The Grimwood territory was to the north, where the climate was a little different from the capital. It was not so much, since the trip between the two points lasted a few days, which made them tired. Lucian, as always, hated traveling by carriage. That's why he usually stayed most of the time in the capital.
That is, until Magnus got pregnant for the second time.
Kevin's pregnancy was somewhat risky, because of Magnus' body that looked tired and weak. Fearing for the life of their second heir, the couple made the decision to live in Grimwood territory, where they could stay away from stress and have better access to family doctors.
After the birth of Kevin, the couple got used to living in the north, and so only came back to the capital once a year to be able to take care of some matters.
"I thought you were going to stay in the capital, since you need to work, but I was surprised that they insisted on coming with us" Lucian commented looking at the children sitting in front of him.
"I am entitled to vacation after having fought on the battlefield" Kiana replied promptly "Besides, it's my home, I don't need reasons to come back when I want."
Lucian shook his head, knowing very well that it was only an excuse.
The journey then lasted for a few more days. As they approached the territory, the warmer they felt. At a certain point, they could already see the great ocean on the horizon. Kevin and Kiana felt even more relaxed when they finally saw the stuffed ducal city. As expected, tourists visited the trade and filled the streets leaving busy.
The Grimwood territory was the largest within the Empire, and being close to the sea, it had a second port. Of course, Magnus protected his port very well when he made a deal with a certain pirate, and granted him an exploration of the sea route. The omega was cunning in using the underworld to expand their business on its territory, and be able to govern illegal businesses even from home.
Well, all this thanks to Lucian's help.
"Oh, home sweet home" Kiana took a deep breath as she stepped out of the carriage.
"Welcome back, my lords."
Carsen and Argus bowed, along with the other servants who were perfectly lined up behind them. When the four members of the family were standing, they noticed a certain couple smiling in ordinary costumes.
"Dad" Lucian smiled lightly at Cassander and Rehael.
Approaching them, received a hug of greeting. As expected, he had become accustomed to receiving the affection of those two, although Rehael always remained serious and rigid. However, the touch of his hand was always welcoming, which made Lucian feel protected and away from any ghost of the past.
Lucian had forgiven them. He chose to forgive since he was blessed with the second life. Lucian did not want to waste his chances with choices shaped by grudge.
"Welcome, did you have a good trip?"
"Grandpa!! I hope you didn't go to the center without me" Kiana smiled at Rehael, who just put a smile on his lips.
"I promised to wait for you both."
The former Emperor stroked the hair of his two grandchildren, who even as adults were happy to be patted.
Their reunion continued inside the mansion. The servants helped with luggage, arranged comfortable clothes to cope with the hot weather and brought tea and sweets. Sitting in the tea room, they talked and told about their activities in the capital, surprising Cassander and Rehael with their adventures.
Well, now they knew about the Grimwood's little secret and the Deep Shadow, which made them worried. However, Kevin spoke with such confidence that he received the look of pride from Magnus. This should be considered a good thing, no?
While enjoying a good time, sound of running steps sounded through the hallways. Magnus looked up at the door as it opened abruptly. The omega smiled when he saw her.
"Oh, so you were awake."
"Mommy!!" She screamed, running to Magnus.
The omega hesitated and shuddered, a shiver of grief passing through his face. Magnus lowered his eyes to the girl and made a grimace when she grabbed his leg.
"Hey, when are you going to fix that bad habit of yours?"
"Mommy, Kallen missed you, Mommy!"
The girl who looked like the exact copy of Lucian, in a female and miniature version, smiled gloomily as she rubbed her cheek on her father's legs. Magnus sighed and released his own pheromones to cover her, doing the same as Lucian had done with the older children. And then he took her in his lap and stared at her calmly.
"Kallen, you should call me father, not mommy. Haven't I told you that?"
"Did you?" She tilted her head sweetly.
"I said" He answered firmly, although the little girl did not mind and drop a childish giggle to grab him again "Ha... What do I do with you, little creature?"
Lucian chuckled low and stroked the little girl's hair. She immediately raised her face and held his hand to rub her chubby cheeks on it.
"Haha, did you miss me too, Kallen?"
"Kallen missed daddy!!! But daddy left Toytoy with his smell, so Kallen behaved well!"
"Well, that's a good girl."
Magnus stared at him with a frown, knowing well that Lucian had covered the plush she slept with his pheromones. So Kallen would feel safe even away from her parents. Considering the grandparents were around, Kallen wouldn't feel alone. Well, it was a plan that Lucian made, but it didn't help the girl to call Magnus as father.
"Mommy, Kallen went out to pick flowers with grandpa!" she said standing on the couch where Magnus was.
"Flowers?"
Kallen shuffled in her dress and removed a small crumpled flower. Standing on the tips of her feet, Kallen reached Magnus' head and caught the flower in his dark hair. Magnus crossed his arms and sighed unable to disturb the innocent fun of the girl. She seemed too busy wanting to adorn him, even though it was a blow to his pride.
"Mommy is beautiful!!! Isn't it daddy??"
"Pfft... Y-Yes, of course, beautiful."
"If I hear you laugh..." snarled Magnus to his husband.
"Shh, be a good mommy and let your daughter dress you up. Then I'll take care of you later."
Lucian cuddled the husband with a kiss on his cheek, and finally, Magnus just sighed letting the little girl fill his hair with small flowers.
Kallen Grinwood was completely different from that dark family. If Kiana was a warrior and Kevin a strategist, well, Kallen was... a sweet and innocent little fairy. The fact that she was identical to Lucian was a factor that made Magnus and his two children simply overprotective of the little five-year-old girl.
The younger daughter reminded Eugene, in a way, with her innocence and sweetness that made Magnus want to keep away from the blood and pain that the Grimwoods usually dealt with. For him it was natural to be protective, only that Lucian did not expect to see this in his other children as well.
"Kallen, don't you want to go see your brothers?" Lucian commented to her when he saw Magnus full of flowers "You know... brother Kevin came back."
Immediately she stopped and looked at her father with those huge innocent eyes.
"Brother Kevin is back? Kiki too?"
"That's right" Lucian held her and got her off the couch "They're talking to Grandpa, go find them, they missed you."
The little girl wasted no time and immediately ran away again, having a maid on her heels to prevent her from getting hurt. Kallen crossed the hallways as fast as she could, attentive to sounds and smells in search of the older brother to whom she was attached.
She found them talking in another room, and as soon as she stopped at the door, a huge and radiant smile opened. As soon as the two older brothers saw the little girl in a dress decorated like a fairy, they smiled equally happy to see her.
"Kallen!!"
The little girl ran into Kevin's arms and smiled cheerfully as Kiana stroked her hair. From the room door, Lucian, Magnus and Cassander saw the scene with tender smiles. Especially when Kallen received the gifts from the brothers, liking more of the stuffed rabbit that Kiana gave her.
How could time be cruel and pass so fast? It had been a short time that Lucian walked with Kallen through those corridors helping her to learn how to walk. Held her hands and watched from near their uncertain steps. It seemed like yesterday when Lucian saw your other children playing with Kallen in the stroller in the garden of the mansion.
Now Kallen would be six years old in a few days.
"They grow so fast" Lucian commented thoughtfully.
"Mommy, Daddy, Kallen got a rabbit!!" Kallen raise the plush with pride "Isn't cute??"
"Pfft mommy" Kiana mocked, holding the laugh "What flowers are these? Don't you think you're too old to wear flowers on your head?"
Magnus uncrossed his arms and went into the children's room. He took one of the small flowers still attached in his hair and put it in Kiana's. Unlike usual, he left his soft expression to his older daughter.
"I must agree that it looks better on a girl like you."
Kiana petrified and blushed intensely not knowing how to deal with the sweet side of her father, who appeared from time to time. Kevin burst out laughing and took Kallen in his arms.
"Well, we must agree that our little sister is pretty when she gets dressed, isn't it Kallen?"
The little girl, clinging to her brother's shirt, smiled sweetly.
"Kiki is beautiful! Kallen loves Kiki!!"
"You... stop it!!!" Kiana hid the blush of her cheeks behind her hands.
But it was too late. Now she would suffer an attack of praise for her beauty. Magnus could only smile triumphantly by defeating, for the hundredth time, his opponent.
"You're terrible" Lucian whispered to the husband, hugging his waist.
Accustomed to the gesture, Magnus shrugged and let himself touch Lucian's chest.
"She still has much to learn."
Holding his hand, Magnus just made a simple sign for Lucian to follow him, and they quietly left their children with the grandparents. Walking through the mansion agitated by the presence of the three heirs, it was as if that had become his new calm.
They just walked through the corridors holding hands, passing by the servants as if they were ghosts. The day would come when they would no longer be there, to protect their children and ensure their happiness. However, such an end had not yet reached them.
When Magnus and Lucian finally arrived in the rest room, they sat alone on the couch. Hugging each other, they closed their eyes and shared their pheromones. Finally they were home.
They could finally rest.
Just by relaxing his body and being covered in Magnus' pheromones, Lucian felt his eyelids weigh. The silence that surrounded them was like a lullaby.
"Lucian" Called Magnus in a whisper.
The prince was unable to open his eyes completely, but he made an effort to open it enough just to see Magnus's face close to his and the crimson eyes shining towards him.
"I love you."