#Chapter 68 - Blessings of the Moon Goddess

Xavier’s POV

It was like I was stabbed in the chest all over again and honestly, I would’ve rather gone through that pain again instead of finding out the truth. Eloise didn’t deserve to give up her life for me of all people.

I rushed back to her room to find her asleep. I kneeled next to her bed and began to cry.

“Eloise… my love… I’m so sorry for everything. I’ve treated you so coldly not knowing the sacrifice you made for me.”

I continued to ramble even though I was sure she couldn’t even hear me. “Did you sever our mate bond so I wouldn’t carry the pain of you dying? Eloise, I never stopped caring about you. After everything we’ve been through together, I would never bring myself to simply forget about you.”

“You’ve saved my mother twice, you’ve saved all of Noah. We shared wonderful conversations throughout our dinners. I even had the pleasure of being the first to explore your body so intimately.” I smiled at the thought.

“I let my prejudices against your family blind me to the good you’ve done for me… done for us. You’ve forgiven me and have stood by me despite everything I’ve done that would’ve driven any normal woman away.”

“But you’re no ordinary woman. You’re special in every way imaginable and now I’m left with so little time to remind you of that…”

“You forfeited your life for me and now I won’t be able to make up any of that for you…”

I stroked her cheek with my thumb, smiling at how soft her skin felt beneath my touch.

“I love you, Eloise…”

Eloise’s POV

My sleep cycles have been void of dreams and dark; in turn, this caused my body to be aware of my surroundings. I could probably wake up at the drop of a pen.

So, when my door opened and I caught a whiff of a familiar scent, I laid in bed and pretended to be asleep. I instantly knew it was Xavier and I didn’t have the heart to face him.

Especially if there was a possibility that he had learned the truth about why I was dying…

However, I wasn’t expecting him to cry.

I calmed my breathing and fought against the strong urge to take him into my arms. This was the second time I had ever heard him cry and it was because of me.

Words started to pour from his heart and soul and I couldn’t help but be moved by them. Listening to him profess his feelings for me was almost enough to make me cry.

He was self-aware of the problems we faced and the things he did that hurt me in the past. I could tell he was trying to make amends and was willing to do anything for me.

That’s when I heard those magical words for the first time come from his precious lips.

“I love you, Eloise…”

I couldn’t hold back any longer and I opened my eyes. I sat up on the bed and immediately began to cry.

Xavier sat on my bed and wordlessly pulled me into his arms as we cried together.

“Xavier, I’m so sorry for not being honest with you. I was hoping that I could make you hate me so things would be easier for when the time came…”

Xavier pulled me away from him so he could look me in the eyes. “Do you regret it?”

I shook my head. “No. I’d do it as many times as needed if that meant ensuring your life.”

“Eloise—”

“I love you, Xavier.” I interrupted him. “I should’ve told you sooner.”

Xavier gave me a soft kiss and smiled against my lips. “Better late than never, my love.”

We pressed our foreheads against each other.

“Just promise me something.”

“Anything.” Xavier kissed the back of my hand.

“Take care of our child and live your life to its fullest, please.”

Instead of saying anything, Xavier simply kissed me again. I had only hoped that he was silently agreeing to live a fulfilling life even if I was no longer going to be a part of it soon.

After that night, we spent every day at each other’s side. It felt rejuvenating to be in Xavier’s loving aura, knowing that he truly did love me as I did him.

I saw a new and extensive side of Xavier’s version of love and I knew that I was going to miss it so much. I hoped that he would show the same thing to our child, too.

He bathed with me every night, ensuring to massage the day’s stress and pain from my body. When our meals came around, he would spoonfeed me, refusing to let me pick up the utensils myself. He even read me the stories passed down by his people for when I had trouble falling asleep at night.

There were also times that we visited the central markets of Noah to pick out gifts to send back to my family. Even Mrs. Leonard would accompany us, treat us to food, and take over caring for me when Xavier was called to attend to his duties as king.

Everything was perfect… until the day came that I went into labor.

I had heard the screams from pregnant women back at the Wisdom castle medical wing and thought nothing of it. Back then I was just a little kid. But experiencing the pain of delivering a baby for yourself was a whole different game.

I was rushed to the medical wing of the Noah castle in such a hurry. Everything around me was happening in a blur.

“Push!” One of the doctors urged me. “Take a deep breath and just push from within your body.”

I had no idea what she was talking about but I listened to her regardless. When I wasn’t screaming, I was trying to breathe. My body was both hot and cold. Whatever energy I had left was going into getting this baby out of me.

Xavier stood at my side and held my hand, wiping away the sweat that fell down my forehead. “You’re doing amazing, my love.” His voice was gentle.

I smiled but another wave of sudden pain coming from my abdomen shot up my body. As I was pushing the baby out, it felt like I was ripping in between my legs.

I held on to Xavier’s hand as tightly as I could and pushed. I just wanted this baby out now! Soon, the heat of the pain in between my legs became so unbearable that I thought I was going to pass out.

Then a sudden wave of relief washed over me as I felt the weight of the baby leave my womb. Their shrill cries were surprisingly relieving because it meant that they were safe and alive.

I allowed my body to relax as the massive weight of exhaustion and fatigue slowly started to crush my body. I had no desire to move not to even say anything. It felt like my body was ready to give up.

Do I die here?

When I turned my head to look at Xavier, I saw that he was holding our child in his hands. Tears fell down his face.

“It’s a girl, Eloise! A beautiful baby girl!” Xavier’s smile was as bright as the sun.

I gave him a weak smile as the doctors sat me up on the bed. Xavier walked over to me with our daughter and placed her in my arms. He wrapped his arms around mine as we cradled her.

Our daughter had eyes as purple as mine, and her hair was as black as Xavier’s. She was beautiful in every sense of the world and it was at this moment that my heart was fuller than had been before.

As I held her close to me, I started to notice a change in my body. Not only was I regaining my strength, but I could also feel the warmth of my lost magic flow through my veins again. I snapped my fingers and was amazed at how a strong flame appeared in my hand.

I gasped. “Xavier, look!”

His eyes widened. “I… I don’t understand. What’s happening?”

A sudden bright light flashed in our room and rendered us blind for a few moments. After the flash settled, we both let out an audible gasp.

Xavier took his arms from around me and immediately knelt on the floor.

“Rise, Your Majesty,” Elara’s voice was smooth and silky.

Moon Goddess Elara smiled at Xavier and then smiled at me; her grin grew wider when she saw our daughter. She stood next to me and leaned down to kiss our daughter on the forehead.

“Have you named her yet?” She asked me.

I shook my head. “I haven’t been able to decide on one…”

But then I got an idea.

I looked up at the Moon Goddess. “I want to name her after the two women who have stood by my side and believed in me–you and my maid, Nora.”

Elara smiled at me. “That’s a precious sentiment, Eloise.”

“I’ve decided to name her Eleanor.”

Xavier got up and kissed me on the top of my head. “A beautiful name for our beautiful girl.”

As if agreeing with us, Eleanor started to laugh and smile. The shape of the crescent moon lit up in the center of her forehead.

Xavier and I look at each other and then back up at the Moon Goddess.

Elara chuckled. “Remember when I told you to live your life full of love?”

I nodded my head. After a few moments of silence, I finally understood what she meant by those words.

“I… You… You gave me my life back!” I smiled through the tears that fell.

Elara smiled at me. “Consider Eleanor a gift from me, my child. Blessings upon you and your family, Eloise. May you live a fulfilling life from here on out.”

With the wave of her hand, Elara disappeared, leaving me and my family alone.

I looked up at Xavier who was crying, too.

“You’re not going to die!” Xavier exclaimed.

I pulled Xavier’s face to mine and kissed him deeply. Happiness and love flooded my heart. I had another chance at life, and I was going to go at it with Xavier and Eleanor in my life.