Chapter 44: Pregnancy talk
The next day, Dedyet entered her garden right after breakfast.
"Kija!" The queen called when she walked towards her servant who was doing gardening work near the yellow flowers.
"Your highness!" Kija bowed down. "I see you are fine and well today."
"Yes… And didn't we end up agreeing that you call me 'Dedyet' instead of anything else?"
"I… I don't feel comfortable doing it…"
"It's really not that big of a big deal!"
"It is. For me."
"...Alright. So… Can you take a break from work for me?"
"Of course. If you allow me to."
"Why, yes. I'm here because I wanted to talk to you."
Kija looked shocked and in panic. "Is anything wrong?"
"No," Dedyet growled.
"Oh! I am so sorry for this inappropriate question, your highness! Can I assume you will forgive me?"
"Of course I will. And I'm sorry. I was just overreacting. It's because everyone pretends that pregnancy is oh so dangerous. I mean, I know it happens that mothers and children die, but that doesn't change the fact that being pregnant is a natural state of life. We shouldn't act like it's an illness."
Kija nodded. "I love the way you are seeing this, my queen. That, if my opinion is allowed to be heard by your wonderful ears."
"Kija?" Dedyet suddenly seemed nervous.
"Yes?"
"Nothing ever happened to you in labor either, right?"
"Uh… No?" She smiled sheepishly.
"Ah, I knew it! There is nothing to be scared of!"
"Please be careful, your highness. The state you are in is still very risky."
Dedyet sat down on a nearby bench. "Ramses and I had a conversation about my pregnancy yesterday. Right before falling asleep."
"I don't know if I should be informed about this, my queen."
Dedyet ignored her. "There is a word he spoke out… Wet nurse."
"Yes."
Dedyet looked up to her servant. "Is this…an obligation?"
"I don't know. It seems to be."
"So you didn't breastfeed your babies yourself either?"
"Oh, of course I did!"
"So why can't I?"
"Breastfeeding is seen as something too common for royalty to do."
"What? Breastfeeding is beautiful!"
"Yes, but it's kind of a tradition that royalty doesn't do it. I thought you knew this, my queen, but I was wrong. Again."
"I didn't know, no. It's not like I know anyone who is queen. Except for myself, of course."
"…Your mother?"
Dedyet shook her head. "I don't think I was fed that often as an infant."
"W-what?" Kija blushed.
"Oh, it's nothing. I just said that I can't remember if my mother breastfed me or if someone else did it for her."
"That really upsets me, your highness…"
"You know, my mother was never really mentally stable."
Kija blushed again, her eyes growing big. "What?"
"Like… Ugh, nevermind. You wouldn't understand it."
Kija nodded quickly. "I'm so sorry, your hi-"
"Dedyet."
"Err- …Yes."
"Kija, before you go back to work, can you tell me what month I'm in?"
Kija took a second to think. "I'd say about first or second."
"Oh. Okay. Thank you."
"If that fits with when you and the king had-". She quickly stopped herself, blushing even more than before.
Dedyet chuckled.
However, Kija was enterily in shock. "I am so sorry, your highness! This is none of my business! Please discipline me!"
The queen smiled. "What nonsense."
"I was asking you private questions about you and your husband and it… I…"
"It is fine. I think five to six weeks are really fitting."
Kija nodded. "If you want another piece of advice…"
"Yes?"
"Being pregnant is a journey," the future nurse spoke out proudly. "And you should fully enjoy it."