As Bumva and Will continue their honeymoon, Melody takes an important trip outside. The scorching heat greets her, but it doesn't bother her black dress one bit. The bouquet of bluebells is tucked underneath the brim of her black sunhat to give it shade. 

She slightly grins that she can feel the summer warmth without suffering from it.

Another benefit of my bard's spell, while walking down the cobblestone street to her destination. She passes the library with a statue that's reading a large stone book on a bench. Her oval face modeled after the late Elizabeth Salentia with gardeners maintaining the primrose flowers around her feet.

"Good afternoon', Mrs. Bennett!" They greet her.

"Same to you!"

She waves at Mr. and Mrs. Salentia who are watering irises near the front door. Despite the full staff and their children helping out, they want to do all they can to preserve their daughter's legacy.

Mrs. Salentia runs over to Melody with a gentle embrace. "You're absolutely glowing, my dear."

She rubs her belly. "Thank you. But I wish the cravings were less weird."

The noble laughs from experience. "Chocolate in a bacon sandwich was my craving."

She chuckles. "I wish it was that simple. They love onions and spicy peppers. Oh, I have to go, but I will see next time."

"Of course. I wish blessings upon your pregnancy."

Mel gives her a gentle embrace. "Gracias."

She walks away with a somber smile graces her face. She wonders what would have happened if Garth didn't kill Elizabeth. In her mind, she imagines the noble daughter running a library with joy in her heart. And a love that would never seek harm to her. Maybe a child or two running around, acting out the adventures they had read. Sticks being used as swords-

Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-thud.

The hurried, footsteps approach her from behind. Her ears tell her they don't belong to someone she knows. The footsteps come to her side.

"'Ello, gorgeous. Looking to cool down on this hot day? I can take care of you," the man harasses with a crooked grin. He doesn't care about the visible wedding ring nor the baby bump clearly in view.

"Not interested. Even if I wasn't married, I would never lay my body against yours. Good day," she fires back with a harvest killing stare.

The man's grin twists into a curled lip with bared teeth. He grabs her arm, but she wrestles out of it to punch him in the solar plexus. 98% of air escaped his mouth and nose from that single strike. She flips him by the arm--

Snap!

 It takes a moment before the man cries out in pain. A couple across the street rushes over while the harasser clutches his arm with tears.

"Miss, are you alright?" The woman asks.

"I'm fine. Thank you. Make sure he goes to jail before he hurts someone," she walks away while adjusting her hat. The man of the couple ties the harasser's hands with his tie and escorts him away. 

"I will teach you how to fight, little one," she whispers to her bump. She finally makes it to the place but hesitates to walk inside. Her heart thuds against her chest, begging her to turn away.

"Mama needs your strength. Just a little bit," she whispers before taking a deep breath.

She enters the cemetery to search for Drago's grave. Chained to the top of a pedestal is a large brown leather book with lots, names, and a map included. She finds Drago's name and goes that way. Each step feels like she was almost sinking in a marsh pit. She presses on.

Four people at his grave marker halts her steps. Sindy, Yarlg, Yang, and Elajor. Her mind tells her to turn around and wait for them to leave. But she presses on. Sindy and the others turn to hear footsteps approaching them.

The dwarf embraces her carefully. "It's good to see you here. How are you?"

"The baby and I are doing alright so far. How are you?" She asks everyone.

"We're doing well. Just telling Drago everything that happened to this point."

She lays the bouquet on the side of the marker.

"I bet he's happy to hear that Will is starting his families," Yarlg assumes.

Melody shifts her feet from his words. She puts her hands behind her since they are shaking with guilt.

"And that I have a girlfriend as well," Yang adds with some pride in his voice.

"I wonder how many times you said that to everyone?" Sindy glances at him.

"Everyone should know how great she is," he sweetly says. The others still their tongues as they are happy for him.

"I also told him that Nerdeani added your bluebells to her collection. She's been taking good care of them," Sindy informs her.

"I appreciate that. Anything for my sobrina (niece)."

Elajor finally speaks up. "It's easier to talk to him now that things are more peaceful. We made sure to tell him the truth of Queen Melody as well. Would you like to say something to him?"

Her lips quiver as something wants to burst out like a geyser. "I...have something to tell you all. To start, Melina is not my real name."

The four figures stare at her in disbelief. The truth pours out of her mouth.

Their eyes widen that she's responsible for the grave marker there. Yarlg's battle instincts come out as he puts Sindy and the others behind him. Tears flow out with her guilt as she anticipates the worst from them. Gripping the grass to prevent the ground from swallowing her.

"I'm sorry for what I've done. Elajor, he meant a lot to you. I still see his face along with the others who had no idea who I was."

Silence sits between her and the group. She feels their eyes are still looking at her. She doesn't blame them.

A pair of footsteps walk over. She raises her head to see Sindy in front of her....who embraces her deeply. Her pupils shake from this unexpected action.

"You held onto this pain for too long. What you did back then hurts, but you were innocent. Let it go, my dear. I'm not telling anyone else. I'm not leaving you."

Melody softly wraps her arms around the dwarf as more tears come out. Her body shudders from the "undeserved" compassion of the tiny individual. Two more people come forward. Yang and Yarlg crouch down and join the hug.

"We won't tell anyone either. I swear it on my life," the rogue sincerely promises. 

"I will clobber anyone who tries to hurt the mother of my nieces and nephews," the orc assures.

Melody sniffles as they keep the embrace going. Her heart feels light as if half a mountain was cut off. The male elf stays where he is with his back turned to her.

"I will do almost anything to make it up to you all," Mel finally speaks.

"I don't forgive you," Elajor answers. The three warriors look at him but aren't too angry as his reaction is appropriate.

"I won't tell anyone else about your secret since you make Will happy. He deserves that. The only thing I ask is that we never speak to each other until I'm ready to."

"You can't-"

"I will listen to your request," Melody interrupts Sindy.

"I will still speak if you want food, but no more than that."

"I understand."

She gets up thanks to Yarlg and Yang's help. Sindy strokes her hands.

"Do you need help getting home?" She offers.

Mel shakes her head before walking away. Her magenta eyes shine brighter as she leaves the cemetery.

She returns home and leans against the door as it all settles in. Her heart is more at peace that some of the guilt has dissipated. She thinks about telling the truth to the other kingdoms, but would they even have pity for her? They would most likely want her tried for her crimes. At least her secret and life will go on to make things right for everyone.

Her thoughts are interrupted as a bedroom door reveals her half-naked husband. Purple blemishes decorate his arms and legs as he hobbles out.

"Ow. Ow. Ow," he winces with each step. She can't help but laugh at the bard. He turns to her direction. "Hi," he exhales.

"Need any help, husband?"

"I'm fine, Mel," he lies. He then feels her soft arms around his exposed torso. It lingers on for a bit. "What's wrong?"

"I told the truth to Yang, Yarlg, Sindy, and Elajor."

He steps back in response with widened eyes, afraid that someone will try to hurt her.

"They won't tell anyone else. Everyone except Elajor will still talk to me."

He exhales in relief. "Wait. Why did-"

She tells him the reason why. Despite his pain, he interlocks his fingers around the small of her back.

"How do you feel?"

"Better for the most part."

He finds her face and strokes her cheeks with his thumbs. Small circles to accompany her smile as he presses his forehead against hers.

"I love you, Mel."

"I love you too."

Low growling. It's coming from the bedroom.

"I best get that juice now," he tries to hobble away. He feels himself lifted up into the air and gently carried to the kitchen.

"I don't think you should walk for now. I will drop you off at the room."

Will places an arm around her shoulder to enjoy the ride.

After a quick chug of orange juice, she drops him off at the bedroom. His hands reach down to rub Mel's baby bump.

"I'm thankful for you both," he appreciates. Before she can reply, his feet leave the floor as he's tossed back to bed.

The naked orc looks at a smirking Melody. Before she can attend to her husband, she notices her magenta eyes have grown brighter.

"Is everything alright, Mel?"

"It is. I will tell you once you're ready. Have fun!"

The warrior smiles as she closes the door. Mel walks down to the cellar where numerous bottles of white wine are racked up with barrels on each side of the room. She opens a logbook and writes down what she knew of the kingdom patches of Anzan, Helia, and Uruk. She rubs her bump as she intends to sell her wine to those kingdoms in remembrance of them.

"Mama will make things right. I will tell you everything once you're older," she tells her unborn child.

She opens up some drawers containing different fruits and flowers. She uses some rice and experiments with different fruits until she found one that works. An orange rice fusion that she names "Anzan". She does a couple of sketches for the logo until she finds one that works. A monk balancing on two fingers on the smallest rock on top with the biggest on the bottom.

Within a few months and thanks to Will and the others' involvement, she sells them locally and through a trusted broker to Chin. The wine sells well enough for all the profits to be sent to the former monk's temple for upkeep.

For Uruk the Butcher's tribe, a bitter wine with some fruit to make it go down easy. The bottle is engraved with an orc wielding a Warhammer overhead. For Helia, she bought dandelions from Germ to incorporate into a chilled wine with an engraved snowflake as the logo.

For them and the others, she splits the profits 50/50 to expand her business. Albarino Mel gains more influence and praise for the charitable donations.

The mountain sized guilt in her heart reduces down to a pebble that she casts out. William was right in his promise. He helped her let go. Now, she can embrace her expecting child with open arms.