His Majesty's Devious Sins

Elias held the babies whilst Adeline took turns breastfeeding each of them. He was curiously watching and realized it was a bit inconvenient with her current nightgowns. He'd get her a new wardrobe and fix their bedroom tomorrow. It'd be as if nothing major happened, and life was resuming back to normal. 

But as Elias watched Adeline caress Elios's face, with that same naive, hesitant smile he loved, a part of him stirred. Their babies will stay young for a while, but what will happen to Adeline?

Whilst her skin turns into leather, his will be eternally youthful. Whilst her bones become brittle, he'd only grow stronger.

"Heh, look at his face," Adeline cooed, humored by how drunken Elios looked on milk. Elios had a satisfied expression on his face, his eyes barely open after she had burped him. 

Adeline softly swayed side to side, hoping to lull the children back to sleep. "We should have them by our side in the bedroom."

Elias snapped back to reality. He raised a brow. "With the exercise we plan on doing, are you sure you want them there?"

Adeline stared at him as if he was crazy. "I just woke up—"

"Who says I meant tonight?"

Adeline's mouth went dry. She glared at him and hugged Elios closer, deciding to ignore this teasing husband of hers. 

"Elios, your dad is a bully," Adeline whispered to his listless expression. 

Elios's eyes were softly shut, his tiny fingers curled into a loose fist. She smiled at his expression and hugged her infant closer to her. 

"Isn't he adorable?" Adeline asked. "Like a little angel."

Adeline grinned up at Elias, showing him Elios. She was awestruck by how beautiful and cute her children were. "Look, look, I gave birth to this angel. Isn't he adorable?"

Elias dryly looked at Elios. "Angel? More like a monster."

Adeline scowled. Did he not have mercy, even on his own children? She feared he'd always tease them like this. One day, they'd make him swallow his own words. She just knew they would.

"Hmph, they're your children as well," Adeline said, pulling away just as Elias bent down to pick up the baby.

"Unfortunately they are," Elias mused. He had a sleeping Adelia in one arm, and the other was ready to scoop up Elios, so that he could finally have alone time with her. 

"Give our little monster to me," Elias said. "They'll need to sleep in their crib. You move too much in your sleep."

Adeline softly frowned. "I don't want to part from them so quickly…"

Elias stared at her. "When you're only sleeping three hours a day and can barely eat breakfast without them crying, you'll wish you can part from them."

Adeline's brows shot up.

"Now give him to me," Elias said whilst bending down to pick up Elios. She reluctantly let him take the child from her arms.

Adeline watched with envy as Elias placed the babies into their cribs and draped the blankets over them. 

Adeline wanted to stand up and do the same. She wanted to lower her infants into their little bed and kiss them goodnight. Her eyes began to water when she realized that might be an impossible dream. Even now, she couldn't move her legs.

"Why are your eyes watery?" Elias asked, returning back to her side. He kneeled down in front of her and caressed her cheek. He found it intriguing her face was so small, it fitted his large hands perfectly.

"Am I never going to walk again?" Adeline whispered.

Elias's expression hardened. He clenched his jaw. "No more children, Adeline."

Adeline noted he was furious. He rarely called her by her name unless it was a serious matter. She lowered her eyes to the ground.

"What about your heirs?" she asked.

"I have two. That is more than enough."

"But it's unfair," she said.

"Why?"

Adeline hesitated. She wondered if he knew how terrified she was of losing him. After her death, he'd find another woman. And he'd have children with her. Then, she'd be a forgotten memory.

"Because what if you fall in love with another woman and suddenly decide to have children with her, a-and now that I won't be able to provide any for you—"

"Silly wife of mine," Elias sighed. He shook his head at her stupidity and leaned close. "We're doing it together. You'll get your tubes tied and I'll get a vasectomy."

Adeline blinked in surprise. She placed a hand on her stomach, where she still felt the loose skin sagging down. Suddenly, she felt self-conscious and moved away from his touch. Did he even realize what he was saying?

"It is the least I can do," Elias slowly added on with a slight frown. "I can't risk losing you again, Adeline. I refuse to."

"You don't mind your bloodline dying with you?" Adeline asked.

Elias scoffed. "With Elios, my bloodline will live another generation. A son and a daughter is more than I could've asked for, darling. Two is enough."

Adeline was relieved by his words, nodding in agreement. Seeing their resolve, his frown turned into a smile.

Elias placed a hand on her waist, but she jumped away. Adeline was frightful that he'd see the saggy skin before she could see it first.

"No—"

"Does it hurt?" Elias worriedly noted, grabbing the edge of her dress but she tugged the material back.

"No, I just…" Adeline trailed off, not wanting him to see her like this. "I just want to sleep."

Elias didn't believe her. He began to lift her dress but she hugged her body and refused to let him.

"Darling, I can't help you if you don't tell me what's wrong—"

"It feels wrinkly and ugly," Adeline weakly admitted. "M-my stomach will never be the same again. Don't look at it, I don't like it—"

Elias immediately lifted her dress, earning a sharp protest from her. She couldn't move her legs to run, leaving her with no choice but to allow him to look.

"What is the problem?" Elias asked, placing his hands upon the sagging, loose skin on her stomach. "This is the evidence that you've given me my heirs. There is nothing ugly about it, nor should you dislike it."

Adeline pulled at her dress, shaking her head. "I—"

"You're young, Adeline," Elias softly said, grabbing her hands and lowering her dress. "Your body has time to go back to the way you like and if it doesn't, we'll find a way. You are my wife and I love every little bit of you. Throw me your worst and I'll turn it into my best."

Elias lifted her into his arms, her legs straddling him as her arms rested upon his shoulders. She looked down at him in surprise. He smiled up at her. 

"I only have one heart and I've given it to you. No one else can have it if you're in possession of it," Elias said.

Adeline's chest felt warm and fuzzy. She cupped his face and bent down to kiss him, only to pull away a second later, worried about her breath after being in a coma for three days. She could only nervously smile down at him when he raised a brow, obviously wanting more.

"I want to brush my teeth and take a bath," Adeline said, earning quiet laughter from him. 

His chest rumbled with the motion and she felt a jolt in between her legs. She loved his laughter, loud and powerful.

"I'll help you. You'll need to eat as well," Elias stated. 

Elias lowered her a bit, so that she could rest her head on his shoulder, as he carried her out like a child. He pressed a soft kiss upon the side of her face, his lips lingering for a brief moment.

In this moment, Elias felt like his life was complete. He could die happy if he wished, with Adeline in his arms. Except, there was a nagging feeling in his chest that life wasn't going to be as simple as he hoped. In the back of his mind, he knew humans did not live forever. And Elias wanted forever with her.