Josephine carried Adris outside for a picnic. The sun was warm, and the grass swayed with the wind. She laid out a blanket, set down her basket, and handed him a plate of cookies she had baked herself.
Adris giggled as he chewed, his small mouth full. Josephine leaned over and kissed his messy cheek, smiling.
From his high window, King Xavi stood watching them. His arms folded, but his expression softened. A smile tugged at his lips as he watched Josephine laugh with Adris.
Meanwhile, in the castle, Queen Olydia was preparing something different.
"A wife test," she declared. "Remy and Clara will cook today's lunch."
Remy immediately looked nervous. Clara, however, smirked and glanced toward the maids. She already had a plan.
"They've never cooked before. This is going to be fun," Xoni chuckled, his hands wrapped lovingly around Anesthesia.
As the girls left to prepare, Xoni's sharp ears—like her twin brother Xavi's—caught Clara whispering to a maid.
"I'll pay you six hundred thousand golden coins if you cook everything. And when I become Queen, I'll make sure you're promoted to head chef and head maid too."
The foolish maid, blinded by greed, agreed.
But Queen Mother Olydia had already given a strict warning to the maids not to meddle. Clara's scheme was noted, though unspoken.
Upstairs, Xavi had wandered into Josephine's room. He noticed her drawing book on the table. Curiosity tugged at him. He opened it, flipping through sketches—moments, events, dreams. Then he turned the next page.
A wedding dress.
"Oh wow…" he whispered, scanning every detail of her delicate design. Without hesitation, he tucked the book under his arm and marched straight to his carriage.
The horses pulled him swiftly to the Famous Royal Designer's shop. The moment he stepped in, every designer dropped to the floor in a bow.
"G… G… Greetings, Your Majesty!" they stammered.
The Head designer hurried forward, trembling.
"W… W… Welcome, Your Majesty."
Xavi sat, laying the book gently before her. "I have a wedding dress for you to make. Absolutely nothing must go wrong with this dress—it is for my wife-to-be."
"Yes, Your Majesty!" she said, bowing deeply. She carefully took the sketch from the book, returned the journal to him, and hurried away to begin.
Back in the gardens, Josephine was still at the picnic with Adris and Lyra, joined by Assia. Josephine poured tea for Assia, who smiled gratefully.
"Thank you, Lady Josephine," Assia said.
Josephine's smile widened.
"JOJO! COME ON, IT'S LUNCH TIME!" Xoni called, waving from the doorway.
Josephine laughed, packed up the blanket, and carried Adris inside.
The Kingdom of Noctyra, though draped in shadow, was known as the most powerful and dangerous of all kingdoms. Its halls echoed with power.
Inside the dining hall, dishes were already set. Clara exchanged a triumphant smile with her maid, while Remy also gave a sly look to hers.
Xavi entered and sat on his throne. Clara and Remy instantly tried to take their places on either side of him.
"Both of you—move away from my sides. Now," King Xavi said coldly.
Their faces twisted with anger as they were forced to sit elsewhere.
Josephine, meanwhile, floated into the hall, giggling as she spun in the air.
"Miss Josephine! Come down!" Lyra pleaded.
"Jojo, get down!" Anesthesia called, laughing when Josephine stuck out her tongue in response.
"She's having fun," Xoni said, giving his wife a quick kiss on the cheek.
Lyra placed Josephine's medicines before King Xavi.
"Get down, Josephine," he ordered, pouring her dose.
Josephine landed reluctantly, still giggling silently. Xavi arched a brow as she rolled her eyes and slumped into her seat.
Adris clapped happily for her.
She began moving toward Anesthesia to sit, but Xavi's voice cut in:
"Josephine. Come sit here. By my right."
Everyone's head turned. Josephine froze, wide-eyed.
Heh?! By his side? she thought, pulling strange faces. King Heartless wants both of his betroths to kill me. This is fucked up…
Anesthesia burst out laughing at Josephine's expressions.
"Come here. Now," Xavi commanded again.
Reluctantly, Josephine obeyed.
As she sat, her eyes darted nervously to Remy and Clara. Great, now they're staring at me like vultures. I mean, look at that one—she's glaring as if she even cooked this food herself. Why does he always make me a huge target for these harpies? Ugh, I want my Nana!
Xavi, hearing her inner thoughts, let out a small laugh.
Oh wow… he's laughing. But his laugh is so adorable, Josephine thought, still making faces.
Xavi licked his lips slowly, his gaze lingering on her.
"Remy, where are your dishes?" Queen Olydia asked.
Remy proudly stood and served the food.
But Josephine had already prepared a secret meal and kept it safe for Xavi in his room.
Xavi eyed the dish in front of him while turning Josephine's medicine.
It smells like ass. Hold up—why the fuck is it green?! NANA, HELP! The heartless king wants to poison me with greennnnnnn shiiiiiittttttttttt!!!
Josephine bowed her head to hide her laughter. Xavi nearly choked trying to suppress his own.
"What's so funny, Brother?" Xoni asked.
"Josephine is making faces again. She's… talking to herself in her head," Xavi admitted.
He tasted the food and immediately grimaced.
"Who made this?"
"I… I did," Remy stammered.
"Uh, no you didn't. Bitch, you brats can't cookkkkkk. You paid a maid—look at that one, she even looks like a rotten zombie. Nana, please come and take me away, I miss your cooking!" Josephine thought wildly, pulling more faces.
"Baby, look at Jojo's face," Xoni whispered to Anesthesia, who peeked and stifled a laugh.
"Who made this food?" Xavi asked again.
"I did," Remy said quickly.
"No, you did not cook this food, motherfucker!" Josephine muttered in her head, eyes rolling dramatically.
Xavi bent closer. "Calm down, Josephine," he whispered.
"Did you actually cook it?" Xoni asked again.
"Y-Yes, I did," Remy insisted, her voice weak.
Josephine shot her another death glare. Queen Olydia, though she knew all the maids' flavors, kept quiet.
Then Clara stepped forward and served her dish. Xavi took one bite, immediately dropped his spoon, and instead picked up Josephine's medicine.
"Finish it," he ordered.
TF YOU MEAN FINISH IT?! Josephine screamed in her mind.
"You're so loud," Xavi whispered. "Now drink it."
Josephine pouted but obeyed. Everyone stared.
"Drink up, Josephine love," Queen Olydia coaxed.
Your ruthless son had better give me a box of pizza bombs, or I swear I'll blow his ass to the sky, Josephine muttered internally, before gulping the whole thing down.
"What?" Xavi asked, seeing her hand sign.
It tastes like poop! she gestured.
He chuckled, rising from the table. "Bye, Mother."
He left without touching another bite.
Clara seethed. Remy fumed.
Josephine took Adris into her arms, patting his back by the window. He was nine months old, born on February 5th. Xavi and Xoni were both twenty-nine, born March 28th.
But in the shadows, Clara cast a love spell. Remy, too, prepared a mind control charm.
Xoni, watching through her orb while patting Anesthesia to sleep, hummed darkly.
Later, in Xavi's chambers, Josephine had tidied the messy room.
"All done," she thought proudly.
"Lady Josephine," Xavi said as he entered.
Lady? she blinked. Why's he calling me that?
"I got pizza bombs for you," he said, holding out a box.
For me? Josephine signed.
"Yes. For you."
She sat on his bed, Adris asleep beside her. She opened the box, eyes glowing.
"You cooked for me?" Xavi asked.
She nodded, biting into one with a delighted smile.
Xavi stripped off his shirt and grabbed one too. "Damn. I love this," he muttered in his head.
Josephine finished the pizza bombs, licking her fingers.
Xavi stood, pulled her gently against his chest, and kissed her softly. His hands caressed her face as the moonlight streamed through the window, bathing them in silver.
Meanwhile, in King Hendrick's castle, Noah was wrapped around Tess in her chamber. Their lips locked, their bodies tangled. Slowly, they drifted asleep in each other's arms.