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CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
• ғɪɴɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴡᴀʀᴢᴏɴᴇ •

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"I need towels, a bowl of water, and a knife," Inha orders. "Now!"

Yejin lays you down on the bed and sits next to you. She wipes away the hair stuck to your forehead with her palms. You hold her hand and squeeze it when the pain becomes too much.

Inha places the bowl of water and a towel on the nightstand beside Yejin. Yejin dips the towel into the water and squeezes it out before placing it on your forehead. Inha grabs a blanket and covers your lower half. She rips the gown and moves it out of the way.

"It hurts," You cry. "It hurts so bad."

"You've got this Y/N." Yejin tells you. "You can do it."

"You're going to start pushing now." Inha says as she dries her hands.

You do as you're told, every push draining you from your energy. You scream and cry as Yejin still holds onto your hand and wipes away any sweat.

"The baby's crowning," Inha announces.

You take deep breaths in before starting to push again.

"Just a little more, dearest. Push... a little more. Push."

You push hard one more time before a small cry is heard. Inha wraps the new born in a towel and smiles before looking at you.

"It's a boy."

Another maid grabs a knife and cuts the umbilical cord before taking the baby to go clean it with Inha. Yejin grabs a fresh towel and wipes your sweaty forehead.

"You did it." Yejin grins, joy taking over her. "You did it."

You smile back as tears begin to form in your eyes. Yejin kisses your forehead and pulls away when she sees Inha walking back into the room with your baby.

"He's beautiful." Inha whispers as she hands you your baby.

You cradle his body and admire your son. You kiss his forehead and smile, tears now streaming down your cheeks.

"Hi." You whisper to him. "I'm your mommy. You'll meet your daddy soon."

Yejin remembers what was going on outside. She stands but you grab her wrist before she takes another step.

"Please don't leave me."

"I'll be back. I need to check on everything. Inha will stay here with you."

• • • •

Jin drives his sword into a north men's abdomen before fighting another. The enemies kept climbing the wall as the south men tried to fight them off. After getting away from the men who attacked him, Yejin calls out for him.

"What are you doing here?!"

Jin pulls his mother to a hidden corner in the courtyard.

"This isn't a game! You could die!"

"Your son was born." Yejin informs him.

Jin looks at her in surprise before a smile appears on his lips. He takes in the heart felt moment before he hears another cannon go off.

• • • •

Yejin runs back to the room and you look up from your sleeping baby.

"We need to go."

"What?" You question.

"The north is in the castle." Yejin apprises. "We need to leave through the tunnels. There's one behind a near hallway wall that will lead us to the village."

"What about Jin?"

"He'll meet us there."

Yejin takes the baby from you and Inha helps you stand up. You hiss in pain as you take your first steps.

"Your majesty I don't think she should be walking. She just gave birth."

"We don't have a choice," Yejin argues.

"I can do this." You tell a worried Inha. "I have to."

You all walk quietly to the wall where the hidden passage was behind. Yejin pushes the wall and it opens. You all walk in and she hurriedly closes the wall back up.

• • • •

You knock on the door and wait for an answer. Your mother opens the door and looks at Inha, Yejin, the baby she was holding, then at you.

"Oh my gosh!" She kisses you and invites you all in.

-

"You're so cute." Your mother tells your son in a baby voice. "Yes you are."

"Where are the girls?" You ask for your sisters.

"They're asleep." She simply answers. "What's going on? All we can hear from the village are the cannons going off."

"The north came for Y/N and our grandchild." Yejin answers. "We got out through the castle tunnels."

"How long will this last?" Your mother questions.

"Until all the north men are dead." Yejin shrugs. "All night maybe? I don't know. I just hope it ends soon."

• • • •

A loud knock on the door at the middle of the night woke you up. You cup your lower abdomen and stand up from the bed. You open the door and quickly recognize the man behind it.

"Your majesty." The teen says breathlessly as he bows.

"Hyunwoo?" You question. "What happened? How are you here?"

"The king told me you would be here," Hyunwoo says. "The castle... it's a finished war zone. Everyone's dead."

"And Jin?" You ask worriedly. "Where's Jin?"

Hyunwoo takes off his cap and lowers his head.

"I'm sorry."

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