I won't fall for the queen who burned my world-Chapter 328: Every general needs a badge

The castle was unusually lively, even for a place that had long since learned to adapt to chaos. Elysia barely made it down the corridor before Kaelith squirmed and wiggled in her arms, legs pumping with impatient energy.

"Mama, Aliyah!" Kaelith chanted, tugging at Elysia’s collar with sticky hands. "Show Aliyah! Show Aliyah!"

Her little general’s jacket gleamed in the sunlight a crimson so bright it was almost pink, shiny brass buttons catching every ray, tiny boots scuffed but proud.

Her toy sword bounced at her hip, half hidden by the golden sash. Kaelith’s excitement radiated through her whole body, making Elysia laugh despite herself.

"I know, little tyrant, I know," Elysia soothed, shifting Kaelith higher on her hip.

She couldn’t help but marvel at how quickly her daughter had grown how the girl who’d once wailed at strange faces was now eager to parade her uniform before the newest and tiniest member of their complicated family.

They reached the suite where Sarisa and Aliyah were resting. The door was ajar, warm sunlight spilling into the hallway along with the faint, sleepy scent of milk and new linens.

Sarisa was sitting by the window, Aliyah cradled in the crook of her arm, eyes half-closed as she hummed a gentle lullaby.

Lara, in an uncharacteristically cautious stance, hovered at her partner’s shoulder, her entire body coiled as if prepared to spring between Kaelith and her newborn at the slightest sign of chaos.

Kaelith immediately twisted in Elysia’s arms, craning to get a better look at her cousin. "Aliyah!" she shouted, as if the baby were across a battlefield. "Aliyah, look! Kaelith general!"

Aliyah weeks old, with a mop of black hair and Lara’s unmistakable red eyes did not, in fact, look. She slept on, undisturbed by Kaelith’s cries or the shining medals clanking against Elysia’s chest.

Lara stepped forward, one hand outstretched, as if to intercept Kaelith’s advance. "Easy there, soldier. Aliyah’s not ready for battle just yet."

Elysia smiled at Lara’s mock sternness, but there was a real edge to her tension. Lara, usually unflappable in the face of danger, had been transformed into something else entirely by parenthood protective to the point of paranoia. It was oddly sweet, if a little exasperating.

"Kaelith just wants to show off her new uniform," Elysia promised, bouncing Kaelith gently. "She’s very proud."

Kaelith nodded vigorously, chest puffed out. "Aliyah! Aliyah!" She wiggled so fiercely that Elysia had no choice but to set her down, keeping one steadying hand at her back.

Kaelith marched directly up to the chair, her boots thumping against the rug, and struck a pose. She tried to salute, but her arm was too short and she nearly poked herself in the eye. "Aliyah, see! Kaelith general! Big girl now!"

Sarisa chuckled, her voice a soft melody. "She certainly is. Look at you, Kaelith. So brave."

Aliyah yawned, stretching one tiny fist, but otherwise remained unmoved. Lara circled, keeping herself between Kaelith and the baby, her gaze sharp. "All right, all right, that’s close enough. Let Aliyah rest, Kaelith. She’ll be impressed later."

Kaelith frowned, brow furrowing in confusion. "Aliyah sleep too much," she complained, squatting to peer at her cousin’s tiny face.

Elysia gently scooped Kaelith back, laughing. "She’s just little, sweetheart. You were just like that when you were a baby."

Kaelith looked skeptical, then glanced at Sarisa for confirmation. "Kaelith baby, too?"

Sarisa smiled, brushing a lock of hair from Aliyah’s forehead. "You were, once. And now you’re the proud big cousin."

Lara shifted, relaxing only slightly as Kaelith calmed down. "Careful, Kaelith. Babies are delicate. No fire magic, no sword waving, and definitely no loud orders."

Kaelith seemed to ponder this. She glanced at her toy sword, then looked back at Elysia with wide eyes. "No sword? Even if monster come?"

Elysia stifled a grin, kneeling beside her. "If a monster comes, you can protect all of us. But right now, Aliyah is safe. The bravest thing you can do is let her rest."

Kaelith mulled that over, then nodded, her fingers curling around the golden sash. "Kaelith protect. Kaelith quiet."

For the space of a single breath, there was peace—Aliyah dozing in Sarisa’s arms, Lara relaxing, Kaelith solemn and proud at Elysia’s side. Elysia reached over, squeezing Lara’s hand. "You’re doing well, you know."

Lara looked startled, then self-conscious, her cheeks coloring. "What, worrying all the time?"

Elysia squeezed again, her smile soft. "No—caring. Aliyah’s lucky to have you." She looked at Sarisa, whose tired eyes brightened for a moment in gratitude.

There was a clatter in the hallway Malvoria arriving, carrying a small box. "Is the parade over, or did I miss it?" she teased, setting the box on the table. "I brought something for the young general. And for the new recruit, too."

Kaelith’s eyes widened as Malvoria opened the box to reveal two tiny badges, carefully crafted to resemble the royal crest one for Kaelith, and a softer, baby-safe version for Aliyah.

"Every general needs a badge," Malvoria declared, pinning the crest gently to Kaelith’s jacket. "And every recruit deserves one too."

Elysia watched as Kaelith puffed out her chest again, displaying her new badge for the room. "Kaelith big girl now. Protect Aliyah."

Aliyah, in her sleep, made a small cooing sound. Sarisa smiled, pinning the second badge to the soft blanket wrapped around her daughter. "She’ll grow into it."

Lara exhaled a long, theatrical sigh. "Great. I have two little warriors on my hands now."

Kaelith took this as permission to launch into a full explanation of her new duties, in baby babble so earnest Elysia thought her heart might burst.

"Aliyah sleep, Kaelith watch, Kaelith protect. No monsters, no dragons, no scary queen." She frowned, her brow furrowing. "Queen scary. Aliyah not like queen."

Elysia and Malvoria exchanged a glance. The mention of the Celestian queen had become an in-joke in the household.

Even Kaelith had caught on, mimicking the frown and sniff of disapproval she’d seen at the last council meeting.

Sarisa snorted, unable to keep a straight face. "If only all our problems could be solved by a nap and a badge."

Lara crouched beside her, brushing a gentle finger down Aliyah’s tiny cheek. "We can hope, right?"

For a little while, the room felt perfectly balanced—love and laughter and the bonds that made their family stronger than any throne.

Kaelith paraded, showing her badge to everyone, even the guards outside the door.

Aliyah slept on, unfazed by her cousin’s chaos. Lara and Sarisa watched with something like wonder, pride etched into the lines of their tired faces.

As the afternoon drifted by, Elysia lingered by the window, Kaelith in her arms, the weight of motherhood both a joy and a responsibility. She kissed her daughter’s hair, breathing in the scent of childhood sweet, wild, and fleeting.

"We’re so lucky," she whispered, mostly to herself.

Malvoria joined her, wrapping an arm around Elysia’s waist, Kaelith squished between them. "The luckiest," she agreed.

In the golden hush of the room, with the scent of sun-warmed linen and baby powder lingering in the air, it felt easy to believe.

Kaelith pressed herself close, her toy sword and new badge glinting against Malvoria’s crimson uniform. Elysia glanced down at her daughter her hair wild from excitement, her cheeks pink from pride, her eyes full of that unshakeable confidence Malvoria wore so effortlessly.

Lara, still crouched protectively beside Sarisa and Aliyah, grinned and shook her head.

"You know, Kaelith has exactly the same aura as you, Malvoria. That whole ’I’m a queen and I don’t care about the rest’ thing. It’s kind of terrifying, honestly."

Malvoria arched a brow, affecting mock offense. "Are you saying I’m terrifying?" 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Lara shrugged, a mischievous spark in her eyes. "You’re not not terrifying. But Kaelith has perfected that little look of yours. You know the one—chin up, shoulders back, eyes like she’s already plotting how to conquer the world."

Kaelith, catching her aunt’s tone, mirrored Malvoria’s stance with theatrical precision—chin lifted, toy sword at her side, tiny brows drawn into an exaggerated frown of command. "Kaelith queen!" she declared, voice high and proud.

Sarisa, smiling sleepily with Aliyah in her arms, let out a low laugh. "There’s no denying the resemblance. She’s got your presence, Malvoria. If she starts demanding battle plans before breakfast, I’m moving out."

Elysia squeezed Malvoria’s hand, biting back a grin. "You might have created a tiny tyrant, love. At least she’s a benevolent one... so far."

Malvoria looked down at her daughter, an unmistakable pride shining in her eyes. "She’ll be whatever she wants to be. Queen, general, artist, or little terror. She can have it all."

Kaelith nodded as if she’d understood every word, then wiggled free, making a beeline for the basket of baby blankets. She dragged one to Aliyah’s side, covering her gently. "Aliyah cold. Kaelith help."

Lara melted, shoulders softening, and even Sarisa looked on with something like wonder. For a second, all the lines and walls between them—parenthood, royalty, past and present—blurred into a single, radiant moment of family.

Malvoria, still watching Kaelith with a half-smile, dropped her voice low for Elysia. "Do you think she really understands? How much she’s changed us all?"

Elysia pressed her lips to Malvoria’s cheek, her answer quiet and certain. "She knows she’s loved. That’s enough. The rest she’ll figure out—probably with more fire than we can handle."

Lara, having witnessed enough sentiment for one afternoon, rolled her eyes in mock despair. "Ugh, you two are worse than a romance novel. Kaelith, remind your mothers that they still have a birthday to plan."

Kaelith looked up, beaming. "Cake!" she declared, as if that settled the matter.

Sarisa chuckled, shifting Aliyah in her arms. "We’ll need plenty of cake."