FOUR YEARS LATER
(The Palace Garden—)
Laughter and playful screams echoed across the blooming garden.
"Come on, Leo, Nolen! Catch me if you can!" Luca's voice rang out as he sprinted ahead, his dark coat flaring behind him.
The two little boys chased after him, their breaths growing heavy.
"Leo, Father's too fast! We'll never catch him," Nolen panted. "Use your magic!"
Leo grinned, his eyes gleaming a vivid red. "Okay!"
A soft flash of light burst from his hands.
The spell hit Luca square on the back, and he stumbled dramatically onto the grass.
"Yes!" both boys shouted, triumph shining in their eyes as they rushed over and climbed onto his back.
"Uncle, you lost! Now keep your promise!" Leo declared.
"Yes, Father, you can't go back on your word!" Nolen added.
Luca sighed, brushing grass from his hair. "Fine, fine. Now get off me, you little monsters."
They hopped off, grinning.
"Now," Luca said, standing and dusting himself off, "if you're done playing, go back to your mothers."
"Okay!" both boys chimed before darting off toward the garden bench.
Eva and Aranel sat side by side, soft smiles touching their lips.
"Looks like brother lost again," Eva teased.
Aranel laughed lightly. "What did you expect? He can win against Prince leo."
Eva's smile deepened. "Right."
The little girl in Aranel's lap wriggled, tugging at her sleeve.
"What is it, Nyra? You want to play with your father too?" Aranel asked.
Nyra nodded eagerly. "Yes, Mother!"
Eva chuckled. "No, Nyra, you can't play with them. You'll get hurt."
Nyra swung her little feet as she sat on Aranel's lap. "Right! I only like playing with Uncle Eyan."
She turned to Eva, eyes bright. "Auntie Eva, when can I play with Uncle Eyan?"
Eva forced a gentle smile. "Nyra, your uncle is busy right now. But I'll tell him to play with you once he's free."
Nyra's face lit up. "Okay!"
Eva smiled back softly.
Just then, the peace shattered with familiar voices.
"Mother!" Leo shouted as he sprinted across the garden.
"Mother!" Nolen echoed behind him.
"Stop running, you two—you'll fall!" Eva and Aranel warned in unison.
"No, we won't—!"
But before the words finished, Nolen's foot caught on a rock.
He tumbled onto the grass with a small cry.
"Nolen!" Leo skidded to a stop, crouching beside his cousin. "Nolen, are you alright?"
Nolen clutched his leg, tears spilling down his cheeks.
Nyra rushed to him immediately.
She knelt, her tiny hands hovering over his knee. "Brother, are you alright?"
Nolen only cried harder.
"Don't cry," Nyra whispered, leaning closer. "I'll treat it for you."
She blew a warm breath over the wound.
Nolen's pain didn't vanish, but he smiled through the hurt, eyes full of affection for his twin sister.
Nyra beamed. "There, brother. I treated it!"
Nolen reached out and patted her head. "Thank you, Nyra."
Nyra giggled proudly.
Leo stood nearby, watching their sweet exchange with a soft, fond smile.
Eva and Aranel arrived breathless.
"Nolen, are you alright?" Eva asked, brushing dirt from his cheek.
"Auntie Eva… it hurts," he sniffed.
"Don't worry," she soothed before turning to her son. "Leo, heal Nolen's injury."
Leo nodded immediately. "Okay, Mother." magic bloomed gently from his palm as he healed the scrape.
"There," he said softly. "Are you good now?"
Nolen's face brightened. "Yes! Thank you, Leo!"
Leo smiled at the praise.
A moment later, Luca appeared from behind the hedges.
"What happened?" he asked.
"Nothing happened," Aranel replied with a small sigh.
"Oh." Luca blinked.
Aranel looked between her dirt-smudged husband and equally messy son. "You both look like a complete mess."
Then she pointed toward the manor. "Luca, take Nolen with you and get a bath first."
Luca grinned. "Yes, ma'am."
He scooped Nolen into his arms. "Let's go, my boy."
Before leaving, he leaned down and kissed Aranel's cheek.
"Bye, sweetheart. See you."
Aranel smiled softly. "Bye."
As father and son disappeared, Eva chuckled. "Brother listens to you very well."
Aranel lifted her chin playfully. "Of course he does."
Eva's smile warmed. "It's been four years since you two got married, and three since you had your twins… but he still loves you the same."
Eva looked at her friend with quiet admiration.
"You're lucky, Aranel… you have a husband who loves you just as deeply even after having children."
Aranel tilted her head. "You say that as if His Majesty doesn't love you the same."
Eva hesitated.
Her voice softened. "No… he does."
But the small crack in her tone said otherwise.
A moment of silence passed before she rose.
"Leo, you need to take a bath too. Let's go."
"Okay, Mother."
Eva turned to Aranel. "I'll be back."
"Alright," Aranel said with a warm nod.
Eva walked away with Leo, the garden sunlight behind her… and an unreadable shadow in her heart.
----
(Night — Royal Palace, Velmoria)
The grand hall of the palace was dimly lit, bathed in the golden glow of chandeliers.
Eva sat quietly on the couch, her hands folded in her lap as she watched Leo, Nolen, and Nyra play on the carpet.
Their laughter filled the hall like music, soft and bright against the stillness of the night.
A faint smile curved on Eva's lips — one of those rare, gentle smiles that carried both peace and longing.
The doors opened.
Eyan stepped in, tall and composed, his presence drawing every eye.
"Uncle, you're here!" Nyra's delighted voice rang out first.
"Father!" Leo shouted, running after her.
"Uncle!" Nolen joined in, his small arms stretched wide.
Eyan smiled — a quiet, tender smile — and bent down to lift all three children effortlessly into his arms. Their laughter echoed louder, wrapping around him like sunlight.
"Uncle, why did you come so late?" Nyra pouted, resting her head on his shoulder.
Eyan chuckled. "Did Nyra miss me?"
"I did!" she declared proudly. "You're the only one who plays with me. Brother Leo and Brother Nolen never want to."
Leo crossed his arms. "Father, she likes playing with dolls! We don't wanna play that."
"Yeah," Nolen agreed seriously. "We're men! We don't play with dolls, right, Leo?"
"Right!" Leo nodded with mock firmness.
Eyan laughed softly and set the boys down.
"Father, why did you put us down?" Leo protested with a small pout.
"Because," Eyan said, tapping their heads lightly, "you both are men. Men stand on their feet."
The boys straightened up, pretending to be soldiers. Eva couldn't help a small chuckle.
Eyan turned to Nyra, his tone gentle. "So, Nyra, do you want to play with dolls tonight?"
Nyra nodded eagerly. "Yes!"
"Then let's go play," Eyan said.
"Okay!" Nyra cheered, clinging to his neck as he carried her away.
She looked back over his shoulder, sticking out her tongue playfully at the boys. "See? Uncle likes playing with me more!"
Leo and Nolen groaned in defeat as Eyan walked toward the corridor.
"Eyan…" Eva's hesitant voice stopped him mid-step.
He turned, Nyra still in his arms. "Yes?"
Her hands twisted in her lap, hesitation flickering across her face.
"Can you… come and sleep in our room tonight? You've been sleeping in your office for two months now."
Her chest tightened.
What will you say this time?
Eyan's gaze faltered only for a moment.
"Eva…" he began, his voice low. "I'm sorry, but I have—"
"—important work to do?" Eva finished for him, her tone gentle yet tired.
Still the same answer…
He paused before nodding once. "Yes."
She forced a small, understanding smile. "I understand. You can go now."
"Okay," he replied softly, and turned away.
Eva watched as he walked off, Nyra's cheerful laughter fading with his steps.
And when the hall fell silent once more, her smile broke — fading like a dying flame.
A slow ache spread through her chest.
----
(Eva's Bedchamber — Night)
Eva lay on the bed alone, her eyes open in the darkness. Sleep refused to come.
Her thoughts began to whisper — quiet, aching, relentless.
After giving birth to Leo, it took my body three years to recover.
For the first two years,It was Eyan who took care of Leo.
And he was always there… beside me, caring for both of us without a word of complaint.
A faint smile touched her lips, but it didn't last.
When I finally gained some strength, I started taking care of Leo myself. I wanted to give Eyan rest… to return even a little of the love he gave us.
I always felt guilty. For those three long years, I couldn't give him the love of a wife.
Her chest tightened with the memory.
And after three years and five months when the physician finally told me I was all healthy again— I was so happy.
Finally, I thought, we could share a night again…
Her eyes dimmed as she turned onto her side.
But after that day, Eyan started acting strange.
He stopped giving me kisses.
Then, after a while, he stopped holding my hand.
And soon… he stopped sleeping beside me.
For the past two months, he's stayed in his office every night. And from last month… he stopped even looking at me.
Her throat tightened as she swallowed back the lump forming there.
Every time I ask him to come back to our room, he says the same thing —
'Sorry, Eva, but I have important work to do.'
She turned her face into the pillow.
I know he's busy… he's the emperor after all. But he has a wife too.
A wife who feels lonely every night.
A wife who misses him every time the candles go out.
But he doesn't care.
Eva sighed softly and sat up on the bed, moonlight brushing over her tired face.
Does Eyan not want to be close to me anymore?
Does he not want to spend a night with me?
Does he feel nothing when he looks at me now?
Do I not… attract him anymore?
The thoughts hurt more than she wanted to admit.
She rose and walked to the mirror.
Her reflection stared back — pale, weary, and uncertain.
Her eyes drifted down to her belly, slightly soft, a faint curve that never went away.
She touched it lightly.
"My body is out of shape now…" she whispered.
Her hand moved upward, pressing against her breast.
"My breasts too… all loose now."
Her voice trembled. "And I've gained weight."
She stared at her reflection until her vision blurred.
"Now I understand," she murmured, voice breaking. "Why Eyan doesn't even look at me."
Her shoulders slumped as she returned to bed, sinking into the cold sheets.
"I need to do something," she whispered to herself. "I need to look better… I need to lose weight."
Her eyelids fluttered shut as exhaustion took over.
And under the soft glow of moonlight, Eva drifted into sleep —
her last thought lingering on a man who no longer reached for her.
---