"I think he's going to propose to me," Lydia blurted out, watching Adeline raise a brow.

Adeline was drinking tea and reading a book that she noticed Adelia was reading. But Lydia's sudden remark made her pause.

"We've been having talks about getting married," Lydia admitted, shyly tucking strands of hair behind her ears. She was always confident and powerful in front of others, but never in front of Adeline.

With Adeline, Lydia felt content to be herself. She didn't have to put up the front. It was tiring being in control all the time. With Adeline, Lydia was always at peace and relaxed.

"And our future…" Lydia trailed off.

"Future?" Adeline echoed, putting the teacup down and shutting the book. She was sitting in the chair and peering delightfully at her friend.

"Like the possibility of having children," Lydia mumbled. "Though, it'd be difficult since I'm human."

Lydia's attention flickered to Adeline's red eyes. Adeline had just recently become a Pure-Blood, so she still didn't know how to control her eyes yet. The incident was a long story, one that left the kids traumatized, their father infuriated, and their mother worried.

"But you said the medicine you've developed is being manufactured as we speak after clearing human trials and approval by the government," Adeline slowly said.

Adeline placed her hand over Lydia's, knowing her friend needed the support. "You've been on birth-control and using condoms regardless, so there hasn't been a pregnancy scare. Once the medicine is on the shelves, it should help you."

Lydia pressed her lips together. "What if I said I wanted to adopt?"

Adeline straightened up. "That's also a great idea!" she agreed. "I can introduce you to one of the charities I've been donating to and get you in touch with—"

She paused when there was a knock on the door. "Come in!" she called out.

Instantly, Weston and Easton walked in with her children. Adeline's gaze met Adelia and Elios who averted their gaze, but shyly peered at her again.

"You found my little angels," Adeline cooed, reaching her arms out for her children.

Elios was the first to run to her, attached to her hip like a momma's boy. Instantly, he fell into her embrace, scrambling into her arms and tightly hugging her, as if it was his way of apologizing for the incident last year.

"How was tutoring?" Adeline asked, caressing the back of Elios's soft hair.

"I hate it," Elios responded. "I never want to go back to tutoring again!"

Adeline opened her mouth, but Adelia spoke up.

"He's only angry because he got one question wrong, Mama," Adelia commented, still in Uncle Weston's arms.

Adelia peered down at her mother, a twinge of guilt pricking at her heart again. When her mother reached a hand out for her, Adelia hugged Weston tighter. Adeline's heart pinched. She forced a smile and retracted her hand, returning her attention back to Elios.

"Practice makes progress," Adeline softly said to her son. "Perfection shouldn't be your goal."

Elios said nothing. He buried his face into her neck. Adeline let out a sigh, but still wove her arms around him.

"You came early," Weston said to Lydia, his expression rough and hard. On the inside, he was sweating buckets because everything wasn't ready yet. He needed to quickly think of something.

"Not for our date, though, but for Adeline," Lydia said. "Since we're going to meet at the castle, I figured I might as well visit my godchildren too."

Weston settled Adelia to her feet. Immediately, Adelia went to Lydia, but didn't make a move to touch her. She didn't like to make the first move. Lydia knew that, thus, grabbed Adelia's hands and tugged her forward.

"Look at your beautiful dress, I wonder where you got it from," Lydia teased, grinning when Adeline laughed.

Adelia blushed and peered down at her poofy white dress, with a pink ribbon tied around her waist. She was tough, but still loved pink. No matter what.

"From your piles of gifts," Adeline retorted. "That mountain of gifts during the baby shower has stocked my children with clothes for life!"magic

"Oh please, only until they get to kindergarten," Lydia said, rolling her eyes.

At the idea of her going baby clothes shopping, Weston's hands twitched. They had talked about having children before… But the conversation was always too depressing.

"I know that look in your eyes," Adeline said. "I know you're planning on buying Adelia and Elios an entire closet of clothes for their fourth birthday in a few months."

"Pft, of course not!" Lydia laughed, but averted her eyes. Welp. Guess she'd have to think of new gift ideas.

Noticing Weston's longing stare, Adeline knew it was time to let her best friend go. Thus, she decided to grab Adelia's attention.

"How about you, my baby?" Adeline asked her daughter. "How was tutoring for you?"

Adelia's head snapped to her mother. Upon seeing her mother's red eyes, like the color of freshly bloomed roses, she immediately lowered her gaze. Clutching the ends of her dress, guilt loomed over her over what she had done.

"The floor can't be that interesting," Adeline suggested.

Elios reached over his mother's lap and grabbed Adelia's hand, pulling her closer to them. Whenever she was sad, he felt the same emotions. And he didn't like being somber.

Adeline intertwined her hand into her daughter's, lightly swinging it in the air to grab Adelia's attention.

"I always hear high praises from your tutors, my lovely Princess," Adeline added, knowing Adelia always needed encouragement before speaking.

Adeline tugged Adelia closer and pressed a kiss to her daughter's forehead.

"Hm?" Adeline insisted, adjusting Adelia's cute side-braid.

Finally, Adelia spoke. "I scored perfectly on the test…"

Adeline raised a brow, her hands clasped together. "Is that so?"In the corner of her eyes, she noticed Weston beginning to pull Lydia away. She wondered where Easton went, but realized he was looking out the hallway window that oversaw the palace grounds. Most likely, Minerva had walked past there…

"And how does that make you feel?" Adeline asked, wishing to hear more of Adelia's voice.

Adelia lifted her head, a shy smile on her face. She fidgeted with her dress, leaning into her mother's tender touch.

"Good," Adelia admitted. "It makes me happy."

Adeline immediately smiled at this, wrapping an arm around her daughter's waist, so that she was holding both of her lovely children.

"Well, I am proud of both of you," Adeline finally said, nodding in approval. "As long as either of you is happy, then I'd be proud of anything you do."

- - - - -

"There's the lady in question!" Easton said when he saw Lydia walking out of the room with Weston. He was initially distracted by her heels, which reminded him of Minerva's.

Easton had to tear his eyes away from the window, where Minerva was seen happily laughing with a woman. Easton had moved on, but he still had a bit of inkling feelings for her. He knew it was wrong and it'd never happen, which was why he was trying his best to move on.

"So, who did you lose your virginity to?" Easton asked right off the bat, curious to know who was the lucky man. "There could be an immortal walking around right now, and we wouldn't even know it!"

Lydia's brows tugged together. "What?"

"You know, the prophecy says whoever deflowers the Golden Rose—"

"Who goes around asking a woman that kind of question?" Lydia scoffed. "I'm surprised you didn't get smacked on the head by Weston."

"Trust me, I've debated it, but it's evident my smacking has led to too much brain cell loosage. Now, he's just plain stupid," Weston remarked, glaring at his older brother to keep his mouth shut.

"But we all want to know," Easton groaned. "Also for security purposes. You're not the only Golden Rose in history. If there's another immortal walking around, the castle needs to know and—"

"It's none of your concern," Lydia scoffed, grabbing her boyfriend's hand and beginning to pull him down the hallway. It was one of the rare times she was in charge, and he didn't seem to mind it.

But Lydia was struck by Easton's words. 'We all wanted to know.' She peered at Weston, wondering if that was referring to him.

Weston met her gaze and smirked, staring at the hand eagerly pulling him. Even though she was guiding him, he still felt in control. He could reverse their position anytime.

"Do you want to know who I lost it to?" Lydia asked, stopping by the staircase.

Weston opened his mouth.

"I'll tell you but you have to tell me yours," Lydia said.

"But I don't want to—"

"It was a random stranger I met at a club," Lydia admitted. "On my 18th birthday. All my friends already lost theirs prior to when they turned 18, and I was the only one left in the socialite circle. I just wanted to get it over with, you know? I didn't know about the prophecy, or how important it was—"

"It's fine, I don't mind. The past is in the past and can't be changed," Weston said, showing no signs of judgement or irritation.

Weston grabbed her by the waist and pulled her close, planting a kiss on her forehead. "I've been wanting to do this ever since I saw your smile. Did you enjoy the conversation with the Queen?"

Lydia melted into his embrace. She was glad he didn't make a big deal out of nothing. Neither of them had their virginity in the first place. They were in no place to judge each other.

"Yes," Lydia said, her shoulders relaxed. "I did."

Weston grinned, linking their fingers together. "In that case, why don't we go on a stroll in the public park not far off from here? Just to burn time."