By sunrise, Josephine was distracted with a lot of royal duties. Novara was with Queen Kendra, her great-grandmother.
"Happy birthday, Jojo!" Theron said, hugging his little sister.
"Happy Birthday, Queen Josephine!" Everyone said as she clapped her hands happily.
Meanwhile, Alisa and Joan were cuddling. She kissed his forehead.
"You're beautiful… marry me," Joan said.
"I will," Alisa said with a little giggle as they made out.
By noon, Xavi made serious arrangements for her—everything she loves: people, food, color, and game painting too. He filled each and every one of her halls with them. He spent over 2 billion golden coins just for her. He got her a pretty dress, held her hands, and led her to the hall.
"All hail the Queen of Zephyria, Queen Josephine!" Assia said.
"HAILLLL!!" Everyone echoed.
Josephine wore a stunning black and gold breathtaking ball gown, adorned with intricate embroidery and cascading layers of tulle. The bodice sparkled with gold lace, with the golden crown of Zephyria resting on her head.
Everyone was stunned by her beauty.
"Wow," Beline said, holding Kael's hand.
"Yeah…" Kael whispered.
The kids hugged her. "Happy Birthday, Mama," they said.
Novara giggled, kicking her little legs up. Josephine kissed her cheeks.
"Happy birthday, darling," Xavi said.
Josephine smiled softly and kissed him. The party was going well.
Josephine walked outside, holding her gown as the sky opened. The family watched as four weapons floated down slowly.
Josephine flew up first.
Death Bloom — a red glowing sword.
Unstoppable Might — a dark yellow twin hammer.
Crystalline Flame Flower — a purple flower staff.
And lastly, The Allure Mask — a black cat mask with red, blue, and white stripes.
Everyone bowed down to her.
"Woahhh! That's sooo prettyyyy!" Orion said.
"Yeahhhh!" Ophelia said too, holding him.
Novara's eyes widened as she giggled.
Adris turned and saw a maid. She was older than him. As he walked to her while holding Novara, he spoke softly, "What's your name?"
She looked at him. She was a bit taller than him. "Carliet," she said.
"You work for my Mama?" Adris asked, looking into her blue eyes.
She nodded.
Adris looked around—nobody saw them.
"How old are you?" he asked quietly.
"I… I… I am 15," Carliet said.
"Oh… then you're older," he said, chuckling.
She blushed but smiled a little.
Xavi saw them—saw the way his son was smiling at the maid. He laughed a little.
Josephine walked to him.
"Looks like our boy found his future wife," Xavi said.
Josephine gasped in her mind. Awww this is sooooo cute!!! she giggled silently.
Carliet was a sea witch. She had ginger hair, blue eyes, and an hourglass body figure.
"I will wait for you," Adris said. "I will grow up well and ask for your hand."
She looked at him. "What if I get married and already with someone?"
"Unexpected. Dead," Adris said, his eyes glowing dark red.
She got scared a little and nodded.
"You are mine now. No one else. You belong to me," Adris said as he took her hand and placed a soft, gentle kiss on it. Then he walked away.
Carliet was too stunned and too scared to speak. She blushed a little.
By sunrise, Josephine was in Xavi's castle. Novara was asleep with the kids. Xavi held Josephine's hand, looking out the window.
They finally arrived home.
Xavi carried the twins upstairs to sleep, and Josephine was playing with Novara as her baby girl's giggles filled the hall.
One month later
Xavi sat on the floor holding Novara, who was now two months old, while Josephine was fixing his hair.
Xavi cut his long hair—he had short hair now.
Josephine smiled at him and kissed his forehead.
Xavi found peace with her—his wife, his peace.
Cauis knocked on Xavi's door.
"Your Majesty, there is work to be finished," he said.
Xavi groaned and kicked his legs in the air like a child who doesn't want to go to school.
Josephine silently laughed at him.
Xavi got up and went downstairs. The kids were in school. Xoni came down too with the same annoyed look as her twin brother.
"You too?" she asked.
"Yes!" Xavi said, hugging her. "They don't want us to spend time with our wives!"
The twins laughed as Queen Oliyda chuckled at them.
The work began.
They solved cases, accepted and declined proposals, and destroyed unwanted and illegal empires in the kingdom. Then they went hunting.
Xoni's vampire side started showing more—she was half wolf, half vampire like her brother.
They bought gifts for their family and headed back home.
Josephine was walking in the garden when she felt someone watching her. She turned—nobody at first.
Then it happened.
Yora saw about 40 men in the garden hiding and moving. She quickly told Reva, who was with Agana. They spread the message in the castle.
Reva used a shield spell around the castle.
The goons ran toward Josephine, who froze.
"Jojo, run inside!!" Anesthesia yelled as she blasted them with a spell bomb.
The kids returned. Adris hid all the babies and kids inside and placed a protective spell over them.
A man wearing a blue royal attire smiled at Josephine.
"Jojo baby… I am back to take you, my love," the man said.
Josephine's heart dropped.
It wasn't the king of her village—this was someone else. Someone who had been even more obsessed with her.
Xavi arrived home and saw the man.
He pulled Josephine close.
"Come on, baby. It's me," the man said. "Remember? You ran away from me again and again. And now you're fucking married. You hurt me. You know you will always be mine, sweetie."
"Hey, bastard—she's mine only," Xavi said.
The man laughed.
"Jojo baby, remember all the men who came for you? They never came back. I killed them for you, my love. And now I will kill him and have you all to myself again. We used to be best friends, but you didn't look at me. And you married him—this bloody asshole! And you even FUCKING GAVE BIRTH FOR HIM!!!"
Josephine covered her ears and hugged Xavi tightly.
Xavi felt her trembling—she was terrified. She knew him.
How did he find me… he will kill my X… no, Josephine thought.
Xavi heard her.
"Who are you?" Xavi said, his voice cold and kingly.
The man smirked.
"I am the King of the Wraithbound Kingdom. King Aroven."
"Jojo baby—"
"Don't you dare call her baby. She's my baby," Xavi growled.
"HEY BASTARD!" Adris shouted, floating slightly off the ground. "If you dare touch my Mama, I will kill you."
"Awww, isn't this cute," Aroven laughed evilly.
Adris laughed too—dark and cold.
Around him, 800 dark spell orbs appeared, floating violently.
He fired them.
Aroven's men were wiped out instantly.
Aroven's eyes widened. "What the fuck?!"
Adris sped to his face and punched him hard in the nose. Blood spilled.
"I will be back for her," Aroven hissed, vanishing before Adris could strike again.
"It's okay… stop trembling," Xavi whispered as Josephine held onto him.
What did those monsters do to you in your childhood, my darling…? Xavi thought as he hugged her tightly.