Xavi held Josephine as she finally fell asleep in his arms. Carefully, he placed her beside little Adris and covered them both with the blanket. For a moment, he just stood there, gazing at them—the only two people who seemed to soften the ruthless king. Then he turned, left the room quietly, and made his way into his mother's chambers.
He sat down heavily before Queen Olydia.
"So, you think Josephine can't be my wife, Mother?" Xavi asked.
Olydia patted his head gently. "She can be your wife, son. She accepted your child as her own, even named him too."
"Then why bring those two brats here, testing them to see who can be my wife?" he asked, his tone sharp.
"I was just trying to see if they were capable. But clearly, none are," Olydia replied firmly. "I will be hosting a party by four. Make sure Josephine is there."
"Yes, Mother," Xavi said, rising, and then returned to his room. He lay down beside Josephine and Adris and fell asleep.
By 2:30 p.m., Josephine and Xavi had a little fight.
"At least I can speak," he muttered bitterly.
Josephine froze, then angrily wrote on a paper:
Yeah, because I am mute, that's why you said that. You can't feel anything at all. You heartless bastard—because you can speak and I can't. Asshole!
She threw the paper at his face.
"Josephine…" King Xavi called softly, but she stormed out angrily.
At once, the skies darkened and lightning split the clouds.
Kara, training in her castle, felt it and connected her mind to Josephine's.
What's wrong? Kara asked.
Josephine's voice rang loud in her mind:
THAT HEARTLESS BASTARD TOLD ME TO MY FACE—AT LEAST HE CAN SPEAK! I WISH I COULD SLAP HIS FACE!!
The lightning crackled dangerously. Adris grew terrified at the thunderclaps, covering his face with his tiny hands.
"Dada… Jojo…" he whimpered.
Josephine saw him and her anger melted. She rushed to him, scooping him into her arms. Oh no, my poor baby boy… sorry, my child, she whispered in her thoughts, kissing his forehead over and over.
Kara spoke gently: Josephine, keep your anger calm. After your birthday in the next five months, girl, okay? Don't mind that heartless man. You're too beautiful for him.
"Very beautiful too," Xavi muttered as he stood by his window, listening to everything.
"Hey, Jojo, do you have a dress?" Xoni asked.
Josephine shook her head.
"Come on, let's get you a dress!" Anesthesia exclaimed, pulling her along. They climbed into a carriage and went to the store, with Clara and Remy following.
Josephine browsed but found nothing for herself. Instead, her eyes sparkled when she found a cute little suit for Adris.
"Aww, is it for Adris?" Xoni asked. Josephine nodded happily. She even picked a handsome suit for Xavi.
"For my brother, huh?" Xoni teased, resting a hand on Josephine's shoulder. Josephine nodded sadly and scribbled what happened earlier with Xavi. Xoni's heart softened. "I'm sorry for what he did, Jojo."
Anesthesia pulled a dress off a hanger. "You're not gonna pick a dress?" she asked. Josephine shook her head but quietly paid 50,000 golden coins for the suits and the gown.
Remy sneered. "You really think King Xavi will wear these cheap clothes?"
"It smells bad," Clara added.
"Like your breath," Anesthesia shot back coldly.
"Cut it out," Xoni snapped. "Let's go."
At the palace gates, Queen Olydia disguised herself as a beggar.
"Excuse me, miss, please, can you help me with just one coin? I haven't eaten in four days," she begged Clara.
"Get lost, old hag. Die of starvation, I don't give a bloody damn," Clara spat, shoving her to the ground.
"Disgusting pig," Clara muttered again as she walked off.
Queen Olydia shook her head in disappointment.
She turned to Remy. "Excuse me, please help me with one coin, I haven't eaten anything—"
"Move back, you're dirty! Do you know who you're talking to? I'm the future Queen, the wife of King Xavi soon. I won't give you a single coin. Get lost, old fool!" Remy snapped, pushing her away too.
Hidden, Xavi and Xoni watched in fury. Olydia fell to the floor.
"Mom…" Xoni whispered. Xavi's anger grew, his eyes glowing.
At 3:10 p.m., Josephine came along, her eyes red from tears.
"Excuse me, child, please help me with a coin. I haven't eaten in days," Olydia begged again.
Josephine sniffled, wiped her face, and immediately held the old woman's hand. She checked the surroundings, then sneaked her into the kitchen. There, she served her food Josephine had made. Olydia ate hungrily while Josephine signed: Eat more. Wait for me.
She ran upstairs, fetched her bag of coins, and pressed it into the beggar's hands.
"Thank you very much, child. Stay blessed," Olydia said, still in disguise.
Josephine hugged her tightly, guiding her back to the gates. She's too old to beg, Josephine thought sadly. I don't like seeing old people beg. They need food, money, a place to stay.
Kara's voice echoed: You need to find Zephyria, right? Make it the Kingdom of Hope. A land where beggars and the poor will have shelter, food, and enough money to live.
Josephine's heart swelled. Yes. Zephyria—the Kingdom of Hope.
Both Kara and Xavi, listening from afar, smiled proudly.
By evening, the palace glittered with music and nobles.
Xoni handed her brother the suit Josephine bought.
"She got this for you," she said firmly. "You owe her an apology for the bullshit you said. Never insult someone for their disability, especially her."
"Yes, sister," Xavi admitted. He bathed and wore the suit. It fit perfectly. Adris looked adorable in his own.
At Josephine's door, Anesthesia coaxed her. "Jojo, come on. If you come down, I'll take you to Nana, okay love?"
Josephine slowly unlocked the door. She wore the black dress Anesthesia had chosen—an off-shoulder gown with long sleeves, a thigh-high slit, and a fitted bodice. Her hair was parted at the center, neatly combed, with only a small necklace, barefoot.
Xavi saw her and froze. She was breathtaking. He whispered after hearing her thought: He actually wore a mute girl's suit…
"Yeah, I did," he answered quietly.
He brushed her hair back, cupped her face, but she pulled away and walked past. Xavi only smiled and licked his lips. "Mine. And mine only."
The great hall filled with nobles. Clara's family arrived—the Grand Duke Lowell of Port Azure with his wife Eily and children Sue, Emily, Clara, and Jake. Remy's family too—King Valerius, Queen Jane, and their sons Jason, Jordan, and Kir.
Queen Olydia greeted them coldly. "Both your girls failed my tests. My son will decide."
Shocked, Clara tried to use her love spell perfume, and Remy her enchanted eyeliner. Xavi looked at them with amusement.
"It's not working. Apply it again, maybe it will," he mocked.
Their spells dissolved instantly. No magic worked on him—his grandfather had made him resistant, destined to be greater than his father.
Josephine sat quietly with Assia and Lyra.
"Lady Josephine, you don't want to dance?" Lyra asked. Josephine shook her head.
Then Xavi walked up to her in front of everyone.
"May I have this dance, Ms. Josephine?" he asked, hand extended.
Everyone stared. Slowly, Josephine placed her hand in his. They danced—King Xavi, feared ruler of vampires and werewolves, and the mute girl who had captured his heart.
I'm still mad at you. But I'll keep your honor in front of everyone, Josephine thought.
"You look adorable when you're mad," Xavi murmured, tightening his grip on her waist.
Later, Xavi confronted the families.
"Your daughters failed. When my son cried, you did nothing—Remy, you raised your hand against him, Clara, you told the maid to remove him. Josephine calmed him. She even cried with him. She can cook, unlike both of you who bribed the maids. My mother already dealt with them."
Ashamed, the nobles lowered their heads.
Remy protested, "I… I didn't mean to—"
"Enough," Xavi said as he walked out to the garden where Josephine was Hey he said sitting closer to her as she moved but he pulled her back Listen I don't usually say this but I am very sorry for what I said I should have said that to you I promise I will never say that again King Xavi said as he cupped her face and kissed her deeply Josephine said in her mind:his tongue is so soft.
They both came inside as Xavi told them the lost Both Clara and Remy exploded.
"THAT'S NOT FAIR!" Remy shouted.
"YEAH, THAT MUTE BITCH DID NOTHING!" Clara screamed.
Xavi's eyes flared dark red. Josephine's ears were covered by him, Adris' eyes by Assia, and Olydia shielded hers.
"YOU BOTH FAILED. SHE PASSED EVERY SINGLE TEST WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING. AND DON'T EVER CALL HER A BITCH!" Xavi thundered. The hall bowed in terror.
"Get out of my sight. I never want to see you again."
Dragged away, their families apologized, humiliated.
That night, Josephine coughed blood again. Xavi cleaned her gently. "You're going home tomorrow," he whispered.
I'll miss you very much, King Xavi, she thought.
"I'll wait for you, Josephine," he promised, kissing her hand.
They bathed together, tender and quiet.
The next morning, Josephine prepared to leave. Adris clung to her, crying, "JOJO!" His tiny voice broke the air as Xoni pulled him back. Josephine sobbed, kissing him over and over.
"My Jojo…" Adris wailed.
She hugged him tightly before stepping into the carriage with Assia. Tears streamed down her face as she waved to Xavi and Adris.
Elandra, the mighty dragon, roared in the skies, following her carriage.
After an hour, Josephine arrived back home. She burst into Ceillie's room.
"Jojo!!!" they all cried—Pierre, Tess, Callum, and Ceillie—leaping on the bed to hug her.
I missed you all so much, she signed with her hands.
"We missed you too!" they chorused.
Far away, Xavi stood by his window, holding Adris. "Don't worry, boy. In five months, on your birthday, you'll see her again. I promise."
Adris clutched his father and drifted to sleep.
A month later, on February 5th, Adris' birthday arrived.
Josephine returned, and the boy ran into her arms with joy. She baked a cake just for him.
Xavi stood watching, smiling softly.
After Adris birthday March arrived and it was Xavi and Xoni birthday Happy birthday Baby!!! Anesthesia said hugging Xoni tightly and handing her a gift Thank you my love Xoni said but my gift is your ass by nightfall Xoni said again Josephine sent a messenger hawk to Xavi as his gift was hand made bracelet Happy Birthday King Xavi Josephine wrote on the paper and He smiled.