The baby's cries echoed in the room, and the women felt joy from seeing the moment. "It's a...boy?" Minah asked.

"Yes, my Lady! You have a son!" Ioana said while cleaning the newborn. The newborn had short, straight, black hair and a good weight. His eyes were still closed, but it made Ioana's heart soar. While cleaning the infant, she couldn't help but notice something. "Oh no..." The child had six fingers on each hand. His right foot had three toes, while the left had four. Ioana slightly moved her hand; a bump was on the infant's back. His spine was misplaced; the infant was a hunchback. 

"I want my son," said Minah, who was lying on her bed. Angelina stood beside her bedside, looking curious to see the infant boy. 

Ioana felt that her soul had left her body. She feared what Minah's reaction would be. "My god...why?" she whispered. She slowly turned to see Minah, who looked impatient as she extended her arms and hands. "L-Lady Minah, it's that you rest and-"

"Have you gone senile, Ioana? I want to hold my son. I also want you to inform my husband of his son's birth."

Ioana slowly turned, the infant in her arms, and handed him to Minah. She quickly walked out of the room before seeing Minah's reaction and went on to complete her orders. 

The infant was covered in a white sheet, and Minah ordered her ladies-in-waiting to fetch a more suitable blanket for her son. Angelina stood beside her and marveled at the sight of mother and son; a few tears formed in the corner of her right eye. "Congratulations, Lady Minah. You were strong."

Minah said nothing as she looked at her son. While holding him, she felt the bump on his back. "What is this?" Her eyes widened with horror as she undid the sheet. Then, she let out a cry, which made Angelina flinch. She noticed the child's fingers and toes. Minah turned her infant son around. "NOOOOO!!"

Angelina covered her lips as her eyes widened in horror; the infant was a hunchback. She immediately regained her composure. "L-Lady Minah, please calm down! Y-Your son-!"

"I gave birth to a monster! A devil!" yelled Minah. Her hands trembled so much that she almost dropped her son, but not before Angelina carried him. 

The infant had deformities, and Angelina couldn't help but feel warmth toward the infant. He looked at her with his dark eyes. Angelina gently touched the child's nose and then one of his hands, which the infant tried to wrap around. It warmed her heart. "Lady Minah, he's not a devil. He's just a baby who was born different."

Out of the corner of her eye, Angelina noticed Vlad with Ioana and Alexandrei behind him. Everyone was silent, and the tension hung in the air. Vlad's eyes were on Angelina and the infant boy in her arms. Minah's lips trembled, but she looked ashamed and couldn't look at her husband. Vlad slowly walked toward Angelina and stopped when he stood a couple of inches from her. "Show him to me," he commanded.

Angelina showed the infant to Vlad, and his deformities were noticed. Vlad was emotionless when he saw the infant. He then looked at his wife, who had her head down, and slowly walked toward her. "Look at me, wife." Minah hesitated but eventually did what she was told. Without warning, he slapped her across the face, and she yelped. "You gave birth to that monstrosity. I wonder if he is even my son."

Blood trickled down Minah's nose. "H-Husband, I-"

"I want that monstrosity to be rid of."

Angelina gasped in horror as she held onto the child. "V-Voivode! It's not the baby's fault that he was born like this! He is innocent!"

Vlad glared at Angelina, who slowly backed away with the infant. "This child does not concern you, and it is not yours. How will this thing take my place as Voivode? Do you think the savages of the Turks will fear him as he grows older? He is a mockery of me."

"P-Please, Voivode, he is your son! I-I know you will be blessed with other sons, but this child doesn't need to die! This child may have a purpose!"

"You are trying my patience, woman."

The young woman noticed that no one, not even Minah, was going to speak up for her, but she didn't want the infant boy to die. She knelt on her knees while looking up at Voivode, who raised an eyebrow. "He may not be mine, but he can be my burden to bear. If you and Lady Minah don't want him, I can raise him! No one has to know that he's your child! You can send the word that the child died during labor! I could say that I found him and chose to raise him! Please! Please, let him live!"

No one said a word, not even Alexandrei, who looked stunned at the child. Minah was crying, but didn't look at Angelina and her child. Ioana was shocked, but her eyes softened when she saw Angelina beg for the child's life. The older woman walked to her and stood by her. Ioana knew she could be punished for speaking up against Vlad, but she would take the risk. "I will also help her care for the child, Voivode. We will ensure we do not speak of this to anyone. You have our word."

Vlad eyed the women and the infant; his hands were clenched behind his back. "This child is not to be seen in this castle."

Angelina's eyes widened. "Am I going to take care of him?"

"Give Ioana the child."

The young woman was hesitant, but Ioana gestured with her arms and looked at her with reassurance; Angelina handed her the infant. Ioana walked away. Vlad glared at her, then at his wife, and walked out with Alexandrei in tow. The women were left alone, and neither said a word.