For one long second, Malvoria did not move.
Twins.
The word entered her mind, looked around at the existing chaos, and immediately began redecorating with knives, baby blankets, and catastrophe.
Twins.
Two.
Not one baby.
Two babies.
Two tiny creatures with Elysia's blood and her own. Two new voices in the castle. Two little hands. Two little faces.
Two more children who might inherit Elysia's grace, Malvoria's fire, Kaelith's dramatic instincts, and the family's general inability to behave in public.
Malvoria's brain, normally a palace of sharp strategy and elegant violence, became a room full of overturned chairs.
Twins.
That meant two cradles. Two names. Two tiny heartbeats. Two sets of lungs screaming at night. Two children crawling in opposite directions.
Two babies trying to eat the same jewel, probably. Two future disasters with royal blood and legal immunity.
Oh gods.
Two children meant more trouble.
But also more love.
But also more trouble.
But also more love.
But also, Elysia had to carry two children.
That thought struck like a blade through the celebration.
Malvoria's gaze dropped instantly to Elysia's stomach, still flat beneath the fabric, still looking too delicate to contain one miracle, let alone two.
Her chest tightened. The joy remained, yes, bright and wild and almost painful, but it was suddenly wrapped in fear.
"Twins," Malvoria repeated.
Her voice did not sound like hers.
Elysia turned her head and looked at her, expression softening with immediate understanding. "Love."
"Two," Malvoria said.
"Yes."
"Inside you."
"That is generally how pregnancy works."
Malvoria looked at the healer. "Is that safe?"
Mereth, who looked far too calm for someone who had just detonated a royal life, folded her hands.
"Twin pregnancies can require more care, especially with mixed magical bloodlines. But for now, both pulses are steady, and Her Majesty appears healthy."
"For now?" Malvoria repeated, immediately offended by the phrase.
Mereth did not blink. "That is how time functions."
Elysia made a soft sound that might have been a laugh.
Malvoria pointed at the healer. "Do not use time against me. I dislike it today."
"You dislike it most days," Elysia murmured.
"Because it keeps doing things without permission."
Mereth's mouth twitched.
Malvoria saw it and narrowed her eyes. "Do not laugh at me. I am receiving life-changing news with dignity."
"You are gripping the edge of the couch hard enough to crack it," Elysia said.
Malvoria looked down.
The wood beneath her fingers was, in fact, beginning to complain.
She released it at once.
"I meant emotionally."
"You are doing wonderfully," Elysia said, clearly lying with love.
Malvoria turned to her, and the sight of Elysia looking up at her with that soft, exhausted, faintly amused expression nearly undid her completely. She moved closer and took both of Elysia's hands in hers.
"Are you all right?" she asked, softer now. "Really."
Elysia's face changed, the humor giving way to something quieter. "I think so."
"You think so?"
"I just found out I'm carrying twins, Malvoria. I'm allowed a moment."
"Yes. Of course. Take all the moments." Malvoria turned to Mereth again. "How many moments does she need?"
Elysia closed her eyes. "That is not how moments work."
Mereth, traitor that she was, looked as if she might enjoy this. "Rest will be important. Regular checkups as well. I will want to monitor the babies' magical development carefully."
"Daily," Malvoria said at once.
"No," Elysia said.
"Every morning."
"No."
"Every morning and evening."
"Malvoria."
"Fine. Hourly."
Elysia sat up halfway despite the healer's hand gesturing for her not to move too quickly. "I will throw you out of this room."
"You are pregnant with twins. You should not be throwing anyone."
"I will ask Raveth."
Malvoria froze.
"That is unfair."
"It is effective."
Mereth finally laughed, quietly but unmistakably.
Malvoria looked wounded. "I have lost control of this medical appointment."
"You never had control of it," Elysia said.
Malvoria lowered herself carefully onto the edge of the couch beside her wife, as if sitting too hard might disturb the universe.
She was still trying to absorb it. Twins. Two children. Two tiny lives already there, hidden for months while the world had been busy with weddings, laboratories, false trials, and queens who deserved to be buried under paperwork and fire.
Her hand hovered over Elysia's stomach, hesitant.
Elysia noticed and took it, guiding Malvoria's palm down gently.
The moment her hand rested there, Malvoria stopped breathing again.
There was nothing obvious to feel yet. No movement, no clear physical sign, only warmth and Elysia's steady breathing. But now that she knew, the place beneath her palm felt sacred.
Two.
The joy came back stronger this time.
It rose so quickly it almost hurt. Malvoria wanted to laugh, cry, roar, summon the entire court and announce it from the highest balcony.
She wanted to buy two cradles immediately. No, ten. She wanted to order the finest nursery in the realm built by sunset. She wanted to threaten the future itself into behaving.
Instead she bent and pressed a kiss to Elysia's stomach.
Very gently.
Elysia's fingers slid into her hair.
"You're happy," Elysia whispered.
Malvoria looked up.
Her eyes were burning, and she hated that because she had spent decades building a reputation that did not involve crying in medical rooms.
"I am terrifyingly happy," she said.
Elysia smiled.
"And terrified."
"I know."
"And happy."
"I know that too."
"And if anyone so much as breathes wrong near you, I will end their bloodline."
"There she is."
Malvoria kissed her hand. "I mean it."
"I know you do. That is why I'm setting rules."
Malvoria instantly looked suspicious. "Rules?"
"Yes. You will not imprison me in our bedroom."
"I had not said that."
"You had thought it."
"Briefly."
"You will not assign six guards to follow me into every room."
"Four?"
"No."
"Two discreet ones?"
"Malvoria."
"One invisible one."
Elysia gave her a look.
Malvoria sighed dramatically. "You are very difficult to protect."
"And you are very difficult to love quietly."
"I don't want to be loved quietly."
That softened Elysia again. She reached up and touched Malvoria's cheek. "I know."
Mereth cleared her throat with the careful politeness of someone who did not wish to remain trapped inside a royal tenderness scene for too long. "For now, I recommend rest, food, and no excessive stress."
Malvoria barked out a laugh. "No excessive stress? Have you met our current week?"
"Then reduce what can be reduced."
That sentence landed more seriously.
Elysia's gaze met Malvoria's.
The Celestian queen.
Sarisa and Lara hiding in the little house.
Neris and the laboratories.
The evidence still not enough.
The public story still unfinished.
The realm still balanced on a knife.
Malvoria's hand remained over Elysia's stomach, and suddenly the decision was obvious.
"We don't tell everyone yet," she said.
Elysia nodded slowly. "Not until the situation with the Celestian queen is handled."
Mereth's face became professionally neutral, but her eyes sharpened. "That may be wise."
Malvoria hated that it was wise.
She wanted to tell Kaelith first. Wanted to see her daughter's face when she learned she might have two siblings.
Wanted to tell Veylira and watch her attempt dignity while secretly becoming insufferable. Wanted Raveth to pretend she was not emotional. Wanted Lara to say something rude and then look helplessly happy five seconds later.
But not yet.
Not while the queen still had cards left to play.
Not while enemies might use Elysia's pregnancy as leverage.
Elysia squeezed her hand. "Soon."
Malvoria looked at her. "After the queen is finished."
"After."
"Then we tell them."
"Yes."
"And then I become unbearable."
Elysia smiled. "You already are."
"No. You have no idea. This is only the preview."
"Gods help us."