Embers of Sun and Flame: Before We Have It (Fuegoleon x OC)

Chapter 48: The best thing

Time seemed to just fly by, especially since the newly formed alliance was being brought into action, or rather, now that it existed on paper, relations were being formed on a more concrete level. As in reality the willingness to collaborate wasn't based on simply what it stated in official documents that existed within the walls of the royal archives. And with it, it would take time to see more Theans in Clover, and Cloverians in Thea. But it was all a step into a new direction, and the bonds would continue to build over time. After all, the alliance was now, as one thing, an agreement to start a common journey where they were both their individual nations, but could rely on each other in certain matters.

The question of what became of the 28th Wizard King still remained, but as the months went by, it was best seen to continue onward without him. Of course people still remained weary and uneasy about it on both sides of the border, but Julius was just one man. And a mortal man at that.

So, though the issue of what to do about the situation remained in Clover, it didn't prevent Clover and Thea from starting to build a bond that they would hope to last for centuries.

And as a part of that bond, royal babies became a centre of attention, both Vermillion-Equinox and Silva-Equinox. The public went as far as to place bets on which last name would the children bear; a harmless fun.

Interestingly enough, the public opinion seemed to sway in favour of Equinox when it came to the Vermillion lineage, and Silva in the Silva lineage. And it wasn't the general opinion on the matter that annoyed Nozel. It was the fact that some people seemed so bold when it came to bringing it up; just to try and casually bring it up while making small talk.

Of course it was an obvious attempt to gain some information based on which people might win a bet and benefit off of him. Or simply an attempt to climb into his good graces by showing interest in his wife and child. A very clumsy attempt, but... supposedly an attempt.

But regardless of what it was, it made his brow twitch as he headed towards his bedroom, down the corridor of the Silva estate. It was bad enough to have to deal with the stress of having a baby on the way, in addition to the kingdom not having a king, and going through the aftermath of a war, without having people prying such personal matters so boldly.

The audacity... He would have thought that people would have been discouraged from such questions over the years, but it seemed that after he had become a married man, it, somehow, made him more approachable to the eyes of many.

Too approachable, if one was to ask him.

He placed his hand onto the doorknob of the room and took a deep breath while trying to relax his jaw. She doesn't need my annoyance...She does not need my annoyance... he repeated to himself as he tried to force himself to relax; will the tension of his muscles and the twitching of the corner of his eye melt away.

She has more important things to be concerned about than my annoyance... he breathed out again, and opened the door to see Selena reading a book in a corner of the room, by the bookcase. The very bookcase that she had insisted on having in the bedroom, and he had finally caved in, requesting that she wouldn't be bringing anything work related into their safe haven. Which she had promised.

Though, he had to admit, that even if she was to bring in work related literature, he most likely wouldn't contest it, not to a great extent at least. Because if she was carrying out a passion of hers, that made her happy, who was he to deny it from her.

He parted his lips to greet her while pushing the door closed behind him. But. Didn't manage to get the first word.

"What's the matter?" She asked without looking up from her book.