By the time Adelaide turned twelve years old, she had discovered how truly bewitching her family was. Always the smart child, and yet never thought of as much more than 'one of the princesses', she had discovered something that few dared to speak about.
Adelaide had an unquenchable curiosity that seemed to be renewed with every new story or tale that would emerge. However, this would be the time that she would discover something on her own.
She began to think that it was very odd, but slowly and gradually, one of her sisters would be born in a different month. Each sister had her own month, never one of them falling in the month of another's birth.
Her curiosity grew, however, and because of this observation, she concluded that her mother would have a twelfth child, and she predicted that it would be born in June.
And lo and behold, shortly after Kairos, the Eleventh's birth in September, the Queen was discovered to be pregnant once more. Adelaide was used to this by now. After Beliarosa, things gradually became more comfortable with her, and the crown princess grew comfortable with the fact that she had sisters.
But all was not well. The June day was hot, and locks of her red-gold clung to her face with the perspiration and humidity. Adelaide could not focus on her studies; her mother had gone into labor earlier in the morning, and despite her efforts, her tutor had insisted that they continue their work.
Adelaide was not thrilled with the fact that she still had to work when she was waiting to see her new sibling. Secretly, she hoped that somehow the chain would break and that there'd be a brother. However, she told herself that even if it was a sister, she'd be just as special.
The paper was hard to write on and tore from the sweat from her palms, and she sighed as she had to start anew with a fresh sheet. "Please," she begged the aging older woman who was in charge of her studies. "Let me see Mother now!"
The gentle shake of the head sent Adelaide into a huff. Unable to do much else, she sent all of her effort into the sums she was working on, and she beamed proudly as she presented the sheet to the woman.
It was scrutinized for a long while, but eventually, Adelaide's paper was found to be correct, and her tutor decided that she had done enough for the day.
The chains of her books freed from her ankles, she practically tumbled down the tower stairs as she raced towards the Royal Chambers. As she approached, however, things were too quiet.
She slowed, her heart thumping in her chest from the run and from the pure fear that something had gone wrong. Was the baby alright? Was it ill? Why wasn't there any noise?
Questions raced though her head like wildfire, and she was unable to stop them, as more kept popping up. She moved closer to the door, swallowing hard as she reached for the wooden door handle. However, as she did, the door swung open from the inside, bowling her over.
She managed to regain her balance, staring wide eyed up at the one of the younger of the group of midwives that was supposed to be attending to her mother. Adelaide's eyes were questioning as she stared at the young midwife, but the woman did not seem to see her.
Instead, the midwife gestured to a page. "There needs to be a proclamation.. The Twelfth.. she's here.. but the Queen.." Adelaide did not need to hear further. The faint, tear-stained cheeks of the midwife and the tone of her voice as she spoke low to the page said everything that needed to be said.
And all at once, twelve voices, twelve souls, cried out in agony for their mother.