"Queen Mother, there you are!"
A silver-haired boy, around ten years old, entered the guest room with a worried expression when he spotted the queen.
"Luwis! That's rude, where are your manners?" Evelyn said sternly, a disapproving look gracing her face at her son's behavior.
"Ah! I'm sorry… I was just worried," Luwis said, looking down at his toes in embarrassment.
Evelyn gazed at her eldest son. As he grew older, he looked more and more like his father.
Seeing his embarrassed expression, her heart softened, and guilt crept into her chest.
"You shouldn't be apologizing to me, Luwis," Evelyn said gently, her voice soft as she addressed the future king.
"I'm sorry for my rude behavior, Mrs. Amethyst," Luwis said, bowing his head respectfully toward Leiya.
"It's okay. Why don't you have a seat?" Leiya offered kindly, gesturing for him to sit.
"Mother, why didn't you inform us you were going out? We were worried!" Luwis said as he took his seat, concern still visible on his face.
Leiya watched the mother and son interact, a thoughtful expression settling on her face.
What kind of future will my children have? she wondered.
Will they become mages like me? Fighters like their father? Or perhaps they'll take a completely different path? Deep in thought, she found herself zoning out of the royal family's conversation entirely.
---
Meanwhile, back in the nursery, the two babies in the crib were wide awake, engaged in an intense staring contest.
Even as a baby, he's still perfect! Stella thought in frustration as she glared at the baby boy beside her.
What an uncute baby, Ethan thought coldly, glaring back at her.
Suddenly, Stella's tiny hand waved and accidentally slapped Ethan in the face.
A tick mark seemed to form on Ethan's forehead as he irritably pushed her hand away from his face.
This is why I hate babies... and this one's even more annoying! he thought with an inward grimace, realizing with distaste that this baby girl was his sister.
Wah! That attitude… he's definitely my brother, Stella thought, weirdly relieved, despite the tension. She was starting to accept the strange truth she really had entered a parallel world.
---
"Come visit us sometime, okay?" Leiya said warmly to the queen and the eldest prince as they boarded the carriage.
"Of course we will. Take care!" Evelyn replied, smiling as the carriage began to move.
Leiya waved at them and stood outside a moment longer, contemplating Evelyn's earlier proposal about the engagement.
"I should discuss this with Ryan after he arrives," she mumbled before heading back inside the house.
---
"Engagement?" questioned Ryan, the duke, as he sat on the bed, clearly surprised.
"Yes, with the second prince. I think there's no harm in it, so I accepted," Leiya said as she walked over and sat beside her husband.
"As long as you believe it's right for the kids. After all, you're their mother," Ryan replied gently, his golden eyes usually sharp and cold now soft and warm.
"If things go wrong, you have me to fix it. So just do what you think is best for them."
Leiya stared into her husband's warm gaze, feeling grateful and lucky to have married someone who supported her so deeply.