I'm gonna update Real with a new revision after taking you guy's advice

...

The ride from Rigel to Zofia was long and hard, it took them weeks to reach Zofia. Many sleepless nights, spending only hours in one place before leaving to the next.

She only heard parts of rumors as she wandered nearby Sir M- Father. Father, he is now Father.

She is now Medea, daughter to Sir Mycen and recent widow and mother to her only son, Alm. Repeat it. She is now Medea, daughter to Sir Mycen and recent widow and mother to her only son, Alm. Repeat it...

All she knew is that returning home was not an option, it was never an option anymore since she resolved to leave with Alm.

The people were not silent, either. News of the death of the Queen of Rigel spread like wildfire. And like fire, her name was turning to ash. The people reviled her already, a useless woman who couldn't bear an heir for the King, dying in childbirth and refusing to give the King a single child. What else would a woman of such low birth status have been?

It made her sick.

Of course they wouldn't talk about how much she loves her husband, or how she fought beside him when his siblings started their war for the throne or even how she cared and tended the wounded of every battle she had been a part of.

They only cared about her birth status and how she hadn't been able to carry a child to term.

Bastards. All of them.

She could only hold her child close and hope they could escape Rigel without anyone the wiser.

...

The cross into Zofia was stark and eye opening.

The Zofians were vastly different from the Rigelians, it was almost like night and day.

The Zofians were happy, plump, without a care in the world and to be frank, Almeidia was disgusted with them already. The Rigelians are hardy, strong, they are rational and never take their prizes for granted!

No, stop it.

She has to pose as a Zofian, she can't have a distaste for the people she supposedly grew up with. She must be... Cordial with these fat, lazy, gluttonous, idiotic-

Breathe. Just breathe.

This is for Alm. That's why she is here. She is here to bring Alm to safety and raise him.

Come to think of it, maybe she could use her bitterness to her advantage? She is supposed to be a grieving widow taking refuge with her father without a coin to her name...

Yes. This could work. She still had many weeks to go until they reached their destination, which means she has many weeks until she needs to put her act on stage. This is all for Alm.

...

"You can't be singing those songs to him, Medea."

She stopped singing the lullaby to her son, who was fussy that morning. She had to pause before registering that he was talking to her. "And why is that? It's only a song."

"It's Rigelian. People would find that strange to hear a child be so familiar with a Rigelian song instead of a Zofian one." Mycen commented, patting his horse as hit rested from the long ride they had through the night. His eyes were showing the effects of the long times he went without sleep. The man could pass for Rigelian with that attitude.

"Fine. Take another thing away from my son. What next? Shall you take his toy as well?" She knew she was being unfair, it was all to keep her son safe. But the long times on the roads made her antsy and prone to anger.

How is her dear Rudolf taking this?

"That's not what I mean and you know it, Medea." He shot back, the man glancing towards her. "I only tell you this to protect him. That is what Rudolf-"

"No." She cut him off, holding her son closer to her. "Please, I beg you. Don't speak his name. I cannot bear to hear his name."

They were silent, all except Alm who was still fussing. Sir Mycen did not say anything else until they were back on the horse and continued to ride south. "Keep that feeling. It will help you in hiding you in the village."

Almeidia only nodded.

...

The reached Ram village in only a weeks time, the roads of Zofia were much safer and quieter than the ones in Rigel. That will be the only time she will concede to Zofia. The sun was falling over the horizon when they reached Ram village, not much fanfare was given until the people recognized Sir- her father.

They asked a couple of questions, why is he here, who is that with him, what has happened.

Time to set the stage and perform her best.

She rocked Alm, humming to herself, slightly rocking in place and summoning up wetness in her eyes. Yes. Perfect.

The villagers looked on at her with pity, father telling them how he has brought his only daughter to Ram Village to live quietly with her only son. She did not speak, giving him a look that told him to play along.

"She has been through so much, I'm afraid she is quite frail and timid at the moment. We would like to retire home and get settled in. Good night." At that, S- father grabbed the reins of his horse and rode them to the third largest house in the village, their new home.

Like clay, she handled the people. Her act bought her some sympathy and maybe had set the stage for the years to come.

"All for you, my son." She would tell her sleeping son who lay in his first crib.

"All for you."