When they returned home in the palace of Thallerion, he immediately commanded all the maiden slaves to prepare for their wedding celebration. He gave invitations to all the constituents in Thallerion. On the next day, the musical bands begins,in that moment; the wedding has started. All invited guests, citizens, and acquaintances celebrated for the newlyweds.

Everyone was happy on that wedding occasion, especially for Xerxez. Xerxez feels like the heavens opened to grant him happiness and a good fortune. The visitors brought grand gifts for the newlyweds.

After one month, Perlend, the wife of Xerxez, was pregnant. Xerxez joyfully announced the Perlend’s pregnancy in the entire land of Thallerion and to all of his acquaintances.

And when the fleeting time arrived, a tormented night covered Thallerion, for his Perlend is about to give birth.

Perlend knew that it is not easy for her to suffer pain labor like the normal women. And her pregnancy is a proof of her weak body, yet, she proved herself that her love will birth the mixed blood of Thallerion and Peronica.

And on that moment, while Xerxez’s wife gasping breath, an astonishing pass by of light object struck behind the clouds, the people heard a different kind of squeak from a bird, and what followed — the baby was born.

Perlend was successfully give birth to a healthy baby, which agile feet kicks impressed the father. The child of Perlend was indeed a boy, so the king was very happy when he found out. He then name him as ‘Pyramus’ that symbolized his blazing valor and prowess in the battle combat.

“Yes, Pyramus! The great fire in the war.” Xerxez’ said that tearfully hugged the baby.

Pyramus’ hair was like a phoenix-red inherited in the blood of the Peronican, especially the shape of the eyes, and even the skin tone and smoothness. But, his agile, rounded body and handsomeness molded in the Thallerion’s nation. It was a miracle that Perlend survive after her labor.

…

In Perlend’s chamber, while the baby slept, she was embroidering a mythical phoenix flower with needle and thread, softly singing a lullaby for her child.

Suddenly, silence blew out the altar candles, and she briefly heard a bird’s shriek from the window. She left the baby on the bed to investigate the source of the sound, but she saw nothing that could have made the noise.

Realizing it was just her imagination, she quickly returned to the room, but her eyes widened, and she stood like stone, disbelieving. Fresh ashes surrounded the baby. Perlend also felt a warm gust of wind inside the room.

Perlend’s gaze, like an insect, crawled over the baby’s bed. She noticed a mark on its chest; a meticulous symbol carved into the scorched skin.

She bit her finger, but the baby wasn’t crying; it was sleeping soundly. There were still embers on the diaper, and the mark, where incense smoke billowed, was a fiery, bird-like symbol with long wings and a tail. A miracle occurred—the wound healed.

When she recognized the mark, it was indeed a Phoenix bird. Overwhelmed with amazement, she called Xerxez as her body collapsed heavily onto a seat when the mark vanished.

Perlend witnessed the mark’s appearance, but by the time Xerxez arrived, the mark was gone, leaving only ashes, which she collected in a small porcelain jar. That was all Xerxez saw.

“Who would dare play such a disrespectful prank?” Xerxez said, frowning when he saw the ashes on the baby’s bed.

“Only a rude person would do this!” Xerxez gripped his sword, which glinted as he forcefully raised it, but Perlend’s voice was like a strong hand that stopped Xerxez’s sword, so he lowered it again.

“Xerxez, calm down.” Perlend was flustered by Xerxez’s reaction to the ashes scattered near the baby. She tried to calm Xerxez even as she busied herself cleaning the ashes, though a stain remained on the white fabric of the bed.

Xerxez decided to investigate the surroundings, looking out the window, outside the door, and even behind the large cabinets.

Perlend could only laugh. “The Phoenix of Peronica has visited our child!” Perlend said joyfully. Xerxez stopped and sat beside the baby, gazing affectionately into Perlend’s eyes.

“The phoenix?” Xerxez questioned, his mind grappling with the word. “Isn’t that just a legend in your country?!!” Xerxez’s eyes became heavy, as if he felt a great weight, despite his wife’s joy about the matter. “Did you sleep well last night?”

“Xerxez—what are you doing?!!! Why are you staring at me like that… You don’t want to believe it?” Perlend chided, but her excitement about the phoenix slowly withered.

She handed the jar to Xerxez. “Come, join me at my altar.” Perlend coaxed, picking up the sleeping baby. Perlend immediately brought the baby closer to the painting of the Phoenix flower she had Xerxez paint for her previously, and Xerxez placed the porcelain jar beside the altar. Perlend lit a candle at the Phoenix altar, which also had a small wooden statue. Perlend had personally commissioned the statue from the land of Vhorlandrus.

Perlend poured myrrh on Pyramus’s forehead, but suddenly, they saw the candle flame change color, becoming the same hue as the phoenix flower. Xerxez’s eyes were fixed on the candles, and his mouth hung open.

“The candle flame is the same color as the flower in the painting. How did this happen?” Xerxez picked up a candle, but its color returned to normal. However, when he put it back, the candle’s light was the same again.

“Pyramus has been blessed by the Phoenix.” Perlend replied, leaning against Xerxez and embracing him with one arm. Xerxez felt the same, both of them holding the baby.

“This means… the Phoenix of Peronica has chosen our child. The blessing of the Phoenix’s soul is now in the baby.” Perlend’s voice was joyful, but suddenly, Perlend’s mind felt dizzy. It was fortunate she was holding onto Xerxez’s waist.

Xerxez paused for a moment, deep in thought. He turned to the window while Perlend sat down, checking herself. Her fingers began to tremble as she thought of the curse, so she hugged the baby.

“Isn’t it strange? According to the legend of Peronica… only those with the blood of previous chosen ones can be chosen… And I heard that Queen Pyramia’s bloodline was the last inheritor of the Phoenix blood.” Xerxez’s gaze was distant, as if his mind was traveling to Peronica.

“But someone told me that Pyramia’s child was cursed.” He sighed heavily as he looked down.

In front of his eyes, people were busy with their tasks, horses were pulling carts, and soldiers were marching towards the Rigil district.

“This is impossible, because Queen Pyramia’s child is dead.” Xerxez said, turning to Perlend with a sad expression. “Could it be… that wasn’t a real Phoenix?” Perlend did not respond to Xerxez’s words. He held his sword again and said, “Or did someone really get in here and try to play a trick on us?”

Perlend only smiled, but it was no longer vibrant, like a wilting plant. Xerxez noticed Perlend’s pale face, her lips seemingly devoid of blood, and unexpectedly, Perlend fainted, collapsing to the floor like a candle, her body clattering on the smooth marble.

Xerxez began to worry about why Perlend had fainted without reason. Xerxez asked Perlend when she regained consciousness, but she only remained silent, ashamed. After Xerxez left the room, Perlend cried at the truth that she was hiding truth that she had an ill condition and was already feeling weak.

Nevertheless, Perlend was still happy to be with her husband and child, but what Xerxez didn’t know was that Perlend was already experiencing a terrifying nightmare—the sickness inherited from Peronica.

Fearing that Xerxez might leave her, her tongue fell silent, and her mouth was bound by fear like a box, and she endured the illness.

That Sunday, Perlend returned to Peronica, her homeland, which she had left for love. But Perlend heard the news of the death of the King of Peronica, so her entire town was now in mourning.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep