CHAPTER 274: EPILOGUE

Years Later

"Princess Aurelia!" a man with graying hair called out, panting.

Even though his schedule was often filled with chores, Darius had never quite had to run around the palace as though he were playing a game of cat and mouse. At least, not until the young heirs to the Raxuvian throne had started to learn how to seemingly fly on their tiny little heels before they even learned how to walk.

"Your Highness!" Darius chided once he finally caught up with the young princess.

She cried out in surprise, squealing and giggling when Darius’s arm looped around her waist. If he hadn’t caught her, she would’ve fallen head-first into the pond.

"But Darius!" Princess Aurelia whined. "The butterfly!"

Darius stared at the butterfly toy that sat in the pond, innocently bobbing up and down in the water. He sighed, feeling insanely exhausted.

"The servants will fetch it for you, Your Highness," Darius said. "There is no need to endanger yourself like that."

As if to prove his point, several palace staff came forward. They used a long net, successfully fishing the butterfly toy out of the water without ever needing to dive inside. Within mere seconds, the toy was sitting in the palm of little Aurelia’s hands, with Darius carefully watching her.

Darius had worked all the way from the bottom of the food chain. He started out as an errand boy in the palace kitchens, and year by year moved higher and higher.

Ever since Prince Nathaniel and Princess Aurelia were born, he had been given the monumental task of ensuring their safety and daily upbringing while the King and Queen were busy with their tasks.

Today, the royal twins turned five years old. However, as boisterous and energetic Princess Aurelia was, Prince Nathaniel was quite the opposite.

They returned to the palace, and Aurelia headed straight for Nathaniel’s chambers the moment they were inside. She pushed the door open after knocking, not bothering to wait for anyone inside to allow her in, barreling past the entourage of physicians and nurses without caring for Darius’s chiding in the background.

Prince Nathaniel lay on the bed, a doctor standing by the bedside while Queen Soleia sat next to her son. King Rafael had a face that resembled a thunderstorm, his fingers resting against his lips and his eyebrows furrowed as he listened to what the physicians had to say.

"It’s unlikely His Highness will develop any strong magical ability," the physician said. "We can try other methods to improve his chances, but―"

"Mother, Father!" Aurelia called out, leaping straight into her father’s arms.

Rafael’s dark expression instantly dissipated once he heard his beloved daughter’s voice. He bent down, smoothly catching Aurelia and lifting her high into the air.

"And where did you run off to, little one?" Rafael asked, tapping the tip of her nose. Aurelia giggled joyfully.

"We’ll continue this another day," Soleia said to the physicians, nodding at them thankfully as they bowed and left.

Once the family was left alone, Rafael placed Aurelia down on the bed where Nathaniel was. The young boy slowly sat up.

Unlike his younger sister, who had slightly tanned skin and hair as black as coal, Nathaniel’s skin was pale, almost ghastly. His hair was a golden yellow that matched his mother’s, practically glittering whenever the light even grazed it.

They were twins who once shared their mother’s womb, but perhaps it was because they were not born the same way that they turned out so very different. One was like the night, while the other resembled the day. Their personalities were also a contrast.

"I found your toy, Brother," Aurelia said, holding out the butterfly toy. It sat in her palm, and when she moved, the wings of the butterfly slowly fluttered as well, as though it were truly alive.

"I thought it had fallen into the pond," Nathaniel weakly commented, though his smile was bright and filled with joy. He picked up the delicate piece, admiring the handiwork.

"Looks like it survived the water," Soleia said with a smile. "You have a gift."

She might’ve been the one to make the little trinket, but Soleia merely used the sketches and designs of her five-year-old son. He hadn’t inherited his father’s insane talent for magic like his sister did, but it seemed like he had gotten a good share of Soleia’s smarts.

Gently, she patted Nathaniel’s head, drawing his attention to her.

"Magic isn’t everything," she reminded. "Don’t think too much about it."

Heaven knew that the young boy had spent too many nights crying himself to sleep when he thought no one was looking, all because he couldn’t perform the feats of magic his sister could. What was as easy as breathing for Aurelia was a mere dream Nathaniel could only wish for.

"I know, Mother," Nathaniel said. But with the way his little head drooped, Soleia could tell that even though Nathaniel understood it, he wasn’t very accepting of it.

Soleia could only smile sadly. She gently combed back a strand of hair behind Nathaniel’s ear. His hair had grown very long, and Nathaniel was very fond of it. It was a great thing, considering the insane speed it grew at despite the routine haircuts and his otherwise sickly body.

"Your mother is right," Rafael said, patting Nathaniel’s shoulder gently. "You have other gifts. And for all you know, you could be a late bloomer. Magic takes time."

Hearing that, a little more light returned into Nathaniel’s eyes. Soleia and Rafael exchanged a look before Soleia kissed the top of her two children’s heads.

"The celebration is starting," Soleia said. "Let’s get you ready. The guests are starting to arrive."

Talk of a ball quickly had the two children smiling. Aurelia, especially, started to bounce up and down the bed. She held her beloved older brother’s hand, smiling as brightly as the summer sun.

"We’ll come get you when you’re changed," Rafael said.

With his hand gently holding his wife’s back, they exited the children’s chambers. Once outside, the smile on Soleia’s face quickly faded.

"What if he never develops an affinity for magic?" Soleia instantly asked once they were out of earshot. "What if he turns out like..."

The word ’me’ didn’t leave Soleia’s lips. But the desperate and pleading look in her eyes crushed Rafael. He leaned forward and gently pressed a kiss to her forehead.

"You developed magic later on― powerful magic, at that. That might be the case for our son as well."

"But―"

"No buts," Rafael said, effectively cutting Soleia off by kissing her lips. "We will worry about the future when the future gets here. Let’s not spoil the night for them."

Soleia pursed her lips, unconvinced. In the end, she still nodded.

"We can find a powerful marriage alliance for Nathaniel if you’re worried," Rafael continued.

"We need someone of good character," Soleia said, "not someone powerful."

"Why not both?" Rafael said, cheekily smiling.

Soleia rolled her eyes, and when she did, Rafael’s smile grew brighter. He kissed her on her temple, squeezing her shoulder.

"He’s too young to think of marriage," Soleia chided. "That is a matter for a decade later at least."

"You’re right, my wife," Rafael said. "Right now, there are other things to worry about."

As he said that, Rafael leaned down, his lips brushing against Soleia’s. Heat pooled in the lower region of his body, but right before he could steal her lips away, his wife pulled away, leaving him with nothing but thin air.

"Like preparing for the celebration ball?" Soleia teased. She smirked, a glitter in her eyes as she trailed away.

Rafael exhaled, his tongue darting out to lick his bottom lip as he watched the enticing sway of his wife’s hips. His gaze didn’t leave hers for even a second, and before his brain could run the outcomes, his feet had already brought him to Soleia.

He pinned her against the wall, his nose brushing against her nose, their lips dangerously close.

"We have time," he said. "What say we have a little fun of our own before we have to start entertaining others?"

Soleia laughed, reaching out to grab the lapels of Rafael’s shirt, pulling him down to seal their lips in a passionate kiss.