PROLOGUE

PROLOGUE

[Light]

"Come on, Lady Barnes! Just a little more, we're almost there," I encourage as the woman sighs, tilting her head back with exhausted exertion.

The Duchess of Barnes is a young lady, recently married to the Duke of Barnes, who unfortunately is struggling to bring the first heir of the duchy into the world due to her petite and frail body structure. The passage of the child is proving to be rather painful and complicated for the woman due to the large size of the baby, which will likely inherit the body composition of its father, a large and robust man.

Mirna, one of Lady Barnes' maids who is assisting me in the duchess's labor, wipes the sweat from her mistress's face with a damp cloth, a result of her continuous effort.

"Let's try something new, Lady Barnes... Time is running out, and the baby may have serious complications if we don't deliver it right now," I say, stepping away from the position between her legs and standing up.

"What else could be done that I haven't already tried? I can't bear it anymore, I'm weak, Luz! I can't even give my husband a child. I..." she whimpers with a choked voice, and my heart aches hearing her painful lament.

"Listen, Lady Barnes. You are a strong and courageous woman who will bring this child into the world in good health. And I am here precisely for that, to assist you in the process," I encourage her, knowing that the mind and body work together; one without the other is a waste of time. "Do you trust me?"

"I do," she murmurs weakly, and I nod with a small smile.

"I've been with other women who had difficulties during childbirth, like you're experiencing now, so I've developed a method that hasn't failed me to this day, and that's what I want to try. Do I have your permission?"

"Of course, I'll do anything to see my child born," she consents, and I prepare myself, taking the necessary position to proceed.

I sit behind her and cradle her large belly with both hands, massaging it with some pressure.

"Pay attention, Lady Barnes. I will absorb all the pain you're feeling right now, alright? I'll take it all upon myself so that you don't suffer. You just need to focus on pushing while I shout, understand?"

"Yes, I understand."

"Focus only on this, and nothing else; there's no one else in the room except us," I make her concentrate on the situation.

Mind and body working together.

"You can rest your head on my shoulder like this," I help her settle into the best position. "Ready?" She nods, and I continue. "One, two, three, and... now, push!"

Then I scream, she screams, we scream in pain as I push downward on her belly with my hands as if I'm expelling the child from my own womb. It's as if I'm really feeling the pain in her place, taking on the task and suffering of this petite woman who is struggling so hard to give birth to her heir.

I can't pinpoint how much time passes, but she succeeds. Lady Barnes breaks into convulsive and emotional tears that shake her frail and weak body in my arms as she finally hears the loudly crying, red, and wrinkled bundle in Mirna's hands, who has just received it between her legs.

"It's a boy!" the maid exclaims radiantly to her mistress with the little one wrapped in towels. "It's a male, an heir, Lady Barnes!" the woman repeats with genuine joy as the duchess eagerly reaches for the baby in her arms.

I nod for Mirna to take my place, not trusting the duchess's physical stability after so long in that position. As we switch positions, another maid arrives with a new basin of warm water, replacing the old one already stained with blood. I open the box I always carry with me for work and retrieve the necessary tools. After cutting the umbilical cord, definitively separating mother and child, I suction the baby's nose and mouth with a small device (shaped like a pear, which creates suction when squeezed), a magnificent invention created by my mother many years ago. I clean away the remnants of blood and placenta, wrap him in a towel, and hand him over to Lady Barnes's eager hands.

"Thank you, Luz!" she expresses with teary eyes fixed on the child in her arms. "My precious little one, whom I love so much!"

"I've only fulfilled my mission, Lady Barnes," I shake my dress skirts as I stand up. "I hope you and your family will be very happy with the arrival of this blessed child. May God continue to watch over you and bless you with fertility," I say with a happy smile on my face as I head towards the exit, where I come face to face with the Duke of Barnes, who is about to enter the room.

Even though he knows it's not proper in this situation, the man approaches his wife and son in a few strides, his eyes completely filled with tears; after all, who would stop him? He is a duke, after all! No one is more powerful than him in this house. His will would never be contradicted.

With the feeling of a mission accomplished and immense peace and happiness filling my heart due to the new sacred gift received by the couple, I make my way to the ducal residence's kitchen, where I meet some cooks who seem eager for news of their duchess.

"It's a strong and healthy boy," I announce, and the women burst into celebration for their mistress. "I just want to leave some recommendations for the duchess's diet, as this was a labor that demanded a lot of her energy."

"Of course, dear. Tell me everything she'll need," the eldest of them promptly takes out a notebook to jot down what I have to say, and so I do.