Catherine had started working on her research again with Bernice.
Her second trimester had been surprisingly easy. If anything, she seemed to be able to focus better than before. Perhaps it was the happiness. Perhaps it was the feeling that, for once, she wasn't working toward survival but toward something she genuinely wanted to build.
Her baby was growing perfectly. Maximilian supported her in every way possible, making it remarkably easy for her to continue working.
Even through her third trimester, Catherine refused to slow down.
It became harder, of course. Her belly grew heavier, her movements slower, and there were days when simply getting out of a chair required more effort than she would have liked.
But she had expected that.
She might have been a first-time mother in this life, but she had carried children before. In her previous life, she had endured pregnancy while dealing with political intrigue, danger, and the constant threat of death.
