AT THE SA TI
MICHAEL
The palace had already adjusted to the rhythm of chaos, but Richard’s presence introduced a new variable that made the walls feel tighter, the ceilings lower, and the air far too heavy. I sat on the balcony, fingers rubbing my stomach as the baby fluttered insistently, clearly aware of the tension below. Zavier leaned against , jaw tight, eyes scanning the halls as though he could detect the first tremor of catastrophe before it struck. Below, Charlie was bouncing between Terrence and Adrian like a man possessed, waving his notebook frantically.
"Brother Michael! This is an ergency of divine proportions! We need... a defensive strategy!"Charlie said.
Terrence groaned, rubbing his temples.
"Divine proportions? Last week you thought five koi were a sign of doom."Terrence said.
Adrian, arms crossed, shot Charlie a glare that could curdle milk.
"And now we have a new male... your brother, or... whatever he is." He nodded toward Richard, who was observing everything with the calm patience of soone who could bend reality with a blink. "I don’t like it."
Charlie froze.
"Exactly! He’s... he’s... dangerous! Like, cosmically dangerous!"Charlie said.
"Or just... terrifying."Terrence muttered.
Adrian’s lips pressed into a thin line.
"I am not letting so stranger step in and take over the... the... admiration-"Adrian said.
"Admiration?" Charlie squeaked. "I... wait, no, I-"
Zavier pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Just breathe, everyone. Or start digging a hole to hide in."Zavier said.
I sighed, pressing a hand to my stomach as the baby kicked again, a sharp, insistent reminder that hiding was impossible. Richard’s calm presence seed to amplify every little stir, as if the child was already testing the new dynamics. Wanessa, gliding down the hall like moonlight in motion, clapped her hands lightly.
"Now, now. Let’s not forget why we’re all here. Richard is family, and family-" She glanced at
Terrence and Adrian with an almost mischievous glint in her eyes. "-deserves a warm welco.
"Warm welco? We barely survived the last ’welco’."Terrence said.
Adrian’s jaw tightened.
"I’m officially on alert. This... male... he’s suspicious. Too calm. Too composed. Too... everything."Adrian said.
Charlie flopped onto the floor dramatically.
"I knew it! New male equals doom! My comic relief... is dood!"Charlie said.
Richard, as if hearing Charlie’s proclamation directly, raised a brow.
"Comic relief? I see. That will require... oversight."Richard said.
Charlie shrieked.
"Oversight!? No! I... I."Charlie said.
"I told you. Stay calm. You’re going to need all your strength to survive this week."Zavier said.
I could feel the baby kick sharply again, harder this ti, like it was protesting Richard’s calm intrusion into the household. I pressed a hand to my stomach instinctively.
"Michael." Kael’s voice cut through the chaos from the balcony, calm and asured. "Keep your distance from the theatrics below. Observe, yes... but do not beco a participant."
I groaned.
"I am participating whether I like it or not."I groaned.
Wanessa chuckled, leaning closer to Richard.
"Do not be alard, brother. Terrence and Adrian are... defensive. They always are. But eventually, they will adjust."Wanessa said.
Richard’s eyes flicked to the two Alphas.
"Adjust... or intervene."Richard said.
Terrence and Adrian exchanged a glance, both glaring like coiled springs.
"Adjust?" Terrence muttered under his breath. "I don’t think so."
Adrian’s jaw twitched.
"I’ve survived gods, spirits, and catastrophic princes. I will not... accept... this."Adrian said.
Charlie, ever the dramatist, scrambled toward them.
"See? They know! They sense the threat! Brother, we must act!"Charlie said.
"Brace yourself. This is going to get worse."Zavier said.
From the doorway, Wanessa clapped lightly.
"Gentlen, gentlen. Richard is not here to fight. He’s here to... observe the dynamics. And, perhaps... maintain order."Wanessa said.
Terrence growled under his breath.
"Order? In this house?"Terrence said.
Adrian snorted.
"We’ve been in chaos for months. A calm man doesn’t scare . He terrifies ."Adrian said.
Richard, standing perfectly still, crossed his arms and scanned the room.
"I am not here to terrify. Only to correct... if necessary."Richard said.
Charlie shrieked.
"Correct!? I-NO!"Charlie said.
I groaned, pressing a hand harder to my stomach. The baby kicked sharply again, as though agreeing with Zavier, prepare for chaos. Wanessa’s laughter chid softly, light but filled with that mischievous undertone I’d co to recognize.
"Oh, my saints. The theatre expands... and now with Richard as an additional actor. Let’s see how long Charlie lasts under this scrutiny."Zavier said,
Charlie clutched Terrence and Adrian’s arms dramatically.
"I... I am dood! I... I am chaos! And now... evaluated chaos!"Charlie said.
"Stay calm. The baby’s counting on you to survive this."Zavier said.
I nodded, hand over my stomach. Sowhere distant but clear, I could hear the faintest echo of the Moon Goddess’s laughter.
AT THE SA TI
THIRD PERSON POV
Richard’s eyes didn’t waver. Calm, quiet, patient, too patient. That kind of composure ant he was reading everyone and asuring them like chess pieces before the ga began.
Terrence was the first to break the silence.
"So... you just ca to observe? That’s it?" He asked, voice sharp enough to slice through marble.
Richard inclined his head slightly.
"Observation often reveals truths that interference obscures."He said.
"Yeah? Well, around here, observation gets you hit with a thrown teacup."Adrian snorted.
"I prefer coffee mugs." Charlie piped up unhelpfully, imdiately ducking behind Terrence when Richard’s gaze flicked toward him.
Wanessa hid a smile behind her hand.
"Gentlen, please. Richard isn’t here to start wars." She said.
"Then why does he look like he’s already won one?" Terrence muttered.
I felt Michael’s soft laugh beside . He was watching from the balcony, one hand rubbing slow circles over his belly. The baby must’ve sensed the rising storm too—every ti soone raised their voice, I saw his expression twitch, like he was bracing for the next outburst.
Richard turned slightly toward him, his tone softening.
"The child is strong. I can sense it even from here."He said.
Michael froze, blinking.
"...You can what?"He asked.
"The Goddess’s mark runs deep." Richard said, his gaze steady. "It resonates."
Wanessa smiled faintly.
"He’s always had an ear for the divine."She said.
Adrian scoffed.
"Great. Another person who hears cosmic echoes. Just what we needed."He sighed.
Charlie threw his hands in the air.
"We’re being evaluated by a celestial bloodhound! We’re dood!"Charlie scread.
Terrence groaned.
"Charlie, for the love of sanity, shut up."He said.
But Charlie didn’t.
"No, listen! He said correct, didn’t he? What if that ans judgnt? Divine smiting? Expulsion from the narrative?!"He said.
Wanessa blinked slowly.
"Expulsion from the narrative?"She asked.
"He’s been reading too many prophecy scrolls again." I said dryly from the balcony.
"One scroll." Charlie shot back. "And it bit !"
The room went silent for three seconds.
"You’re allergic to parchnt now?"He asked.
"Emotionally." Charlie replied.
Zavier stifled a laugh.
"Emotionally allergic parchnt. Gods help us."He said.
Richard didn’t laugh, but sothing flickered behind his eyes, a tiny spark of amusent, like he was trying very hard not to smile.
"Your household is... spirited," He said diplomatically.
Wanessa bead.
"Oh, you’ve no idea. It’s like living in a constant festival with occasional lightning strikes."She said.
Adrian crossed his arms.
"So, what exactly are you doing here, Prince Richard? Because if this is another ’divine convergence mission,’ we’re booked solid."He asked.
Richard t his gaze, unflinching.
"Not a mission. A watch. And a ssage."He said.
The room tensed instantly.
Michael leaned forward. "A... ssage?"
Richard’s voice was calm, too calm.
"The Moon Goddess has taken interest again. She says her theatre isn’t finished."He said.
Charlie paled.
"WHAT!? You an, there’s more?! I thought the last act ended!"He asked.
Wanessa’s smile deepened.
"Oh, it never ends, dear saint. It just changes stages."She said.
Terrence groaned.
"Fantastic. Can we at least get a script next ti?"He asked.
Zavier sighed, sliding an arm around Michael protectively.
"You hear that, love? The baby’s debut is apparently in the next act."He said.
Michael exhaled slowly, rubbing his temple.
"At this rate, they’ll be born during the finale."He said.
Richard’s expression softened as his gaze lingered on them.
"Perhaps that’s exactly what she intends."He said.
Charlie whimpered.
"Soone hold ."He groaned.
"Not it."Terrence sighed.
"You’re too dramatic to hold."Adrian said.
Wanessa only laughed, light and musical.
"Ah, my theatre expands beautifully. Richard, welco to the chaos. And everyone else—brace yourselves."She said.
The baby kicked hard enough that Michael flinched. Zavier caught his hand instantly, whispering, "Strong one, huh?"
Michael smiled weakly. "Yeah... and apparently already impatient for curtain call." Above them all, faint but unmistakable, ca that familiar silvery laugh, the Moon Goddess, watching.
"The stage is far from empty." Her voice echoed faintly. "And my actors have much left to perform."
Charlie whimpered.
"Why do I feel like I’m about to regret existing again?"He asked.
Wanessa grinned.
"Because, dear saint, you always do." She said.
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