A Moment of Understanding

Meanwhile, earlier in the big, beautiful mansion, Lady Lirien glided effortlessly through the fancy corridors, her silky dress making a soft rustling sound with each step. She made her way to the cozy common room, hoping to find the girls engaged in their assigned tasks.

However, the room was empty, with only the fireplace crackling and a faint smell of old books in the air. Lady Lirien's eyes narrowed slightly, her mind wondering if they were up to their usual mischief.

"Those little scallywags are at it again!" she thought to herself.

Undeterred, she continued her search, her high heels clicking on the shiny marble floors as she made her way to each of their bedrooms. She found them empty, the beds neatly made and the windows open to let in fresh air.

A hint of curiosity crept into her expression as she proceeded to the charming tea room, with its delicate cups and steaming teapots. Still, there was no sign of the girls.

With a hint of amusement, Lady Lirien thought, "Those girls are being naughty again!" She decided to retire to Lord Arin's study, a quiet room with old books and a comfortable chair.

Finding her husband deeply engrossed in his book, sitting comfortably in his favorite armchair, Lady Lirien disrupted the peaceful atmosphere of the room, exclaiming,

"I can't find them anywhere again!" She flopped down on the plush sofa in the center of the room, crossing her arms and letting out a frustrated sigh.

Lord Arin looked up from his book, his eyes locking onto hers, and paused his reading.

"Well, you have been quite strict with them lately, milady," he said, his tone gentle and understanding, before returning his attention to his book.

"How so?" Lady Lirien asked, her face scrunched up in confusion, her eyebrows furrowed in disbelief.

Lord Arin set his book aside, closing it with a soft thud, and gave his wife his full attention.

"You've been pushing them relentlessly, my dear," he explained, his tone gentle but firm.

"The only respite they get is when they're sleeping or eating, and even then, you're drilling etiquette lessons into them. I'm not surprised they're hiding from you," he said, shaking his head sympathetically.

"They're just children, Lirien. They need time to play, to laugh, to be free from the burdens of duty and responsibility."

He shrugged his shoulders, his expression understanding. "I don't blame them for seeking refuge from your strictness. They need a chance to be kids, to make mistakes, to learn from them."

"First of all, they're 12 years old, they're old enough to handle these drilling lessons," Lady Lirien said, relaxing into the plush sofa, her expression unwavering.

Lord Arin raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Even the cooking lessons and horseback riding? They're not exactly typical pursuits for young ladies, my dear."

Lady Lirien nodded, her hands smoothing out her skirt. "Yes, we need to prepare them for the future, the earlier the better. We never know what might happen, Lord Arin. They need to be equipped with the skills to navigate the world, no matter what comes their way."

Lord Arin smiled at his wife's statement, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I agree with you, the earlier the better. They do need to learn to be independent, but I still think they deserve a break, Darling. They're children, after all."

Lady Lirien's cheeks flushed a delicate pink, as it was a rare occasion for her husband to address her with such affection.

"Fine, if they excel in this evening's etiquette lesson and piano practice, I will consider granting them a day's reprieve," she said, her voice softening slightly.

Lord Arin's face lit up with a warm smile, his eyes shining with appreciation. "That's incredibly generous of you, my dear wife," he said, his voice dripping with sincerity.

"I'm sure they will perform exceptionally well and be forever grateful for the break. You have a kind heart, Lirien, even if you do try to hide it behind a stern exterior," he teased, his eyes twinkling with mirth.

As he spoke, he relaxed back into the rocking chair, his movements graceful and fluid, his expression radiating contentment.

The gentle motion of the chair seemed to match the soothing tone of his voice, creating a sense of peacefulness in the room.

He gazed at his wife, and suddenly, a look of recollection crossed his face, as if a memory had surfaced out of the blue.

"Wait, are you this tense and being harsh on our children because of the upcoming birthday party and the inauguration of the crown prince?" he asked, his tone hinting at a mix of curiosity and amusement.

Lady Lirien's eyes darted away, and she shifted uncomfortably in her seat, as if caught off guard.

"Well, it is a great opportunity for the children and our family," she said, her voice laced with a hint of defensiveness.

Lord Arin's deep laughter filled the room, his eyes sparkling with mirth. "They're just kids, Lirien! Let them enjoy their childhood, instead of burdening them with the weight of royal expectations."

Lady Lirien pouted, her lips pursed in a playful scowl, her eyes fixed on her husband, who seemed to find the situation utterly amusing.

"I know, I know," she said, her voice laced with a hint of exasperation, her expression a mix of annoyance and fondness.

"Hopefully, it's not what I'm thinking, milady," Lord Arin said, his eyes still sparkling with amusement.

Lady Lirien raised an eyebrow, her expression deadpan. "I don't know what you're thinking," she said, her voice laced with a hint of sarcasm.

Lord Arin's chuckles continued, his shoulders shaking slightly. "Are you planning to hook one of them up with Prince Ryleigh?"

"It's making sense now, you've been giving them an awful lot of etiquette lessons, posture lessons, dance lessons...and so on." Lord Arin's grin grew wider, his eyes twinkling with mirth.

"Well, it doesn't have to be Prince Ryleigh, although that would be a great choice," Lady Lirien added, her hand rising to her chin, her eyes thoughtful. "It would be a fantastic opportunity for our family to be connected to the royal family, after all."

"I don't mind the dukes' family or the powerful two families of the kingdom, you know, as long as we can be connected to-" Lady Lirien was saying, her words flowing rapidly.

But Lord Arin interrupted her, his deep laughter cutting her off.

"And why do you find this funny, Husband?" Lady Lirien asked, feigning an annoyed look, her hands placed on her hips.

Lord Arin's laughter ceased, and he called out, "Lirien!!" in a gentle, yet firm tone.

"What?" She asked, staring straight at him, her eyes narrowing slightly.

"They're just kids!!" Lord Arin said, his voice low and earnest, almost as if he was whispering a secret.

"I know, I am just trying to lay a good foundation for them, like I said earlier. We don't know what might happen in the near future," Lady Lirien replied, her gaze drifting down to her lap before raising her head to meet her husband's intense stare.

Lord Arin's eyes were fixed on hers, his expression a mix of understanding and concern.

The atmosphere in the room shifted, the tension palpable, as the couple's eyes locked in a silent understanding.

The silence in the room was palpable, the only sound being the soft ticking of the clock in the corner.

The couple's gaze remained locked, their eyes fixed on each other with an unspoken understanding.

Without breaking the stare, Lord Arin spoke up, his voice low and husky. "Do you know how comical our kids look during drills, especially the posture and dance lessons?" He paused, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.

For a few seconds, the silence continued, before both of them suddenly burst into uncontrollable laughter.

The tension in the room dissipated, replaced by the joy and amusement of shared memories.

"Especially Kate, and Ama during the dress rehearsal!" Lord Arin added, his laughter deepening, his eyes sparkling with mirth.

Lady Lirien's laughter was music to his ears, her eyes shining with tears of joy. "Fine, I admit it," she said, calming herself, her voice still laced with a hint of laughter. "I was being harsh on them, and you are right. They are just kids."

The laughter slowly subsided, leaving behind a warm and cozy atmosphere in the room.

The couple's gazes still locked, their eyes now shining with a deep understanding and love for each other.

"All I want is for you to relax and relieve your tension," Lord Arin said, his voice soft and soothing.

"The commemoration is a month away, and I'm sure that if you take it slower, the girls will be fine." He joined his wife on the sofa, cuddling her close and caressing her stomach in gentle circles.

Lady Lirien let out a contented sigh, her body relaxing into his embrace. "I hear you, my lord. I promise I won't be harsh on them anymore," she said, her voice laced with a hint of sleepiness.

As if on cue, she yawned, her eyes drooping shut. "You see, you need to relax and take it easy, my wife," Lord Arin whispered, his lips brushing against her hair. "Look, you're tired already."

Lady Lirien nodded, her head snuggling deeper into his chest. "I get tired easily these days, milord," she admitted, yawning again.

"I think I need to take a nap," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

With a gentle smile, Lord Arin wrapped his arms around her, holding her close as she relaxed into his embrace.

"I think it's going to be a boy," Lady Lirien said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"That's why I get this weak, it wasn't like this during Katherine's time." She added, smiling sweetly at her husband.

Lord Arin's response was immediate. "No, it should be a girl," he said, his eyes sparkling with playfulness.

Lady Lirien looked at him in disbelief. "You have two girls already, isn't that enough?" She asked, her tone laced with amusement.

Lord Arin's expression turned sincere. "No, it's not enough. I love my girls equally, and I am grateful to have them." He paused, his eyes locking onto hers.

"But I want a boy, I need a male companion." Lady Lirien's hands caressed her husband's hand on her tummy, her touch gentle.

"You are too focused on the girls, more than me, you know," she said, her voice soft and teasing.

Lord Arin's grin returned, his eyes shining with playfulness. "I apologize for that, I will try my best to give you more attention, milady. But it should be a girl," he said, his voice laced with humor.

"No, that means I will be competing with four people for your attention, hnnn..." Lady Lirien said, her voice trailing off as she turned away from Lord Arin.

Lord Arin's grin was heartful, his eyes shining with warmth. He knew exactly what she was referring to - his late wife, Elisandra.

He was happy and content, knowing that Lady Lirien had kept her promise and cared for Amaliah like her own daughter, never trying to replace his late wife.

He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. "You will always have my attention, my love," he whispered. "You and our children are my world now."

Lady Lirien's tension eased, her body relaxing into his embrace.

"Whatever you want, then, my wife," Lord Arin said, his voice low and gentle, as he pulled Lady Lirien closer to him, cuddling her into his embrace.

Lady Lirien turned her face to face her husband, a radiant smile spreading across her face.

"A son?" She paused, waiting for his acknowledgment, and he nodded, his eyes shining with warmth.

Lady Lirien let out a delighted squeal and hugged him tightly, her arms wrapping around his waist. "Thank you, that's why I love you," she whispered, her voice muffled against his chest.

Lord Arin didn't reply, instead, he brought her closer, his arms enveloping her in a gentle hold. He patted her head, his touch soft and soothing, his face alight with a soft grin.

Lady Lirien was satisfied with this response, knowing that he was slowly opening his heart to her.

As they held each other, their bodies relaxed, their breathing slowed, and their hearts filled with love and contentment.

After a while, they both fell asleep on the sofa, wrapped in each other's arms, their love and happiness enveloping them like a warm embrace.