15

Two years had passed and my life had taken a decidedly unexpected turn. As a mother to twins, Dominic and Dahlia, and a surrogate guardian to Princess Alicia, my days were filled with both chaos and joy.

Walking through the grand halls of the imperial palace, Dominic nestled snugly in my arms while Dahlia toddled ahead, her laughter echoing off the marble walls.

"Dahlia, wait for Mama," I called gently, though she was already racing toward Princess Alicia's chamber, her little legs moving faster than I thought possible.

Alicia, hearing the commotion, flung open the doors with an excited cry. "Duchess Veronica! You're here!"

I smiled warmly as she darted out, nearly colliding with Dahlia, who squealed in delight. "Careful, Alicia," I teased. "You don't want to knock over your future best friend."

Alicia giggled and scooped up Dahlia in her arms. "Oh, I've missed you!" she said, twirling with my daughter as Dominic watched them both with an amused coo.

"Don't worry, Dominic," I murmured, pressing a kiss to his downy hair. "Your turn will come soon enough."

After a bit of playful chaos, I settled Dominic into the arms of a maid and let Alicia lead Dahlia to the plush rug in the center of the room, where a pile of toys awaited. The sight of the three girls—Alicia, Dahlia, and a doll—sharing a "tea party" tugged at my heart.

"She loves the twins," a soft voice said from behind me.

I turned to see Irene, clad in the familiar white robes of her priestess duties. Her presence always brought a sense of calm, though today there was a slight edge to her expression.

"And they adore her," I replied, patting the seat beside me. Irene hesitated before sitting down, smoothing her robes.

"You look exhausted," she noted with a faint smile.

"Twins will do that to you," I replied with a laugh. "But I wouldn't trade it for anything." I paused, studying her. "And you? How are things at the temple?"

She sighed, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face. "Demanding, as always. But at least my frequent visits to the palace offer a... change of pace."

Her tone was nonchalant, but there was a flicker of something in her eyes—something unresolved. Before I could press her further, a voice from outside the chamber broke our conversation.

"Irene, running from me again?"

We both turned toward the sound. It was the emperor, leaning casually against the doorframe, his dark eyes glinting with mischief.

Irene's lips pressed into a thin line. "Your Majesty," she said curtly, rising to her feet.

"Now, now," he said, his voice lilting with mock offense. "No need to be so formal. How many times must I tell you to call me Darius?"

Irene's jaw tightened as I hid a smile. Their interactions were always... entertaining.

"Your Majesty," she repeated pointedly, ignoring his correction, "I have delivered my report to the council. If there's nothing further—"

"Oh, there's always something further," he interrupted, stepping closer. "For instance, why do you insist on avoiding me?"

"I am not avoiding you," Irene said, her voice steady though her cheeks betrayed a faint blush.

The emperor chuckled, clearly enjoying himself. "You're terrible at lying, Irene."

Irene turned to me, her exasperation plain. "Veronica, tell him I am not avoiding him."

I raised my hands in mock surrender. "I'm just an innocent bystander," I said, though the amused glint in my eyes earned a glare from her.

"See?" the emperor said smugly, crossing his arms. "Even the duchess knows you're avoiding me."

Before Irene could respond, Alicia's voice cut through the tension. "Duchess! Dominic's trying to eat my doll!"

I stood quickly, suppressing a laugh as I moved to rescue Alicia's doll from my son's curious grasp. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Irene use the distraction to gather her robes and make a hasty exit.

"Always running," the emperor muttered, his smirk softening into something more contemplative as he watched her retreating figure.

When I returned to my seat, the emperor was still staring after her, his expression unreadable.

"Trouble in paradise?" I teased lightly.

He blinked, turning his attention back to me. "Paradise, Duchess?" he echoed with a sardonic laugh. "Hardly. That woman is impossible."

"Impossible enough to keep your attention for two years," I pointed out, arching an eyebrow.

He opened his mouth to retort but thought better of it, shaking his head instead. "You're meddling, Veronica."

"Call it an observation," I said with a smile.

Before the conversation could continue, Henrick appeared at the doorway, his presence as commanding as ever. His gaze softened as it landed on me, and he gave a slight nod toward the door.

"Veronica," he said simply, extending his hand.

I rose, slipping my hand into his, and the warmth of his touch sent a familiar comfort through me. "We're heading home?"

He nodded. "The twins need their rest."

As we made our way out of the palace, Dominic nestled against Henrick's broad shoulder while I carried a drowsy Dahlia. Glancing back, I caught a final glimpse of the emperor, now leaning against the balcony rail, his gaze fixed on the garden path where Irene had disappeared.

There was something there—something unspoken between them. A tension, a connection, a story waiting to unfold.

And though I was curious, my thoughts turned back to my own little family. Whatever awaited Ezra and Irene, it wasn't my place to interfere. For now, my focus was on the people who mattered most to me.

---

The carriage ride back to Audovera Castle was peaceful, save for Dahlia's occasional babbling as she clung to my sleeve. Dominic, ever the quiet one, was already fast asleep in Henrick's arms, his tiny hand gripping the fabric of his father's coat.

Henrick caught me staring and raised a brow. "What is it?"

"Nothing," I said, shaking my head with a soft smile. "It's just... moments like this make everything worthwhile."

He smirked, leaning closer. "You're getting sentimental, Veronica."

"Blame the twins," I teased. "Motherhood has made me soft."

His chuckle was low and warm, and for a moment, the weight of everything else fell away.

When we reached the castle, the maids hurried to greet us, whisking the twins away for their afternoon nap. I lingered in the hall, watching as Henrick exchanged a few words with one of his knights before dismissing him.

"Will you be busy again tonight?" I asked, unable to hide the note of disappointment in my voice.

Henrick turned to me, his expression softening. "No. I'm all yours tonight."

A rush of warmth filled my chest, and I nodded, already looking forward to a quiet evening together.

But as I turned to head toward the nursery, a knock at the door caught my attention. A footman appeared, bowing deeply. "Your Grace, a letter from the palace."

I frowned, taking the sealed parchment. Henrick's brows furrowed as he stepped closer. "What is it?"

"I don't know," I murmured, breaking the seal.

The handwriting was unmistakably Irene's.

Duchess Veronica,

I need to speak with you. It's urgent. Please meet me at the temple garden at your earliest convenience.

—Irene

I handed the letter to Henrick, who scanned it quickly. His jaw tightened, but he said nothing.

"I'll go," I said softly.

He nodded, though his gaze lingered. "Be careful."

---

The temple garden was quiet when I arrived, the soft glow of twilight casting long shadows across the stone paths. Irene was waiting near the fountain, her usual composed demeanor replaced by something more restless.

"Irene," I called gently, and she turned, relief washing over her face.

"Thank you for coming," she said, stepping closer.

"What's wrong?" I asked, my concern growing.

She hesitated, her fingers twisting in the fabric of her robe. "It's about the emperor."

I blinked, caught off guard. "The emperor?"

Irene sighed, sinking onto the edge of the fountain. "He's... he's insufferable, Veronica. Always teasing, always prying. And yet—" She broke off, shaking her head.

"And yet?" I prompted, sitting beside her.

Her hands tightened in her lap. "And yet, I can't seem to stay away. Every time I try to keep my distance, he finds a way to pull me back. I don't know what to do."

I studied her, noting the flush in her cheeks and the way her voice wavered. Irene was always calm, always in control. To see her like this... it was startling.

"You care for him," I said softly.

She didn't deny it. Instead, her silence spoke volumes.

"Irene, I've known you long enough to see when something's weighing on you. If you feel something for him, maybe it's worth exploring."

She laughed bitterly. "He's the emperor, Veronica. And I'm just a priestess. Whatever I feel doesn't matter."

"It matters to him," I said gently.

Her head shot up, her eyes searching mine. "What do you mean?"

I hesitated, choosing my words carefully. "I've seen the way he looks at you, Irene. There's something there. He wouldn't tease you so much if you didn't mean anything to him."

Her lips parted as if to argue, but no words came. Finally, she sighed, burying her face in her hands. "This is so complicated."

"Love usually is," I said with a smile.

Her head snapped up, a spark of indignation in her eyes. "Who said anything about love?"

I raised a brow. "Oh, please. If it's not love, then what is it?"

She groaned, burying her face in her hands again, and I couldn't help but laugh.

---

When I returned to the castle, the conversation lingered in my mind. Henrick was waiting for me in the study, a glass of wine in hand.

"Everything alright?" he asked as I stepped into the room.

I nodded, sinking into the chair across from him. "Irene is... in a bit of a situation."

"With the emperor?"

I blinked, startled. "You knew?"

Henrick smirked. "It's hard not to notice. The emperor's been unusually... distracted these past few days"

I shook my head, amazed at how much Henrick saw without saying. "Do you think it'll work out between them?"

His smirk softened into a thoughtful smile. "If anyone can keep with the emperor in line, it's Irene."

I laughed, the tension of the day finally easing. "You're probably right."

And as we sat there, the warmth of the fire casting a soft glow around us, I couldn't help but feel grateful—for my family, for my friends, and for the quiet moments that made life so beautifully unpredictable.