia unless I give you permission to do so. You are also to abstain from being alone with her at all times.”

“Husband!” Lynette protest angrily, “Livia is my daughter! I do not know why you have a sudden interest in her, but do not forget I was the one who raised her while you were gone!” She says, her voice rising into a near shout.

“The last I recall, beating obedience into child did not constitute to raising them,” Luvien states coldly, not mincing his words.

Lynette flinches as if she had been physically slapped.

“You will have what you came in here to demand, wife,” The duke promises, “But you will only get what you want under my terms. If this displeases you,” An elegant shoulder is shrugged, “Then it is of no consequences to me.” He waves his hands to the door, “You are dismissed.”

“Luvien...”

A dark gaze lifts up in silent warning.

His patience was thinning.

Lynette closes her mouth and nods jerkily, “As you wish, dear.”

She turns and leaves the room without another word. 

---

 

8 months, 3 weeks, 6 days pregnant.

“Breath in,” Beth commands gently.

Livia fills her lungs.

“Alright, good. Now, breath out,” Beth coax.

Livia releases the air in her lungs.

“Yes, exactly like that, alright, in...”

Livia fills her lungs once more.

“And out. Good. You are doing great Lady Livia! In....out. In...”

“Is this really necessary?” Amaya asks, observing them from her upside-down position on the bed, “It seems ridiculous out of all the things to practice in preparation for labor that breathing is one of them.”

Livia huffs out the next breath, her concentration is broken.

“Well, if you are so bored, Miss Amaya, you can come hold Lady Livia's hand,” Beth says in annoyance.

Amaya rolls to her stomach and props up her chin, “I doubt hand holding is helpful either.”

“More like hand crushing,” Livia snickers and then groans a bit, her eyebrow crinkling up as she grips her belly.

“False labor?” Beth asks instantly, alert.

Livia nods and sighs, “Yeah, it’s already starting to fade.”

“Alright, I don’t think I need to say this again, but if pressure lasts longer or returns with frequency, you know you are to tell me immediately, right?” Beth says with sharp hazel eyes.

Livia just flaps her hand, “Yes, I’ll make sure you are the first to know,” Her nose wrinkles a bit, “Trust me, I have no intentions of going about this in the wrong way. I know just how easily things can go wrong if you aren’t careful.”

“I thought you said this was your first child, ever,” Amaya says, her brows wrinkling, “How do you know it could go wrong? Aren’t you a first-time mother?”

“Shows,” Livia says, eyes wide, “Lots and lots of shows.”

“Oh, the ones on the TeeVee?” Amaya says, drawing out the letters awkwardly.

“Mmhm,” Livia hums as she arches her back, trying to relieve the pain. It doesn’t work. She sighs tiredly and straightens, “Beth, I think I mastered the breathing at this point,” She looks down at her spread out legs on the floor, “And the position.”

Amaya perks up, “Time to do something else?”

As if on cue, there is a knock at the door.

All three women turn their heads while Noctis's hair raises on his back and he lets out a hiss. They pay it no mind. For some reason, the kit hated the sound of knuckles on wood.

“What?” Livia calls out as she grabs Beth's hand shamelessly. She lets the older woman pull her up on her feet, swaying a bit as her sense of gravity adjusted.

“There is a message from Duke Valentine...um, your father?” Brenda calls from outside the door.

Livia sighs, already irritated.

Was it not enough that her father has basically put her in a fixer-upper prison under practically 24/7 supervision?

Was it not enough that her father has banned her from seeing Liliana, and vice versa?

No.

Apparently not!

What was worse was the fact that while she had been stuck in the north wing, that bitch Adanna threw a fucking teapot at her baby sister! And what could Livia do in retaliation? Fucking nothing!

The moment she got out...

No. Better stop. Getting angry and becoming stressed was not good for the baby. High blood pressure and all that.

“Come in,” She grumbles and heads straight for her bed. She used up all the energy had to give for the day on the pre-labor practices.

Brenda peeks her head in, gets a foot into the room, and is instantly stopped by Amaya who hands her hand extended out for the letter with a placid smile.

“I’ll make sure to give this to Lady Livia,” Amaya adds, already backing the maid out, and promptly closes the door on her face. Then she turns around and practically chunks the piece of paper across the room at Livia.

Surprisingly, it gets pretty far before plummeting. All three woman watches its slow descent.

“Honestly, Amaya, you could have just walked,” Beth admonishes, reaching down to pluck up the letter from the edge of the bed.

“It almost made it,” Livia and Amaya say at the same time, blinking in unison.

Beth shivers. Sometimes, she thought those two were eerily in sync and share the same wave pattern. She hands the letter to Livia, who instantly opens it with the edge of her long nails.

“What does it say?” Amaya asks from her place now on the floor, laying spread eagle and staring up at the ceiling with a blank look.

Beth just stares at her.

Why?

Livia suddenly flings the letter away from her with a loud groan, “Fucking fuck! The fuck? What fucking sense does that make! If you were going to make me fucking attend the fucking Fall Courtship from the fucking beginning why even send me all the way out here!?” She explodes.

Beth blinks rapidly, her eyes round.

“Stupid piece of shit! Damn him!” Livia continues to yell. She grabs the letter up again and rips it into tiny pieces, venting out some of her anger.

“So, I guess that’s happening now,” Amaya says blandly, lifting her head up and pointing.

“Fucking prick!” Livia hisses in reply and throws the shredded remains of the letter into the air. It floats back gently on the bed, into her hair, and on the top of her pregnant stomach.

Beth sighs. She would have to clean that up. No. Better idea. She would make Amaya clean it. It would give the young woman something to do.

There is another knock on the door, hesitant.

“WHAT?” Livia roars.

“Um...Uh-”

“Better spit it out before Lady Livia burns a hole through your head through the freaking door,” Amaya says helpfully, still on the floor.

A small ‘eep’ is heard, and then, “A delivery. From Duchess Valentine...your mother?” It was Brenda again. Poor things. It seems she was the go-to person when the other servants had to interact with the increasingly easily irritable heiress.

“It better not be a fucking dress,” Livia snarls, glaring at her bedroom door.

“You know it is,” Amaya says, on her stomach and kicking her legs, clearly entertained.

“Is it?” Beth asks, a sigh ready to gust out of her throat.

“Uh...yes?” Brenda asks, still through the door as no one in the room has bothered to move to open it or granted her access.

“Burn it,” Livia says immediately.

“I-What?” Brenda squeaks.

“Burn it,” Amaya repeats, louder, always one to help those in need.

Beth sighs, heavily.

“What is getting burnt?” Sen asks, crawling through the window as if it was perfectly normal to enter a second-floor room that way.

“A dress, apparently,” Beth replies readily, not even blinking at his sudden appearance.

“Ok,” Sen says and nods as if the was a perfectly acceptable reply.

---