The Crown's Entrapment

Chapter 696  Her Response

At Cordon Castle

"So it's finally over…"

Xenia couldn't help but smile in delight as she received word about the Black Rose plague. It would seem that her friend Aurelia finally managed to come up with a cure for the disease, and work was beginning to rapidly increase its supply before shipping it off to every known part of the kingdom.

Of course, that also meant that Jayra's contributions to the cure had been for naught. Then again, from what she heard from her closest friend, the two of them had a competition of sorts to see who could come up with a cure faster. It also just so happened that Jayra's potions meant to quickly disinfect any given area was becoming so popular that it was spawning a new industry all on its own.

'Seriously, those two could be competitive at the worst possible times…' she chuckled to herself.

Nevertheless, everything seemed to be returning to normal as the restrictions near the Tornado Pack Territories were being lifted. Trade was also starting to normalize, and life was starting to continue in most of the affected areas.

"Something on your mind?"

Xenia smiled as she felt Darius stand behind her. She felt her hand roam across her swollen belly, his presence seemingly calming their twins as she let out a sigh of satisfaction.

"Just thinking about everything that just happened," she shrugged. "This sudden plague… Lena… Well, at least things are looking up."

"And our twins are also growing big," Darius chuckled. "Only two months left now, correct?"

Xenia hummed. "Only two more months before I get to pop out your pups," she giggled. "I'm so excited."

It wasn't easy being pregnant with twins. Nevertheless, she was eager to carry them within her all the same. With every kick and nudge that they did inside her, her excitement to see them only grew. Already, she was considering throwing a big party once they were with them… not immediately after their birth of course, but after she had already rested and properly bonded with her new children.

"I am too, Xen," Darius lovingly murmured into her ear. "I can't wait to see our children…"

Xenia smiled lovingly as she turned to give her husband a kiss. Again, she could feel herself wanting him all to herself, but the thought of making love as she was now was still off the table, unfortunately.

The couple began cuddling where they stood over the balcony, not caring if anyone would even see them being loving with one another. But just as things were starting to get heated, a messenger arrived.

"Your Grace, a message- Oh!"

Xenia's eyes widened in surprise at the sudden interruption. Giving Darius a nod, they both reluctantly pulled each other apart and made themselves presentable.

"Ah, a message?" she asked. "From whom?"

"T-The Element Forest, Your Grace," the servant bowed, the blush on his face apparent even as his eyes refused to leave them. "It was addressed to you."

The Queen felt her excitement rise just from knowing where the message came from. She could already tell that it was from the Guardians, possibly them asking for an update in regards to Lena.

"From the Guardians then," Darius hummed. He then gave her a smile as he gestured for her to take the letter. "You should go ahead and read it, my love. I'll give you some privacy in the meantime."

"You don't have to, you know," Xenia chuckled.

"It's only fair," Darius chuckled back. "Besides, I might not be able to control myself the longer I'm with you at the moment."

Xenia blushed, but she cheekily rolled her eyes at him as she grabbed the letter from the messenger. With a nod of gratitude, she and her husband promptly left the balcony, leaving her alone with the letter in her hands.

"Been awhile…" she smiled as she tore open the envelope. "Let's see what you all have to say…"

Casually reading the letter, Xenia couldn't help but let her smile widen the more she read the letter. It would seem that while their normal means of communication was still inaccessible, they managed to send out a letter to her via more mundane means.

"Well, as mundane as an owl dropping a letter in the kingdom's postal service," she chuckled to herself.

Reading further, Saha gave her regards to her in her usual manner. Meanwhile, Polo and Devas were curious as to how their fellow former Guardian was doing.

"Lena… Last I checked, she was still fine and happy living with Calypso," she muttered to herself. "Then again, I doubt they know that…"

She hummed to herself as she quickly went over what she wanted to say to them. Actually, how was she supposed to send them a letter?

"Huh, I couldn't just- Oh…"

But just as she was about to question her methods, a suspicious-looking owl perched itself near the balcony. Looking at it alone already told her that it was there to pick up whatever message she wanted to give to the guardians.

"Well then, that was fast," she chuckled. "You just sit right there then, alright?"

Still chuckling to herself, Xenia went ahead and sat down at the nearby table. Taking out a quill and paper, she began to write out her response to her dear friends in the Element Forest. She wrote down how she was pregnant with twins, and that she was due to deliver in two months at the time she wrote the letter. She also told "Of course, I do," she chuckled. "I do hope you don't mind our children between us though."

them about the goings-on around the kingdom, as well as how Lena was doing under Calypso's care.

"There…"

She smiled as she wrote down her signature at the bottom of the message. Fetching for an envelope fitting her stature as a queen, she promptly folded her letter and gave it to the waiting owl in front of her.

"You give this to them, alright?" she cooed, petting the owl before it quickly took off into the setting sky. "I hope you all appreciate it…"

"Xen?"

Xenia blinked as she heard Darius emerge from behind her once again. "Talk about perfect timing."

"I heard you giggling," he cheekily teased. "So, care to continue where we left off?"

The Queen smirked as she wrapped her arms around her husband. "Of course, I do," she chuckled. "I do hope you don't mind our children between us though."