Chapter 123: A Promise

Chapter 123: A Promise

[Rynthall Estate—Same Night, Outside the Estate]

Silas stepped out of the carriage, the cool night air brushing against his crimson cloak. Callen and Damien followed, their footsteps crunching against the gravel. Silas stopped abruptly, his head tilting slightly as he sniffed the air—and then himself.

"Do... I smell like... blood?" he mumbled to himself.

"Callen..." he called.

Callen blinked, hesitation written all over his face. "Yes... my lord?"

Silas turned sharply, eyes narrowed. "SNIFF ME!!!"

. . .

The wind howled.

. . .

The night seemed to pause.

. . .

Even the leaves shivered.

Callen recoiled. Eeeek! "Why... why should I sniff you? Do you think I’m your dog?"

Then he sparkled and a slow, mischievous grin spread across Callen’s face. "If... if there’s anyone I would sniff, it’s my beautiful lady Seraphina..."

. . .

Silas and Damien both blinked.

"PERVERT!" Silas bellowed.

Callen gasped, clutching his chest like he’d been stabbed by a cupid-shaped arrow. "Pervert?! PERVERT?! Excuse me! Sniffing one’s own love is not a crime!"

Then, because of course, he could not stop himself, Callen flopped dramatically onto the ground, wailing, "NOW I... now I really wish to meet her! Oh, Lord of the Moon! Lord of Wishes! Lord of Love!

Damien groaned. "I... I will never fall in love. Never. Nope. Never ever."

Silas pinched the bridge of his nose. "Idiots... all of you."

And then—whoosh!—a carriage rolled to a screeching stop. Dust puffed into the air. Wheels squealed like cats in panic.

The door flung open. Out stormed Seraphina, a whirlwind with boots, a scarf flying like a battle flag, and a glare sharp enough to cut granite.

Callen’s eyes widened, sparkles forming like a cheesy romance painting. "OH! GOD! SHE EXISTS! SHE IS REAL! THE GODS HAVE HEARD MY PRAYERS!"

He leapt onto one knee, arms flung wide, voice booming: "MY LADY COME IN MY ARMS."

But seraphina bolted past him like a wild beast unleashed, eyes blazing. "GET OFF, YOU IDIOT! DON’T STAND IN THE WAY!"

Before Callen could react, she disappeared into the estate, like a phantom in the night.

Whoosh.

. . .

. . .

Damien and the other knights were literally doubled over, laughter ripping from their throats, tears streaming down. "HAHAHAHA! I... I can’t... the human! He’s... he’s an absolute disaster!"

Callen, already frazzled, plopped onto the ground with a THUD, arms splayed. "I... I am broken! Broken! No hope for me... destroyed..."

Damien, still chuckling and wiping tears from his eyes, muttered, "But... but... why on earth did Lady Seraphina bolt like that? She ran faster than a windstorm..."

Silas froze. The realization struck him like a thunderbolt. "Did... something... happen?" he muttered under his breath, his voice low and dangerous and immediately he dashed toward the estate entrance.

And there she was—Seraphina, storming toward his chamber like a whirlwind wrapped in silk and fury. Silas barely had time to catch his breath before—

BANG!

The door slammed against the wall with enough force to rattle the chandeliers.

"What... WHAT happened to my brother?!" Seraphina shrieked, eyes blazing like twin suns.

The room was a whirlwind of panic, joy, and disbelief. Marcel was fainting in the corner for the fourth time, Alphanso was pacing like a caged lion, and Theoran had already collapsed onto a chair, muttering, "This... this is... unprecedented."

Meanwhile Elysia, small but loud enough to echo through the halls, darted forward and clutched Seraphina in a dramatic hug. "Aunty! WAAAAHHHHHH—wahhhhhh!!!"

Silas staggered into the room, huffing like a warhorse. "Wha... what happened—?!"

Seraphina, hands like iron claws, grabbed Silas by the collar and yanked him forward. "I should be asking YOU, you—bastard—ah, ahemm—Grand Duke! WHY THE HELL IS MY BROTHER UNCONSCIOUS?! DID YOU ABUSE HIM?! TIE HIM TO A CHAIR AND TORTURE HIM OR SOMETHING?!"

Silas froze, wide-eyed, as his gaze fell upon Lucien, sprawled dramatically across the bed in what could only be described as "majestic fainting."

Before anyone could catch their breath, Elysia wailed, clutching Seraphina’s skirts.

"Mama...Mama...he... MAMA ATE MY SIBLING!!! WAAAHHHHHHHH!!!"

They both froze.

"Eh... what??" they both said in unison, voices pitched in identical notes of disbelief.

Silas wrenched himself free from Seraphina’s iron grip and scooped up Elysia. "Sweetheart... what do you mean?"

Elysia hiccuped dramatically, burying her face in Silas’ chest. "Uncle... Frederick said... MAMA ATE MY SIBLING... WAAAHHH!!!"

Theoran pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed, as if preparing for the long haul of explaining biology to a tiny hurricane. "Elysia... your mama didn’t eat your sibling."

Silas patted her back gently. "Yes... let’s calm down, little one. Now... tell me what happened."

she didn’t say anything. Silas then looked at his father, saying, "Father...what happened?"

Theoran finally gave a small, mischievous smile, the corners of his eyes crinkling. "Congratulations, son... Lucein is... pregnant."

. . .

Silas blinked. "Really?"

Seraphina’s eyes lit up like fireworks. "I... I’m going to be an aunt again?!"

Theoran nodded solemnly, which only made Seraphina sparkle brighter. "YAAYYYYYYYY!!!"

Meanwhile, Elysia hiccuped again, muttering, "Mama... ate my sibling... Mama is monster..."

Silas chuckled softly, shaking his head. "No, sweetheart... your mama didn’t eat your sibling. Quite the opposite." He moved toward Lucien, who was sleeping peacefully amid the chaos, a serene little island in a storm of family drama.

Silas crouched in front of Elysia, smiling warmly. "See... your sibling... is very safe. Right now, inside Mama’s tummy."

Elysia’s eyes went wide, and she tilted her head. "Inside... how?"

Silas smiled, wiping a stray tear from her cheek. "Well... since God can’t just hand-deliver a sibling, He sends them in a very special... magical bean... inside your mama’s stomach. And for nine whole months, that little bean grows, safe and sound, until one day, it comes out to meet everyone!"

Elysia’s little mouth dropped open. She pressed her tiny hands to Lucein’s stomach and whispered, "Did I... come like that too?"

Silas nodded, hiding a grin. "Yes, you came just the same way."

Elysia’s eyes narrowed, as if solving a great mystery. She leaned closer, put her tiny ear against Lucein’s stomach, and whispered conspiratorially, "Little brother? Are you in there?"

The entire room burst into laughter. Theoran chuckled, Seraphina covered her mouth trying not to laugh, and Silas shook his head with mock exasperation. "No, sweetheart... he won’t reply right away. It will take some time before he’s ready for chit-chat."

Elysia furrowed her little brow and muttered, more to herself than anyone else, "So... Mama is protecting my sibling... inside his stomach?"

"Yes, exactly," Silas replied, smiling warmly. "He’s keeping him safe, like a little treasure."

Elysia tapped her chin thoughtfully, then slowly, very seriously, muttered, "Mama... is the best monster ever."

The room erupted in laughter once more, Lucien remained undisturbed, and the chaos somehow turned into a cozy, chaotic little bubble of family love.

***

[Lucein and Silas’s Chamber—Later—Midnight]

Lucien’s eyes fluttered open, squinting against the moon light, only to groan in sudden discomfort as he realized Silas’ heavy hand was draped over him like an anchor.

"Ugh... gods... he’s... holding me too tight..." Lucien muttered, wiggling, trying to push Silas away. But his man was far too strong, immovable as a rock.

Finally, he glanced up, his breath catching as he saw Silas’ face, peaceful and utterly serene, buried in his pillow.

Lucien’s frustration turned mischievous. With a sly grin, he pinched Silas’ nose as hard as he dared, aiming to wake him.

"Gaaahhh! Hah! Hah!" Silas gasped, startled awake, eyes wide as he flailed slightly.

Lucien smirked, sitting up slowly.

"Why... why, my love? Why are you killing your precious adorable husband?" Silas asked, still catching his breath, his chest rising and falling rapidly.

Lucien pointed at the crushing weight pressing him against the mattress. "Because you were suffocating me! Really... I could’ve died under your arms by now!"

"I was just trying to love you," Silas muttered.

"No...you were trying to kill me," Lucein said flatly.

Silas chuckled softly, reaching out to hold him from behind, wrapping his arms around Lucien’s stomach in a gentle, almost protective embrace. "Thank you, my love," he murmured warmly.

Lucien blinked at him, narrowing his eyes. "Well, you should be thankful for me existing in your life every single day. But...Why are you thanking me now?"

Silas smiled, a slow, tender curl of lips brushing against the back of Lucien’s neck. "For... giving me the second-best present."

Lucien furrowed his brows, incredulous. "The second-best present? I... did? When?"

Silas leaned closer, kissing the sensitive skin at the nape of Lucien’s neck. "Now... inside your belly."

Lucien froze mid-breath, his heart doing a little cartwheel. "Wait... what—?!"

Silas chuckled low, warm, and playful as he pressed soft kisses along Lucien’s cheeks from behind. "You’re pregnant, my love."

Lucien’s eyes went wide, a mixture of shock and wonder, and he instinctively placed a hand over his belly. "I... I am... pregnant?"

Silas nodded, his voice soft but filled with certainty. "Yes... we’re expecting our second child, my love. And I promise you... this time... I won’t leave your side. I won’t miss a single moment—none of the little, crucial moments, like I did with Elysia."

Lucien’s lips curved into a tender, heartfelt smile, his fingers still resting lightly on his stomach. He nodded, eyes shimmering with emotion. "I... I’m glad it’s you... with me."

Silas tightened his embrace slightly, resting his chin on Lucien’s shoulder. "Always, my love. Always."

And in the quiet warmth of that embrace, with hearts beating in tandem and the promise of a new life between them, they simply held each other, letting the world fall away...