CHAPTER 70: TWO HEARTS.
1369 Words
Five months had passed.
Five months since Elara had discovered that another life was growing inside her.
The palace had gradually returned to something resembling peace.
The ancient kingdom beneath the mountains remained a mystery, but for the moment, there had been no new attacks.
And perhaps that was why Caelan had finally allowed himself to breathe.
Until that morning.
“Elara?”
She looked up from the mirror.
Caelan stood behind her, watching her carefully.
“What?”
“You look beautiful.”
She smiled.
“You've said that every morning for the past month.”
“And I'll continue saying it.”
He stepped closer, placing his hands gently around her waist.
Her belly had become noticeably rounder now.
Five months.
She rested her hands over his.
“You know, you're becoming worse than the children.”
“How?”
“You stare at my stomach every chance you get.”
“Can you blame me?”
He lowered himself slightly and kissed her belly.
“Our little one is growing.”
Elara laughed.
“Little one?”
Caelan looked up.
“What?”
“You still call the baby ‘little one.’”
“I don't know the name yet.”
“We don't even know if it's a boy or a girl.”
Caelan smiled.
“Whatever they are, they'll be loved.”
Elara's expression softened.
“They?”
Caelan paused.
“What?”
“You said they.”
“I did?”
“Yes.”
He looked thoughtful.
“Perhaps my instincts are telling me something.”
Elara laughed.
“Your instincts have been wrong about almost everything lately.”
“Perhaps not this.”
---
Later that morning, Elara complained of feeling unusually tired.
The palace physician was summoned.
Caelan insisted on staying.
The physician examined her quietly.
Then his expression changed.
“Your Majesty…”
Caelan immediately became alert.
“What is it?”
The physician smiled.
“There is something you should know.”
Elara sat up.
“What?”
The physician looked between them.
“Her Majesty isn't carrying one child.”
Silence.
Caelan blinked.
“What?”
The physician smiled.
“She is carrying two.”
Elara's mouth fell open.
“Two?”
“Twins.”
Caelan stared at her stomach.
Then at the physician.
Then back at Elara.
“Twins?”
The physician nodded.
Caelan suddenly laughed.
A completely stunned, disbelieving laugh.
Elara covered her mouth.
“Oh my goodness.”
Caelan took her hands.
“We're having twins.”
Elara's eyes filled with tears.
“Two babies.”
He pulled her into his arms.
“Two.”
He kissed her forehead repeatedly.
Then her cheeks.
Then finally her lips.
Elara laughed through her tears.
“Caelan.”
“I don't know what to say.”
“Neither do I.”
He placed his hands over her stomach.
“Two little troublemakers.”
Elara smiled.
“Or two little angels.”
“With our blood?”
He laughed.
“We're finished.”
---
The news spread through the palace before noon.
And the reactions were priceless.
Liora was the first to hear.
“Twins?”
Elara nodded.
Liora's eyes widened.
“Two babies?”
“Yes.”
She immediately looked at Caelan.
“Are you sure?”
Caelan laughed.
“The physician is quite certain.”
Liora smiled.
“That means I'm going to be an older sister twice.”
“You already are.”
“I know.”
She looked thoughtful.
“Can I choose their names?”
“No.”
Caelan answered immediately.
Liora frowned.
“Why?”
“Because your naming abilities are questionable.”
She gasped.
“I have excellent names.”
“What were you thinking?”
“Moon and Star.”
Caelan stared at her.
Elara burst into laughter.
“Perhaps we should let her name one.”
---
The young prince arrived next.
He listened to the news quietly.
“Twins.”
“Yes,” Elara said.
He looked at her stomach.
“How many babies are inside?”
“Two.”
He nodded seriously.
“Then I have more siblings to protect.”
Caelan smiled.
“You're taking your duties seriously.”
“Of course.”
Then he looked at his father.
“But I'm still older than them.”
“Yes.”
“And older than the little princess.”
The little princess, who had just entered the room, gasped.
“No!”
Everyone laughed.
She ran toward Elara.
“I'm not the youngest anymore?”
Elara laughed.
“You will still be younger than the twins.”
The little girl looked horrified.
“Two babies?”
“Yes.”
She folded her arms.
“I don't want two.”
Caelan raised an eyebrow.
“You don't get to decide.”
She thought for a moment.
“Then I want one boy and one girl.”
Liora smiled.
“Why?”
“So I can have one sister and one brother.”
The prince nodded.
“That makes sense.”
Then the little princess looked at Elara's stomach.
“But they cannot touch my toys.”
Caelan sighed.
“Here we go again.”
---
That evening, the entire royal family gathered in the garden.
For once, no one spoke about war.
No one mentioned the ancient king.
No one discussed the Forgotten Blood.
They simply celebrated.
Caelan sat beside Elara.
Seraphine sat nearby with the little princess.
Liora was helping the prince arrange flowers.
The palace servants had decorated the garden with lanterns.
Caelan looked around.
“This is the happiest I've been in years.”
Elara rested her head against his shoulder.
“Me too.”
He kissed the top of her head.
Then he whispered,
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For giving me this.”
She looked at him.
“Our family.”
He smiled.
“Our family.”
---
That night, Elara stood before the mirror.
She looked down at her belly.
“Two.”
She still couldn't believe it.
Caelan came behind her.
He wrapped his arms around her.
“Thinking?”
“Yes.”
“About?”
“What we'll name them.”
Caelan smiled.
“I've been thinking about that too.”
“What names?”
He kissed her cheek.
“For a boy…”
He paused.
Then said softly,
“Auren.”
Elara turned.
“Auren?”
“Yes.”
She smiled.
“I like it.”
“And for a girl…”
He looked at her.
“Selene.”
Elara's smile faded slightly.
“Selene?”
Caelan noticed.
“You don't like it?”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“I don't know why. It just feels…”
“Familiar?”
“Yes.”
Caelan thought for a moment.
“Then we'll choose another.”
Elara nodded.
“Maybe we should wait until they're born.”
“Agreed.”
He placed his hand against her stomach.
“Although…”
“What?”
“I still think there's something different about them.”
Elara looked at him.
“Because they're twins?”
“No.”
His expression became thoughtful.
“Because the Moon Blood hasn't reacted like this before.”
Elara's heart skipped.
“What do you mean?”
Before Caelan could answer—
A strong movement came from inside her.
Then another.
Elara gasped.
Caelan's eyes widened.
“They moved.”
She laughed softly.
“Both of them.”
He placed both hands against her belly.
Another movement.
Then another.
Caelan smiled.
“Already fighting over space.”
Elara laughed.
“Just like their father.”
“Excuse me?”
She kissed his cheek.
“My king.”
He pulled her closer.
“My queen.”
For a few moments, they stood quietly together.
Two hearts beating beneath Elara's heart.
Two lives waiting to enter a world that had no idea what they would become.
But somewhere far beyond the palace...
under the ancient mountains...
a forgotten bell rang once.
Then twice.
An old voice whispered through the darkness:
“Two Moon Bloods…”
A pause.
“…have been born before their time.”
And for the first time, even the shadows seemed afraid.
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