Malvoria strolled through the palace halls with an unusual lightness in her step. The bowl of strawberries, perfectly chilled, delicately sliced—rested in her hands like a sacred offering. And perhaps it was.
Ever since Elysia’s pregnancy cravings had taken hold, strawberries had beco the currency of her affections.
Malvoria didn’t mind. If bringing a gold-rimd bowl of fruit made her wife smile like the sun had risen just for her, then she would carry strawberries across continents.
She approached their chamber door, pushing it open with a little smirk already tugging at her lips.
"Darling, I brought—"
Her sentence hit an invisible wall of chaos.
Inside, Elysia was lounging on their fainting couch, cheeks slightly flushed, her silver hair braided in a lazy twist. She was radiant, as always. But what caught Malvoria’s attention wasn’t just her wife’s beauty.
It was Lara.
Perched sideways in an armchair like a feral cat in silk armor, her older sister was watching Elysia like she was unraveling a particularly complicated spell or reading a rare forbidden book.
Lara’s eyes snapped toward Malvoria as she stepped in. "How in the dark pits of the Nether did you end up with soone like her?"
Malvoria blinked. "Excuse ?"
Elysia, entirely unfazed, extended both hands toward the strawberries like a royal blessing had descended. "Mine now."
Malvoria obediently handed over the bowl, still slightly dazed. "What is she doing here?"
"Learning," Lara declared with entirely too much enthusiasm. "Trying to understand how my little sister managed to seduce and marry soone who glows like a goddess and eats fruit like an empress."
Elysia chuckled softly, already popping a slice of strawberry into her mouth. "She seduced with threats, paperwork, and sharp cheekbones."
Lara placed a hand over her heart. "Romance isn’t dead, after all."
Malvoria sighed, crossing the room. "You’ve been here for five minutes and you’ve already raised my blood pressure."
Lara was grinning now. "You should’ve seen how she glowed when she talked about you earlier. Like the moon in love with the tide."
"I didn’t glow," Elysia mumbled through a mouthful of strawberry.
"Yes you did," both sisters said in unison.
Malvoria flopped onto the edge of the bed with an exaggerated groan. "Is there a reason you’re interrogating my wife like she’s on trial for marrying above her station?"
"Oh, no reason," Lara said, stretching like a smug cat. "Just wondering what it’s like to be married, glowing, and expecting a child. You know."
Elysia shot a side glance at Malvoria, chewing slowly. "She’s asked how many months along I am, what the baby kicks feel like, if I’ve had mood swings, and whether I’ve nad the fetus yet."
Malvoria rubbed her temples. "Lara—"
"Also," Elysia added helpfully, "she asked if I’m planning on enchanting the baby’s pacifiers."
Lara raised her hands innocently. "Valid question!"
"I swear," Malvoria muttered, "if you put as much effort into your love life as you do into being a pest, you might not be the kingdom’s most eligible disaster."
"I am selectively unattached," Lara corrected. "And I only have one-night stands with powerful, gorgeous won who won’t expect to stay for breakfast."
Elysia tried not to laugh but failed.
Malvoria turned to her sister with narrowed eyes. "One of these days, you’re going to end getting a woman pregnant and when that day cos, I am going to laugh first, and then remind you of taht very mont where I told you."
Lara cackled. "You sound jealous."
"Of what? Your lack of commitnt or your trail of broken hearts?"
"Of my freedom. Admit it. You’re tethered now. You’ve got a beautiful wife and a demon fetus cooking in her stomach. Your days of quiet are over."
"I’ve never known quiet since I was born because of you."
Elysia watched them with fascination, picking another strawberry. "Is this how you two always talk?"
Lara and Malvoria exchanged a glance.
"Yes," they said together.
"Frightening," Elysia murmured, but smiled anyway.
Lara leaned forward suddenly, eyes twinkling. "Have you considered nas?"
Malvoria threw a pillow at her.
"Seriously! I have a list—"
"Burn it," Malvoria deadpanned.
Lara pulled a crumpled scroll from her coat pocket. "Too late. Top of the list: Flawings."
Elysia choked on a strawberry. "No."
"Shadowblossom?"
"Lara."
"Fine. What about Glimrdoom?"
Malvoria stood.
Lara raised a brow. "Touchy."
"You," Malvoria said, pointing toward the door, "are a nace. A chaos spirit in mortal form. You’ve interrogated my wife, mocked my parenting plans, and tried to na my unborn child after a poorly translated romance novel character. Get. Out."
"Make ."
Elysia raised a hand weakly. "Can I vote?"
"No," both sisters snapped.
Lara slouched off the chair and threw her arm dramatically around Elysia. "One day, your child will co to for bedti stories and rebellion advice."
"I’ll enchant your boots to trip every third step," Malvoria warned.
"Love you too, little sis," Lara winked, and then finally headed for the door.
"By the way," she called over her shoulder, "you’re glowing again, Elysia."
"Out."
Lara vanished down the hall.
Malvoria exhaled and turned toward Elysia, only to find her wiping away a laugh and licking strawberry juice off her fingers.
"She’s... sothing."
"She’s a nace," Malvoria muttered.
"She’s family."
Malvoria crossed to the couch and dropped beside her. "Unfortunately."
Elysia offered her the last slice of strawberry, holding it between her fingers.
Malvoria took it without hesitation.
And with a gentle smile, leaned in and kissed her sticky-sweet fingers.
"Well," she said, voice low and fond, "at least she didn’t ask if we made the baby on a throne."
"She did," Elysia whispered. "While you were gone."
Malvoria groaned and buried her face in Elysia’s shoulder.
"Next ti," she said, muffled, "we’re locking the door."
Malvoria stayed nestled against Elysia, her arms wrapping protectively around her wife’s waist.
The scent of strawberries lingered faintly between them, sweet and calming. Elysia shifted slightly, tucking her head beneath Malvoria’s chin, her hair soft against Malvoria’s jaw.
They didn’t speak for a long mont.
Just breathed.
The quiet hum of the castle beyond their chamber walls faded away as Malvoria slowly exhaled and drew small circles against the small of Elysia’s back.
Eventually, Elysia’s voice broke the stillness, soft and curious. "How was the eting?"
Malvoria tilted her head, pressing a kiss to her forehead before answering.
"It went well. The hos are standing, the humans are grateful, and the rogue nobles are being watched. My captains are handling the logistics. Your father’s people are being taken care of."
Elysia let out a gentle sigh, her fingers grazing over Malvoria’s collarbone. "And you? You weren’t too distracted thinking about ?"
Malvoria smirked. "I was entirely professional."
Elysia looked up with an arched brow.
"...Mostly," Malvoria admitted, then kissed her again. "But how could I not be, when everything I care about was waiting right here?"
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