As the babe suckled, Joana felt an ache deep within her womb. Her body, still bleeding and sore, reminded her of the price she had paid to bring him into the world.
The swollen vagina between her thighs throbbed with dull pain. The midwife had warned her that her womanhood would remain tender and loose for weeks to come. That her body had been permanently marked by this birth.
And yet, Joana felt no shame.
Her body had torn to bring a prince into this world. Her flesh had stretched to deliver the Emperor's son.
And though the pain lingered, though her body felt ruined and broken, she would bear it all again for the life now cradled against her breast.
As Jaehaerys finished feeding, his tiny mouth falling slack against her nipple, Joana pressed a kiss to his soft forehead.
Her body may have been broken, but her spirit was not.
---
After everyone left the room to let Joana rest, the dim glow of the oil lamp illuminated the quiet chamber. Late at night, Emperor Aegon stepped inside, his steps careful and quiet as he approached the bedside.
Joana was tenderly cradling little Jaehaerys in her arms, feeding him her milk. The soft sound of the baby's suckling filled the room, and in Joana's eyes, there was an undeniable warmth — the pure love of a mother.
Aegon's gaze lingered on her face for only a moment before drifting downward. Her body had changed after childbirth. Her breasts, once delicate and perfectly shaped, had grown full and r, heavy with milk, and her once-pink nipples had darkened to a soft brown.
He watched as his son latched onto her breast, drawing milk with tiny, eager gulps. This sight, oddly enough, brought a rare smile to Aegon's face.
However, as his eyes wandered further down, his heart tightened. Joana's legs were spread in an "M" position, as the midwife had instructed, with a white cloth loosely covering her lower body. After enduring the pain of childbirth, her body was fragile, and she was forbidden from closing her legs too soon, as it might cause further complications. Her old clothes had been cut away during the delivery, leaving her Naked beneath the thin fabric.
Joana, however, felt a little shame. There was no other man in the harem except the emperor himself. The rest were women—servants, midwives, and concubines who shared similar experiences.
But Aegon's eyes couldn't help but notice the state of her intimate place. It was swollen and torn from the brutal process of childbirth. The sight made his chest ache with a strange, unfamiliar pain.
'How could something so beautiful be ruined like this... How much suffering did she endure for my child?' he thought, letting out a deep sigh.
Approaching her, he softly asked, "How are you feeling?"
Joana looked up at him with tired yet gentle eyes. "It still hurts," she admitted honestly.
Her simple words struck Aegon's heart. He had witnessed the birth of his other children, but this time, seeing Joana in such a fragile state filled him with guilt.
"I'm sorry... because of me, you had to suffer."
Joana quickly shook her head. "No... no, my lord. What are you saying? I feel blessed to bear your child. You gave me the honor of becoming a mother. I never thought... I had never experienced this joy. Thank you."
She smiled, a genuine smile filled with gratitude and love.
Aegon's heart softened. He reached out and gently placed his hand on his newborn son's tiny body, feeling the warmth of his smooth skin.
"You may call me by my name... when we are alone," Aegon murmured with a rare tenderness.
Joana's heart fluttered. In the vast harem filled with countless women, she was the only one allowed to call him by his name in private. She felt special.
For a while, silence filled the room as Joana simply smiled, cherishing the moment.
But then, Aegon broke the silence with an unexpected question. "What do you think... about your condition down there?"
Joana's eyes widened in surprise. For a moment, she was at a loss for words. But then, understanding his meaning, she hesitantly replied, "It's... somewhat loose. The midwife said it will slowly recover and tighten again."
Aegon's expression darkened slightly. "Do you really believe it will return to how it was before?"
Joana hesitated. "I... I'll try my best to satisfy you, my lord."
Aegon shook his head. "It's not about my pleasure. I have countless women in this harem willing to spread their legs for me." He paused, his tone softened a bit.
"I care about you... That part of a woman is sacred. How can you truly feel pleasure when your body has been damaged like this? Doesn't it sadden you?"
Joana looked at him, her eyes filled with warmth. "It's worth it... as long as I get to hold my baby in my arms."
Aegon was stunned by her words. As a man, how could he ever understand the heart of a mother who sacrificed her body and endured endless pain to bring a life into this world?
Without saying another word, Aegon reached into his pocket and pulled out a small vial.
Joana looked at the small vial in Aegon's hand with her curiosity piqued.
"What... what is this?" she asked with hesitation.
Aegon smiled faintly. "This is a secret elixir from a distant land, the last remaining vial in the imperial treasury. It is said that, generations ago, an emperor became so obsessed with one of his concubines' body... specifically her lower part, that he spent a fortune to acquire this medicine."
Joana's eyes widened in surprise as she listened intently.
"A special merchant group was sent on a mission to find this miraculous medicine. It took them two years to travel across unknown lands and return with three vials of this rare elixir. Even in those distant lands, it was considered a treasure beyond imagination."
Joana couldn't hold back her curiosity any longer. "But... what exactly is this medicine for?"
Aegon leaned closer and revealed with a smirk, "With this elixir, your womanhood will return to the state of a virgin... as if you never gave birth. Forgot the childbirth, it will be as new as it could be."
Joana was left stunned.
Her mind raced with thoughts. If her body truly returned to its original state, wouldn't that mean the emperor would never desire any other woman again? With how much he already favored her, this could secure her position in the harem forever. Unless something truly unfortunate happened, she would never lose his favor.
Aegon could easily read her thoughts and smiled.
"One vial was used on that concubine, one was gifted to the emperor of the neighboring empire to form an alliance, and the last one... is now in my hands."
Joana's heart pounded. "Y-You're going to use it... on me?"
"Why not?" Aegon replied casually.
"So....how it should be used?" she asked nervously.
Aegon nodded. "Yes. For the medicine to work, it must be applied when your body is most stretched. Only then will it be absorbed deep within and make your flesh as tight as a virgin's again."
Joana's eyes widened even more. "If... if it works like that... does that mean... even if I stretch again in the future... my body will still return to its original state?"
"Exactly," Aegon confirmed with a smile. "That's the true power of this ancient medicine. It's not just temporary... it's permanent."
Joana felt a strange excitement bubbling within her.
"But... how did that concubine from the past manage to use it? Was she pregnant like me when she applied it?"
Aegon chuckled darkly. "No, Joana. It wasn't that simple. Since it took two years for the medicine to arrive, the emperor of that time couldn't wait for her to get pregnant and then give birth. He... forcibly stretched her body using cruel methods."
Joana's heart skipped a beat. "C-cruel methods?"
Aegon sighed. "Yes. Metal tools were used to stretch her... to her absolute limit. And once her Vagina was stretched wide enough, they kept it like that for a long time so that her flesh could adapt. There are even records saying that the emperor himself... inserted both his hands inside her at the same time... and quite deep too."
Joana shivered as chills ran down her spine.
Seeing her pale face, Aegon chuckled softly. "Don't worry, Joana. I'm not as heartless as that emperor. I would never do such cruel things to the woman I love."
Joana felt a bit relieved, but her cheeks flushed in embarrassment.
"Then... how do you plan to apply this medicine?" she asked shyly.
Aegon smirked. "Well... I doubt you're in a condition to do it yourself right now."
Joana hesitated for a moment before lowering her head. "...Then... could you... do it for me?"
Aegon's smile deepened. "Of course. If not me, then who else? Besides, this is a secret. If anyone else finds out about this medicine... who knows what chaos might follow? You know... I actually stole this from the imperial treasury."
There was a silent for a moment then, Joana's eyes widened in disbelief. "W-what?! You... you stole it?"
Aegon chuckled. "I did it for you... because I can't bear to see you in this condition."
Joana's heart fluttered. The emperor, the most powerful man in the world, had stolen such a priceless treasure... just for her.
At that moment, she realized... she wasn't just a concubine to him. She was truly special in his eyes.