Heron and Clover had left the room to have lunch after their parents arrived.
Her father, Zietan Alterose, wore a white shirt with a navy waistcoat. His pale yellow hair had been slicked back, giving him the look of a serious nobleman.
"Hello, my little children," he cooed, giving the two infants goofey looks in hopes of making them laugh.
Nevermind.
Seeing the odd faces made by their father, Kim Ha Neul's brother began to cry harder.
*sigh*
"Here, let mommy feed you, my sweet boy," their mother spoke softly, picking up the crying infant.
Elizabeth Cemhall, to Kim Ha Neul's surprise, was wearing a pair of skin tight pants and a long sleeved button-up shirt instead of a dress. Her long brown hair was tied up in a braid with curly strands that framed her face, giving her an ethereal image. Both mother and daughter had a beauty mark on their right cheek that seemed to further accentuate their purple eyes.
In short, her mother was a beauty and Kim Ha Neul, like her siblings, would also grow up to be one.
'Yayyy.' (ﾉ*>∀<)ﾉ♡
"Please prepare a bath for the children, Alice," their mother spoke to the dark-haired maid behind her.
"Yes, My Lady."
The young girl bowed and walked out with two more attendants in hand.
"Close the doors and leave us be," Zeitan's voice turned stern as their mother began to unbutton her shirt.
Elizabeth whispered soft words of love as she fed her son.
While Ha Neul patiently waited for her turn, her father had picked her up, raising her tiny body to his face.
"Hi there, my little angel," he kissed the top of her head.
(/ω＼)
Kim Ha Neul stared into his green eyes and blushed.
'Gosh, my dad is handsome af.'
"Here," Elizabeth gently placed a drowsy baby boy in her husband's arm.
"Let me feed her. Don't wake him up, Ziet, I'm warning you."
Ha Neul watched her father gulp, a faint blush on his cheeks. "Yes, my Lady."
Kim Ha Neul :（⊙.⊙）
'Now that I'm finally aware of myself,' Kim Ha Neul thought, watching her mother bring her exposed breast to her mouth, 'It's a bit awkward to drink breast milk.'
Afterall, she was a 29 year old woman at heart.
But she was a baby now. A very hungry baby.
"Here you go, my child," Ha Neul's mother smiled, bringing her near a nipple leaking with milk.
'But it smells so good.'
With a determined face, Ha Neul opened her mouth and began to drink her fill.
' gulp. it's so tasty!'
'Thank you, survival instincts, for giving me the ability to adapt well.' (╯3╰)
{ All-Round Survivor has reached Level 3:
Hey there little chicken, congrats on turning into a hen! Let's go on to the path of the Phoenix! }
'. . .'
（¯口¯）
'I can't even-'
"They're beautiful, aren't they?" Zeitan Alterose, spoke, holding his sleeping son in his arms.
"They're a perfect image of us combined."
"To think that 11 years ago, we were two youngsters trying to run away from the aristocratic life," Elizabeth chuckled.
"Who would've thought that the farmer I married would turn out to be a Duke's son?"
'Oooh' (￣︶￣)
"Well, I didn't think my strong and talented wife would be the general's daughter either," Zeitan teased.
'Ahhh'Σ(⊙▽⊙")
'That means mother is the stronger one?'
"I remember how you beat down those bandits with a trowel," Ha Neul's father spoke with a loving sigh.
Kim Ha Neul :（⊙.⊙）'What?'
"I remember how you planted the world tree for the elves," Elizabeth smiled. "The golden apples that the elves gifted us were divine."
The married couple looked at each other, smiling faces reminiscing a confusing past.
"We've come a long way, haven't we?"
"We have."
'This must be what they meant.'
Ha Neul yawned, eyes drooping as her mother cradled her in her arms.
'This family isn't normal.'
"I hope they'll find their calling ," Zeitan whispered as they laid their children in their cradles.
'Good night, mom and dad.' Kim Ha Neul fluttered her eyes close, welcoming the comfortable darkness.
⁂ ⁂ ⁂
"I heard that His Majesty has requested your presence tomorrow," Elizabeth spoke, slightly opening a curtain to see the setting sun.
"He wants their naming ceremony to take place in the royal castle," Zeitan replied as he picked up the scattered toys around the cribs.
"What?!"
"I declined the offer, of course."
"Thank goodness," she sighed. "My cousin is too much, really."
"Well, you know how he is."
"He was still sulking for not making him Heron and Clover's godparent the last time he visited us, I can probably guess what he might suggest during the ceremony tomorrow."
"It's fine," Zeitan walked towards his partner and wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. "I got a letter from Her Majesty right after, she assured us that he'll be busy tomorrow."
Elizabeth chuckled, falling into her husband's warm embrace.
"The gods really did us a favour when His Majesty married Paneria's princess."
"You were the miracle that started my good fortune in life, Beth, that's all I know."
"You cheesy man."
*growl*
"This cheesy man will go prepare a snack for his wife."
Zeitan kissed his wife's blushing cheek and guided her towards the sofa.
"I'll be right back."
"I want something sweet, my dear!" Elizabeth whisper-yelled at his fleeting figure.
"You got it!"
Ha Neul's mother giggled and comfortably leaned back on the soft peach-coloured sofa.
She looked up at the ceiling, one that her entire family painted after much arguments and 'creative differences'.
From the constellations, to flowers, to horses and swords.
"Dearest God," a soft light began to luminate around her.
"I hope my children will find the way, the truth and the life."
The door opened slowly and Zeitan entered with two plates in hand.
"I got some fruit cakes and tarts."
Elizabeth grinned. "I love you, dear."