Author's note: As wonderful as childbirth can be, it is disheartening how little attention is given to postpartum depression. Every mother deserves the kind of unwavering support system that Circe is fortunate enough to have.
***
Two weeks had passed since the birth of Lamora's heir.
The kingdom had not stopped celebrating.
Even now, long after the official ceremonies marking a royal birth had concluded, the distant strains of music still drifted through the palace windows from the city below. The streets remained crowded with common folk eager to honor the arrival of their new prince. Colorful banners bearing the royal crest fluttered from towers and rooftops throughout the capital. Every day brought new gifts from nobles, merchants, and foreign dignitaries seeking favor with the crown.
Inside the queen's private chambers, however, the mood could not have been more different.
