Melania fell silent, she was confused and her mind was in turmoil from those questions. How did she feel? Had she been asked that before? No. She knew she had not. Her life had been defined by her father's will, and her families need for protection.
She had married the Third Prince because he was a strong candidate for the Emperor, though not the strongest. Her father had ordered it, so she had behaved and married him. Melania was fairly sure Damar knew.
There had never been any love between them, but it had been a comfortable partnership. Despite being known as cold, and emotionless he had always treated her kindly and their children conceived out of respect and not hatred. He had never cheated on her, or gone outside their marriage and if he had he made sure no one knew, just so he could save her the humiliation. Her twins were the light of their life and even if he never loved her… he loved Nathaniel and Daniel.
Her father had forced her into this marriage, and had tried to force her sons begin training early. That was the first time Melania wanted to stand up to her father, but was brutally rebuked for forgetting her use. She had born the children, she was no longer necessary in her father's eyes. No one had expected Damar to put his foot down when he saw Nathaniel and Daniel training so hard. She had been grateful then, her heart harbored a warmth for Damar that she knew he would never return.
So rather than suffer openly and affect her children, she locked her feelings away and Kyera's question reminded her she could feel. There was more to her than a wife and a mother or even a pawn in this game.
"I think my father is the fool. This… connection… this warmth and respect feels right." Melania replied suddenly able to grasp her own feelings and spoke them slowly. Kyera smiled and nodded at her.
"Then embrace it. Stop thinking of this as a competition and think of it as family providing for their people. Side by side, not a blood thirsty race." Kyera replied as they entered the main hall. Lalia, Feya, and Myra were waiting there, all dressed in proper furs. Lalia was dressed in a white fox fur dress, while Feya was in a rather pale pink fur that fit her well, but made her look like a rabbit more than a powerful predator.
"Oh my dear sister you look ravishing." Feya began praising Melania who smiled and tried to find a positive point to the furs Feya was wearing. The two hugged and Lalia chuckled spinning slowly for Kyera, and Kyera spun as well.
"I went to my father and got one of my old outfits. Looks good for its age hmm?" Lalia asked and Kyera nodded. The fur hid the slits that made this beautiful dress more functional while still looking fashionably slim.
"Yes. Thankfully I haven't gained enough weight yet for the body suit not to fit." Kyera replied honestly having been worried. Lalia smiled.
"Oh Kyera dear, your barely showing. Most people are going to think you just ate a bit too much." Myra chuckled as she hugged her cousin. "When are you going to tell the Matriarch?"
"As soon as I get the chance, if Sansor hasn't told her already." Kyera's teasing comment earned a round of laughter from the three girls she was huddled with.
"What has Sansor done now?" A slightly annoyed woman asked from the doorway. Kyera turned and offered a bright smile. In the doorway was Reever and his wife, accompanying Matriarch Crystalsa between them.
"Nothing, My Lady I simply have some news to share." Kyera replied as she turned to face her Grandest Mother. Crystalsa seemed obviously relieved.
"That boy causes so much trouble in a day and it's been two or three since so I thought he had gone and fouled up again." Crystalsa sighed as she spoke, it was obvious even beneath her extreme annoyance and frustration with the boy she loved him.
"No.. but you might he mad at Clovis…" Kyera replied chuckling "Grandest Mother, I am going to have a baby." And in that moment you could hear a pin drop in the sudden stillness. Then the excitement was clear on everyone's faces, even Reever couldn't help but grin.