The Red Moon

“Depends on the father of the child,” So explained. “If the father is well off they can be married but she will be punished. If not, she will be punished and the child sent off to live with the fathers family if there is one. But the decision is ultimately her fathers. Or the emperors.”

---

She smiled a little and opened her arms, wrapping her arms around his neck. “I love you, thank you for bringing my paints, and listening to me even though I don’t make much sense sometimes.”

he nodded a little then smiling a bit, "You make no sense woman, but I love you," he said stroking her face affectionately.

She looked at her when she felt the princesses eyes on her, "Whore," the princess said to her before walking off to the side.

"Thats snide talking coming from a woman who is pregnant and unmarried," she said without meaning to - she cursed her petty behavior.

The emperor looked at the two of them, wondering what was being said. “Do you have something to say Princess?”

So watched the two of them, raising his eyebrows and wondering how Lily was going to prove she was pregnant.

---

She smiled sheepishly and kissed him gently. “Love you too,” She smiled. “What do you think about adopting Dohyun?” She asked curiously. “He’s a sweet boy, he’d probably help out immensely.”

"The princess is with child," she stated to him, "If you have her medically examined the doctor can prove this to be true but by the size of her abdomen, I'd say it's pretty obvious unless she is ill,"

He smiled a little,"If you want to, I want to, he is kinda cute seems younger than eight though," he admitted.

She smiled a little. “He is cute, he told me he grew up here and works to help support himself. But I’m going to let him be a child for a while because I think he’s even younger than we think.” She told him, sighing a little. “You should get to know him, he’s very talkative but he likes to play on his own sometimes.”

---

The princess glared at her. “I’ve simply gained weight, the food here is much better than I’m used to and I’ve taken to eating now since my husband to be was stolen by a woman who doesn’t know her place.” She sneered, walking up to the throne and sitting beside the Emperor.

"My husband you mean? He never wanted you," she said to shaking her head, "You're pregnant, trust me I've seen enough pregnant women to know - in my culture we wear very baggy clothing, and I could still tell when a woman was pregnant." she said to her shaking her head, "You were trying to use Wang So as a cover up for the pregnancy - tell me... how do you plan to avoid labor and delivery? You can't, eventually people will know,"

He smiled a little and nodded, "Once I finish building today then sure, we can relax and he can rest after dinner," he said to her.

The emperor looked at Lily curiously. “How are you sure?” He asked as the princess looked horrified.

---

She smiled a little. “I spoke to one of the monks and they were happy we wanted to adopt him. They said that once he is finished being checked, he could stay in the room with us,”

"When a woman gains weight it's not just in her stomach, it's in her legs, her face, her chest area and weight isn't hard like a pregnant stomach. I don't want to condemn her, I want her to have a fair shot with her child, removing a child from their mother is... unfair," she said to him, "But she is very much pregnant, probably...in her seventh or eighth month, right?"

He nodded, "Yes, one of them spoke to me earlier. Said the boy didn't have much in the way of items so we'd have to provide him with clothes and such," he said to her.

She smiled a little. “I would be happy to find him some. I can’t make things just yet but I can try,” She said to him.

---

The princess looked visibly terrified and the Emperor looked at her. “I want you examined immediately,” He said to her. “You’ll he dealt with later. As for you, I’m sure you know you cannot he in line to be Empress.”

"I don't care about being Empress," she said waving it over then sighed, "I just want to be with him," she spoke looking at Wang So with affection.

He smiled a little then nodded, "Practice is good, we all need it. " he said as he finished his glass of water.

He sighed. “You’ll need to be taken out of the line of succession,” He said to So, turning to her. “I take it you don’t intend to take any more wives?” He asked So who shook his head. “Absolutely not,” He sighed.

“What Baek Ah did doesn’t change, he should never have left.” He said to Lily. “But You’ll Be recognized.”

---

She smiled a little and sat down, having him his food. “Here, eat. I’ll eat with you.”

She let out a sigh of relief then closed her eyes, "Thank you," she murmured softly bowing out of respect then wrapping her arms around So. They'd done it.

So bowed and turned to her, walking out of the throne room. “Now we can put you on our family registry.” He said happily, kissing her softly.

She kissed him back then smiled a little, "I cant believe he recognized me," she whispered, "I thought it was never going to happen,"

He smiled. “We can add you to the register now. It’s too bad though, I don’t think he will ever forgive Baek Ah. He feels betrayed.”

She sighed a little then nodded,"Hm, there isn't much we can do about that," she said to him lightly as she looked at him, "Even if I wish we could," she murmured.

Maia sighed, painting in the room. Dohyun was off playing with the other children in the orphanage, and she was waiting for Baek Ah to get back. She was bored but she hoped he wouldn’t be too tired when he came back.

He nodded a little. “I wonder what will happen to the aprincess.” He murmured. “It won’t be good whatever happens.”

She shook her head, "I wish things could be good for her," she said to him lightly, "a mother is important, but I'm sure she was never raised to be a mother only a queen,"

He sighed as he walked in, it was humid out today, he wasn't used to such labors.

She smiled a little, looking up as he came in. “Hey, How was your day?” She asked, switching her colors.

---

“She would have no hand in raising her children, my mother never even touched me growing up.” He said softly. “This child who’sever it may be will be passed on to someone else.”

She nodded a little then sighed a bit as she looked down, "I want a hand in raising our children, completely," she said to him honestly, "It's how I was raised, my mother is very important to me,"

He smiled a little, "IT was good, we've got the chicken coop up and we'll have laying hens and rooster by the end of tomorrow,"