"She's nice," Salviana answered about Jean, still a little breathless from the closeness. "Very serious about her duties."
"Good," he murmured, his tone distracted as his hand slid down to entwine with hers. His touch was absent-minded yet comforting, as if holding her was second nature.
The warmth between them grew, and Salviana found herself leaning into him, her earlier nerves melting away. Outside, the soft breeze of the morning rustled the trees, mingling with their quiet laughter and teasing remarks.
For a moment, the weight of the world faded, leaving just the two of them in their private bubble.
Until their chambers door got knocked on and Alaric sat straighter, Salviana glanced at him making her lips brush his cheekbone, they froze at the same time.
The sound he'd heard was forgotten as he turned his head slowly to meet her eyes, her green gazed in shaking anxiety before she leaned in and kissed his other cheekbone.
Alaric was stunned and before he could finish reasoning it, his cheeks flamed, color filled them and Salviana could only smile as she got bolder and kissed his forehead too. Just like he'd always do it and steal a piece of her heart, she wanted to return the favor and it did chip more emptiness out of Alaric's soul.
A sharp knock on the office door shattered the warm, intimate moment between Salviana and Alaric.
"Your Grace, you have a visitor," Sarah's chirpy voice called from the other side.
"Who?" Alaric asked, his focus still lingering on Salviana, the interruption clearly unwelcome.
"Princess Rose, Your Grace," Sarah replied.
Salviana froze, her mind racing. Rose?!
"Come on," Alaric whispered to Salviana, gently nudging her to stand. His ease made her stomach churn with questions. Who is Rose? And why is he so ready to meet her? Could it be…?
They left the office, Alaric's hand resting at the small of Salviana's back, guiding her to the parlor.
"Princess Rose insisted," one of the maids explained as they approached. In her arms was a small child with blonde hair and striking blue eyes, resembling many of the castle's inhabitants.
"Hello, troublesome Rose," Alaric said softly, his gaze fixed on the child, a rare smile tugging at his lips.
Salviana blinked, her confusion growing. This is Rose?
The maid lowered the little girl onto her unsteady feet. Rose tottered forward and clung to Alaric's leg, hugging his solid thigh with a surprising fierceness. Alaric froze, his expression caught between disbelief and amusement before he cleared his throat and ruffled her hair.
"Only you, Rose," he murmured with a shake of his head.
"This is Rose?" Salviana asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.
"Yes," Alaric replied, crouching down to gently extend a finger toward the child.
"This Rose kissed you?" Salviana's alarm slipped through her tone, prompting Alaric to glance up at her with a raised brow.
"Is there another Rose I don't know about?" he retorted, puzzled.
"Alaric…" Salviana trailed off, flustered.
"I told you she was cute and clingy," Alaric said, as Rose reached up to grab his face with her tiny fingers, exploring it with innocent curiosity. "She pulls at my gloves and kisses me, bold as can be."
"Heavens…" Salviana breathed, her alarm shifting into realization.
"I know," Alaric replied with mock seriousness, gently lowering Rose's hands from his face.
"Rose is… a baby," Salviana whispered in shock, her cheeks heating.
Alaric's dark eyes glinted with humor as he looked up. "Did you think I was talking about a woman?"
"Well… yes. A pretty woman," Salviana admitted bashfully.
A slow smirk spread across Alaric's face. "And you were jealous?"
"Hey, Rosette," Salviana cooed, deliberately ignoring his teasing. She bent to greet the child, whose tiny face lit up at her attention.
"Mama," Rose mumbled, reaching out with her chubby arms.
The room stilled as everyone froze in surprise. Salviana's heart melted at the innocent word. She picked up the child, her voice soft with affection. "Sweetheart, how are you?"
Rose didn't respond, though. Her breathing quickened, her cheeks flushed, and she felt unusually warm. Salviana's joy shifted to concern as she studied the little girl.
"Is she sick?" Salviana asked, her voice tinged with concern.
"No, your grace, she is fine," the maid replied, her tone dismissive.
Salviana glanced from the maid to the baby, who was gasping lightly and sweating. "I think something is wrong with her," she insisted, her frown deepening.
The maid gave a small chuckle, as if Salviana's concern were misplaced. "My lady, she is lovely. Have you never held a baby before? I understand your confusion. They normally breathe fast."
Ignoring the maid's condescension, Salviana carried the child to a nearby cushion and gently sat her down. That's when she saw the problem.
The baby's dress was impossibly tight, squeezing her little belly so much it looked as though it divided her in two. Salviana bit her lip. Children typically had round, bloated stomachs, but this was beyond normal. The child must have just eaten, only to be stuffed into a dress far too small for her.
She glanced over her shoulder at Alaric, who had silently followed her into the room. His presence reassured her, but his dark eyes remained unreadable. Turning back to the girl, Salviana gently spun her around and unzipped the dress.
"Your grace—" the maid began to object, but Alaric's sharp glare silenced her immediately.
"She was uncomfortable," Salviana said simply, her tone firm.
The second maid, more hesitant, ventured, "Your grace, I think that's how she's always been dressed." Her subtle eye roll didn't escape Salviana's notice.
"Maybe," Salviana replied coolly, "but she's older now. This dress doesn't fit anymore. Did she just eat?"
"Yes, your grace," the softer maid admitted.
"That's why it's even tighter. It's no longer her size. Please bring her another dress," Salviana ordered, her patience waning.
The arrogant maid let out a quiet scoff. "I think she's fine. She's a girl; she'll get used to it."
Salviana's eyes narrowed. "Get used to what exactly? Wearing clothes that suffocate her?"
"Well, your grace," the maid began with a thinly veiled smirk, "she will grow up wearing tighter dresses. It's how girls—"
"Enough," Salviana cut her off sharply. "She's just a child!"
Her voice carried an edge of protective anger as she scooped the little girl into her arms. Standing tall, she turned on her heel, not sparing another glance at the maids.
Alaric leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching with quiet amusement as his wife stormed out of the parlour with the baby.
"Always full of surprises," he muttered to himself, before following after his wife, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
In the bedroom, Salviana set the child down gently and examined her once more, ensuring she was comfortable. She glanced at Alaric, who had remained silent throughout, his dark eyes fixed on her with an unreadable expression.
"She's fine now," Salviana murmured softly, smoothing the baby's golden hair.
"She is," Alaric agreed quietly, his admiration for his wife growing as he watched her care for the child with such conviction.
In the privacy of her chambers, Salviana gently set baby Rose down on the bed and rummaged through her wardrobe. She found a small upper dress shirt of hers, soft and loose, and slipped it onto the girl. The oversized garment draped comically over Rose's tiny frame, but the instant relief on her face was unmistakable.
The little girl wiggled her toes and babbled louder, her tiny hands reaching up for Salviana's hair. Salviana smiled warmly and leaned back just enough to dodge the grab.
"You feel better now, don't you?" she cooed, brushing a soft curl from Rose's flushed cheek.
Rose gurgled in agreement, her round eyes sparkling with newfound energy.
"Come on, let's meet your lousy maids," Salviana added with a wry smile, lifting the child off the bed. Rose giggled, her movements freer now as she clung to Salviana's shoulder. Together, they walked back into the parlor. Rose looked adorably ridiculous in the oversized shirt, like a doll lost in fabric, but she was comfortable—and more importantly, she was happy.
"That is an awful fit, my lady," one of the maids said with a sneer, her disapproval dripping from every word.
Salviana turned sharply, her gaze locking onto the maid with a steely intensity that even Alaric hadn't seen before. The room seemed to grow colder under her glare, and the maids shrank back as if they'd been scalded.