By sunrise, Josephine held her bump, breathing carefully as Adris supported her.
"Here you go, Mama… easy now," he said gently. She gripped his hands tightly, trying to steady herself.
Xavi was very, very busy with his duties as King. Caius intentionally kept both Xavi and Xoni distracted — exactly as Josephine had ordered. Lexa watched Josephine from a distance, eyes cold.
"I will have to kill her baby… and her too," Lexa whispered.
Adris heard her clearly — he had inherited Xavi's super-hearing — but he kept quiet. Instead, he chuckled lightly and continued helping his mother arrange gifts and decorations. Anesthesia worked quickly beside her sister.
Xavi and Xoni, now 39 years old, finished hanging the last ribbons.
"All done!" both twins said, giving each other a high five.
Caius chuckled and handed them the new clothes Josephine and Anesthesia bought for them. Everyone made their way to the hall.
Josephine held her bump again, breathing heavily. Xavi saw her instantly.
"Are you okay, my love?" he asked, holding her carefully.
She nodded. He touched her neck.
"Your temperature is high…" he murmured.
Josephine only smiled and held both Xoni and Xavi's hands together.
The lights turned on.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"
The whole family and everyone else shouted.
Josephine clapped happily. Xavi's heart melted at the sight of his glowing wife. She held her bump with one hand and his hand with the other as they walked together to the cake. Anesthesia joined them, and they both cut the cake and fed their wives.
Reina suddenly bit Xoni's finger.
"Ouch, baby! That hurts," she said.
Renia giggled loudly, making her mother laugh too.
They danced.
Xavi lifted Josephine in his arms, spinning her around; Josephine smiled brightly at him. Xoni lifted Anesthesia as well, spinning her — she giggled and wrapped her arms around her wife.
Lexa watched them. Watched the love. Watched Josephine.
Her hand curled into a tight, shaking fist.
"Xavi is mine… only mine," she hissed.
Adris and Xavi both heard her — but neither said a word.
THE NEXT MORNING
Josephine made breakfast, though her bump had grown bigger and she kept pausing to breathe. She tried to ignore the pain.
Xavi finally woke up.
She placed the last of the breakfast on the table just as Lexa quietly poured oil on the stairs.
Beline saw her.
Beline said nothing.
Josephine sat down, still breathing heavily.
Xavi walked down the stairs — then slowed.
The staircase was shining.
He frowned, thinking they had been cleaned extremely well.
He rushed to Josephine and knelt beside her.
"What's wrong, love? You've been like this since yesterday…"
She only smiled faintly.
Sienna brought pregnancy herbs. Josephine drank them and lay back as Xavi held her hand, one arm around her shoulders, kissing her forehead softly.
"I think she's having pregnancy issues… it's the baby," Sienna said.
Xavi looked at Josephine carefully, worry all over his face.
Queen Oliyda sat beside Josephine.
"It's fine, dear… she will be fine," she assured her.
Suddenly—
"OUCH!"
Adris fell hard down the stairs.
"Who the fuck spilled oil here!?" he shouted.
He landed on his back. Kael quickly helped him up.
"Oil?" Xavi repeated.
That's why the stairs were shining… he whispered to himself.
"Who did this?" Anesthesia demanded.
Beline looked at Kael, gave him a sharp signal toward Lexa.
Kael nodded and gave Xavi the same expression.
Xavi and Xoni exchanged a knowing look.
They understood.
Josephine sat at the dining table, trying to eat. Her hands trembled.
Xavi took the plate and fed her gently.
Josephine smiled softly. She was deep in her motherhood era — tender, vulnerable, and glowing.
Lexa hated it.
And she was already planning something worse.
SIX DAYS LATER
Adris kept saving his mother repeatedly — Lexa continued setting traps for Josephine, each one more dangerous than the last.
They were all on their way to Zephyria.
Josephine and Xavi held hands in the carriage. His fingers gently rubbed her bump.
"Wanna name the baby?" Josephine signed.
"Yes," he whispered. "I have a beautiful name for our little girl."
She kissed him slowly. He smiled into the kiss.
They arrived.
"Wow!" Fenric said, taking in the grand entrance of Zephyria.
Lexa rolled her eyes.
"So, who is the ruler?" Kaelene asked.
Assia stepped forward proudly.
"ALL HAIL QUEEN JOSEPHINE!"
Everyone in the courtyard bowed.
"HAIL!!"
Lexa stared, burning with jealousy.
"She owns two kingdoms now…" she muttered.
Josephine sat on her throne; her eyes glowed black with power.
Xavi and everyone bowed deeply.
Lexa froze.
Josephine immediately began writing orders, solving cases with Assia and Lyra at her side.
Rhykar pulled Lexa aside.
"Listen," he snapped quietly. "I can't lose you. I've loved you for years. But you want Xavi? He is married, and he has kids. His wife is powerful. I know you spilled that oil, Lexa. Don't ever do that shit again. They will kill you. For me… change this disgusting behavior before you end up dead and rotting in hell."
He walked off, leaving her speechless.
Xavi, who heard everything, stayed beside Josephine as guests were announced.
"The Duke of the Darkroot Court, Duke Ronin," the guards announced.
Ronin bowed.
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
Josephine nodded.
He handed her a scroll from his king. She read it, nodded, then handed it to Xavi.
"Tomorrow will be fine," Xavi said after reading it.
Duke Ronin bowed and left.
Xavi patted Josephine's back gently and rubbed her bump.
The baby girl kicked — twice.
Xavi laughed and kissed her bump.
Xoni took a picture.