The Queens: Scarred Queen Novel

Chapter 717 Chapter 717 Chapter 717 Arthur sensed something amiss and immediately summoned the Imperial physician to check Natasha's pulse. Soon enough, the imperial physician arrived with his medical kit. After a moment, the imperial physician withdrew his hand and hurriedly reported to Arthur, "Your Majesty, Lady Natasha is with child." Upon hearing the physician's words, Arthur was pleasantly surprised, while the Queen's expression darkened instantly. She had gone to great lengths to arrange two concubines for Fermin, yet not one of them had conceived.

Natasha looked frail and thin, yet, of all things, her womb proved fertile. The Queen was so angry that her smile nearly faltered from sheer envy. Arthur sprang to his feet, eyes alight with excitement. He asked urgently, "Can this be confirmed?" Everyone knew how much Arthur longed for his sons to have heirs, and most assumed Fermin would be the first to have a child. Yet to everyone's surprise, it was Evander who beat him to it. Evander felt completely dazed, his mind a total blank. 'Just that one time with Natasha... and it took?' he thought, bewildered.

He stole a glance at Natasha, only to see that she looked ready to strangle him. Startled, Evander quickly averted his gaze, but his eyes kept drifting back to her belly. His mind was filled with images of chubby, cute babies. Natasha felt like crying, but no tears would come. Her heart seethed with frustration. But she couldn't let it show. Forcing a smile, she was screaming inside. 'I'm going to have a baby... God, I'm going to have a baby!' Athena couldn't help but feel genuinely delighted for Natasha. She exchanged a glance with Xander, whose gaze lingered on her with profound tenderness.

Just then, the Queen's gaze fell upon Athena. She couldn't stand the sight of Athena and Xander's affectionate display. To divert the King's attention, she feigned concern and asked pointedly, "Athena has been married for quite some time now. Why is there still no sign of a child?" As she spoke, her eyes flickered meaningfully toward Athena's belly, the derision in her gaze barely contained. Arthur had been about to reprimand Fermin, but after hearing the Queen's words, he turned to Athena. "Athena is rather delicate. I'm sure good news is around the corner. Why rush her?" Arthur said.

Then, with an imperious wave of his hand, he ordered the imperial physician, "Go and check Athena's pulse as well." Athena and Xander exchanged a worried glance. 'Damn it,' they both thought, 'there's no hiding the pregnancy now.' The imperial physician approached Athena, bowed respectfully, and said, "Please extend your wrist, Your Highness." Athena reluctantly held out her hand. As the physician placed his fingers on her pulse, his brows immediately knitted together. His eyes widened in surprise as he looked at Athena. As if doubting his initial assessment, he carefully rechecked her pulse.

The imperial physician was highly skilled and a master of gynecology. He could tell with near certainty, just by checking the pulse, whether an imperial consort was carrying a prince or princess. The imperial physician's unusually hesitant behavior made the Queen feel nervous again. She deliberately adopted an artificially loud tone and declared, "Speak your mind freely. There are no outsiders present." Her words dripped with malice, clearly intended to humiliate Athena. 'After all, with all those years spent in the military camp, Athena must be barren by now,' the Queen thought.

"Speak freely. We grant you immunity," Arthur declared. He was already aware of Athena's condition, so the thought of her being pregnant had never even crossed his mind. After all, as the rumor said, Athena was barren and unlikely to conceive. The imperial physician, feeling the mounting pressure, wiped the sweat from his face before finally turning to Arthur and the Queen. "Your Majesties, Lady Athena, she..." All eyes in the room were fixed on the physician, waiting with bated breath. He swallowed hard, then continued, "She is with child.

And if my diagnosis is correct, she's carrying twins, a boy and a girl."