Five days later.
In a small village located on the outskirts of Tayekan Empire, was a little cottage with a simple yet outstanding appearance.
The little cottage had its courtyard unguarded as its lone front door was continually opened by passing villagers.
Some came with hand-woven baskets, others with small animals, and a few with fruits, vegetables, herbs and trinkets.
These villagers had anticipated the birth of Rhoda's child, and were very excited when he finally arrived.
They had never seen a noble baby before, and were even more thrilled at the prospect of being able to hold one.
Rhoda, the new mother, half sat half laid down beside her newly born baby, as she received guests.
Even though they were all villagers, most of the guests comprised of parents whose children she taught, parents who wanted their children to be taught by her, and the excited people who came to see the noble that almost took his mother's life.
"Alright Rhoda, I'm going now so you can feed your baby."
The last guest waved goodbye as they pulled the door to a close.
"Go-"
Rhoda was barely able to respond before the door got shut, softly.
Sighing softly, she adjusted her sitting position and looked outside the window.
Her unfocused gaze on the chattering villagers as they went back to their prospective homes.
She had finally given birth to her baby, a son.
Fortune was not on her side, but she's glad he is alive.
'It's a pity he isn't here to see him…'
She thought, her grip on the window frame tightening.
'Why did we have to be so unlucky…"
She muttered to herself, her voice akin to a whisper but filled with unbearable sadness.
Whoo…
A soft breeze blew, leaving her unfazed but caused her baby to shiver slightly.
She turned to him, a newborn who seemed unlike a newborn. He had a head full of dark black hair, and little eyes she had never seen.
His brittle arms lay by his side, with his fist clenched up, and on his face was a smug expression of relaxation.
Amused by his relaxed expression, she tugged at his cheeks and got no reaction from him.
She was a little vexed, but tried again, but he still couldn't be bothered with her, and merely shifted uncomfortably on the mattress.
She picked him up and cuddled him in her hands.
She couldn't tell who he resembled but she just loved staring at him. At that moment she felt content even though she wasn't satisfied. If only they could remain like this then…
Poke…
The little baby finally reacted to Rhoda's constant poking and reached out to grab her finger with his little hand.
His grip was weak, but she didn't move and only stared at him.
But surprisingly, he threw her finger away and returned his arm to its former position.
She tried again and got the same response from him, and it was at that point she began to suspect if there was something wrong with her baby.
His eyes were closed but he appeared to be awake, because of how quick he grabbed her finger when she poked his cheek.
However, he had never opened his eyes before, not once since the day he was born.
The midwives said it was normal but she couldn't help but worry.
She was already anxious over his birth, existence and his noticeable features, so much so, that if something was wrong with him she might just lose it.
Absentmindedly, she poked him once more but the little baby pushed his mother's hand away then left it, and kept to himself.
Still anxious and concerned, she frowned when he kept to himself once more.
'Why wasn't he crying?'
She wondered, bewildered.
Other mothers would have been proud, but she was just frustrated.
'What gave this baby the right to stop her from touching him?
Did he know how hard she had struggled for him to see this day?!
Now look, he wasn't even seeing the day or looking at anything!'
Those words breezed through her mind like the passing breeze, but despite her frustration, Rhoda carefully adjusted his sleeping position and slowly rocked him to sleep.
She had fed him earlier on, before she received visitors and heard that he should have been asleep, but she felt like he was just quiet and lazy and not sleeping.
"Maybe they were wrong. I guess I need to read more books on parenting…"
She whispered to herself as she watched him with an endearing gaze.
'This was her baby- no their baby. And he's alive…'
"I'm glad."
She mumbled out thoughtlessly, but decided to act on her emotions as she continued.
"So glad…"
She stifled her sobs and tried not to alert the dozy baby.
The little baby who held on resiliently and remained quiet and not asleep, tried to open his eyes in an attempt to complain through a loud ignoble behavior called crying, finally got hit with a strong wave of sleepiness and eventually drifted to sleep.
A bout of silence and stillness filled the room, as the baby napped, and Rhoda watched.
It was quiet and peaceful, all until-
Knock knock
A gentle knock came from the other side.
"Yes, come in", Rhoda set her baby down and turned to the ten-eleven year old girl who had walked in.
"Teacher, there are two men downstairs, sitting in the meeting room who claimed to have delivered your baby for you!", she said hastily, her voice soft and gaze fleeting.
"Really…"
Rhoda mumbled out, her thoughts going over the memories of her delivery and the days after that.
She had heard from the midwives that the ones who delivered her baby were a passing master and disciple, a herbalist and a doctor, and an uncanny duo to be precise.
She was told that they left immediately after the delivery, and said they would come back later to visit the mother and child.
'Is that later today?'
Her gaze fell upon her baby as she pondered.
"Alright I'm coming.", She finally answered the anxious child who immediately heaved a sigh in relief.
Rhoda picked up a shawl and draped it over her shoulders, she turned to her newborn baby and gently kissed his forehead, before picking him up and placing him into the crib she had ordered pre delivery.
She watched him for a while before bracing herself and turning around.
She didn't know what these men were here for, but it better not be her baby.
Click
The door closed softly and the little baby who had woken up due to his mother's touch failed to notice her absence because he had once again drifted to sleep.