Outside the room in the Moscow Prince's Palace, Rostislav was extremely anxious, constantly pacing.
The servants watched the restless Prince, unsure of what to do, and finally brought him wine. Rostislav drank cup after cup, using the alcohol to soothe his nervous heart.
Now, the Prince's mind was filled with thoughts of his wife's pregnancy; this child was crucial for the future of Moscow.
More importantly, though he had lived two lives, this was the first time he was having a child, and the tension was indescribable.
Before he knew it, all the important figures of the Moscow Court had gathered around: the city administrator, the Captain of the Guard, and the Moscow Bishop. They all stood with the Prince, accompanying him and anxiously awaiting news.
Bishop Luka placed a hand on Rostislav's shoulder, giving his student a comforting look. Seeing that gaze, which had given him countless encouragements since childhood, the Prince's inner tension and unease dissipated.
Gvaran stood solemnly beside his master, saying little, offering only silent protection. The Captain of the Guard was not one to express his feelings openly; he only knew how to guard silently.
As for Leo, his worry was no less than Rostislav's. Zoe was no longer merely a bargaining chip to him; it was more the affection of an adoptive father for his adopted daughter.
However, beneath his worry, there was a hint of ecstasy that even he hadn't noticed: Zoe's pregnancy with the Prince's heir meant that the position of them, the Greeks, was now completely secure.
Leo knew that the status of them, the Greeks, depended entirely on Zoe. Zoe's pregnancy truly cemented their position—and, of course, most importantly, secured his own status.
Finally, the room door opened a crack, just wide enough for one person to exit. Zoe's maid stepped out, carefully closed the wooden door, and then bowed to the adults present.
"My Lord, it has been confirmed that Lady Zoe is pregnant."
Hearing this news, Rostislav Vladimirovich instinctively made the sign of the cross: "Thank God!"
Everyone present cheered. Since the Prince was so joyful, how could they not respond? Moreover, the significance of the Prince's heir was immense for them as well.
The Moscow Court had longed for an heir for a long time. The Prince's lack of offspring had caused many people great concern, fearing that his sudden death could lead to chaos.
This was not unprecedented; such incidents had occurred several times among the Prince's ancestors. When such things happened, the lives of those dependent on the Prince's Court would be severely affected, and even wars could break out over the division of the Prince's inheritance. That was a chaos no one wished for.
But now, with Zoe's pregnancy, this problem was resolved—most importantly, it showed that both Rostislav and Zoe were fertile, which was more important than anything.
Upon receiving the news, the Prince instantly felt a surge of ecstasy, and then he immediately entered the room to see his wife.
Zoe lay on the bed, a woolen blanket with white patterns covering her. Seeing the Prince enter, the maid in the room immediately put down her work and respectfully bowed to the Prince.
The Persian medical officer named Ibn also walked in at this moment, carrying several large packages. Seeing the Prince walk towards his wife, the doctor knew it was not the time to speak to the Prince and his wife about these matters, so he just pulled the maid aside and gave instructions.
Meanwhile, the protagonist of the entire event, Zoe, had a flushed face. The sudden news of her pregnancy made the young lady a little shy.
Rostislav sat by Zoe's bed, simultaneously waving his hand to signal everyone else present to leave immediately.
At the Prince's gesture, both the maid and the physician, after bowing humbly, quickly left the room, leaving the two of them alone.
The Prince took his wife's hands, and this intimate gesture deepened the flush on his wife's face, her eyes shyly avoiding the Prince's gaze, which radiated warmth and joy.
"Zoe, I truly thank you."
The Prince stroked his wife's hair. Zoe's hair was smooth and shiny, incredibly soft to the touch.
This action made the lady even shyer. She shook her head, pulling her hands away from her husband's.
"Don't treat me like a child."
His wife, acting like a pouting child, said she wasn't a child.
Seeing his wife's reaction, Rostislav found it both amusing and didn't know what to say. Sometimes his wife would show that very cute, little-girl demeanor, and those were also the times when Rostislav's desire to "tease" her was strongest.
However, now was not the time for such things. After instructing his wife to take good care of herself and follow the doctor's requests, the Prince left the room.
Because he had to quickly announce this news to the world.
— — — — — — — —
News of the Prince's wife's pregnancy spread quickly. There were no secrets in the Moscow Court to begin with, and with the Prince actively spreading the news, it quickly permeated the entire city.
Officials posted announcements on bulletin boards, and riders carried the news to various places outside Moscow.
The common people rejoiced that their Prince had an heir, as this meant a stable transfer of power in the future, signifying the continuation of stability and peace—which was what ordinary people most longed for.
What delighted the people most was that, to celebrate the Prince's wife's pregnancy, officials in Moscow would generously scatter gold and silver in the streets.
Silver coins from the Kiev Mint, Dirham silver from the Eastern world, and Hryvnia, which were essentially silver ingots, were all generously scattered among the crowd. The Prince's desired return was simple: they only needed to be happy about this matter, happy for his child.
Many citizens thought of Yaroslav's generosity. The wise Prince was often just as generous, and they saw the shadow of that Prince in Rostislav—especially given that the current ruler of Kiev was a miser.
The nobles, merchants, and Moscow bureaucrats were also very happy. The Prince's offspring represented stability, meaning their power could be passed down. Everyone regarded this as a joyous event and rushed to spread the news to each other.
As the news spread, the relevant personnel within the Prince's Palace became increasingly busy. Servants had to prepare a special room for the pregnant woman, and doctors had to prepare large quantities of medicine.
Even security was tightened. Now, the Prince's Bodyguard Unit and retainers, as well as Zoe's guards, could be seen everywhere in the palace.
This was the Moscow Prince's first child; everyone had to approach it with the utmost seriousness.
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