@bandiitry said, 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐭 ? / meme.
𝐈𝐓'𝐒 𝐀𝐒 𝐆𝐎𝐎𝐃 𝐀𝐒 𝐀 𝐊𝐍𝐈𝐅𝐄 𝐓𝐎 𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓, snow’s innocent comment. a question, a suggestion, or a hopeful dream. regina stiffened the moment snow asked, daring to meet snow white’s eyes though she immediately wished she hadn’t. there’s a gleam there, a glint of something ─── is it joy ? envy ? a wish she had made to a fairy ? whatever it may be, regina hates it. she wants it gone, immediately. the sudden ache in her heart is almost too much to bear, and she resists the urge to touch her stomach. it would only encourage the princess more to assume a royal sibling grew within, and that was the last thing regina wanted. elevating snow white’s hopes only to have them wither and die would bring her some happiness, but the cost to her own would be devastating. it’s already hard enough as it is. ‘ i’m sure. ‘ the queen is adamant, she is certain. there is no room for maybe’s, or what if’s.
snow is thirteen. regina is just shy of twenty. she is certainly young enough to bare a second heir, and leopold calls her to his chambers twice a month. he’s virile. regina was fertile. she had been pregnant once before. snow may be a child but regina knows she understands the concept. and it’s a reasonable question to ask, considering the queen has been ill for some time now. physically sick at odd times of the day, lethargic and tired. regina has spent more time curled up in her library than anywhere else. she had yet to see to rocinante for almost a week. a true sign that she was unwell. but pregnant ? definitely not. regina is not with child. she never will be.
‘ it’s an illness, snow. a fever, or the flu. ‘ she was simply the first to come down with it, hence why she had locked herself away, hoping to be left in peace. that had clearly been wishful thinking, as no sooner had she settled in with a new book in her lap had snow white joined her. regina wouldn’t be surprised if she were next. but she had been content to simply read in her step-daughter’s company, reluctant though she may be. if only snow had kept quiet. if only she hadn’t asked questions, or expressed her concerns. if only she hadn’t suggested pregnancy as the cause. now, regina wanted nothing more than for snow to leave. by her own free will, or by regina’s forceful hand. already, she could feel her magic brewing, reacting to the longing and the regret and the anger coursing through her body. her grasp on her book tightens as she wills herself calm. while regina had catered to snow white’s need for a mother figure in her life throughout their afternoon, she had reached her limit. her voice, now cold and detached, sounded more like her mother than regina would care to admit. ‘ you should go. you’ll catch it too. ‘