That night was the first time Seth learned about all the secrets the twins spilled about each other in front of him as they fought with each other. Again. Seth couldn't sleep that night until late as he tried his best to chastise the kids, calm them down and then finally reconcile them. He also learned that half the reason for his wife's anger was that she was hungry. She didn't leave the library for most of the day and didn't even look at the foods her maids prepared for her as she immersed herself in her study of god knows what.
"So she was hungry." Cleo fell into a little contemplation. He was sitting in the messy bed, which was due to the twins fighting each other, with his legs folded and wearing a serious expression for a six-year-old. He looked adorable sitting with his legs crossed and supporting his chin in deep thought.
"Then she will forgive us tomorrow morning if we apologise properly." Noah said.
"Yes. She said 'Not Today' so tomorrow is fine." Cleo pointed.
"Let us make a visit immediately first thing in the morning." Noah said and after that little agreement they both magically reconciled and fell asleep on either of Seth.
"Ha…" Seth finally sighed in relief. It was a new experience. He never knew his sons were actually unruly little foxes. They take after their mother but Seth would never say this out loud. She might kick him back into the lake or this time she might really turn him bald. At that thought, Seth laughed softly as he gently patted the two little warm bodies in his arms on either side.
"I will have to find you both a tutor soon." Seth reminded himself in the silence of the night. There were many applications for the position and there were many renowned people from the academy in them but Seth was being extra careful after his mistake before. Just because they were reputed doesn't make them good for his boys. After rejecting many, there were coming fewer and fewer at the moment but Seth decided not to wait any longer. He should take a look at the final applicants tomorrow and make a decision.
As he finally thought his affairs were sorted, his thoughts strayed back to his otherworlder wife. She looked adorable when she was shouting at him because she was angry at their sons. He liked it very much. When she was complaining to him to rein these rascals in, it filled him with an odd sense of satisfaction.
The next day, according to their plans, the twins managed to appease their mother and were magically forgiven for their blunders. Seth watched as the twins sneaked in to sit beside their mother as she sat in her room silently without a word, her hands folded strictly and her eyes closed. As soon as the boys apologised, she took a peek at them and as soon as she caught sight of two pairs of big adorable pleading eyes, she bit her lip to keep her smile away only to fail miserably.
"What am I going to do with you two?!" She hugged them immediately, giving up and squeezed them in her arms. Then she took a look at the two wolves Ares and Akira sitting and waiting obediently for their masters.
"You've trained them well." She complimented patting the little heads buried in her bosom.
"Come here." She commanded and the wolves' ears pricked up before they wagged their tails running towards her outstretched hand. They sniffed and licked her hand happily until Noah pushed the white wolf, Ares, away saying, "Don't get mother's hand dirty."
The two wolves whined a little but complied at the end only rubbing their bodies at her legs. The wolves have reached the height of a big dog that reached Seth's knees and were no longer cubs. Their growth rate was pretty good and when they were fierce, they would induce fear in at least a C - Class adventurer at the moment. Seth felt proud seeing his six-year-old sons taming them so easily. Of course, they were his sons so it was expected.
"What are you watching standing there?" Her voice brought him back from his thoughts.
"Come sit at least." She nodded her head to the space beside her and the twins on the sofa. Seth was happy that he could stay close to her like before when the twins were present. He realised this on the day of the festival where his happiness soared to the sky just by standing beside her. Since then he was hoping for more opportunities for the twins to drag him to her.
"Father, Can we go to a dungeon?" Cleo asked him innocently as soon as Seth took a seat beside them with his arm snaking behind her and the twins naturally. He took Cleo into his arms and Noah followed to sit in his mother's lap making Seth's side of his body flush against his wife.
Seth looked at those eyes which managed to appease his wife only a moment ago and couldn't help but think, what a foul move, despite feeling laughter bubbling up in his heart.
"No. You've missed your chance after pulling that stunt of following your father into a dungeon. So wait another year." His wife answered for him and her words were final.
"You pamper them too much, that's why they are turning like this." His wife clicked her tongue in disapproval.
"Me? I pamper them?" Seth asked, baffled. It was clearly her who indulged them most of the time but somehow it was his fault. But he didn't speak his thoughts and silently accepted the onslaught of her accusing looks and chastising words.
"Alright, I will be careful in the future." Seth conceded in the end but winked at the twins secretly, making them giggle.
"Did you think I wouldn't catch you winking?" She grabbed his hair pulling his head towards her.
"Idiot. Stupid. Cunning fox!" She locked him in her hands as she shook him with every word. The twins' giggles turned into laughter and amidst this Seth's hand somehow went to grab her waist for support and his side of the face was flushed to her chest making him hear her rhythmic heartbeat. He wanted to fall asleep like that in her arms.
So that morning his day started with his twins laughter, his wife's quips and her melodious heart, the wolves lazing around them in the morning sunlight, a warm and bright morning, making him stay in a good mood throughout the day despite the arrival of an annoying and unwelcome guest in his land.
"You should have informed us of your desire to visit my land. I would've prepared a worthy welcome befitting the Crown Prince of Verdant." Seth was saying that evening, sitting at a dingy bar counter beside a man in a cloak covering his face.
"You know how I hate ostentatious greetings, Your Highness. Besides, thanks to that I got to see a lot of interesting things." Came a reply from the amused Prince Bastian who took off his hood, revealing his face.
"Your Wife was a captivating woman, she commanded all my attention at my first sight." As soon as he said that, the air around them cooled to a dangerous degree despite it still being the end of summer. The anger in the Grand Prince's eyes seemed to dispel whatever summer heat that was still lingering in Valoria.
"It's getting cold all of a sudden." The people in the bar muttered.
"Has the fall started already?" Came the questions around the bar.
"Barney! More beer!" some shouted. Everyone was oblivious to the reason but Prince Bastain was sweating despite the cold, however he was thoroughly amused. He might have found something interesting to fill his boring days with.
"As a Royal Guest, I can't let you stay in this poor establishment. I will send escorts tomorrow morning, Your Highness. Then, Have a good evening." With that, the Grand Prince left not even leaving a ripple in the air.
"As usual, he is powerful." Prince Bastian muttered. But he is showing his fangs now. I wonder who brought about this change in him. Bastian thought and couldn't help but think of the person to whom his gaze stuck all day on his first day of arrival. Then a shadow in the corner moved as a person emerged from it.
"Do you want me to look into the Grand Princess, Master?" The shadow asked.
"No, Leave it alone. I will meet her tomorrow anyway." Prince Bastian smiled, looking forward to it. He was more excited about meeting the Grand Princess than the Grand Prince. The man who emerged from the shadows looked at him for a moment longer before disappearing back into the darkness silently.
Who is this woman that intrigued his master to this extent?