Eight long months had passed since Josephine became the reigning Queen of Zephyria.
The once-broken kingdom now pulsed with new life — streets lined with gardens, homes rebuilt with marble and stone, and the scent of lilac in the air. People came from distant lands, seeking shelter, food, and peace beneath her rule. She gave them all — homes for the lost, gold for the poor, food for the hungry, and justice for the forgotten.
Though her voice remained silent, her actions spoke for her.
Every heart in Zephyria beat with her name. The Silent Queen, they called her — their savior, their light, their symbol of hope.
And yet, inside the great castle, there was one corner of her heart that no power, crown, or kingdom could ever fill — the space that belonged to her husband and her son.
Every weekend, without fail, Adris would come to visit.
The moment he entered her grand throne room, his small feet running over the polished floor, Josephine's heart softened. He would climb onto her lap as she sat on her golden throne, wrapping his arms around her. She would smile — radiant, wordless — and hold him as if time itself had stopped.
The court adored their bond. Even the guards turned away when the Queen lifted her child and pressed him against her heart. It reminded them that even in power, she was still human — still a mother who missed her family.
Zephyria's castle had grown magnificent and secure. Maids moved through the hallways in waves of silk. The strongest warriors guarded her gates, and banners of her royal sigil — a white crown wrapped in flame — fluttered across the towers.
Josephine had made Assia the Duchess of Zephyria, despite her protests.
"My Queen, please," Assia had said, bowing deeply. "I'm not worthy of this title."
Josephine only smiled and wrote on a scroll, You will always be loyal and faithful — not just to your Queen, but to your friend.
Assia's eyes filled with tears as she bowed again. "Then I shall serve you until my last breath."
Kara and Oliver often came to visit too. They'd arrive in their carriages, bringing laughter, wine, and warmth into the cold marble halls. Kara often teased Josephine for working too hard — she was always buried in scrolls, solving disputes, hearing cases, signing decrees, guiding the royal council.
One afternoon, as the sky burned with gold, Kara found Josephine in her study. Papers were stacked high, her feather quill gliding swiftly across parchment. Josephine finished a sentence and turned to Kara with a slip of paper. On it, she had written:
I want to go back to Xavi.
Kara blinked, smiling. "Sure you can go. You've got speed — so go to your husband. He's missed you like crazy."
Josephine's eyes shimmered. She smiled — a rare, joyous smile — and immediately rose from her chair. She hurried into her chamber, calling her maids and guards with quick gestures. They followed her as she packed her clothes, folded her gowns, and placed Adris's small trinkets into her trunk. Her carriage — white and silver — was prepared within the hour.
As the sun dipped low, Josephine, dressed in her royal crimson cloak, stepped into her own carriage. The Zephyrian banners waved in farewell as the horses took off, carrying their Queen back toward the man she loved.
Meanwhile, in Xavi's kingdom…
The castle had changed.
Lady Runa had been lingering far too often, her beauty laced with poison. She'd been trying to get close to King Xavi — but he was a fortress of silence and rage.
Around his neck hung the gold necklace Josephine had made — the one forged by the royal jeweler and paid for in golden coins. He never took it off. Not once.
Adris had grown too — now almost three years old. His room was filled with paintings and drawings of his mother: four portraits of Josephine — his angel, his Queen. Above his little bed hung the family portrait — Xavi, Josephine, and Adris, smiling together.
Adris wore a small necklace like his father's. His hair, a deep dark red, shimmered under sunlight, matching the color of Xavi's — though Xavi's was now streaked black and crimson. He had changed. The gentle warmth once in his eyes was now shadowed by the cold ruthlessness of a king at war with himself.
Eight months without her.
Eight months without seeing her face, hearing her silence, or touching her hand.
There wasn't a second, a minute, an hour, or a single day that passed without his thoughts drifting to her. When he stood on his balcony at night, his eyes would always wander toward the horizon, where Zephyria's distant glow shimmered. He could see her — not with sight, but with his soul.
Sometimes he saw her writing by candlelight, sometimes working late into the night.
But the visions that broke him most were of her crying in the bath, whispering his name in her mind. He felt her pain, just as she felt his.
Runa would often stand nearby, pretending to offer comfort, but Xavi would step two paces away every time. She had fallen for him, knowing full well he belonged to another woman — a Queen far beyond her reach.
Then came the night of the Royal Ball.
Queen Kendra had arranged it — a celebration that gathered Kings, Queens, Dukes, Duchesses, princes, and princesses from across the realms. The castle glittered with light, music echoing through its halls.
But inside, all was not well.
Adris had fallen ill. His small body burned with fever, his cheeks red. Xavi held him close, pacing the room as Sienna — now married to Xantha — prepared medicine.
"Drink, sweetheart," Sienna said kindly.
Adris sipped it, grimaced, and scrunched his nose. "Yucky!" he said, sticking out his little tongue.
Xavi couldn't help but chuckle, brushing his hair.
He wore a dark coat over his black royal suit, his hair longer now, tied neatly into a bun. He carried the half-asleep Adris in his arms and stepped into the ballroom, where chandeliers glimmered like stars above.
At the same time, miles away, Josephine had received the royal invitation.
She stopped by a lake on her way — the water glowing silver under moonlight. Her maids formed a circle around her as she undressed and stepped into the shimmering water. Her hair — now pure white — cascaded down her back.
Lyra, now the Grand Healer, dried her hair gently after.
Josephine dressed in a fiery red gown — thin straps curling around her neck and shoulders, the fabric hugging her perfectly. She wore heels for the first time — and to everyone's relief, they didn't catch fire. At least, not yet.
When she entered the ballroom, Xavi was sitting at the royal table, staring blankly ahead while nobles congratulated him for his wife — Queen Josephine of Zephyria. He only nodded in silence.
The music changed.
The dance began.
Adris, half-asleep in Xavi's arms, stirred suddenly. His little eyes fluttered open.
Something was different — a warmth in the air. A familiar energy. He rubbed his eyes and whispered weakly, "Mama…"
Runa stepped forward with a smile. "Can we dance?" she asked.
Queen Kendra looked sharply at her son.
"No," Xavi said flatly.
"Oh come on," Runa purred. "Just one dance won't hurt." She placed a hand on his arm.
And then—
"Get your hands off my coat, bitch."
The voice — though silent — roared through the air like thunder.
Everyone turned. Xoni gasped. Anesthesia clutched her arm in shock.
Walking through the golden doors was Josephine.
Her white hair gleamed under the chandeliers, her red dress shimmering like fire. The thin straps hugged her shoulders; her skin glowed with the light sheen of oil that made her look like carved ivory. Her heels clicked softly with every step.
Xavi froze. His breath caught.
His heart — which had been locked in a cage for eight months — began to beat again.
"Josephine…" he whispered.
Adris's little head lifted from Xavi's shoulder, his eyes lighting up.
"Mama!" he cried, coughing as he tried to fly toward her.
Xavi turned, holding him carefully, but she was already there — his wife, his Queen.
"Who are you?" Runa snapped.
Xoni smiled coldly. "His wife. And Adris's mother."
"ALL HAIL QUEEN JOSEPHINE XAVI ROMAN!" Caius shouted loudly.
The entire hall erupted — Kings, Queens, nobles — all bowing deeply.
"HAIL!" they echoed.
Even Xavi bowed to her.
Runa's mouth fell open. "Are you seriously bowing to her?"
He ignored her completely, his eyes never leaving Josephine's body — her presence, her power, her beauty.
When Josephine touched Adris, his fevered skin was still warm. She pressed her cool fingers to his cheeks, her eyes full of concern.
"He has a slight fever," Sienna said softly.
Josephine nodded and kissed his forehead.
"Xavi? Xavi?" Xoni teased.
"Huh—yeah, what?" he said, blinking.
"Are you okay?" she asked with a mischievous grin.
"Get lost," he muttered, shoving her face away.
Josephine kissed Adris again, and he finally fell asleep. Xoni gently took him, carrying him away to rest.
Runa stood fuming in the corner, her jealousy burning.
Xavi turned to Josephine. "May I have this dance?"
Josephine smiled — a soft, knowing smile — and took his hand.
As the music swelled, they stepped onto the floor.
He wrapped an arm around her waist, holding her close, possessive. His eyes warned every man in the room: She is mine.
"I missed you," he whispered, voice thick. "These months… they've been hell."
She smiled faintly, her lips forming silent words: I missed you too, X.
He heard it in his mind. He always did.
They danced slowly, bodies moving as one, souls meeting again.
The world disappeared — only them, only love.
When the party ended, Xavi didn't wait. He carried her in his arms through the corridors, her legs wrapped around his waist, her breath hot against his neck. The doors slammed behind them. His mouth crashed against hers — hungry, desperate, alive.
They fell into bed, the night wrapping around them.
Nothing existed but them.
By morning, Josephine woke first. She cooked breakfast — her hands graceful, movements quiet. The aroma of fried rice and spice filled the air.
Anesthesia hugged her tightly. "Tomorrow's Therodora's wedding!"
Josephine smiled and nodded, helping her pack ribbons and gifts.
Xavi was still asleep when Josephine entered their room with his food. She brushed his hair gently, and even half-asleep, he smiled.
"Wake up," she thought softly, and his eyes opened.
She placed the tray before him — a bowl of dirty rice mixed with cubed meat and a cup of blood. He pulled her onto his lap, grinning lazily.
She fed him, one spoon at a time, and he took the bowl from her, finishing everything.
"Damn, I missed this," he said, drinking the blood and kissing her cheek.
She smiled, rising to check on Adris, who was floating by the window, rubbing his sleepy eyes. She held him, checked his temperature — it had gone down. She bathed him, dressed him in his soft jumpsuit, and kissed his tiny hand.
Just then, a Zephyrian vampire guard appeared, kneeling.
"Your Majesty, the kingdom of Zephyria is safe. The warriors are stronger than ever."
Josephine nodded and handed him a written instruction.
"It shall be done," he said, vanishing in a blur of speed.
Xavi watched her proudly from the balcony. My Queen, he thought.
Later that afternoon, Duchess Aurelia and Lady Runa remained in the castle for a short holiday. Aurelia spent time with Queen Kendra, while Runa stayed silent, her jealousy consuming her.
But Xavi, Josephine, and Adris had peace.
They sat together in the royal garden, beneath white blossoms. The sunlight sparkled through the trees. Xavi fed Josephine a piece of pie, and she ate from his hand, smiling softly. Adris laughed loudly, his giggles echoing across the garden as he ran between them.
Josephine chased him, her gown fluttering like fire, laughter — silent but radiant — filling the air.
Adris ran back to Xavi, leaping into his father's arms. Xavi lifted him high, spinning him in circles. Josephine lay on the grass beside them, her head on Xavi's shoulder.
For the first time in months, they were whole again — a family, reunited.
By noon, their carriage awaited. Together, hand in hand, they left for King Hendrick's castle — for Therodora's wedding.
Peace, at last, had returned.