CHAPTER 96: CHAPTER NINETY-SIX: MY BREAKTHROUGH.

After Elena’s due date, she put to bed twins: a girl, who came out first, followed by a boy who came out second.

So, have you finally decided what we should call them because I have some ideas but I want to hear yours first." Damien had said warmly to her as he sat beside her in the delivery room.

Elena looked at the two wonderful bundles of joy in her hands. It had just been a few hours since she delivered them and she already felt a strange connection to them already.

Actually, the delivery of the babies could have gone smoothly if the second baby hadn’t grabbed the first one by the heel in the stomach. This made the delivery rather hard and unbearably painful for the mother.

Once the head showed, the doctors had carried out a procedure to bring her out safely by pulling the head gently while the midwives pushed from the stomach.

Painstakingly, everyone worked to ensure that neither of the babies were hurt together with their mother who was particularly bleeding heavily.

Damien had been so agitated, he couldn’t sit or do attend to his duties for the twelve hours his wife was in labor.

Five minutes to noon, the first cry was heard in the labor room. An hour later, another shrill cry echoed in the room.

Elena on the other hand had passed out immediately the first one came out. She was quickly given some injections that had revived her.

The babies were bathed, cleaned and dressed in cotton clothes before swaddled in sheets.

Damien wasn’t allowed in till after Elena was cleaned by the midwives who gave her an oversized underwear with pads for heavy flow.

Hmm...

"Edna and Eden." Elena muttered softly as tears fell down her cheeks. She couldn’t just explain how she felt at that moment, finally holding mini versions of herself and the man she loved with her whole heart. It was like the earth was compensating her for the rough childhood she had.

I wasn’t shown an ounce of love for most of my childhood and adolescence but I’ll not let it happen again. I’ll love you the best I can and give you more than the happiest life I enjoyed for so little a time.

More tears fell down her eyes. She couldn’t help it. Everything was just so overwhelming.

Maybe it was my hormones?

Damien looked up at her as he saw two drops land on the eyes of one of the children.

"Hmm. You shouldn’t cry on

A year later~~~~

"Eat something before you go darling." Elena said holding a plate of lemon tarts as she approached her hasty husband. She held up the plate to his lips.

"Have some before you go. I stayed up to make it." she said, smiling shyly.

Damien took the plate from her hand and emptied its content in his mouth. Elena watched him gobble up her food and smiled to herself. She knew he didn’t need food and could go years without it but she has still taken it upon herself to prepare his meals everyday.

Damien swallowed the chewed up food and kissed her forehead. "It’s delicious my love. Just like you."

Elena chuckled at his compliment. He always took every moment to tease her.

She buried her face in her hands when she felt his hand on her stomach.

She was pregnant and almost nine months gone.

"You shouldn’t do this in your condition sweetheart. The doctor said you should rest." Damien said worriedly, patting her protruding belly gently. He was always away on official meetings that he only got home at night. Each time, he found her either preparing dinner or waiting for him on the couch.

The first time he had seen her cooking, he had summoned all the kitchen staff, yeed at them and almost whipped them himself.

Elena had begged him profusely that day to pardon them, telling him that she had refused their help despite them pleading with her to leave it to them.

Elena took off his crown and silenced him with a kiss. Damien, a total sucker for his wife, kissed her back.

He wrapped his hand around her swollen waist and pulled her to himself, deepening the kiss. His tongue shot into her mouth, prying it open as his hand traced down her neck before settling on her shoulder.

"I don’t want the chefs preparing your food while I’m here." Elena whispered against his lips as the kiss got more intense.

"I get that but—"

"Shhhh."

Elena pulled away and placed her finger on his lips to hush him. Damien stopped talking immediately. He knew when she pulled that move on him and he ignored it, it meant war.

Damien took her wrist gently and kissed the back of her hand then took it up to his face and cupped his cheek with it.

"Can’t you rest just till then? You have only a few weeks to go."

Elena knew how much he wanted her to rest but it just wasn’t possible for her. It was like being pregnant made her more active then when she wasn’t. She had tried to rest countless times but it was like the baby in her was against it in this lifetime.

The day she had found out she was carrying his child, her entire world had been plunged into unending happiness. It was on an afternoon when she was trying to decode the book she has gotten from Calithar’s palace. She had never heard of him since she was transported through that glass and hadn’t even thought of him till then.

Damien hadn’t been around as usual so she had gone to the garden for some fresh air. That was when she discovered the book tucked into the grass that had grown over it.

Elena adored the garden and had made Damien forbid anyone from tampering with it. That very day, she had taken the book and settled on the grass again when suddenly, she began to feel nauseated.

Before they got out of the garden, Elena had fainted.

She was immediately carried away by her bulky guards and taken to the royal bay in a jiffy. Damien had somehow heard the news of her collapse, dropped everything and literally flew back to the palace.

After the doctors had been called, carrying out thorough examinations of the queen, the problem was finally detected.

More of an unneeded solution at that time because they just got married.

"Her majesty is pregnant!"

She was pregnant!

The royal doctors couldn’t tell with what gender or how many but she was actually pregnant!

It was like that one sentence had revived her from her nauseated slump. Elena sat up with a start.

"I’m...what?

Damien eyes met Elena who was leaning feebly against the head rest. He reached out and flung his arms around her.

He pulled back almost immediately

"You’re...you’re pregnant with my child!?" he asked, too surprised to even believe the news.

"I—I don’t—"

"Darling. Oh my love you’re carrying my child!"

It was the first time she has ever heard her husband squeal before. Even the doctors and nurses were surprised at the behavior of their king. Nevertheless, they chuckled at his expression.

"What will we name him? Or her? We need to get baby clothes! Who cares? We’ll get for both genders!"

"Sweetheart!" Elena called out to him laughing. Everyone laughed at their king’s new behavior.

"He isn’t even out yet and you’re already planning?" she chuckled again.

Damien pulled her into another hug, pressing her head to his chest. "My heart is bursting with joy, my love. I can’t help it."

That day, the queen’s pregnancy was announced to the entire kingdom. The whole of Zerathane celebrated with her and a feast was held by the king to honor the first heir to the throne for seven days.

There was plenty to eat, drink and endless merry was made all day long for a week. Other kingdoms were not invited as it was an internal celebration. Instead, invitations would be sent when the child was to be named.

Elena remembered it clearly like it had happened just yesterday. The joy on his face, his sparkling eyes that held unmeasurable love for her. They hadn’t really had conversations about children but seeing him so happy about one, it made her happy too.

I’ll take very good care of our baby my love. Don’t worry.

Sighing, Elena placed her other hand on her stomach. "Alright. You win."

Damien’s face lit up in a smile and went around and hugged her from behind.

He nuzzled his face in her luscious hair, taking long breaths of it. "Thank you." he murmured gently.

Damien slowly folded his hand under her swollen belly and lifted it up. Elena sighed in relief. There was never a time when he didn’t that that she wouldn’t absolutely love it.

"Mmmmm." she hummed satisfactorily, throwing her head to rest on his hard chest.

Damien kissed her softly on her neck.

"You like that?"

"Mm."

"Then I guess I should do this more often then." he whispered seductively in her ear.

Elena didn’t say anything but relax herself on her husband’s body. There was never a time she didn’t need him.

He was her husband but he was also the king. And to whatever level, the latter was much more important.

They stayed there for a few minutes when suddenly, his assistant walked through the door. His eyes fell on the couple enjoying each other’s warmth, contemplating whether to interrupt or proceed.

He knew he couldn’t. He shouldn’t. This was a very important matter.

Damien, as if sensing his presence, lifted his head from Elena’s neck.

"Can’t I have just a minute’s peace with my wife? Huh? Carlos?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I apologize for the intrusion your highness."

Damien was about to remove his hands from her belly when he noticed her head sway on his chest.

Was she...asleep?

Damien laughed in disbelief. This wife of mine just slept off while standing? Oddly pleased, he lifted her up into his arms and walked slowly to the grand staircase.

He had earlier installed a lift to take her up and down the stairs when she started showing but overtime, he found out she barely used it.

Damien had urged her even pleaded with her countless times to make use of it whenever she wanted to go up or down but knowing his dear wife, his pleas fell on deaf ears.

He mounted each step quietly, careful not to wake up his sleeping wife. By the time they got to their bedroom, she had started drooling on his arm. Damien didn’t mind it one bit. Instead, his eyes only looked at her with love.

Unexplainable love.

Laying her down gently on the bed, he opened the window and covered her legs with the bedding. Elena didn’t even stir the whole process.

Just how tired was she?

"I always told you to rest properly now look at you, falling asleep wherever you please and making me worry." Damien said, flicking her head with a harmless flick. He loved her so much but sometimes, she could be really stubborn. That he didn’t mind either because he always disciplined her in the end.

Damien sat by her side, staring at her face lovingly. He had been wondering what name they should name their child when she finally gets delivered of it. Unlike other kingdoms, royal parents had the power to name their children whatever name their pleased. He had always wanted to discuss this with her but his work and frequent outings made it next to impossible.

Lara? Or Jean?

Heather?

"I know you’ve already come up with their names, princess."

He paused, a misleading smile curving up his lips.

"I guess I can’t call you princess again if we end up having a girl, can I?" he said playfully.

Damien leaned down, gripping her hair softly and kissing her forehead. After that, the king got up and left the room, closing the door behind him.