CHAPTER 68: A DIFFERENT KIND OF SECRET.
1264 Words
The ancient king had barely finished speaking when—
the young prince yawned.
Everyone turned toward him.
He rubbed his eyes.
“Are we going to fight now?”
Silence.
The ancient king stared at him.
Caelan stared at his son.
Elara pressed her lips together.
Liora looked away, trying not to laugh.
Even Seraphine struggled to keep a straight face.
The ancient king's intimidating expression slowly disappeared.
“Excuse me?”
The prince shrugged.
“You said Father’s reign is over.”
“Yes.”
“So…”
He yawned again.
“Are we fighting or not?”
Caelan finally cleared his throat.
“Perhaps we should discuss that later.”
The prince frowned.
“But I'm tired.”
Liora burst out laughing.
The little princess joined her.
Soon even Elara was laughing.
Caelan covered his face with one hand.
The ancient king looked utterly offended.
“This is not a joke.”
The little princess looked at him.
“You look funny.”
Seraphine immediately covered her daughter's mouth.
“Don't insult the ancient king.”
The little girl whispered,
“But he does.”
Caelan turned away so no one would see him laughing.
For the first time in centuries, the supposedly terrifying ruler of the Forgotten Kingdom looked completely defeated.
By children.
---
They eventually returned to the palace.
And somehow, the terrifying prophecy had been temporarily forgotten.
Because the children had discovered something far more important.
A box of pastries.
The prince grabbed one.
Liora grabbed another.
The little princess reached for a third.
Caelan caught her hand.
“One.”
“But Liora had two.”
“Liora is older.”
The little girl frowned.
“That is not fair.”
Caelan smiled.
“Life isn't fair.”
She crossed her arms.
“Then I don't like life.”
Seraphine laughed.
“She's definitely your daughter.”
Caelan looked at her.
“You say that as though it's an insult.”
“It wasn't.”
Elara watched them from across the room.
She smiled.
For once, the palace felt normal.
No enemies.
No ancient prophecies.
No terrifying voices.
Just family.
Caelan noticed Elara staring.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You're smiling.”
“So?”
“You're hiding something.”
Elara rolled her eyes.
“Must everything I do be suspicious?”
“With you?”
“Yes.”
She laughed.
Caelan walked toward her.
“You look tired.”
“I'm fine.”
“You've been saying that all day.”
“Because I am.”
He studied her face.
Then gently touched her forehead.
“You're warm.”
“Caelan.”
“Hmm?”
“Stop inspecting me.”
“Never.”
She pushed his hand away.
He caught it.
Then kissed her knuckles.
Elara smiled.
“You're becoming annoying.”
“You married me.”
“Unfortunately.”
Caelan gasped dramatically.
“Unfortunately?”
She laughed.
“Yes.”
He pulled her closer.
“Say it again.”
“No.”
“Say it.”
“Absolutely not.”
He kissed her forehead.
“Then I'll consider that a victory.”
---
That night, Elara sat in their chambers.
She stared at the small bowl of fruit beside her.
Something about it made her stomach turn.
She pushed it away.
Caelan noticed.
“You don't like it?”
“No.”
“You love those.”
“I know.”
He looked at her suspiciously.
“Are you sure you're fine?”
“Yes.”
She stood.
Immediately, the room tilted.
Caelan caught her.
“Elara.”
“I just stood too quickly.”
He frowned.
“You've been tired.”
“I haven't been sleeping.”
“You've been nauseous.”
“Maybe.”
“You've been avoiding food.”
She looked at him.
“And?”
Caelan stared.
Then his eyes widened.
“No.”
Elara's heart began pounding.
“What?”
He looked at her.
“Is it possible?”
She didn't answer.
Caelan took her hand.
“Are you…?”
Elara swallowed.
“I don't know.”
---
The next morning, the palace physician arrived.
Elara sat nervously while the physician examined her.
Caelan paced the room.
“Stop walking.”
He stopped.
“You're making me nervous.”
“I'm already nervous.”
“Then sit.”
He sat.
Three seconds later, he stood again.
Elara sighed.
“Caelan.”
“What?”
“Sit.”
He sat.
The physician smiled.
“My king…”
Caelan immediately looked at him.
“Yes?”
“I believe congratulations are in order.”
Silence.
Elara stared.
Caelan froze.
“What?”
The physician smiled.
“Her Majesty is with child.”
For several seconds, Caelan simply stared at Elara.
Then—
“Another?”
Elara burst into laughter.
“Yes, another.”
He crossed the room and dropped to his knees before her.
He placed both hands gently against her stomach.
“There's really a baby?”
Elara smiled through tears.
“Yes.”
Caelan looked up at her.
His face was filled with wonder.
Then he kissed her stomach.
“Hello, little one.”
Elara ran her fingers through his hair.
“You're going to spoil this child.”
“I'll spoil all of you.”
She smiled.
“You already do.”
He stood and kissed her deeply.
Not hurriedly.
Not desperately.
Just full of happiness.
When they separated, Caelan rested his forehead against hers.
“Thank you.”
Elara smiled.
“For what?”
“For giving me another reason to live.”
Her eyes softened.
“You already had plenty.”
“Not enough.”
---
The news spread through the palace quickly.
Seraphine was the first to arrive.
She hugged Elara.
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
Then she looked at Caelan.
“So that's why you've been hovering around her like an anxious servant.”
Caelan frowned.
“I was concerned.”
“You were pacing.”
“I was thinking.”
“You were panicking.”
“I was not.”
Seraphine raised an eyebrow.
Elara laughed.
Liora entered next.
“Is it true?”
Elara nodded.
“You're going to have another sibling.”
Liora's eyes widened.
“Another?”
The prince immediately appeared behind her.
“Another what?”
“A baby.”
He stared at his mother.
“Another baby?”
“Yes.”
He thought for a moment.
Then looked at Caelan.
“Can we return it if it cries too much?”
Everyone burst out laughing.
The little princess ran into the room.
“There's a baby?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
Elara pointed toward her stomach.
The little girl stared.
Then whispered,
“It's inside you?”
“Yes.”
She placed her tiny hand against Elara's stomach.
“Hello.”
Everyone smiled.
Then she looked at Caelan.
“Can I name it?”
Caelan laughed.
“We don't even know if it's a boy or girl.”
“I already know.”
“How?”
She shrugged.
“The moon told me.”
The laughter slowly faded.
Elara exchanged a look with Caelan.
But the little princess simply smiled.
Then she placed her hand against Elara's stomach again.
And whispered,
“It's happy.”
Elara's eyes softened.
Perhaps, for once...
the mystery could wait.
For now, there was a new life growing inside her.
And for the first time in a very long time, the royal family had something to celebrate.
Even if somewhere beneath the mountains...
the ancient king was still waiting.
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