As the morning light bled in , Zaliyah was currently engaged in what Harun had begun to call "The Great Consumption." He was stuffing his face like someone who had been starved for centuries, his cheeks bulging slightly as he worked through a plate of honey-dipped cakes.
Behind him, the twins stood like twin pillars. They had managed to negotiate a brief respite from Thalassa's brutal training regime, and they were determined to spend their free day with Zaliyah.
Zaliyah, however, had plans that didn't involve sitting around a cold castle. Between bites, he tapped he wrote the paper.
his eyes were bright with a sudden, nesting instinct. He had already scouted the castle and claimed a sun-drenched, circular room for the child.
Now, the shopaholic within him was screaming for satisfaction. He wanted a nursery. He wanted soft wools, beautiful wooden cradles, and tiny boots that looked like clouds.
As he reached for a goblet of milk, his mind drifted. He remembered the Human Realm-specifically, the way Karas used to return from his travels with more gifts than he could carry. Karas would pile silks and ivories on the table until Riru would huff, complaining that the house was turning into a warehouse for Karas's "spoiling" of Zaliyah.
A tear escaped Zaliyah's eye, tracing a path down his pale cheek before he could stop it. He wiped it away instantly, but the twins noticed it.
"You miss home, don't you?" Iruna asked.
Zaliyah froze. How did she know? Can she read my mind , wait! Did demons possess mind reading power's? He looked at her, his expression a mix of vulnerability and annoyance.
"I could ask Thalassa for a permit to cross the realms," Harun offered.
Who's Thalassa? Zaliyah wondered.
It was classic Zaliyah, he lived in a world of people whose names he never bothered to learn. He hadn't even known Malachi's real name until the vows were being forced down his throat.
"I am Thalassa," a voice rang out.
The woman stepped into the light. Thalassa was a darkskin, well toned woman , her toned frame was a result of the excess amount of time she spent on the battlegrounds.her hair was a short neck length wavybob.
she possessed high cheekbones, thin eyebrows, thin lips a slender nose that graced her face and eyes that looked like gold She was the deputy Commander to Xulthas,.
Zaliyah looked at her, then looked away. Pretty woman, he thought, but why is she hanging around that weird bum Xulthas? He didn't say a word. He couldn't even say a word. He simply went back to chewing his food,ignoring her presence.
Harun coughed in embarrassment. "Excuse him, deputy-commander . His mouth is... clearly occupied and he can't talk at the moment."
Thalassa arched an eyebrow, a small smirk on her lips. "Well, he could scribble just perfectly fine a few minutes ago when he was gesturing for more food."
Zaliyah rolled his eyes. Women in the Demon Realm are so dramatic, he thought, stabbing a piece of fruit with more force than necessary.
"I fear I may have annoyed His Highness," Thalassa said in a mocking tone.
"No, no," Iruna started, waving her hands. "He usually doesn't-"
Zaliyah rolled his eyes again.
"And no," Thalassa continued, . "You three cannot cross the realms. The Commander's orders are absolute"
"But-" Iruna tried to intercept.
"I won't repeat myself," Thalassa snapped. "Whatever you need, you will make a list. It will be procured and handed to you."
"Even baby needs?" Iruna asked, her voice small.
Thalassa rubbed her forehead, looking like she was nursing a sudden migraine. "Yes, Iruna. Baby needs are not exempt. Write it down."
Zaliyah wiped his lips with a silk napkin, he was finally done eating.
He stood up, gesturing with his hands for them to leave.
Iruna scrambled to help him. She layered him in his fur coat, the white fur hat, and the matching ear puffs. Once he was fully bundled, Zaliyah looked like a baby cat-his round stomach and the fluffy white layers making him look impossibly soft.
Thalassa caught her breath, a sudden, traitorous blush creeping up her neck. She didn't even like men, but the accidental cuteness of the consort was a physical blow to her composure. She turned away quickly, coughing into her hand.
The cold that hit Zaliyah when he stepped outside was a violent, he felt like he was freezing. His breath came out in thick white plumes whenever he breathed and his body shivered despite the furs. This was not the gentle snow of the Human Realm, this was the freezing bite of the North.
But as the twins helped him into the carriage, Zaliyah was feeling a little better about his situation, he always liked travelling even though he wasn't lucky enough to go on trips, He was going to explore this world, even if he had to do it without Karas. He would do it with the child and that improved his mood.
When they arrived at the lower market, Zaliyah's nose wrinkled. It smelt so much.
His expensive white furs stood out drawing unnecessary attention from the people.
"Is that the Commander's new wife?" a demon whispered as they passed.
"She's some high noble's daughter, surely,"
another added. "Look at the belly. Is she pregnant, or is she just well-fed?"
Zaliyah's skin crawled. He could excuse being called a "wife," but being called "fat" was where he drew the line. He tapped Harun's shoulder and pointed toward the upper heights of the market. Get me away from the peasants.
They arrived at the High Market, a place where the air itself seemed different.
The shops here were architectural marvels, built of rglass and dark polished wood. The goods were displayed behind crystalline panes, glowing under magical lights, it was Indeed different from the lower market.
At the entrance of the most prominent shop, a guard blocked Harun's path. "Only one guard per patron," the man said dismissively.
Zaliyah, who was already halfway to a display of silk ribbons, spun around. He scribbled on his paper.
What is going on here?
"It's not important, your highness," Harun said, "Don't worry."
Zaliyah turned to Iruna. He wrote down Speak.
"They won't let brother in," Iruna said, her voice trembling "They said only one guard is allowed."
Zaliyah stepped forward, towards the guard Upon seeing the quality of the silks and fur Zaliyah was wearing, he knew this wasn't an ordinary noble.
Zaliyah wrote down quickly and slammed the paper on the guards face, the guard quickly picked up the paper
But they aren't guards, They are my Chamberlains."
The guard read out loud "chamberlains?"
The word "Chamberlain" caused a deathly silence to fall over the store. In the Northwest, only Royalty or the highest of High Nobles possessed Chamberlains. The guards at the door turned pale, their postures collapsing into bows.
"Our deepest apologies, My lady! We did not know-"
Zaliyah didn't wait for the apology. He rolled his eyes and kept moving , he was already tired and used to people misgendering him all the time.
The shop was a labyrinth of luxury. Zaliyah drifted toward the children's section, his fingers brushing over fabrics that felt like soft wool. He stopped in front of a little robe made of deep, midnight-blue velvet.
Blue. Karas's favorite color.
Zaliyah held the tiny garment to his chest, his heart aching. He could almost see Karas's face, imagining the human's pride as he held a child dressed in such finery.
A shop assistant scurried over, her eyes wide. "Do you like this, my lady?"
Zaliyah nodded.
"Are you... pregnant, my lady? Or is it a special occasion?" the assistant asked, glancing at his stomach.
Zaliyah offered a sarcastic smile. "No," he said, "It's just a beer belly."
A ripple of giggles went through the nearby patrons-rich merchants' wives and minor noblewomen.
But Zaliyah hated it. He hated being a spectacle. He gestured to the assistant. Private. Now.
He was led four stories up to the VIP section. Here, the floor was covered in plush white carpets, and the walls were lined with rare ivory wood. The items here were ten times more delicate, meant for the children of royals and the noblest of nobles.
In a corner, three noblewomen were whispering as they looked at a cradle.
"They are rumours that the king sent a gift to the Northwest,no one knows what he looks like "
one whispered. "the royal servants say it's a pet he grew tired of."
"Hush now," the other replied, glancing at Zaliyah. "But sisters , Look at the quality of those furs , where do I get them ? The cold is getting harsher by the day."
Zaliyah ignored them. He went on a shopping rampage. He didn't know the baby's gender, so he simply decided to buy everything. He would point at a shelf, and the assistant would scramble to remove the items. Tiny boots, silver rattles, silk swaddling cloths, and hand-stitched tunics began to pile up in Iruna's arms.
His eyes caught a delicate gold hairpin shaped like a lily. It reminded him of Riru. He gestured to it.
After two hours of intense shopping they reached the accounting table. The total was astronomical, it enough to buy a small village in the human realm.
Iruna didn't flinch. She reached into her cloak and pulled out a heavy sack. When she opened it, the room filled with the golden glow of Imperial coins. She began to stack them on the table, pure gold, stamped with the seal of the Underworld's central treasury.
The shop assistant's hands shook as she counted. The surrounding buyers stared in open-mouthed shock. Only those directly associated with the Royal Palace carried currency of that purity.
"Thank you, My lady Please, come again!" the staff chimed, bowing so low their foreheads nearly touched the floor as the twins walked out, carrying massive, overflowing bags of children's finery.
Once they were settled back in the carriage, the adrenaline of the "shopaholic" faded, replaced by the relentless demands of the baby.
"I am hungry," Zaliyah said, leaning his head back against the seat.
Iruna quickly produced a container of snacks she had prepared, dried fruits and nut-cakes. Zaliyah munched on them greedily, though he didn't stop complaining.
He complained about the cold, he complained about the "peasant" stares at the market, and he complained about the way the fur ear puffs kept slipping.
He complained until his voice trailed off, and his head slumped onto Iruna's shoulder.
Within minutes, the "baby cat" was fast asleep, his breathing heavy and satisfied.
Harun looked at his sister and offered a rare, soft smile. "It's okay, Runa. You can sleep, too. I'll watch the road."
"No," Iruna whispered, adjusting her shoulder so Zaliyah wouldn't slip. "I'd rather watch him sleep. He looks so... peaceful. Like nothing ever happened to him."
Harun nodded, his gaze turning to the window as the carriage moved through the white wilderness. For a few hours, they had forgotten they were in exile. For a few hours, they were just a family, bringing home clothes for an unborn child.