375 Winter's Embrace (II)

"What if it is a girl?" She whispered, her fingers tracing the silver embroidery on his coat, "what if our daughter faces judgment after being born? The Chevalier lineage has always been male, and since I'm your wife, a lot of the councils have bound me to this logic. Everyone is expecting me to give birth to a male heir, Ivan, and I'm honestly scared. What if I don't fulfill it? What if they look down upon her? I don't want our daughter to face rejection, I–"

"Listen to me," Ivan gently cupped her face, staring into her troubled eyes, "our child will be loved, cherished and celebrated. Doesn't matter to me if you bless me with a boy or not. If it's a girl, then she'll be our legacy, and nothing's going to change that."

Samantha's eyes shimmered. "But tradition—"

"Tradition bends," Ivan said firmly. "It adapts. Our family's honor lies not in gender but in character, and you know this better than anyone. Trust me, our daughter won't be treated any less."