The Empress (GirlxGirl)

Chapter 33 - The Dukes

Adelaide's POV

Astoria has been staring at the sleeping twins since she walked out from the bathroom. I understand if she's confused but it doesn't help if she keeps her thoughts to herself.

"I don't know what to say. There seems to be a lot of things you're hiding from me. First of all, why didn't you say anything about the kids? You should have told me about them in your letters. Hell, you even chose the name of my ancestors for our children. Are you really okay with this? Did my mother force you to name them after my ancestors?" I shake my head no.

"No one is forcing me to do anything. I wanted to name them based on your ancestors. Astoria, come have a seat on the bed. Don't you want to be close to them? They are your children. That I promise you." Astoria was contemplating if she should stay on the bed.

"What if I wake them up?" I sighed.

"The bed is large enough for the four of us. Come here and lay on your side. Aren't they perfect? They look just like us. Even the midwife who delivered you were surprised when she saw our kids. She said Astrid is the spitting image of you." Huh- is this woman crying?

"Why are you crying?" I chuckled while wiping the tears from her cheek.

"I don't know how to act in this kind of situation. I left for the borders not knowing you're pregnant. No one told me what is happening and I can't help but to blame myself for letting you go through this alone." I knew she would act this way.

That is why I didn't say anything about the pregnancy. She would make a mistake if her head is filled with the thoughts of me and the twins. Luckily Augustus did his task just the way I wanted it to be.

"This is why I didn't say anything. You'll act without thinking of the consequences and those actions will surely be your demise. And don't worry- I was not alone. My parents were here when I gave birth to the twins. And your mother has been taking care of me too. There's no need for you to worry."

I watched as Astoria reached out to our son's nose before poking it lightly.

"What happens now? Should I pretend to be a man so they would have a normal upbringing?" Astoria's question made me stunned.

"Why would you think like that? You don't have to pretend to be anyone. Just be yourself." Astoria gave me a look.

"But they wouldn't be able to live like a normal child unless there's-" I placed my hand on her mouth to stop her from talking nonsense.

"Shut up. They will both grow up with so much love that every child would envy them. Stop degrading yourself, please." Astoria nodded. I pulled my hand away and just watched this woman staring at the twins.

"Astor looks so much like you. He has the same hair and eye color as yours. I'm sure the kids will be as great as you after they grow up." I smiled.

"And they would also be as strong as you. I'm sure the moment they could talk, they would talk about your tale of slaying monsters to their friends." Astoria chuckled.

"Adelaide, tell me- is it true you're planning to destroy Tempest?" Cats out of the bag huh? Astoria has always been perceptive but this time she immediately caught on.

"Yes. You've won the war after all. There shouldn't be anything holding me back. For a year, I've been rebuilding the North to its former glory. We can say that the North is now on par with the empire. Not only do we have the Desert kingdom and the demon realm under our control, most nobles of this empire are now siding with us." Astoria stares at me with confusion.

"What did you do to the nobles of the empire?" I chuckled at how this woman reacted.

"I didn't do anything that made me less human, that's for sure. What are nobles so afraid of? Losing the favor they all crave for. At first, they blindly followed the emperor because of me. But now that the empress dowager has shown her true colors, the nobles are contemplating if siding with the imperial family is the right thing to do. In the end they choose to follow me instead of the emperor."