The Archduke's Songbird-Chapter 335: Strangest Childbirth

Something dark had taken root in Jessamyn’s womb, and Jerrick could feel its sinister presence like a cold weight pressing against his chest. His hand hovered over her swollen belly, but no warmth or connection met him.

It was as if the light of their unborn child was dimmed, shrouded in a shadow he couldn’t fully understand. He closed his eyes, his brow furrowing as he tried to focus, to figure out what was wrong.

The moment he touched Jessamyn’s hand, clarity washed over him. He could see it now—dark tendrils, like twisted vines of malevolence, coiled around their son. It wasn’t an umbilical cord that gave life; it was a cruel, insidious force that drained it, chipping away at the essence of their child with every passing moment. The darkness was old, powerful, and it slithered in a way that sent shivers down Jerrick’s spine.

His gaze flicked to Jessamyn, who lay peacefully asleep, her face serene and unaware of the battle waging within her. Could this be the effect of a curse? Had she been cloaked in this unholy power, oblivious to its creeping danger? Or had it only activated when they reunited, rekindling a dark spell cast long ago?

No matter the cause, it was up to Jerrick to protect his family.

Gritting his teeth, Jerrick muttered a spell under his breath, his voice a low, determined growl. The words were ancient, the magic older still, passed down through generations of the Theodulf family, who had fought against forces far darker than any army. He poured his energy into the incantation, feeling the tension between his magic and the dark curse as they clashed, the air around him crackling with energy.

As he wove the spell, a creeping sense of familiarity washed over him. The darkness... it carried the distinct essence of someone he knew, someone dangerous. His blood ran cold as the realization hit him: it was the old seer.

The ancient witch who had once sworn vengeance against them. She had laid this trap, planting the seed of this curse in Jessamyn, waiting for the moment when it would bear its cruel fruit. But how could he stop it? How could he undo magic this ancient, this twisted?

Jerrick’s mind raced as he gathered every bit of knowledge he had, calling on every scrap of magical training he could remember. He poured everything into the spell he was crafting, desperate to halt the spread of the curse, to stop the malicious force that sought to take their son.

As he fought, he realized that Jessamyn had always been powerful—her very spirit had resisted the seer’s influence for years. But now, she was blind to this attack. That could only mean one thing: the spell had taken root deep within her, feeding on her strength without her even knowing it.

He had to act fast.

Jerrick’s heart raced as he darted to his bag, rummaging through his collection of potions and herbs. His fingers found the vials he needed, and with quick, practiced movements, he prepared two herbal teas.

He glanced over at her as she slept, his heart clenching. He didn’t want to wake her, didn’t want to disturb the precious peace she had finally found. But he had no choice.

Just as he was about to gently wake her, Jessamyn’s eyes flew open with a sharp gasp. Her hands instinctively went to her belly, and her face twisted with confusion and fear. "Jerrick..." she whispered, her voice shaky. "I think... I think it’s time. He wants to come out."

Jerrick’s breath caught in his throat. The realization hit him like a wave. Their son—he was ready to be born. It was time.

He placed the potion for inducing labor aside, no longer necessary. If their son was pushing to be born now, it meant their battle wasn’t over yet.

Jessamyn was panicking, her breaths quickening as her body responded to the contractions. The pain was light, but enough for her to feel the urgency.

She wasn’t sure if this was the right time. Could their son survive? Was he strong enough? The doubts clawed at her heart, but Jerrick was there, pulling her back from the edge of fear.

"Mynah," he whispered, his voice calm and soothing as he held her face in his hands. "I’m here. You’re not alone. Our son is strong. You’re strong. It’s going to be okay." 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

He handed her the cup of tea. Jessamyn eyed it curiously. "What is this?"

Jerrick smiled softly, his thumb brushing her cheek as he spoke. "I promised you, didn’t I? You won’t feel the pain, Songbird. I’ll take care of everything."

Jessamyn’s eyes widened with disbelief as another contraction rippled through her, tightening her abdomen. "But... the pain tells me when to push," she protested, her voice trembling. She wasn’t well-versed in childbirth, but she knew that much. How could she do this without feeling the pain?

Jerrick’s smile deepened, his eyes full of trust and love. "I’ll tell you when to push. Just follow my lead," he said, taking a sip of the tea himself. He needed to share in this experience with her, to take some of the burden off her shoulders.

Jessamyn blinked, perplexed but trusting him. She took a sip as well. "Do you even know anything about childbirth?" she asked, a trace of laughter in her voice despite her nervousness. The Kingdom never taught men about childbirth or the struggles women endured. How could he possibly help?

Jerrick chuckled as he began preparing the room. "I may not be a midwife, but I’ll be damned if I let you go through this alone," he said, his tone firm but kind. "Now, let’s bring our son into this world."

Just then, he stumbled, clutching his abdomen. A sharp gasp escaped him, and his eyes squeezed shut in pain. "Ugh... that’s unbearable," he muttered, bracing himself against the bed.

Jessamyn’s eyes widened in realization. "You transferred the pain to yourself?" she asked, astonished.

Jerrick let out a deep breath, nodding as he sat beside her. "I thought it would be easier," he groaned, wincing through another wave of contractions. "But... why do women do this?"

Jessamyn couldn’t help but laugh. It was absurd, really—the image of Jerrick, the mighty warrior, experiencing childbirth pains. "Should I push?" she asked between chuckles.

"Not yet," he said, gritting his teeth through the next contraction. "Just wait..."

"F*ck this..." Jerrick grumbled, glaring down at her belly as though it was the source of all his woes. "When are you coming out?" he growled.

Jessamyn leaned back, cradling her belly as she laughed. This might have been the strangest childbirth in history, but it was hers. And despite everything, she couldn’t help but feel safe, knowing that Jerrick was right beside her—feeling every bit of it with her.