About a month had passed since Lola had told Bash about her pregnancy. She was still upset by Bash's reaction. She was also still with child, but would not be for much longer. That day, Lola was planning to go to a lady named Delphine, who would help her abort her child. Lola already knew that all she would have to do is drink some potion, but she was still afraid of the pain she would feel afterwards.
Around midday, Lola headed out to the stables and left to see Delphine. A few hours later, she came back with a potion. She decided she would drink it after her maids retired for the night. On her way back to her room, she bumped into Lord Narcisse, which led her to drop her bag that contained that potion. Lord Narcisse picked up Lola's bag and noticed the potion.
"My, my, Lady Lola. What do we have in here?" asked Lord Narcisse as he closely looked at the potion.
"Nothing that should concern you, Lord Narcisse," Lola said sharply as she took back her bag.
"Lady Lola, I am familiar with this potion. I know what you plan to do."
Lola froze.
"Lady Lola, you should think carefully about this decision."
"I already have."
"I don't know about that. I don't think you are ready for the physical and emotional pain you will feel after doing this."
"How would you know?"
"My father made my sister Adrienne do the exact same thing that are you about to do. She was sick for days afterwards, and she never recovered emotionally. Worst of all, it left her barren. She had no children with her husband of ten years."
"He could have been the infertile one."
"No he was not. He had been married before and had fathered two children. Sadly, both of his children died before he did, so his title passed on to his younger brother. My poor sister ended up joining one of our other sisters Brigitte at a convent. Adrienne let herself wither away and die within a year."
"I'm sorry you went through that, Lord Narcisse. But I have to do this."
Lola began to walk away, but Lord Narcisse stopped her.
"Think about this Lola. Really think about this," said Lord Narcisse.
Lola shrugged him off and began to walk to her room.
That night after Lola's servants left her, she opened up her desk and pulled out the potion. She stared at it for a little while, then opened it, taking in a whiff of the scent. The potion smelled bitter to her. Lola contemplated taking the potion for a long time. She decided that she had to do it, but at the last minute she stopped herself. Lord Narcisse's words had never left her mind.
'Damn you, Lord Narcisse,' Lola thought to herself.
She put the potion back in her desk, locked it, and threw the key in the air. When she opened her eyes, she didn't see where the key landed. After that, Lola got into her bed and tried to sleep, but it would never come.
The next morning, Lola got out of bed later than usual. She called her for maids to dress her. After she was done dressing, she went over to her window and sat on the bench beside it. A few minutes later she heard the door open.
"Lola?" a familiar voiced asked, "Can we talk?"
Lola turned her head. "There is nothing to talk about"
"We haven't spoken to each other in a month."
"Are you saying its my fault we haven't spoken?"
"No... Of course not."
"You are the one who said those hurtful things... I didn't want to see you ever again, but I live here at court, so it's inevitable that I would have to see you again."
"I know what I said to you was awful, but I was telling you the truth."
"I have always appreciated your honesty, Bash, but not that time."
"I'm sorry."
"No you're not..."
"I heard you went to that Delphine woman to get some potion," Bash said a few minutes later, "did you take it?"
"I was about to, but I changed my mind."
"What changed your mind?"
"It doesn't matter."
"Yes it does."
Lola got quiet.
"I want to keep the baby, Bash," Lola said a few minutes later, "I know you don't want to be a father to a bastard child..."
"I still don't."
"Then you can leave this room right now."
"I love you, Lola."
"You don't even love this child I'm carrying."
"Lol—"
"Get out. I don't want to see you anymore. I will figure this out on my own."
Bash said nothing, then left the room. Lola sat in her room for the rest of the morning.
