Chapter 195 - Amusement Park
Shortly after all of the guests had arrived, a speech was prepared by the King and Queen, proudly announcing the surprising news that they were going to have twins.
The news sent the room in a frenzy of congratulations and claps, happy for them. Only a few realized the horrible implications this would have, especially on the human. Soon, the room was filled with lively chatter as everyone enjoyed their dinner.
Adeline was hungry. Lately, she had been consuming much more food than ever before, putting one strange combination after the other into her mouth, like pickles dipped into peanut butter and watermelon with soy sauce. She had received odd, but amused glances from Elias whenever she had a bizarre midnight snack.
"Was it good?" Elias teased, referring to the plate she had completely demolished. To the other people, she ate at a moderate pace. But Elias was used to her playing with the food, thus, smiled when she ate quickly.
"Very," Adeline told him with a sheepish smile. There were multiple tables set up in the room, and everyone was thoroughly enjoying themselves today. The day was quickly passing, and it was now well into the afternoon.
Adeline sat at her table with Elias, the twins, Lydia, and William. Lydia seemed to be engrossed in something that Weston had said, leading to small bickering between the two of them. Easton was watching them as one would watch free television.
"What are you thinking about, darling?" Elias asked, realizing she was spacing out a bit.
"How I'm content with the life I have," Adeline responded with a small smile, turning her attention to him. "I have everything that I want. I have people that I love, I've confronted the usurper, fulfilled my duties as Queen, my best friend has accomplished her dreams, and I'm building a family that I've always wanted."
Elias's gaze softened. He slid his hand over hers, but she moved it away just as the servants came forth with dessert. They took the old plate away and presented the final meal. Elias chuckled at her enthusiasm to eat. He had no complaints about that.
"You sound like you'd be content to die happy right now," Elias commented in a light voice.
Adeline paused. She saw the hurt in his eyes. She immediately shook her head. "I'm just content with life, not content enough to die now," she softly said, knowing her words must've triggered something. Even now, he was upset by her will to accept her inevitable death.
"Really now?" Elias sarcastically asked, watching her dig the fork into a chocolate cake covered in ganache with layers of sponge cake, mouse, and fruit.
"Really," Adeline affirmed, placing the fork into her mouth and smiling towards him.
Elias could not remain angered when she smiled like that, so blissful and tranquil. He loved her so dearly, he yearned to see her happy. He always waited for her laughter, the soft and loud ones, her smile, the small and wide ones, and the quickening of her heart when she saw him. He always longed for her reactions, so much that it had become an obsession at this point.
- - - - -
Soon, nightfall reached, and small games were played to keep the party lively. The sun had just settled into the horizon and the fireworks were being prepared.
Adeline walked outside to get some fresh air, breathing in the sweet scent of dusk, and the cold caress of the breeze. She soothingly touched her stomach, smiling down at it. Her belly was huge, and in a few more weeks, she'd look ready to pop.
Adeline could not believe how quickly the babies were developing. She was always hungry and tired, because of them. If she wasn't eating, she was resting, and if she wasn't resting, then she was snacking whilst doing her chores of overseeing the wages and offering her opinion during the Council Meetings or looking over Elias's documents.
"They're growing fast," Elias said, hugging her from behind. He had finally found her, outside in the garden, near the walls. He rested his hands on her stomach, his heart jerking when he felt a kick.
"Did you feel that?" Adeline asked, smiling up at him, her eyes bright and eager.
"Yes," Elias responded in a tiny smile of his own. He found it interesting their babies kicked the most whenever he rubbed her stomach. He knew the children were well aware of the powerful, ominous presence looming over their mother.
"They're growing too quickly," Elias added on, going back to their initial conversation.
A Half-Blood usually developed at one-half the time of a normal pregnancy, but with his Pure-Blood DNA, who knew if it'd only take one-third the length, leading to her giving birth as quickly as three months. It was a terrifying revelation. [1]
"The world is cruel. I've spent too little time with you," Elias stated.
Elias pressed their bodies together, until her back aligned with his chest, and his head was beside her neck, his lips pressing kisses upon her soft skin. She always had a sweet, floral scent that he was drawn to.
No matter how many times he hugged and kissed her, it wasn't enough. Whenever she was around, he always wanted to touch her. It was an undeniable draw to her.
"There is a plan I've thought of," Elias whispered to her, his lips tickling her ears. She squirmed a bit, not enjoying being tickled, but he chuckled at her reaction, the sound breathy. Her stomach churned, and she found herself wanting to hear his laughter even more.
Adeline loved the sound of his laugh, the curl of his lips when he smiled, and the crinkle of his eyes when she teased him. She loved all of his reactions, especially the ones that reminded him he had emotions.
"They say whoever consumes the blood of the Golden Rose will be the strongest in the world, darling," Elias murmured. "The prophecy implies we'd have to kill Lydia to drain all of her blood, but how about we take a little bit? To not make you the strongest, but still give you strength during the birth."
Adeline's heart dropped at the thought of drinking blood. But her mouth was suddenly parched, and she knew it was the babies doing, and not her own. She immediately shook her head. She felt like she'd throw up if she tasted that much iron on her tongue.
"N-no, I can't—"
"Not directly, we can find a way to inject it into you and—"
"Lydia doesn't have O positive or negative blood," Adeline whispered.
Elias stiffened. The possibility of using Lydia slimmed.
"But her touch gives people strength," Adeline suddenly said. "Perhaps if she is there with me, during my birth, holding my hand as encouragement, it'd help."
Elias pondered the idea. It was a great one. "That is, if you don't break her hand from squeezing it so much," he teased.
Adeline rolled her eyes. "I hope you're going to be holding my other hand, so I can transfer the pain of childbirth to you."
Elias softly laughed. He shook his head at the thought. "Please, your tiny hands will never do damage to me."
Adeline debated if that was the truth. Lately, she had grown incredibly strong—enough to shove Elias away if she wanted to. She enjoyed the strength she gained, but knew it was at a heavy cost.
Suddenly, people began gathering outside. The firework show was going to start soon. Her cheeks went red, at the memory of what they did during the fireworks on their wedding night. It seemed Elias must've thought the same thing, for she practically heard the arrogant smirk in his voice.
"Whilst everyone is distracted, why don't we go somewhere, darling?" Elias asked, even though she was heavily pregnant.
Adeline vehemently shook her head, glaring up at him. "It'd hurt our babies."
Elias raised a brow. "I'd be gentle enough for them to not feel it."
"No."
"It was worth a try," Elias mused.
Adeline laughed a bit, just as the first firework went off. Her attention was immediately pulled to the night, a black canvas for the bright flowers that burst in the sky. Fireworks always amazed her. The beauty of the world lighting up in pitch darkness, the magnificent colors that glimmered and sacrificed their brightness, and the way it peaked in the sky before falling into nothingness.
In the corner of her eye, she saw Lydia and Weston glued together, his hands possessively around her waist as Lydia was drawn to the fireworks, but Weston was only looking at her.
Suddenly, an idea came to mind. "A date," Adeline mumbled.
"We never had a proper one," Elias noted. "Where would you like to go?"
"I don't know," Adeline admitted. "I-I've never been on one."
Elias didn't know whether or not he should tease her for it or be proud of the fact. He was going to be her first date. The thought excited him.
"I'll take you anywhere you want to go," Elias said. "Name a place, and we'll be there."
Adeline debated her options. She thought about the places she hadn't been to. Just then, an idea came to mind. It was a place she had been to only once with her parents, but wanted to relive the moment of a family.
"An amusement park," she said.